My short view on swordNboard after 2 weeks of playing on my alt character - it's great. Whiners will never stop whining anyway.
Name of this great char?
I have to admit I am curious to see you, especially I have never seen a Shogunate doing anything but get the biggest easiest spam weapons, like long hafted blades or maces, and run and spam around.
Well, of course I have also seen Shogunates following their Samurai tradition and fighting a peasant in 7 vs 1.
All, maybe it has been overlooked, but I am still waiting for some evidence that you can do better as 1hshielder than as other class.
I at least cant. I have some maps I get some kills, but also some (when I am stuck in a "noob" team) were I only reach a k d of 1.
With polearm or 2h I never have these situations, once my char is level 20. I always kill at least 2 or 3 enemies, even if my teammates are totally incompetent. What is most of the time. Unfortunately.
The main problem I see as 1hshielder is, when I play like its meant to be played, and charge the enemies ranged, I get backstabed, because my teammates dont understand to hold the line.
When I look around, to deal with cav or 2h/polearms myself, to avoid being backstabbed, I get shot in the back.
Also, as 2h/polearm you can wear heavy armor and just push forward, spam your weapon and kill many before you go down.
And of course, as polearm/2h, you dont need to invest skill points in shield, so you can get a bow, crossbow or throwing, or convert many points and be strong and fast at the same time.
A strong 1hshielder still doesnt do much damage.
A 2h/polearm with power strike 6 is already a killing machine, a superfast one.