I really don't think you get what the problems are with shielders countering ranged. It is definitely not that shields aren't tough enough and it is not the 1 vs 1 scenario's. It is the coverage, it is the kiting, it is the crossfiring.
Plate shield vs 2 longbows standing 10 meters from eachother, shield doesn't block a thing as it is small as shit and people shoot past it. Also when you try to attack the one archer you get shot in the face by the other. If one archer runs away you gotta let go of your block or get outrun, making you even more prone to get shot by the other one. They will hold their shot and as soon as you face one, the other shoots you. No protection whatsoever
Okay, perhaps a 2 vs 1 scenario should mean that the shielder has a tough time.
10 plate shield shielders versus 10 longbows in an open field. The only way 10 shielders would counter 10 archers is if they would all chase down one of them and still they would get shot a lot. Archers that get pushed will run away, forcing the shielders to lower their shields or be unable to catch them. However the fear factor and the lack of communication causes the shielders to hesitate or go out one by one. If there are 10 archers versus 10 shielders alive at the end of the round I would bet on the archers. No protection whatsoever
This is what I often see archers in EU do. I have seen for example Steevee and Archpoop clutch rounds, get 10 to 1 k/d's and top kills on many occasion. They go to the edge of the battlefield, nobody dares to touch them. With the lack of communication nobody wants to take the risk of charging them, be it cav or shielder. Then when they near the end of the round they clutch the round because nobody knows what to do against them. Archery is extremely effective in small groups even without any melee support whatsoever and I think that is wrong.
Ugh, you guys. This never happens. I rarely ever face 2 archers as a shielder all alone with no other teammates around, and I never play on a team where it's 10 shielders vs 10 archers. These hypotheticals prove nothing.
A shield never breaks from arrows or bolts. If they do, stop using a pussy shield and get some shield skill. You can delay archers until a teamie comes. You can time their shots somewhat while you advance on one, or line them up so they both can't shoot at you. You can use a piece of cover to guard a flank and block their arrows until they are out of ammo. You can try to bum rush them (and get shot a few times) and kill one. These things
don't always work but nothing ALWAYS works. Still, in these ways, shields counter ranged.
But these scenarios rarely happen.
Usually it is a mix of 2h, cav, shielders, and ranged on the field, or in a castle. If the 2h charges the enemy ranged, they get shot very much and might die. If a shielder(s) engage the enemy ranged they get shot much less (or not at all, as the ranged usually just shoot at something they can actually hit), and they usually drive the ranged away so the 2h's can fight in peace, or they die. In this way, shields counter ranged.
On a siege map, ranged characters do 1 of 2 things. They are either on the attacking team, and trying to get the flag, or they are defending and shooting at the attackers. In both scenarios, the shielder just has to raise his shield and he can climb a ladder with impunity, or guard the flag and soak up arrows -- thus negating the ranged to an extent. In this way shields counter ranged.
When an archer is up on a wall (Attacking or defending, or in battle) sniping people, a 2h usually can't go up and get them...they will get shot while climbing the ladder/stairs. A shielder can go right up and not even flinch...and take out the sniper. In this way, shields counter ranged.
Unlike the 10v10 archers against shielders team, these scenarios I list
actually happen all the time.There are many more examples. Use your imaginations!
