Shield Use

Shield Use is a skill a character trains in to increase their skill with a shield, therefore increasing defensive strength when the shield is in the character's off-hand.

Ranks and Training Point Costs

Type	Square			Semi			Pure
Profession	Rogue	Warrior	Monk	Bard	Paladin	Ranger	Cleric	Empath	Savant	Sorcerer	Wizard
Max Ranks Per Level	2	3
2	2	2	1	1
1	1
Training Point Cost	4/0	2/0
5/0	3/0	5/0	13/0	13/0
13/0	13/0

Defensive Strength Calculation: Blocking

Shield use is essentually the Blocking part of the Evade/Block/Parry system. The defensive strength generated by the shield is as follows:

((Shield Ranks + (STR bonus/4) + (DEX Bonus/4))/(1.5)) = Base DS bonus

Base DS bonus × Stance Modifier × (1.0 + Shield Size Modifier) + 20 + Shield enchant = Final DS bonus

0.5 + (Stance/2) = Stance Modifier

where shield size modifiers are as follows:

• Small shield: -0.15
• Medium shield: 0.00
• Large shield: 0.15
• Tower shield: 0.30

Note: the use of a large shield benefits the defensive strength generated by the Shield Use skill and the shield, however, larger shields harm the defensive strength provided by the Dodging skill. The larger the shield, the more harmful the shield is. A small shield lowers dodge DS by 20% where a tower shield lowers it by 50%. Shields generated by the bard song, Sonic Shield Song (1009) may be less harmful depending on how much Elemental Lore, Air training the bard has.

Changes since GemStone III

The effectiveness of a shield in Gemstone III depended heavily on the enchantment of the shield. A 4× shield produced, literally, twice as much defensive strength as an unenchanted shield, where an 8× shield produced three times as much defensive strength as an unenchanted shield. Also, there was no difference, mechanically, between a buckler and a tower shield.

External Links

• http://www.play.net/gs4/info/combatguide.asp#factors
• http://www.play.net/gs4/info/skills.asp#shielduse
• http://www.play.net/gs4/info/armory/armorshields.asp