Said it before, but side sword needs a nerf, and the other 1h swords dont need a boost to balance it out. (Wheres the "look&style" modifier-nerf for the sidesword btw?)
2h/polearm and 1h + shield SHOULD NOT be equals in a 1vs1 situation. Shield brings in too many other powerful benefits in battle like multiple enemy handling, arrow protection, simple blocking, forcefield etc..
Foot soldiers balance:
Advantages:
1h + shield 2h/polearm
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Multiple enemies Damage
Missile protection Range
Added armor Speed(?)
Easy blocking Less weight
Shield soaking hits
1h shield is slightly more poweful by idea and usefullness, so it's 1vs1 usefulness should be a bit nerfed
the reach of 2h/polearms is kind of a shield, noone just runs to them and strikes them, you have to be very carefull
they surly aren't equal, shield breaks so often even with my masterwork huscarl and shield strength 9, which only few players go with, in a 1:1 vs great axe like Searader_Thor after 7-9 hits the shield is gone, i then hear only "awsome shield", normaly they crumble with 4 hits, nevertheless, with out a shield, a 1h/shield guy often just fails(at least if its me who just cant block shit), so if you take the shields into the discussion Thomek, please be gentle about us shield noobs. If i have more then 3 ennemies i am mostly dead, but i have seen lots of 2h/polearm guys who can get out of those situations more or less unscratched. Missile protection ... are we still talking about the sitesword? So i get it that 2h/polearms are pissed over 1h/shielders who kill them, they need less skill and get more benefits .. is that a fact now?
less range
less damaged
distributing points into an additional skill bcz of shield, less skill points for specialisation
speed of sooooo many 2h/polearms is so incredible fast, but a smaller lighter weapon, cant be faster ... very reasonable.
Missile Protection ... in this game? I got shot all the time. Yes i can catch lots of arrows and throwing weapons, so when i come into a figth my shield finnaly breaks and iam dead ...
(sarkasm)Till this discussion i thought this game was mainly about personal skills, now i am not quite so sure anymore, it seems the best weapons just has to win. If you got masterwork you just win(/sarkasm)
I have read several other threads in the forums who mentioned that 1h/shield was allready nerfed into oblivion, i dont know about that, i just use what is there and try to make the best out of it.
I still say perhaps less cut dmg, perhaps instead more thrust dmg, but don't change the speed.
This sword is all about versatility, i loose regularly against all weapons if i come to a good player with his specialised weapon and a good tactic. The mind is their shield ;)