using a shield when not proficient?

[wolfy42]

Hi everyone:)

I was creating a new rogue character (just running him up to lvl 4 quickly) before sept 1st...and I noticed that if I wield a medium shield I only get a -1 AB not proficient penalty?

It used to be -4 I thought....havn't even tried using a non-proficient weapon for eons.....when did this change? The numbers that pop up when I attack seem to back it up as well (and in the combat log), so do rogues only get a -1 to AB for wearing a shield now even if your not proficient with them?

Certainly makes the first bunch of levels as a pure rogue easier to solo!!

[kuro_zero]

Weapons is a flat -4 attack penalty if you do not have proficiency.

Armor and Shields scale, giving you an attack penalty equal to the Armor Check Penalty. Since mithral reduces armor check penalty, it'll reduce your non-prof penalty as well.

[Leyoni]

If you look at the shield description it will tell you what the non-proficiency penalty is. If the shield is mithral that will reduce the penalty (an effect of mithral). If you hunt you'll be able to find a large shield with 0 non-proficiency penalty. I use that on my rogue when he hits the appropriate level. :)

[wolfy42]

Wow, super awesome thank you:)

Sadly the only mithril shields I have are bound to the characters.

Still thats a great benefeit early on for a very small penalty:)

[Freeman]

Keep an eye out for Darkwood shields as well, since they also have 0 attack penalty.

[7-day_Trial_Monkey]

You can grab a buckler right from level 1 and have 0 penalty. No need for mithral.

[parvo]

Darkwood and Mithril heavy shields have no Attack Bonus penalty. If you are not proficient, you will get the "!" icon, but it means nothing.

[Mercules]

Keep an eye out for Darkwood shields as well, since they also have 0 attack penalty.

And most people don't even realize this property so you can often find them on Vendors or cheap on the AH. My level 15 Rogue runs around with one on his back just in-case he needs just a bit more AC for something. +5 Darkwood he picked up at level 8 from a Vendor and he still has it. When I start a Rogue I have several iterations of +2-+4 Mithral Shields I have them use so they are not so squishy through the levels where AC matters.