Druid shield options - do they suck as bad as I think?

[voodoogroves]

I've got a character who I'm contemplating a TR into a druid (dwarf was my thought) and was thinking about doing the whole shield mastery thing. The character in question has (essentially) just about every named shield that's reasonably easy to get (all the shields of legend, the one from VoD, Light/Dark, Bulwark, Bastion, Skyvaults, etc. etc.) He's a WF wizard so I've not bothered to farm up a Wall of Wood, but that's easy enough to manage.

Anyway, looked though them all. Any that are remotely useful are metal.

Do druids with shields basically only use lootgen + Wall of Wood?

[cru121]

alchemical shields can be crystal.

[Charononus]

There's some like the weathered targe I think it's called from sands as well but yeah pretty much. The good news is that the random loot gen shields are pretty good. When I did a melee druid life I played him to 25 to see how it was at epic, and I had a seeker 10 shield which was pretty nice to have.

[voodoogroves]

alchemical shields can be crystal.

Good point. Of course that means I need to run MA and LOB some, which makes me groan a bit.

Still ... to really prep a shield a want ... it wouldn't be usable for quite a while - like Wall of Wood timeframe. Is there only a desert in the middle?

I do have a few nice lootgen shields I've picked up over time that are non-metal.

[Matuse]

so I've not bothered to farm up a Wall of Wood, but that's easy enough to manage.

You say that now, wait until you encounter the drop rate...6 weeks of consecutive ransacks on EN before I got it to drop.

Good news is that the heroic normal version IS pretty easy to get, since it can show up on the chain end reward.

[cru121]

Consider also giving Cannith Crafting a chance. Particularly if combined with augments. Shields can have either red or blue (or colorless) augments. E.g. at level 20: Greater Evocation Focus of Superior Stability + 90 Devotion (or whatever you need).

[Archangel666]

You say that now, wait until you encounter the drop rate...6 weeks of consecutive ransacks on EN before I got it to drop.

Good news is that the heroic normal version IS pretty easy to get, since it can show up on the chain end reward.

Tell me about it. I farmed two of the buggers.

[Synthetic]

Madstone shield is gem grants tower shield proficiency too so useful for PRR stacking.

[moriedhel]

It really kinda boils down to if you want the best PRR/AC, then you go for Aegis, otherwise some lootgen large shield until you get wall of wood, depends on what effects you're missing on your gear.

[voodoogroves]

Aegis is maybe an option to farm up.

Normal Madstone provide proficiency ... but nothing else. No slots, etc.

Still, it's sadly looking like there are less useful druid named shields than there are named dwarven axes. That's pretty limited.

[Matuse]

Weathered Targe is Densewood, Improved Lightning Resistance, and a Purple Slot.

Carved Bone Shield is...well, Bone. Negative damage protection, and a Purple Slot. Death's Door from the Necropolis is basically the same thing, but adds Deathblock (and is also somewhat awesome looking).

There are a couple of very low level named shields made of wood.

And of course the Wall of Wood.

But yes, druids are probably best off finding a blue slotted lootgen shield and crafting on it. Can Red slots show up on lootgen shields? That would let you fit in a spellpower augment at least, but I'm not sure it's possible.

[Missing_Minds]

You say that now, wait until you encounter the drop rate...6 weeks of consecutive ransacks on EN before I got it to drop.

Ouch. 2 six man runs got our guildie his. Yes, EN.

[voodoogroves]

Weathered Targe is Densewood, Improved Lightning Resistance, and a Purple Slot.

Carved Bone Shield is...well, Bone. Negative damage protection, and a Purple Slot. Death's Door from the Necropolis is basically the same thing, but adds Deathblock (and is also somewhat awesome looking).

There are a couple of very low level named shields made of wood.

And of course the Wall of Wood.

But yes, druids are probably best off finding a blue slotted lootgen shield and crafting on it. Can Red slots show up on lootgen shields? That would let you fit in a spellpower augment at least, but I'm not sure it's possible.

Hmm didn't notice Death's Door was bone. Mine is old, but I can get another one.

[cru121]

I've added shields from this thread (and some more) to the wiki:
http://ddowiki.com/page/Druid_equipment

[Terebinthia]

You say that now, wait until you encounter the drop rate...6 weeks of consecutive ransacks on EN before I got it to drop.

Good news is that the heroic normal version IS pretty easy to get, since it can show up on the chain end reward.

It's not just me then

[Terebinthia]

Weathered Targe is Densewood, Improved Lightning Resistance, and a Purple Slot.

Carved Bone Shield is...well, Bone. Negative damage protection, and a Purple Slot. Death's Door from the Necropolis is basically the same thing, but adds Deathblock (and is also somewhat awesome looking).

There are a couple of very low level named shields made of wood.

And of course the Wall of Wood.

But yes, druids are probably best off finding a blue slotted lootgen shield and crafting on it. Can Red slots show up on lootgen shields? That would let you fit in a spellpower augment at least, but I'm not sure it's possible.

Yes, they can, I've got a red slotted Battle Shield lurking around somewhere. Sadly not druid friendly though. But worth keeping a look out.

[unbongwah]

You say that now, wait until you encounter the drop rate...6 weeks of consecutive ransacks on EN before I got it to drop.

Ouch. Just started running (heroic) Druid's Deep on my pure druid; "nice" to know what I have to look forward to.

Good news is that the heroic normal version IS pretty easy to get, since it can show up on the chain end reward.

Fortunately(?), her gear sucks so much that even the HN WoW (& LotF) will be an upgrade. Heck, just having a wood shield with Devotion will be an improvement; the heal amp & DR are perks.