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Shields are a huge disappointment
Trenchgun
Member Posts: 295
I lost all interest in the shield defense set when I found there was no new melee set or a shield offense set to go with it.
Shields may be all well and good for weapon attack sets, but if you want to make a Captain America style melee fighter then there's no viable option. Martial Arts animations look incredibly stupid with a shield because you never actually use your hands.
Comments
Super strength would work though. Of course you won't be ab;e to throw the sheild. But, if that keeps people from making Captain America clones I'm fine with that.
Super strength is just that - Super strength.
To make a shield brawler like captain america you'd need something more natural, like a dedicated shield offense set or a street fighting set.
Captain America is a dumbass. Why would you throw away your only protection?
Anyway, you know there are at least 1 and reportedly 2 attack powers in the set, right? Just like Fire Aura has Burn, or the auras in many sets, a defense set can still have an attack.
Currently playing:
DC Universe
Planetside 2
Magic Online
Simunomics, the Massive Multiplayer Economic Simulation Game. Play for free.
whahaha totally agree on the cpt. america bit.
And I think shields would go great with a Battle Axe or War mace power.
Why do people sacrifice their queens in chess? It's risk and reward - The reward (enemy defeat) is worth the risk to personal safety.
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The less you expect, the more you'll be surprised. Hopefully, pleasantly so.
i want to dual wield shields! one to defend and one to throw! HELLZ YEAH BOYZ
But in all seriousness, while i agree that it's a shame theres no shield offense, i can't really see it being that different then super strength....
Actually it most likely would be the exact same as super strength.
Hurl boulder changed to shield throw.
Footstomp changed to shield spin
all the base attacks would carry over. Rage to build up or the like...
Well Shields is supposed to be a defensive set, so not sure why you'd want to attack with it. I'ts meant to be paired with the weapon attack sets probably.
Least villains get their version of Empathy now. That will be a nice addition.
Back Alley Brawler has officially stated that, "Shield Offense is rated just above Assault Rifle Defense and Dual Archery on the powerset creation priority list."
Dual Archery???
-------------
The less you expect, the more you'll be surprised. Hopefully, pleasantly so.
Assault Rifle Defense! Dual Archery! BaHahahaHa!
Okay, lols aside, I've heard others state disappointment in the shield power set as well but really Trenchgun, I think the spectacular looks and animations of the shields raised the bar for all our expectations. We forgot that they were being introduced as a DEFENSE. And yes, I agree with some of the other responses in that equiping a mace or axe would certainly make up for the lack of shield attacks.
I did notice --- at first glance only (so don't crucify me if I'm wrong), that the new Pain Domination power set in Villains might arguably compare to an offensive Shield set sans the Shield. I have to get into Villains on Beta and create a Pain Dominator to explore this more, but basically the Dom is forcing a wall of pain against his opponent. Sounds like a Shield attack to me.
Sounds to me like your confused or your just confusing me
Whoa. I'm not confused at all, just flat out wrong! =D
Like I said in my earlier post, I had not checked it out yet. My statement was based merely on sound bytes and screenshots. ( I've been concentrating all my beta explorations heroside.)
But I am always the first to admit I was wrong. Thanks for pointing it out so I don't continue to embarrass myself.
Well villains had been asking for a red-side version of Empathy for a long time. This way they get a healing/buff set that will help more than just masterminds.
About shields, they are under the new weapon customization feature as well. Gonna see a lot of Capt America clones soon I'm sure.
Currently working on a Shield/SS tanker.
What I consider *must haves*
- Health + Stamina
- Tough + Weave
Grant Cover -> Phalanx Fighting
Grant Cover will actually make for real phalanxing.
Go with a full team Shield/SS tanks running Assault, capped defense, extreme damage boost incl. (non-stacked) Rage.
Now you have 2 nice AoE attacks (Charge and Stomp)
Also great mobility (Shield Charge again)
Mix in Pyre Mastery ...
Shield Charge (AoE knockdown)
Fireball (boom)
Foot Stomp (next AoE knockdown)
Need some ranged attack?
Hurl, Fire Blast ...
Need to regroup? Team TP -> Defense goes up for everyone again thanks to Grant Cover
Hey Munecaroon, thanks for those hints on a power build for a shield tank. Keep us posted as you game, on how it works out for you in different situations! I am interested in how all these new power combos work in genuine gaming encounters.
The OP's concern about no new weapon set is a valid point if you'd like to roll e.g. a spartan.
After all Valkyrie in Steel Canyon does have a spear on her back.
I would go with Axe or Warmace, if Super Strength wouldn't offer such a superior offense ability.
And offense is needed for a shield tank, even it it sounds paradox, but due to his Primary powers and the mix of mediocre RES and DEF, he wouldn't last long in a full party.
With a little help, DEF can be boosted .. positional DEF that is (Melee, Ranged, AoE).
It is often said, the game devs make powersets so that they can work with SOs, but it seems this doesn't hold up for Shield/* (or scrapper */Shield even more).
I consider the Shield set a veteran set if you truely want to enjoy it. Veteran because it's good to have the Inf and the knowledge to plaster all powers with invention set IOs.
I revised my first take on a Shield/SS tank. Assault and (Team)Teleport got axed.
Here's my dream build, the Smashing Sentinel ... (will require a re-spec or he'll "grow old" before lvl 32)
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1,401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Smashing Sentinel: Level 50 Mutation Tanker
Primary Power Set: Shield Defense
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Pyre Mastery
Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1: Deflection
Level 1: Jab
Level 2: Battle Agility
Level 4: True Grit
Level 6: Active Defense
Level 8: Haymaker
Level 10: Swift
Level 12: Combat Jumping
Level 14: Super Jump
Level 16: Health
Level 18: Grant Cover
Level 20: Knockout Blow
Level 22: Stamina
Level 24: Kick
Level 26: Shield Charge
Level 28: Rage
Level 30: Tough
Level 32: One with the Shield
Level 35: Weave
Level 38: Foot Stomp
Level 41: Char
Level 44: Fire Blast
Level 47: Fire Ball
Level 49: Against All Odds
------------
| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Some tips:
Active Defense on "Auto" (put hancies so that recharge is little under 120sec)
I strongly recommend to get the Eye of the Magus Accolade for when "One with the Shield" is not up.
No Hasten, the END drain from Rage going down can be bad enough.
Put Combat Jumping and Super Jump on a switch key
No Taunt, well there's enough AoE's later that will get the job done. Use Taunt in a pre re-spec build
(edit: typos and less info on the build for better readability)
I'm so far behind the curve I didn't even realize Mids had a shields update yet.
My tank is Shield / Mace because maces are the only set I haven't really played with yet. And he's going to sit at single-digit levels for a little while while the FOTM of shields wears off. (Plus I'm building up Patrol XP credit.)
I hadn't thought about needing auto for Active Defense. If I do that then no Hasten for him.
Currently playing:
DC Universe
Planetside 2
Magic Online
Simunomics, the Massive Multiplayer Economic Simulation Game. Play for free.
You can probably still go with Hasten, depends on how you manage your click powers.
To me status protection has higher priority than Hasten. It's similar to */SR scrappers Bractised Brawler here.
And I just couldn't see any room for Hasten in the build I posted, short of powers, already got Active Defense and Rage on 2 min timers and it's burning enough END.
Mace would be my other /secondary of choice for shields, axe weapon models are so small.
But yeah, a drawn weapon fits shields so much better than being unarmed which looks a bit off.
Currently I'm trying to come up with a build that will do without all the super shiny invention IOs (namely all purples, LotGs, the Healing Uniques and Steadfast 3%). Global Recharge and DEF bonus will suffer big times though.