Shield Crafting, In development? Or do I go TWF?

[Jeffywan]

With the benifit that can be gained from a second shroud weapon I am tempted to trade my sheild proficency feat for TWF feat (ofcourse both can be done without feat). The only thing is I like the sword and board, it protects my squishy rouge body. But a sheild clicky and a shroud weapon can get me a higher AC bonus clickys and higher dps.

It could even be incorporated into the shroud using the current system, but I hope the Devs are planing somthing special for those of us that like a piece of metal between us and our enimes. Anyone else feel their shield needs a boost?

[Noctus]

Sword&Board Combat Style needs to get some love.

[Borror0]

Shield crafting would be an horrible idea.

That said, S&B needs some DPS love and monk splash and Icy Raiment needs some nerfing.

[Auran82]

Shield crafting would be an horrible idea.

That said, S&B needs some DPS love and monk splash and Icy Raiment needs some nerfing.

Offhand shield bashes in the attack sequence (maybe as 'hooks')

The monk thing? Limit the wis bonus based on monk levels (or percentage like the sorcs SP bonus) or make you have to be centered to get it.

[Borror0]

Offhand shield bashes in the attack sequence (maybe as 'hooks')

That has been suggested by Aesop and I'm liking it more and more as time goes by.

That and maybe increasing the Str bonus to damage to 1.25 instead of 1.00. That would gain +2-3 damage more. It'd help a little.

[Aesop]

/yawn...

morning ... what'd I do now?

oh **** late for work

Aesop

[krud]

Offhand shield bashes in the attack sequence (maybe as 'hooks')

The monk thing? Limit the wis bonus based on monk levels (or percentage like the sorcs SP bonus) or make you have to be centered to get it.

/agreed.

However, instead of 1.25 str damage, I would give enhancements that would add to the shield bash damage. Make the shield bash feats prereqs for the higher tier enhancements.

[Borror0]

/agreed.

However, instead of 1.25 str damage, I would give enhancements that would add to the shield bash damage. Make the shield bash feats prereqs for the higher tier enhancements.

Did you mean to quote me?

Personally, I just rather not forcing S&B to pick up too many feat/enhancements to improve.

[krud]

Did you mean to quote me?

Personally, I just rather not forcing S&B to pick up too many feat/enhancements to improve.

I'm of the idea that they should be able to pick up a small bonus with minimal AP and no prereqs, however if they choose they can get a larger bonus if they focus on it, and get the feats and spend the AP.

It could be a +2/+4/+8 (non-stacking) bonus for 2/4/6 AP and imp shield bash feat as prereq for the last two tier.

or +1/+2/+4/+8 for 1/2/3/4AP and imp shield bash feat for the last two tier. (or if you prefer stacking bonus then +1/+2/+3/+4)

Not much of an AP cost to get the same bonus you suggested, but the option to get higher if you want to focus.

[Borror0]

Not much of an AP cost to get the same bonus you suggested, but the option to get higher if you want to focus.

Not really. The +3 damage would be per swing, rather than per shield bash.

Anyway, before putting any number we should try to determinate the frequency of the hooks.

[krud]

Not really. The +3 damage would be per swing, rather than per shield bash.

Anyway, before putting any number we should try to determinate the frequency of the hooks.

ok, I thought the 1.25 str bonus was for bashing. Maybe both ideas?

[Borror0]

ok, I thought the 1.25 str bonus was for bashing. Maybe both ideas?

"Maybe."

We'd have to run the numbers and probably revisit the way shield bashing works. Kinda lame atm.

[krud]

...monk splash... needs some nerfing.

just a side thought, do you think monks should remain centered when using racially preferred weapons? e.g dwarves w/axes, elves w/rapiers,ls, etc.

[Thrudh]

With the benifit that can be gained from a second shroud weapon I am tempted to trade my sheild proficency feat for TWF feat (ofcourse both can be done without feat). The only thing is I like the sword and board, it protects my squishy rouge body. But a sheild clicky and a shroud weapon can get me a higher AC bonus clickys and higher dps.

It could even be incorporated into the shroud using the current system, but I hope the Devs are planing somthing special for those of us that like a piece of metal between us and our enimes. Anyone else feel their shield needs a boost?

First off, you shouldn't waste a feat on shield proficiency... Better to splash fighter for the free proficiencies (and another feat!) or just get yourself a mithral shield. Zero penalties for using a mithral shield even if you don't have shield proficiency.

So yeah, find a +5 mithral heavy shield for when you want to go Sword and Board... and replace that feat with TWF and try out two-weapon fighting...

Two-weapon fighting is a lot of fun... You can have a paralyzer in one hand, a banisher in the other for example. If even one of the two weapon weapons has a seeker bonus or a sneak attack bonus, you gain the benefit with both weapons. DPS is high because you get sneak attack for both weapons, etc.

All that said, I hope they do implement shield crafting someday...

[Alcides]

Shield crafting would be an horrible idea.

That said, S&B needs some DPS love and monk splash and Icy Raiment needs some nerfing.

So it's ok for a toon to run around with two tier 3 shroud weapons, but not ok for a toon to run around with a tier 3 shroud weapon and a non crafted shield? It's hard enough to itemize a S&B toon as it stands.

Really if they would just let us take the dodge rituals up to a maximum of +4, I think everything would shake itself out.

[Alcides]

just a side thought, do you think monks should remain centered when using racially preferred weapons? e.g dwarves w/axes, elves w/rapiers,ls, etc.

Good luck in convincing Borror0 of anything, he has a very dour opinion of what is balanced and what is not.

[Borror0]

Good luck in convincing Borror0 of anything, he has a very dour opinion of what is balanced and what is not.

Sorry, but giving paladins as much DPS per swing as rangers against their favored enemy isn't my version of "balanced".

Especially when rangers are supposed to be a much more DPS-centric class than paladins.

[Borror0]

just a side thought, do you think monks should remain centered when using racially preferred weapons? e.g dwarves w/axes, elves w/rapiers,ls, etc.

My opinion on that is similar to Angelus_dead's which was that if a monk is willing to grab the enhancements for it, they could use it. However, in that case the weapon would be downgraded to something lesser. Otherwise it would cause a lot more problems.

So it's ok for a toon to run around with two tier 3 shroud weapons, but not ok for a toon to run around with a tier 3 shroud weapon and a non crafted shield?

Weapons are weapons. Once you allow one, you're stuck to accept the another one going in the other hand. If you don't you severely punish TWF characters in comparison to THF characters as they not only have to find two weapons but they get cut in their DPS output.

For shields, it's different.

It's hard enough to itemize a S&B toon as it stands.

By itemize, I am assuming you mean gearing up?

Then, why would you want to be stuck grinding for more gear if it's already hard to equip a S&B character?

Really if they would just let us take the dodge rituals up to a maximum of +4, I think everything would shake itself out.

Except that is a very bad idea in itself.

[artvan_delet]

Shield crafting would be an horrible idea.

That said, S&B needs some DPS love and monk splash and Icy Raiment needs some nerfing.

You think the devs are going to nerf raiments and monk splash? I doubt it. The poster should go TWF, there's no dispute that TWF rules the day now. Dual green-steel TWF is so far ahead of S/B it makes my stomach churn. And we're months away from the next mod. They haven't added shield love in a year, no reason to expect they will now.

[Talcyndl]

Shield crafting would be an horrible idea.

Compared to all the other crafting, which you are a big fan of.