Improved Shieldmastery

[Hobgoblin]

it has been a while since i tried this - but a tower shield shouldnt/didnt get rid of evasion in the past. is this not true anymore?

hob

[Aesop]

it has been a while since i tried this - but a tower shield shouldnt/didnt get rid of evasion in the past. is this not true anymore?

hob

last I checked no shield of any type affected Evasion.

Aesop

[Chai]

The issue with giving shields all these grand powers is that they are still one feat away from being abused by casters who do not sacrifice DPS in order to equip one, so they gain all the benefits at the expense of none of the drawbacks - just like they do now - the main difference being the semantic of the name of the feat taken.

People who swing weapons sacrifice DPS to equip a shield so it makes sense that theres a benefit gained for the drawback traded.

[sirgog]

The issue with giving shields all these grand powers is that they are still one feat away from being abused by casters who do not sacrifice DPS in order to equip one, so they gain all the benefits at the expense of none of the drawbacks - just like they do now - the main difference being the semantic of the name of the feat taken.

People who swing weapons sacrifice DPS to equip a shield so it makes sense that theres a benefit gained for the drawback traded.

They could just make Shield Mastery scale with base attack bonus, or better yet, have ASF apply not just while you are wearing a shield but for 10 seconds after you put it away.

Doesn't address the FVS issue, but at least they aren't putting out 500+ DPS while blocking.

[Delssar]

This is an awesome idea. It should also cancel skills. Like intimidate.

Also, let's add a new melee metric, where they only get a limited number of swings between rests. Once you swing that many times, you need to find a shrine. Call it arm fatigue.

We'll add potions that replenish swings, and a new drop from DQ will give you a chance to recharge swings when you get hit.

Have to make each swing hit around 3k damage then

[Hobgoblin]

last I checked no shield of any type affected Evasion.

Aesop

thats what i thought, but the op has stated twice that it does........


hob

[noinfo]

They could just make Shield Mastery scale with base attack bonus, or better yet, have ASF apply not just while you are wearing a shield but for 10 seconds after you put it away.

Doesn't address the FVS issue, but at least they aren't putting out 500+ DPS while blocking.

Maybe not 500+ but dots, archon and rediculous self healing ability that cant be interupted including woh are just as much an issue.

[Ralmeth]

It is pretty crazy to think that taking a single feat, Shield Mastery, can provide more defense in an Epic quest, then all of the AC gear that takes a long time to gather, all of the time and effort put into building a proper Defender.

I am all for making shields good to use, but I think the intent of the Shield Mastery feats was to provide Fighter and Paladin Defenders with more benefit from using a shield. If that's true, then perhaps there should be a prerequisite that you have to have the Stalwart Defender or Defender of Siberys prestige class in order to take the Shield Mastery feats. What does everyone else think about that?

Edit: As for the OP, I don't think that you should improve Improved Shield Mastery to your recommendation. Right now, between both Defender types, Paladins and Fighters, only a Fighter could afford Improved Shield Mastery as Paladins are very feat starved. So if Improved Shield Mastery is noticeably better than Shield Mastery, this will favor Fighter Stalwart Defenders even more than they are favored already. I think both Defender types need to be balanced relative to the other, with each bringing it's own advantages and disadvantages. So.../not signed as this would tip the scales too far to the Fighter.

[Matuse]

In what way are those offensive spells?

They aren't. That's the point. If spells are going to go away when you shield block, then ALL spells should go away when you shield block.

Shield blocking should also dismiss rage, cancel Zeal, prevent intimidate, apply a -20 AB penalty, and cut incoming heal/repair spells in half.

They could just make Shield Mastery scale with base attack bonus, or better yet, have ASF apply not just while you are wearing a shield but for 10 seconds after you put it away.

Which will do nothing. You'll get mithril or crystal alchemical shields with built-in reduced ASF, and then add in the 7finger gloves or something, and even with a shield, arcane spells will be no-fail.

Want to "fix" the shield blocking feats? This is extremely easy.

1) Flip the bonuses for Shield Mastery and Improved Shield Mastery. ISM requires BAB 16.
2) Torc and Conc-Opp items do not activate while blocking

Solved. Done.

[Kmnh]

I don't like the shield mastery/threat gen/intimidate mechanics.

When I first got into the raiding circuit, tanking felt like a reward. You built your character well and you know how to play it, you get to see big numbers, the boss tries to kill you first. Shield mastery/intimidate means that you are tricking a pit fiend/horned devil/the demon that has terrorized the sands for centuries into hitting a wall.

It's funny how after all these years the most interesting devil fight in the game is still Harry from the shroud. I wish they would buff the elite blades back up .