What shield?

[RumbIe]

I often see Sorc's with a large wooden shield tanking stuff like it's their primary goal in life. What shield is it that I'm seeing? It almost looks like a large wooden tower shield, but I am assuming it is something special with no ASF. Also since it's usually a sorc I see with one, is there any reason it wouldn't be a good fit for a PM Wiz? I have 2 levels of rogue and I was the last man standing in a ToD with just the pig left. I had him down to about 0.0001% hp but I didn't want to burn a pot given h ow quickly the rest of the party went down and my confidence in actually completing was low so I was trying to beat him with just Con-Op regens. I got him down from about 30% health. Was thinking if I had that extra special shiny shield it might have made the difference.

[Spoprockel]

I guess it's this shield http://ddowiki.com/page/Skyvault_Shield.

Doesn't have acrane spell failure, so it might be your best bet if you want to turtle up and dot stuff while fishing for torc/con opp procs

[Sarisa]

Yes, what you are seeing is definitely the Skyvault. It's a great turtling/torc'ing shield when levelling.

At higher levels, a lot of people use Light and Darkness (5% failure). The new VoD shield Vengeful Protector (5% failure) is also a great shield to use as a caster, due to the high DR.

The best shield would probably be the Epic Kundarak Warding Shield (slot Arcane Casting Dexterity to turn it into a 0% failure shield), with the Epic Shield of the Scorpion (slot Arcane Casting Dexterity for 0%), Epic Weathered Targe (0% failure naturally, with two blue slots, but less blocking DR than the others), and the two other sands epic shields (with Arcane Casting Dex slotted) as alternatives.

[Darknark]

The best shield would be the Lorriks with 15% ASF slotted somewhere else.
3 more DR :D.

The extra benefit of slotting ASF on something other than a shield is that you can use other shields when/if your 'best' breaks (tank for long enough and it will break) without the ASF penalty.

Additionally it allows the situational usage of the "Shield of reflecting" from Diplomatic Impunity, giving mobs that hit you an effective 5% chance of being 'flesh to stoned'.

[Spoprockel]

Don't forget, you need to take damage to get SP procs, if only 1 point. Therefore the DR shouldn't be too high.

[Sarisa]

According to several people, the Arcane Casting Dexterity crystal can now only be slotted into a shield or armour. I doubt many would want to waste their eDiabolist's blue slot on an ACD crystal.

[Darknark]

According to several people, the Arcane Casting Dexterity crystal can now only be slotted into a shield or armour. I doubt many would want to waste their eDiabolist's blue slot on an ACD crystal.

Why would a sorc want a +7 int item? sure, the conj. DC is nice situationally.... but really? Docent of Defiance.

ASF can be slotted in ANY blue/green/violet slot. I did this recently. (~week ago)