SWORD AND BOARD ANALYSIS

[Zisa]

This is not meant to be a balance discussion.

I am not going to claim to be any great shakes at sword and board, though I will have a good match every once in a while.

 pitfalls and tendencies
 
 FF prone - dealing and receiving. Mostly due to the shorter nature of the weapons.
 
 Tunnel vision - the need to maintain a shield in front of the current opponent can easily lead to tunnel vision. Remapping of the look around key may help.
 
 RMBitis - finger locked on RMB can lead to stubborn releases.
 
 Getting swarmed. I find it easier to deal with multiple opponents with anything BUT sword and board. I am not sure if turn speed is slowed when holding RMB, it used to be.
 
 Crush Through - sure you CAN deal with it when one versus one, how often does that hapen? Possibly the silliest mechanic ever.
 
 Back pedallers. You may have to content yourself with getting one strike in and maintaining position, or risk getting swarmed due to over pursuit.
 
 'Spammers' the guys who don't give you a chance to strike back. Really need to discover their timing, unfortunately, this can lead to a long delay.
 
 Delay - this can be good or dreadful. It can take a long time at times to kill someone, which ties you up.
 
 ROLES
 
 Roadblock. Turtle in heavy armour, strike only when necessary, but be a bulwark for your team mates to work around. Can infuriate some people.
 
 Guard. Guard an archer or group of ranged, intercept incoming; essentially watching their backs.
 
 daggger and buckler assasin, with light armor.
 
 Pushing the front.
 
 Advancing on archers. This is kind of key; hiding behind the two handers is common, but improper. Of course, those speedy bastards do not wait for you.
 
 Ability to switch roles / mode

[Ujin]

My short view on swordNboard after 2 weeks of playing on my alt character - it's great. Whiners will never stop whining anyway.

[Tristan]

Never done better since I became sword and board.

When knowing when "not" to use your shield, you are pretty much a counter to every other "class" out there...

[Xant]

Getting swarmed. I find it easier to deal with multiple opponents with anything BUT sword and board. I am not sure if turn speed is slowed when holding RMB, it used to be.

Try backpedalling while holding RMB and waiting until their reflexes get dulled by nonstop beating of your shield... or just run at you with weapons chambered. 90% of the playerbase seems to die this way really easily. So backpedal, RMB, then they get lazy and you just take a step forward and slash them in the face, rinse and repeat.

[LordRichrich]

I agree on short weapons but hey, they are short for a reason
I like playing sword and board, especially since I can manual block now. So I can RP my chars who use shitty shields and still survive after it breaks. It's great fun and imo the best class to RP with

[Spawny]

All I can say to other S&B players: Learn how to manual block.

It improves your game and you just put away your shield against those pesky axes and use your speed advantage to the fullest.

[Murchad]

All I can say to other S&B players: Learn how to manual block.

It improves your game and you just put away your shield against those pesky axes and use your speed advantage to the fullest.

+1
If you are skilled it is a good to put your shield away when in small fighting (1v1 etc)
saves the shield and shows your skill.

anyone who complains about 1h being too slow should put shield down, you will quickly realize it is mostly just the shield delay that is slowing you down.
you do have to be careful of blockstun with some of the heavier weapons though.

[Matey]

you doing str or agi?
i find str is easier to smash through an opponent or two at a time, and agi to be way better for distracting large groups of players without dying horribly.

[Zisa]

mostly str.

On  a side note, being a shielder makes certain maps more palatable - it's kind of fun to charge down a bridge for example.

[Noble Crassius]

No offense Zisa but most of this = Not true. Perhaps you should try to play a shielder more than a week then make one of these 

[Banok]

in my experience sword and board requires alot better timing, its takes more skill in terms of timing to not be spammed because of shield slowing your attacks. however it also requires alot less skill in a other areas since you get 180 degree invicibility from multiple attacks and ranged attacks.

PS: I just piked a horseback in the back and it hit his shield by magic so um 360 degree invincibility then in some cases.

[Tai Feng]

in my experience (...) since you get 180 degree invicibility from multiple attacks and ranged attacks.

You haven't played a shielder since new patch have you? You can hold a heavy kite shield directly in front of yourself, and get a frontal throwing weapon to your head, for example.

[Vibe]

I smell QQ.

[Vexus]

You haven't played a shielder since new patch have you? You can hold a heavy kite shield directly in front of yourself, and get a frontal throwing weapon to your head, for example.

Move your mouse up while holding right click?

[Tai Feng]

Move your mouse up while holding right click?

Read what discussion is about before making a reply?