Animal form and Salwart Defense

[Shaatan]

Quick question.

Do you benefit from Stalwart Defense stance (Obviously including Improved/Greater Stalwart Defense Enhancements) while in animal form?

[Tilomere]

Quick question.

Do you benefit from Stalwart Defense stance (Obviously including Improved/Greater Stalwart Defense Enhancements) while in animal form?

Yes.

[thegreatneil]

Quick question.

Do you benefit from Stalwart Defense stance (Obviously including Improved/Greater Stalwart Defense Enhancements) while in animal form?

Improved yes. Greater no.

When in animal form you are considered unarmed. You are not "holding a shield" for the requirement of Greater stalwart defense.

I assume this is why you can't swashbuckler in animal form either.

[Shaatan]

Improved yes. Greater no.

When in animal form you are considered unarmed. You are not "holding a shield" for the requirement of Greater stalwart defense.

I assume this is why you can't swashbuckler in animal form either.

I thought they removed the shield requirement from greater stance.

[thegreatneil]

I thought they removed the shield requirement from greater stance.

If you mean this:
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/443353-Armor-and-Mitigation-Changes

Nothing in here has been implemented as of yet.

[Shaatan]

If you mean this:
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/443353-Armor-and-Mitigation-Changes

Nothing in here has been implemented as of yet.

Yeah, this might be where I read about it lol. For some reason I thought that they've already done that change, since there is nothing listed about a shield in description (at keast on wiki).

@Edit:

I just rolled an iconic toon to test it properly and it appears that the bonuses from Stalwart Defense, Improved Stalwart Defense and Greater Stalwart Defense DO work in animal form, but for Greater Stalwart Defense you need to have a shield equipped.

[thegreatneil]

Yeah, this might be where I read about it lol. For some reason I thought that they've already done that change, since there is nothing listed about a shield in description (at keast on wiki).

@Edit:

I just rolled an iconic toon to test it properly and it appears that the bonuses from Stalwart Defense, Improved Stalwart Defense and Greater Stalwart Defense DO work in animal form, but for Greater Stalwart Defense you need to have a shield equipped.

o.O


Off to test I go....


Edit: ok yes EVERYTHING works in animal form.

When did they change this?
Not that I mind.

[thegreatneil]

In animal form:
fighter - SD

Reprisal - does not work
Block and Cut - does not work

bard - SB
Swashbuckling stance - does not work
Swashbuckling Style Skirmisher- doesn't not give the 10% dodge. it DOES allow for SWF, even in animal form.
Low blow - does not work

SO if some crazy person want to build a 9 druid 5 bard 6 fighter, go for it.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/iamthegreatneil/ScreenShot00119_zps84cc9ec4.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/iamthegreatneil/media/ScreenShot00119_zps84cc9ec4.jpg.html)

[unbongwah]

FYI, the Intim bonuses from equipping a shield do NOT apply while in animal form - or at least they didn't when I rolled up my bear tank build ages ago. :(

So basically, it seems like the passive bonuses from S&B (inc. Gtr Defensive Stance and Shield Mastery) will carry over to animal forms; but the active S&B-only abilities like Block&Cut etc. do not, presumably because you're considered to be unarmed for combat purposes.