Get a shield they said

[Grumbs]

Why do xbows shoot straight through my 4 skill shield like it is paper and do damage to me?

Why are xbowers regular infantrymen when they put away their xbow?

[Miwiw]

What kind of shield? Paper?

A board shield? Plain Board Shield for example? You should get some steel shield, they wont shoot through it while you have 6 shield skill and more. 4 isn't enough, get more!

[Nyu]

You could have looked it up here: http://forum.melee.org/beginner%27s-help-and-guides/game-mechanic-megathread!/

Crossbow shield penetration
For a crossbow to penetrate a shield it's damage will have to be above 30 + 3*(shield's armor). What this means is that without taking speed bonus (you running towards the shooter) into account a loomed arbalestman at close range will probably shoot through shields with less than 20 resistance (30 + 20*3 = 90 damage). At under 15 shield resistance (30 + 15*3 = 75 damage) you start to seriously risk getting your shield penetrated by a bolt.

[EyeBeat]

Xbows shoot through my 3x heirloomed huscarl shield all the time. 

Something is wrong where if they shoot the right spot it just goes through.

[Nightmare798]

devs did this because xbowers are too retarded to shoot people with no shield. it probably takes a rocket scientist to understand that you can not shoot someone, who is holding a big chunk of wood [or metal] in front of his face.

[Nyu]

Xbows shoot through my 3x heirloomed huscarl shield all the time. 

Something is wrong where if they shoot the right spot it just goes through.

The only thing that I can imagine is that, due to speedbonus, the damage gets too high and penetrates your shield.

If you have 6 shieldskill it would need the crossbow to deal 30+3*24*1.08^6 = 114.25 damage
Mw arbalest + mw steel bolts deals 100 pierce damage, which means that around 15% speed bonus would be enough to penetrate it, if i didn't fuck up maths

[San]

Most shields are crap against xbows. You're stuck with the few shields with good armor rating.

[Grumpy_Nic]

Why are xbowers regular infantrymen when they put away their xbow?

Why are regular infantrymen xbowers if they pick up an xbow?

Why is cav infantry if they get dehorsed?

[Teeth]

What kind of shield? Paper?

A board shield? Plain Board Shield for example? You should get some steel shield, they wont shoot through it while you have 6 shield skill and more. 4 isn't enough, get more!

You know what those crossbowmen have to get to shoot through your shield. A crossbow and bolts, that's all. I find crossbows dealing damage through shields a lame mechanic, which should only apply if the shield is near breaking.

To be honest though, having played hoplite with 3 shield skill and a Round Shield for quite a while, it didn't happen much.

[Grumbs]

It happens all the time and I have 4 shield skill and 21 armour shield. Don't remember it happening as much with my 1 skill 7 armour one before, or its just that I play with the shield more now so notice it more

Grumpy when cav is dehorsed he still has put like 6 points into riding which detracts from his infantry ability. Xbows have to dedicate nothing of worth. 1 handers are not underpowered before you say that

[Teeth]

Mw arbalest + mw steel bolts deals 100 pierce damage, which means that around 15% speed bonus would be enough to penetrate it, if i didn't fuck up maths

You fucked up your physics though. Bolts and arrows fly very fast relative to the movement speed of a man or even a horse, 15% when talking infantry simply doesn't happen. A bolt goes like 60 m/s in real life, probably quite a bit faster in game, so any infantry's movement speed which is probably like 3 m/s max when holding up a shield is only going to add 5% speedbonus. This might be a little more damage wise, but in general when discussing infantry and arrows/bolts, dragging speed bonus along is fairly pointless.

[Vodner]

A bolt goes like 60 m/s in real life, probably quite a bit faster in game, so any infantry's movement speed which is probably like 3 m/s max when holding up a shield is only going to add 5% speedbonus.

Careful, speed bonus isn't linear. A 3 m/s increase in speed would actually lead to a 9.7% speed bonus.

You would only need a 4.58 m/s increase to get a 15% speed bonus.

e:
Should have mentioned that this is assuming the 60 m/s projectile speed you used as an example.

[Mr.K.]

Why is cav infantry if they get dehorsed?

Off topic, but they are shit infantry when dehorsed unless high level. Riding needs a skill point investment, xbows don't.

[Gurnisson]

Off topic, but they are shit infantry when dehorsed unless high level. Riding needs a skill point investment, xbows don't.

5-6 riding is ignoring IF or 1 less ps or ath compared to a normal infantry build. Not that major, while still being more major than the wpf investment of the crossbowmen.

[Gravoth_iii]

5 shieldskill here with either buckler or kite shield, cant remember almost ever being hit through the shield, very rare. Or maybe it does happen but doesnt do much damage.