Shield Bashing

[Jester814]

I have always had a problem playing a sword and board type warrior, and that's that there are precious few offensive moves with shields in games. I would really like to see the either included in the shield skill line, or a seperate "offensive" shield line that includes bashes and knockdowns and shield rushing and general offensive shield moves.

I may get flamed for this, but when I fought in SCA tournaments most people who used sword/shield used their shields as a weapon as well as a defensive tool. I just really want to see that implemented in games, because I think it will be a large draw towards people actually WANTING to use shields, instead of everyone who only wants to dual wield or use two handers. I'm a two hander guy myself currently, but I used to be real big on the sword and shield spec, and would like to see it make a comeback as an offensive AND defensive spec.

[Jonkar]

It would be awesome if shields had some offensive moves such as knockdown/bash, I definetly agree.

[Nackl of Gilmed]

Yeah, hoping for that too. 700 skills or something, with any luck.

[Niccoli]

It would be nice to have shield attacks, don't recall if they have really said one way or the other.

[Morthor]

I don't think its been mentioned but I don't see why not. The devs are smart enough not to miss something like this out.

[Deja vu]

I hope we can Duel wield Shields!

[NoggaNogga]

*boink*

I don't want to sadden you guys but Aventurine will most likely say:
"Too complex. Makes the game laggy." like they did with hit-zones.

[Lorthral]

If it isn't already implemented, there's always hope for a patch.

[Morthor]

*boink*

I don't want to sadden you guys but Aventurine will most likely say:
"Too complex. Makes the game laggy." like they did with hit-zones.

Dude, if it's going to be in at all, it will be in already. The game is feature complete. And its not as if this is a hugely complex feature to implement in comparison either.

[Jester814]

Too complex? It's the same mechanic as dual wielding, and the game has that O_o

That, plus, pushing is a skill no? So they already have shields/blocking, already have dual wielding, and already have pushing. I don't think it's too far a hop or hope that they will have offensive shield abilities in.

[NoggaNogga]

Well then...let's raise our glasses and drink a toast to the violent use of shields.

[SamDog]

Good Sirs;

Historically there have been weapons for bringing down shields.

The roman pilum was thrown at about 30 yards before the legion closed on an enemy. The spear was designed to go about 20 inches into the shield and then stick or break. The idea was, even if you didn't hit the guy, it is going to be very hard to use a shield with a spear sticking though it, it pulls it down and you have the front spike in your face.

Weapons similar to halbards were used to grapple the top (or any edge) and pull it down so that the guy next to you gets a clear shot.

The mace was supposed to wrap around the shield and whack you in the head anyway. The flail was supposed to wrap around the shield so you could yank it away. Round shields tend to do better against this kind of wrenching weapon, since long square ones create a bigger torque on the arm and straight unrounded edges are easier to grapple.

The thrown battle axe was supposed to weigh the shield down like the pilum.

Of course real life examples shouldn't be used to judge a fantasy game (though the german pocket-battleship would be useful for the ship-in-a-backpack arguments on other threads) but even so, I hope that one of the skills that you can train with spiked pole arms is "disable shield". The guy just can't block with it while it is dissabled. At higher levels of the skill you might actually be able to rip the shield out of his hands. (which is a good reason to have objects exist on the ground). The skill might just place his shield in your backpack (or his own at lower levels) though of course, I can think of all sorts of exploits that would go along with that.

The wizard types could use crooked staffs to trip and de-shield their enemies as well. On the defensive side, small round shields are much harder to wrench away or pull down than big square ones, so you might want to sacrifice lots of protection for ease of use.

The upside to this kind of skill is--being a swordsman has its drawbacks, you can't use it with a sword, and big square shields aren't always the best shield to have. This makes for more melee diversity.

Sorry for bashing the shield in this post.

your humble servent
SamDog

[Rageon]

Well then...let's raise our glasses and drink a toast to the violent use of shields.

I agree ! To The violent use of shields!

I would like it...Anyway

To the violent use of shields!

[Jester814]

I'm fine with all of your suggestions sam, as long as you're fine with mine :)

[Prox]

if an ork is charging at me I wanna be able to bash him in the face with my shield.

[Jester814]

if an ork is charging at me I wanna be able to bash him in the face with my shield.

Yeah you might make him prettier.

[Dr Who]

I hope that DFO lets me used 2 shields or at least has a 2 handed shield.

[SamDog]

I'm fine with all of your suggestions sam, as long as you're fine with mine :)

Good Jester;

There are lots of simple ways to make PvP more complicated in terms of the best weapon mix. There was a reason everyone didn't run around with a tower shield (other than just weight)--there were reasons to have round shields vs square ones etc. There were specific tactics for attacking a shield wall that used weapons other than swords.

In the game the devs would have to be careful to make sure each weapon and shield has both +s and -s.

your humble servent
SamDog

[coder1024]

1. any use of RL arguments concerning shields are irrelevent since we're dealing with a fantasy world here with its own set of arbitrary rules as set by the designers. I'm sure in real medieval war they didn't cast healing spells at people either or throw magical fireballs :)

2. there's no reason to bash shields. shields are one way to defend yourself and so people shouldn't be bashing them.

[Wrafe]

I have always had a problem playing a sword and board type warrior, and that's that there are precious few offensive moves with shields in games. I would really like to see the either included in the shield skill line, or a seperate "offensive" shield line that includes bashes and knockdowns and shield rushing and general offensive shield moves.

I may get flamed for this, but when I fought in SCA tournaments most people who used sword/shield used their shields as a weapon as well as a defensive tool. I just really want to see that implemented in games, because I think it will be a large draw towards people actually WANTING to use shields, instead of everyone who only wants to dual wield or use two handers. I'm a two hander guy myself currently, but I used to be real big on the sword and shield spec, and would like to see it make a comeback as an offensive AND defensive spec.

Anybody who would flame you over this is a fucking idiot. Shields are hardly ever implemented in games to do anything at all offensive.

It's not like people are going to stab you in the eye w/ their shield. If anybody needs an example, just watch Brad Pitt in the movie Troy. Perfect example of how a shield can be used offensively.

[d_arcturus]

In the game the devs would have to be careful to make sure each weapon and shield has both +s and -s.


Weapon +s = weapons.
shield -s = hield.

I'm not sure I follow your or the devs logic:confused::confused:

[Artio]

I hope we can Duel wield Shields!

:ohno::eek::idea::confused:

[Corwen]

*boink*

I don't want to sadden you guys but Aventurine will most likely say:
"Too complex. Makes the game laggy." like they did with hit-zones.

This makes me a sad panda.

[aeonicentity]

Historically shield moves were pretty limited. You can pretty much just slap some one, or shove the upper right corner into their face. Either way, you typically lose the advantage of a shield for protection, since its tied up in the manuver. There are two things I'd like to see the "Sheild press" and the "shield bash" The Shield press is where you engage another shieldman, and you use it to shove him out of line in a charge. This causes confusion and breaks formation.

Second is the shield bash. This is where you can use your shield to knock an opponent's shield out of place. Typically you delivered this strike to the left side of your opponent's shield in an attempt to open up his gut for a nice strike to disembowl him. Either way, shield use tends to not be terribly agressive with the shield. Its kind of counter-intuitive to its design, you want aggressive offhand, use a sword.

[Slaine]

Lol, who want to use shields? Isnt a sword and bow enough the conquer to DF world? :p:p:p

[NoggaNogga]

you want aggressive offhand, use a sword.
Even if you say it's pretty useless, shield press and bash could be still in for the RPers.
Just because it kinda rawks :D.

[Ersk]

1. any use of RL arguments concerning shields are irrelevent since we're dealing with a fantasy world here with its own set of arbitrary rules as set by the designers. I'm sure in real medieval war they didn't cast healing spells at people either or throw magical fireballs :)

2. there's no reason to bash shields. shields are one way to defend yourself and so people shouldn't be bashing them.

Ok... LOTR is not RL so I will use that as my argument

1. In the film legolas uses a shield to slide down a rail and flick the shield into an urak-hai (or something like that). I think this definetly shows that shields can be offensive!

2. theres no reason to bash shields? The reason is to knock stun or damage the target, which will hopefully aid you in killing it.