Shields: re-imagined

[Leshma]

[Spawny]

This might not be the best idea but I've decided to share it with you because I don't think I've seen it here.

Whole point of it is to remove force field completely but give shielders one special buff. Instead of gaining force field by leveling shield skill they would lower the weight of their shield and at some of higher levels, but still reasonable it would become zero weight, practically the same as if they were using 1H no shield or twohander/polearm.

However, there are some issues:

- bigass shields (Huscalr) would become OP so it would be needed to raise weight of those shields so they never become zero weight
- archers would be able to shoot through shields more than ever, but I don't see this as a problem because shielders would be able to catch with them
- it's not realistic

Now, good things:

+ shielders could start wearing more armor, actually will be forced to
+ light builds using bucklers with ton of shield skill (forcefield) would become useless
+ hoplites using huscalr could be killed in a lot less time than now
+ it would force players to actually move their shield a little bit, to be able to deflect ranged projectiles

As I said, it might not be the best idea but its different

I like the intention of the idea and with some adjustments it could work.
However, as the suggestion stands now, it would reduce playing a 1h/shielder to practically 1h/board/manual blocking.
It would take away the shielders niche, as it would allow people to hit around shields even more than they do now. It would be practically impossible to defend a gate/doorway/bridge with a shield. Defending against ranged would be nearly impossible, taking away one of the few advantages shielders have now.
Sure, they can't catch archers now. But they sure as hell won't catch them after either.
Less shield weight means more room for heavier armour as you said, but that won't change anything in the archer catching area. So you contradict yourself a bit in that regard.
There's no difference in archer catching ability as it is now between 2h/pole and shielders because the first have more points to play around with and can get 1 more athletics easier. There's a ton more 18/21 2h/poles around than shielders. Your suggestion removes the advantage of a shield partially and gives a very slight runspeed bonus.

I don't have any suggestions on how to improve on your idea atm, but I'm sure others are more creative than I am.

[Leshma]

Sure, they can't catch archers now. But they sure as hell won't catch them after either.

That can be fixed as well. But I won't open such thread, I'm afraid of archer hate...

[Fluffy_Muffin]

This would make a shieldwall uselss, not too keen on this idea

[Logen]

+ light builds using bucklers with ton of shield skill (forcefield) would become useless

leokings suicide will be on your conscience

+ shielders could start wearing more armor, actually will be forced to

How is that a good thing?

[larlek]

I don't like it. It pretty much removes the role of shielders. We have shields and we're specialized in defending. I suppose that this would be fine for people who have just put 4 skill in shield and aren't realy specced shielders but for those of us with 8+ shield who created our whole build around the idea of being a shieldwall, it is sort of a kick in the balls. This just turns us into a 1 hander with an auto block for 4 hits.

[Rebelyell]

did evryone forget about bord shields??? norman shields and kite shields????

I have to say then fprce field is problem on smal shelds, that makes that big shields useles.
Huskral gives you ultimate protection from almos every side wich is reall anoing.

Forcefield often protect horses from hits and evryone have to say then its kind od joke.

Don't remove that, make that smaller.

[Gisbert_of_Thuringia]

I don't know what you all want with a forcefield.

Forcefield existed in the past but now it's almost completely gone. A person can easily stab into the side of a shielder and also arrows get through from the side. Shield only protects front and maybe an inch to the side.

[bredeus]

which is true to most of shields but it seems that huscarl shield can block some side hits aswell

[Gurnisson]

On horseback the forcefield has to be there. It's quite insane that shields on horseback sucks up so many hits that ain't even close to the shield.

[Gravoth_iii]

This is silly, archers can aim for the feet so easily so the forcefield is required for the balance. Archers will probably still be faster as they have lightarmour and high athl so this probably wont change much. Also i like how you think killing hoplites faster is a good thing, we dont deserve nerfs its hard enough to be usefull as it is! :/

[Kafein]

Could work... only if the base shield coverages are increased to at least match with the shield models. Currently people need to have a few more shield skill than the shield requirement to get a coverage that is close to what the shield shows ingame (except with the stoopid OP bucklers).

I can't support enough the idea of shields being more than just a weak personal defense against ranged. This game has a dire need of something which is not ranged but counters range. If we are to keep the "bazooka-jetpack inertialess human" ranged mechanics we have, increasing the movement speed of shielders is a very important step forward.

[Zanze]

While making shielding a form of dumbed down manual blocking does sound...interesting... I definitely disagree with one of the reasons you listed for it.

More armor to shielders? They have a shield, using lighter and weaker armor is the drawback to using that nice piece of wood to protect you(or steel in rare cases). Also, I picked up a shield not to skimp on manual blocking, but to give arrows and bolts and thrown objects the finger. Don't take that away from shields. Or else...archers. Archers everywhere.

[HELM]

I'm a sword and board now, and even I have to say that the Huscarl bubble is really annoying and unrealistic. It blocks side swings...
I don't find it that hard blocking with a lev 3 shield atm and that has only a small force-field. If you did away with the whole force field thing then people in a shield wall in strategus will actually have to actively aim their blocks. Maybe this will make other classes more popular in strategus. It will also make the other larger shields have more of a purpose in the game.

[Xant]

This would be a huge nerf. Getting -5.5 lbs of weight would not in any way be enough to justify all the nerfs. In fact, this change would just make shields nigh useless against ranged (and still unable to catch up - archers wear light armor or no armor at all basically, your suggestion presumes shielders would need to start wearing heavier armor and 1h weapons need a lot of PS to be useful, unless using pierce/blunt)