Shield Mastery

[Khellendros13]

I think this illustrates pretty well why intimidate had to be changed in order for this feat to ever see the light of day.

Probably...I never considered it but a WF 12f/6b/2r with the SD PrE could get no fail intim and massive DR while intim blocking and using a healing stick (10/20/30% heal amp) AND self heal with SF pots (330hp per 3seconds).

Out of that situation, they would still have pretty good DPS either TWF or THF.

[sephiroth1084]

I'm not saying I should be able to fit in all the feats I want; ideally I'd love to also have the THF line but I know I have to make some sacrifices. However, if the way to beef up S&B is to make it cost 2 or 3 feats to do so, then it's utterly impossible for me take advantage of that in any way. I can't drop another combat chain for it simply because I just don't have one.

The feats I have are these:

Adamantine Body
Toughness
Khopesh
Power Attack
Combat Expertise
Improved Critical
Dodge

I know I can reasonably drop Dodge for a new feat, so that's not an issue, but I doubt I could drop 2.

If the improvement to S&B was only 1 feat though, then Paladins would have access to it, and Fighters would still be able to pick up things that I just simply can't, like Dodge (under the new setup), the THF chain, and so forth. That's where I'm coming from on this.

Yeah, I've got:
Dodge
Fighter Past Life
Maximize
Quicken
Toughness
Power Attack
Combat Expertise
Improved Critical

And I could drop Dodge or the Fighter PL, but not sure I'd give up both, and can't really drop anything else.

[Astraghal]

I didn't read through the whole thread and it may already have been covered.

But does the % DR get applied before the active or passive DR of a shield?

Say if I was blocking with a Levik's Defender and a mob hit me for 100 points of damage, would that be reduced by 100*0.8 - 15 or 100 - 15*0.8?

[sephiroth1084]

I didn't read through the whole thread and it may already have been covered.

But does the % DR get applied before the active or passive DR of a shield?

Say if I was blocking with a Levik's Defender and a mob hit me for 100 points of damage, would that be reduced by 100*0.8 - 15 or 100 - 15*0.8?

The reduction applies before DR. You'd take 65 in your example, not 68.

[AylinIsAwesome]

You should crunch the numbers and see if Adamantine Body + DR enhancements give better damage mitigation than Shield Mastery. If not, you know what to drop, and you'll save some AP to boot.

I don't have the DR enhancements. Adamantine Body is there for the +6 AC over Composite Body. For DR I have an Epic Cloak of Night.

[Trippy]

To this list of classes lacking in feats that still should have a use for shields (occasinally) add Warchanter bards and Warpriest clerics (when they get done).

My 2 Fighter/18 bard Warchanter
-------------------------------
Weapon Focus
Power Attack
Force of Personality
Toughness
Imp. Crit
Extend
TWF
ITWF
GTWF

I could thoreticly trade part or all of the twf chain for shield feats. If the shield feats made enough difference, which they currently do not. If I was pure bard I would only have 1 feat of wiggle room.

Anyone with a level 20 "melee" cleric (or even 2/18) want to give a list of feats they have and which 2-3 they could give up?

[VorpalLaugh]

Here is my idea for making ISM actually helpful.
"You are so skilled using a shield that not only can you defend yourself but also nearby allies. Prevents an additional 5% damage to you and nearby allies"
Now how far "nearby" is and whether it works 360 degrees or just 180 front arc is a question. Also would the ally bonus stack with that ally's own shield mastery damage prevention would be for playtesting to decide.

I would also love to see a similar thing for both of the "Defender" prestige lines. Right now they don't realy defend others that well.

For the problem of non-fighters being able to afford both she shield line and 2hf or twf line,
i think that is a good thing. Other classes have other abilities.

[voodoogroves]

To this list of classes lacking in feats that still should have a use for shields (occasinally) add Warchanter bards and Warpriest clerics (when they get done).

My 2 Fighter/18 bard Warchanter
-------------------------------
Weapon Focus
Power Attack
Force of Personality
Toughness
Imp. Crit
Extend
TWF
ITWF
GTWF

I could thoreticly trade part or all of the twf chain for shield feats. If the shield feats made enough difference, which they currently do not. If I was pure bard I would only have 1 feat of wiggle room.

Anyone with a level 20 "melee" cleric (or even 2/18) want to give a list of feats they have and which 2-3 they could give up?

Extend ? ;-)

Most 18/2s are sitting on 9 or 10 feats for TWF ...

Toughness
Improved Crit
TXF
ITXF
GTXF
Power Attack
Quicken
Empower/Healing
Maximize

Human could squeeze in Shield Mastery; if I had to drop one from here on a cleric I'd need some honesty on good my to-hits were vs. my offensive spells. If my STR was low-ish or I found I was turning PA off frequently, that one goes. If I only meleed with a Min2, Improved Crit goes (though I find that much more useful than PA on most builds). If my offensive casting is kinda weak, Maximize can go as a Radiant Servant will be healing just fine w/ Empower Healing.

THF builds can twitch when they need to DPS, turtle up when not. That's how I'm going to tackle mine at least; recover the TWF feats and twitch. Room then to maybe shove Extend back in the mix, etc. Basic model there is workable for bards, clerics or FVS. My Tukaw will be similar.

[sephiroth1084]

Here is my idea for making ISM actually helpful.
"You are so skilled using a shield that not only can you defend yourself but also nearby allies. Prevents an additional 5% damage to you and nearby allies"
Now how far "nearby" is and whether it works 360 degrees or just 180 front arc is a question. Also would the ally bonus stack with that ally's own shield mastery damage prevention would be for playtesting to decide.

I would also love to see a similar thing for both of the "Defender" prestige lines. Right now they don't realy defend others that well.

For the problem of non-fighters being able to afford both she shield line and 2hf or twf line,
i think that is a good thing. Other classes have other abilities.

I like it! Start a new thread on this so maybe a dev notices.

[Ironforge_Clan]

I think, if I wear my DoD and actively block with Shield mastery and Levik's Defender I will significantly reduce incoming damage on Horath.

DoD+Levik's+blocking = 20+15+10 = 45 DR

100dmg (avg I guess per hit) -45 = 55 - 20% = 44dmg per hit

This is ~300 or less dmg per 6 seconds. Medlas will be extra. I think Heal spell and Heal scroll would allow a fvs or cleric to solo heal me on Elite.

Interesting.

Just to point out a "mistake" in the order of your math.

Incoming damage = (100 * 0.20) - 45 = 35 [not the 44 you calculated]

The passive damage resistance comes off first. It makes a huge difference.

[VorpalLaugh]

I like it! Start a new thread on this so maybe a dev notices.

I will do that when I get home tonight from work. Should I post it in the Lamannia board in the suggestions board?

[Trippy]

Extend ? ;-)

Yeah, like my groups would allow me to give up extended Haste.

[voodoogroves]

Yeah, like my groups would allow me to give up extended Haste.

Your last question was geared towards melee clerics ;-)

I'm keeping extend on bards.

[elujin]

you guys think imp shield mastery is worth a feat ? or just imp bash and shield mastery ?

[dunklezhan]

you guys think imp shield mastery is worth a feat ? or just imp bash and shield mastery ?

Its an extra 5% passive damage resistance. Whether that's worth a feat is really up to you and whether your build can stand the price of not having a different feat.

[elujin]

Its an extra 5% passive damage resistance. Whether that's worth a feat is really up to you and whether your build can stand the price of not having a different feat.

i guess its not for me thx