Defensive Ideas for Shields

[noinfo]

S/B and shields in general become generally useless to most after a certain break point in the game. Eventually most people with shield are going to be hit with the same ease as which they would without and are still suffering a dps hit if wearing. This is entirely due to the way AC works in the d20 environment. This suggestion adds a little extra value to the shield.

The proposal is quite simple in nature, allow shields to give a separate concealment bonus based on the type of shield and its bonus (perhaps with the shield mastery skill somehow adding to it).

Intial numbers:
Small shield 10% +2% per +
Large shield 20% +2% per +
Tower shield 30% +2% per +

This would provide shield users a significant benefit approximately equal to their loss in dps at all levels of play.
It would also more significantly help diferentiate between a shield user with 85ac vs a 2wf dex build.

[Dulcimerist]

I like this idea, as it would make shields useful after a player hits the point where AC no longer really matters.

[Bacab]

I kinda like this idea...except...you may have to lower the %'s a little bit.

For example...Levik's Defender would be 40% concealment.

Well...some builds do *not* want concealment.

I like to use mine on my FVS when I am using concord opp and Torc to regen my SP.

Maybe make it where only...

Defender of Siberys
Stalwart Defender

get this enhancement?

Also make it a toggle. So you can turn it on or off.

[noinfo]

I kinda like this idea...except...you may have to lower the %'s a little bit.

For example...Levik's Defender would be 40% concealment.

Well...some builds do *not* want concealment.

I like to use mine on my FVS when I am using concord opp and Torc to regen my SP.

Maybe make it where only...

Defender of Siberys
Stalwart Defender

get this enhancement?

Also make it a toggle. So you can turn it on or off.

The % I gave were just initial ones for demonstration, I would not like it to become pre specific though. I do think the idea of toggling, maybe having it linked to defensive fighting/combat expertise being switched on?

[Rasczak]

Most of the time I'm using shields for DR and not AC.

[noinfo]

Most of the time I'm using shields for DR and not AC.

And that implies that you are either SD or you are just standing there blocking. While this is valuable and is not being replaced (as in game at the moment most people soley use shields for this purpose) this suggestion gives you actual defense while in combat swinging as was their original intent in DND.

[sirgog]

I'd rather something like this be added to the Defender builds:

Stalwart Defender 2
While you have a heavy shield or tower shield equipped, you take 10% less damage from slashing, bludgeoning and piercing damage sources. (Damage is rounded off to the nearest whole number, not rounded up or down)

Upgrade to 15% for SD3. (5% wouldn't have much effect on level 6-11 toons, so no need to add it to SD1).

[noinfo]

I'd rather something like this be added to the Defender builds:

Stalwart Defender 2
While you have a heavy shield or tower shield equipped, you take 10% less damage from slashing, bludgeoning and piercing damage sources. (Damage is rounded off to the nearest whole number, not rounded up or down)

Upgrade to 15% for SD3. (5% wouldn't have much effect on level 6-11 toons, so no need to add it to SD1).

The problem is with continuing to just put these things into a specific pre, it prevents shields from serving any viable purpose for other classes, instead of being a viable choice for more situations.

A barbarian charging across a room behind a tower shield to discard it just before melee range for example makes just as much sense.

[Hutoth]

Was going to post a very similar idea, but I did a search beforehand and found that you beat me to it by a month or so...

Nonetheless... my gaming PC died recently, and sitting here waiting for the new one to arrive, I've been "thinkin" (aka coming up with ddo stuff 'cause i can't play right now).

and I've been thinking about AC and shields... here's what I came up with for shields which is similar to your idea OP, with a couple of adjustments to ensure the power scales with level:

NEW EFFECT - SHIELD DEFLECTION
*Available to any character with Shield Proficiency (or Tower Shield Proficiency)
*Characters can choose to actively use their shield to Deflect incoming attacks with a toggle that is usuable with any other stance.

When active, the shield will Proc a "Shield Deflection" at a frequency equal to 10% plus the defender's BAB.

e.g. A lvl 1 fighter using a shield will Proc a shield deflection on 11% of incoming attacks.
e.g. A lvl 20 fighter using a shield will Proc a shield deflection on 30% of incoming attacks.

The base chance is identical for all shield types.

Effect #1
If the Shield Deflection procs, the attack will be partially or entirely deflected by the shield as follows:

Take the shield's normal AC bonus + the defender's BAB and add the result to the defender's Armour Class for the purposes of determining whether this attack is a hit.
and...

Effect #2
If the blow Hits anyway:

apply untyped stacking DR equal to the shield's blocking DR

Notes:

1. Shield Deflection can be procced by missile spells, but not by direct attack spells or aoe spells. For missle spells, as there is no to-hit roll, the shield provides its Deflection DR only.
2. The Deflection Roll will proc as normal, irrespective of whether character is blocking. And the extra DR stacks with blocking DR.
3. This is NOT overpowered compared with Blur or Displacement which are 20% and 50% full miss chance
4. Using BAB allows the ability to scale with fighting ability.

On the BAB scaling:
Using BAB means that a lowbie sword & board fighter has a relatively small chance to proc a deflection roll, and it will provide a relatively small AC boost versus that attack:
e.g. 3rd lvl fighter with a +2 Tower Shield will have a 13% chance to proc a Deflection, which would provide:
+9 AC vs that attack AND +4 DR if it hits

Meanwhile at high level the effect procs more often and is more potent.
e.g. 20th lvl fighter with a +5 Tower Shield will have a 30% chance to proc a Deflection which would provide:
+29 AC vs that attack AND +4 DR if it hits

And finally, some extra fun bits for magic shields:

New Magical Shield Suffix - "Deflection" 1 to 5
While used for Shield Deflection, this shield provides 1% - 5% bonus to the chance to proc a Shield Deflection and adds 1-5 to the stacking DR on deflected attacks.