They didn't take it away, now you can't use the best range in the game AND have a shield.
You want your shield, use a weaker crossbow.
otherwise you would use your shield to get to an optimal range position, then go to town using the best range weapon in the game. Effectively making you a super range tank, and if you can't understand why that should be changed then quit now and save everyone the grief of explaining it to you over and over again.