Shield damage Suggestions

[Stravix]

Funny you should mention that, Best Defense got dropped to 1d10+6 for the next preview :P

That being said, as part of the full shield dice refactor, it did get 5w, so it's a numerical buff in every aspect either way.

So, shields are looking like they will be getting extra +[W] in the next preview, but a much lower [W] value. As people have mathed out, this would be a substantial nerf to shield damage in shield damage builds.

What are y'all's thoughts on things that could go alongside this change, that would make shield bashing more viable, instead of less?

My thoughts:
* Remove or reduce the ICD
Shield bashing has an internal cooldown of 1 sec. Does anyone know if this is a balance decision or a performance one? Because if it is balance, then now that shields are going to standard weapon damage die, they should be able to hit the same proc rate a TWF.

* If the ICD has to stay, maybe give the bashes a better Stat Mod damage rate? Right now, very few builds actually utilize 1x damage mods, and a 1.5x would help significantly to close the gap made by the [w] changes

[Stravix]

Other solutions that have been tossed around:

* Let shields doublestrike. Shield mastery already gives DS, either utilize that to keep some damage up without changing the ICD (if it would cause issues or is impossible), or make those feats also grant off-hand double strike and let that work.

* Just have Shield Bash proc automatically once per second and turn Bash Chance into a chance to do another main-hand melee strike when wielding a shield, a la Throwing Expertise. Same difference, more or less, and that solves the co-scaling issue too. (Courtesy of Droid327)

[Lynnabel]

So, shields are looking like they will be getting extra +[W] in the next preview, but a much lower [W] value.

Just so you're aware, the overwhelming majority of shields in the game got both their W and +W increased significantly by this change.

More to the point, we have no plans to adjust anything other than the dice of shields for this update.

[Stravix]

Just so you're aware, the overwhelming majority of shields in the game got both their W and +W increased significantly by this change.

More to the point, we have no plans to adjust anything other than the dice of shields for this update.

Well, that is certainly discouraging, but thank you for the information.

[Captain_Wizbang]

Well, that is certainly discouraging, but thank you for the information.

Really? We're getting something, and that's fine w/ me.

As for the thread...............................

1 post and BAMM. A dev shut it down. (ouch)

[Stravix]

Really? We're getting something, and that's fine w/ me.

As for the thread...............................

1 post and BAMM. A dev shut it down. (ouch)

Except the something that we are getting (assuming the numbers Lynn gave before) is a hard nerf to the only viable shield for bashing...

[Arkat]

Except the something that we are getting (assuming the numbers Lynn gave before) is a hard nerf to the only viable shield for bashing...

Indeed.