Have they nerfed shields yet?

[Armstrong]

I'm a long time player and feel the need to return to these forums and ask a couple of times a year, have they nerfed shields yet?

My main gripe with warband was that it had highly skilled gameplay in the form of 2 handed weapons and manual blocking, but
then you would find some people with multiple top tier shields who achieve a similar level of success to those who use 2 handers
except without having to work for that success.

For example, I would block a series of blows from a shield users and hit their shield multiple times. Only for it to be destroyed eventually
and for them to pull out another shield. I just don't see how it can be considered balanced that I have to block loads of their hits which
are pottentially deadly before I even get the slightest chance of harming them. Sure it can be accomplished at times but then again they're
just sitting there holding MOUSE 2 and occasionally hitting MOUSE 1, that is hardly fair.

 

[Jesus YOUR LORD]

I like to think of shield players as presents you need to unwrap, or sweets with a hard nutty shell but a sticky gooey centre.    Most people who turtle are not good once you crash through the shields. 

If there are too many turtles I get shield breaking gear.

They can't attack as fast with their shield, this alone usually makes them easy to kill. 

I agree that it can be frustrating attacking someone holding down RMB pressing S and carefully timing their attacks but by and large I don't mind shield users compared to ranged spam.  Most of the good shields are quite expensive which limits Huscurl turtles somewhat.

Good players running around with greatswords holding S and stabbing piss me off just as much as turtles, each to their own.

 

[Shemaforash]

Maybe you're not so skilled after all, since these kind of players are very easily countered.

Footwork & reach.

 

[captain lust]

I don't know how you've reached this conclusion about shield users but it's totally false and the more you learn about movement and timing, the clearer this will become.

 

[Habbla]

What the other people said. And if you want any kind of resemblance to a one versus one skill contest or something more "fair", go to a duel server instead.

 

[Maynd]

LOL there is always someone whining because they cant get around challenges that counter their sword spam.

 

[MadocComadrin]

Shields have been nerfed to the point that they make sense (no magic wall that blocks attacks from the side). Sword and board takes skill as well, especially when you need to end a fight quickly between yourself and another sword-and-boarder. In essence, implying that only blocking is skill in Warband is just silly, and chances are that those sword and boarders you see with success can also defend themselves just as well when their last shield breaks (also do note the speed penalty for carrying more than one shield).

In addition, most of the turtles you run across can be spammed to death, as they won't attack right away and have no sense of timing. They are different however from patient players, who will wait until a strike hits their shield or an obvious opening is present before acting.

 

[Corsair831]

I'm a long time player and feel the need to return to these forums and ask a couple of times a year, have they nerfed shields yet?

My main gripe with warband was that it had highly skilled gameplay in the form of 2 handed weapons and manual blocking, but
then you would find some people with multiple top tier shields who achieve a similar level of success to those who use 2 handers
except without having to work for that success.

For example, I would block a series of blows from a shield users and hit their shield multiple times. Only for it to be destroyed eventually
and for them to pull out another shield. I just don't see how it can be considered balanced that I have to block loads of their hits which
are pottentially deadly before I even get the slightest chance of harming them. Sure it can be accomplished at times but then again they're
just sitting there holding MOUSE 2 and occasionally hitting MOUSE 1, that is hardly fair.

hi mate, using a shield is in fact, more skillful, than using a 2 handed weapon in battle.

blocking peoples' attacks is not a particularly impressive skill, it's something that can be picked up in 5 hours on nditions duel server, so no cigar there, however where the skill with the shield comes into play compared to the 2h is that it's **impossible** to block 2 simultaneous blows if you're using a 2 handed weapon, ergo you're forced to rely on your range (some little skill) and your armour (zero skill).

If, however, you use a shield, you know with certainty that you will block this man's blow at the same time as that man's blow, then you can weave through both of them and hit this man and then that man. If you're not using a shield you know you can block this man's block, but not that man's blow, no matter what you do therefore you're going to take a hit; no amount of skill will save you on that front.

BEYOND that, the range of a 2h sword is huge compared to that of a 1h, making it easier to hit with, and the damage done by a 2h sword is huge as well compared to a 1h, making kills easier.

2h DO have a place in combat, but it's in mass melee, when your 5 friends around you all have shields and you are the one man with a 2h, and his --SHIELD ON HIS BACK-- ) (not taking a shield is dumb).

In short, you sir, are a noob.

 

[Harkon Haakonson]

I'm a long time player and feel the need to return to these forums and ask a couple of times a year, have they nerfed shields yet?

My main gripe with warband was that it had highly skilled gameplay in the form of 2 handed weapons and manual blocking, but
then you would find some people with multiple top tier shields who achieve a similar level of success to those who use 2 handers
except without having to work for that success.

For example, I would block a series of blows from a shield users and hit their shield multiple times. Only for it to be destroyed eventually
and for them to pull out another shield. I just don't see how it can be considered balanced that I have to block loads of their hits which
are pottentially deadly before I even get the slightest chance of harming them. Sure it can be accomplished at times but then again they're
just sitting there holding MOUSE 2 and occasionally hitting MOUSE 1, that is hardly fair.

hi mate, using a shield is in fact, more skillful, than using a 2 handed weapon in battle.

blocking peoples' attacks is not a particularly impressive skill, it's something that can be picked up in 5 hours on nditions duel server, so no cigar there, however where the skill with the shield comes into play compared to the 2h is that it's **impossible** to block 2 simultaneous blows if you're using a 2 handed weapon, ergo you're forced to rely on your range (some little skill) and your armour (zero skill).

If, however, you use a shield, you know with certainty that you will block this man's blow at the same time as that man's blow, then you can weave through both of them and hit this man and then that man. If you're not using a shield you know you can block this man's block, but not that man's blow, no matter what you do therefore you're going to take a hit; no amount of skill will save you on that front.

BEYOND that, the range of a 2h sword is huge compared to that of a 1h, making it easier to hit with, and the damage done by a 2h sword is huge as well compared to a 1h, making kills easier.

2h DO have a place in combat, but it's in mass melee, when your 5 friends around you all have shields and you are the one man with a 2h, and his --SHIELD ON HIS BACK-- ) (not taking a shield is dumb).

In short, you sir, are a noob.

Ahh, good old Corsair, took the words right out of my fingertips.

I feel the exact same about shields, while I think two-handed weapons and swords and board have different dynamics and advantages over each other, I have come to love the shield. It's exactly that mind-game, when the opponents feel that they're overwhelming you with two-handed swords, bashing your shield repeteadly, and you suddenly find an opening to attack, bam, there goes a slash right across their heads and now it's an even fight.

Minding your footwork, positioning, and having a sense of reach and timing makes a shield user deadly. Only noobs turtle until their shield is down, lol. It allows you to play LIKE A SHARK, which is awesome and very versatile.

 

[MadocComadrin]

Also, I think we're forgetting the obvious here: shields block arrows! 

Anyway, I think another thing that balances out sword+board v 2-handers is that most two-handers have faster tangential speeds at their optimum range. This means not only do most 1hs have to move into their range, needing to block usually more than once in the process, it means they're also at a speed disadvantage until they do! A shield means you have more of a chance to move in (and a good 2h should be trying to keep his range as well, which brings the whole skill argument away from blocking and once again into footwork and timing).

All in all, blocking is an important skill, but it's also a bread-and-butter skill. It doesn't give you advantages; rather, it acts as "filler" for fights: blocking can't win you a fight, but it does continue one.

 

[Kelpie]

Personally, I don't use shields much, but I see them as something that can act as a "crutch" for complete noobs and as a skill which is very difficult to master - just like using a 2-hander, noobs will spam, while it is difficult to become a very good 2h user. Basically, shields act just like any other component in the game, and I feel it is rather useless to argue from either side that one tactic in the game is more "skillful" than any other.

I will admit though, it makes me rage more than anything to have some turtle backpeddling and holding RMB, until they finally see a gap (generally from exasperation/loss of focus more than anything) and manage to 1 hit me. That merits an instant rage-quit, but has fortunately only happened a few time.

 

[MadocComadrin]

Faking a run-away tends to make them open up a bit, especially if there's a tunnel-vision-archer nearby you can go after.

 

[Reapy]

You can block multiple opponents without a shield. If there is a person on your right and left, both in range to hit you, try holding a right block, turning slightly to the left, and diving in between them. It is a risky thing but sometimes just holding left/right block gets you some double blocks. But generally you have to use footwork and timing to keep it so only one person at a time can strike you.

I think my issue with shields was it just removes a component. Shield combat is footwork + timing.  Without a shield you also add the element of selecting block direction as well. For myself I guess I wanted to have even more things to worry about in a fight as well, so going backwards with a shield is hard enough.

Using a shield is never an autowin though and skilled players are still skilled players whether they use a shield or not, just, using the shield gives you one less thing to worry about is all.

 

[Vulcann]

im using maul against shielders its the best way

 

[Shemaforash]

It's easy against noobs.

 

[SeRgYu]

Gosh,all CoD and BF players are now coming to our peaceful forums asking the developers the nerf every single weapon.

 

[brognar]

Both are balanced.

Both have elements of skill, and both have elements that can be used as a crutch.

 

[Faranox]

My only gripe about shields is the size of their forcefield while used by a mounted player. I can't count the number of times I've stabbed at a rider's horse only to have my spear bounce off of the rider's shield- while my weapon clearly should have halted the mount.

 

[Orion]

hi mate, using a shield is in fact, more skillful, than using a 2 handed weapon in battle.

No.

however where the skill with the shield comes into play compared to the 2h is that it's **impossible** to block 2 simultaneous blows if you're using a 2 handed weapon, ergo you're forced to rely on your range (some little skill) and your armour (zero skill).

If, however, you use a shield, you know with certainty that you will block this man's blow at the same time as that man's blow, then you can weave through both of them and hit this man and then that man.

You're forgetting one of the most important aspects of melee combat: footwork. It's important for one- and two-handed weapons, but when you're facing two opponents it becomes paramount to your success. "Weaving through" enemies is easiest with a shield, and possible without. I've done it many times, it just takes good timing & footwork. It's the last thing you want to do, but it can be done if needed. With a two-handed weapon you should try to position yourself so that one enemy is constantly in the way of the other, meaning you only have to engage one at a time. With a shield you can afford to engage more than one person at a time, so your footwork isn't as vital. If both of my enemies are getting in each others' way, they're more likely to hit each other and less likely to hit me.

Oh, and it's not impossible to block two attacks with a two-handed weapon at once, even different directions. As Reapy said, if you're turned properly, you can block a right and left swing at the same time. You can also chamber-block thrusts and overheads at the same time with an overhead swing.

Honestly, all you succeeded in saying was that two-handed weapons are at a distinct disadvantage defensively, and shields are at a distinct advantage defensively. This is just common sense. It also makes two-handed weapons more difficult to use effectively in a 2 vs. 1 situation where the lone player is more than likely forced into a defensive position, which means a player with a two-handed weapon has an additional obstacle to overcome (obviously requiring more skill).

 

[KoA John]

And also any two hander is usually longer than any one hander with distance control + footwork you could spam the two hander if your fighting heavy fienters

And then there is always trying to run away back to your allies if your alone



And this

My only gripe about shields is the size of their forcefield while used by a mounted player. I can't count the number of times I've stabbed at a rider's horse only to have my spear bounce off of the rider's shield- while my weapon clearly should have halted the mount.