Shield Use: Difference between revisions

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==List of Available Shield Maneuvers==
==List of Available Shield Maneuvers==



{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
|+ Shield Use Skills
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
! scope="col" | Shield Skill
|+ Shield Specializations
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | [[Paladin]]
! scope="col" | [[Paladin]]
! scope="col" | [[Warrior]]
! scope="col" | [[Warrior]]
! scope="col" | [[Rogue]]
! scope="col" | [[Rogue]]
! scope="col" | Prerequisites
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Description
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Description
|-
|-
|[[Shield Focus|Small Shield Focus]]
| || Yes || Yes
| Gain +2 bonus per rank to offensive shield attacks, a +2 bonus per rank against Sunder Shield, and a +1 bonus per rank to CvA.
|-
|[[Shield Focus|Medium Shield Focus]]
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| Gain +2 bonus per rank to offensive shield attacks, a +2 bonus per rank against Sunder Shield, and a +1 bonus per rank to CvA.
|-
|[[Shield Focus|Large Shield Focus]]
| Yes || Yes ||
| Gain +2 bonus per rank to offensive shield attacks, a +2 bonus per rank against Sunder Shield, and a +1 bonus per rank to CvA.
|-
|[[Shield Focus|Tower Shield Focus]]
| Yes || Yes ||
| Gain +2 bonus per rank to offensive shield attacks, a +2 bonus per rank against [[Sunder Shield]], and a +1 bonus per rank to [[CvA]].
|-
|[[Shield Bash]]
| Yes || Yes ||
| Attack your foe with your shield to do improved [[Crush critical table|crushing]] damage, longer stuns, greater chances for knockdowns, and more stance forcing over [[Shield Bash]].
|-
|-
| [[Small Shield Focus]] || || X || X || None || Adds attack bonus and CvA with small shields, unlocks other abilities.
|[[Shield Push]]
| Yes || Yes ||
| Attempt to push your foe away with your shield. Creatures can be pushed completely out of the room, players will merely be pushed back, both suffering Roundtime. You may specify a direction or exit to push a creature, or simply not specify a direction for a random direction.
|-
|-
| [[Medium Shield Focus]] || X || X || X || None || Adds attack bonus and CvA with medium shields, unlocks other abilities.
|[[Shield Pin]]
| || Yes ||
| You launch a diversionary [[Shield Bash|shield bash]] that deals no damage, immediately followed by a weapon attack. If your initial shield bash is successful, your subsequent weapon attack will gain additional critical weighting based on the initial shield bash's margin of success. The initial shield bash uses your ranks of Shield Bash for determining success, modified by your ranks in Shield Pin (-20 to success chance at Rank 1, -15 at Rank 2, -10 at Rank 3, -5 at Rank 4, and no penalty at Rank 5).
|-
|-
| [[Large Shield Focus]] || X || X || X || None || Adds attack bonus and CvA with large shields, unlocks other abilities.
|[[Shield Swiftness]]
| || Yes || Yes
| The shield penalty to [[Dodge]] [[DS]] is reduced by approximately half the difference between a small and medium shield per rank.
|-
|-
| [[Tower Shield Focus]] || X || X || X || None || Adds attack bonus and CvA with tower shields, unlocks other abilities.
|[[Shield Brawler]]
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| The penalty to the [[Multiplier modifier|Multiplier Modifier]] (MM) while wielding a shield during [[Unarmed combat system|Unarmed Combat System|unarmed combat]] is reduced by -2 per rank.
|-
|-
| [[Shield Bash]] || X || X || X || None || Attempt to wallop your foe with your shield, causing stance change/knockdown/RT/minor damage.
|[[Prop Up]]
| Yes || Yes ||
| Gain a 1/3 chance per rank to avoid being knocked to the ground due to [[critical]] damage. Gain a +5 bonus per rank against [[Sweep]], [[Tackle]], [[Bull Rush]], and [[Hamstring]] attacks.
|-
|-
| [[Shield Charge]] || X || || X || Shield Bash (rank 2) || Improved version of Shield Bash.
|[[Adamantine Bulwark]]
|-
| || Yes ||
| [[Shield Push]] || X || || X || Shield Bash (rank 2) || Push an enemy into another room and give RT.
| If a physical attack would inflict [[Roundtime]] (RT) on you, it inflicts 20%/35%/50% less RT at Ranks 1/2/3.
|-
|-
| [[Shield Pin]] || || || X || Shield Bash (rank 2) || Fake a shield bash, followed by a weapon attack with critical weighting.

|-
|[[Shield Forward]]
| [[Shield Swiftness]] || X || || X || Shield Focus (rank 3), small/medium shield || Reduces dodge DS penalty from shield.
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| For 15 seconds after using an offensive shield attack, you gain a +10 per rank enhancive bonus to Shield Use ranks for defensive purposes.
|-
|-
| [[Shielded Brawler]] || X || X || X || Shield Focus (rank 3) || Reduces [[MM]] penalty from shield.
|[[Shield Spike Focus]]
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| Reduces the penalty when using a spiked shield in conjunction with a shield attack by -5 per rank.
|-
|-
| [[Prop Up]] || X || || X || Shield Focus (rank 3), large/tower shield || Reduced chance to be knocked down from critical damage, CML defense against knockdown maneuvers.
|[[Shield Spike Mastery]]
|-
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| [[Adamantine Bulwark]] || || || X || Prop Up (rank 2) || Reduced RT inflicted on you by physical attacks.
| Reduces the penalty when using a spiked shield in conjunction with a shield attack by -5 per rank.
|-
|-
| [[Shield Riposte]] || || X || X || Shield Bash (rank 2) || [[Martial Stance]], give extra RT to attacking opponents.
|[[Deflection Training]]
|-
| || Yes || Yes
| [[Shield Forward]] || X || X || X || None || Gain a bonus to defensive Shield Use after using offensive shield attacks.
| Upon successfully [[Block|blocking]] a [[Ranged Weapons|ranged]] missile or [[Thrown Weapons|thrown weapon]] attack while in a forward or greater [[stance]], there is a chance that the attack can be redirected against another enemy creature in the same room (or even the original attacker). This chance is 35%/55%/75% at Ranks 1/2/3.
|-
|-
| [[Shield Spike Focus]] || X || X || X || None || Reduces the penalty when using a spiked shield to attack.
|[[Deflection Mastery]]
| || Yes || Yes
| You gain a +2 per rank bonus against all [[Combat Maneuver|CML]] attacks and a bonus per rank against other creature maneuver attacks.
|-
|-
| [[Shield Spike Mastery]] || X || X || X || Shield Spike Focus (rank 2) || Allows reactive shield spike flares.
|[[Block the Elements]]
| Yes || Yes ||
| Reduces the damage dealt from elemental [[flare]]s and [[bolt|ball]] spell explosions. Each additional rank provides for greater damage reduction, as do larger sized shields.
|-
|-
| [[Deflection Training]] || || X || X || Shield Focus (rank 3) || Redirect ranged/thrown attacks at enemies.
|[[Deflect the Elements]]
| || Yes || Yes
| Provides a chance to deflect the discharge of an elemental [[flare]] or [[bolt|ball]] spell explosion harmlessly away from yourself. Each additional rank allows for a greater chance to successfully deflect the elements, as do smaller sized shields.
|-
|-
| [[Deflection Mastery]] || || X || X || Deflection Training (rank 3) || Additional CML and maneuver defense.
|[[Steady Shield]]
| || Yes || Yes
| The penalty applied to your [[Block|blocking]] chances while stunned is halved at Rank 1 and removed altogether at Rank 2.
|-
|-
| [[Block the Elements]] || X || || X || None || Reduces damage from elemental flares and ball explosions.
|[[Guard Mastery]]
| || Yes ||
| At Rank 1, your chance to [[Block|block]] an attack on your guarded ally is increased to 75% of your normal blocking chance (instead of the default 50%). At Rank 2, it is raised to 100% of your base blocking ability. At Rank 3, you no longer suffer the 25% penalty to your own blocking chances while guarding another.
|-
|-
| [[Deflect the Elements]] || || X || X || None || Provides a chance to block elemental flares and ball explosions.
|[[Spell Block]]
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| Allows the [[Block|blocking]] of magical ball/[[bolt]] spells at 25% per rank of your normal block chance, provided that you are using an [[Ensorcell (735)|ensorcelled]] or anti-magical shield to do so.
|-
|-
| [[Steady Shield]] || || X || X || [[Stun Maneuvers]] (rank 2) || Reduces the penalty to block chance from being stunned.
|[[Shield Mind]]
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| Upon activation, you are placed in [[stance]] defensive and given a 10 second period where any [[warding]] spell cast upon you by another is automatically [Block|blocked]] (provided that you still are in stance defensive).
|-
|-
| [[Disarming Presence]] || || X || X || [[Disarm Weapon]] (rank 2) || Martial Stance, chance to disarm on a block.
|[[Protective Wall]]
| Yes || Yes ||
| At Rank 1, you halve the [[Defensive Strength]] (DS) penalty imposed on stunned, webbed, immobile, unconscious, rooted, or prone group members. At Rank 2, this benefit also applies to yourself.
|-
|-
| [[Guard Mastery]] || || || X || None || Increased effectiveness when [[GUARD]]ing.
|[[Shield Strike]]
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| Launch a minor [[Shield Bash|shield bash]] at your foe, followed by an immediate weapon strike at the same foe. The minor shield bash uses your ranks of Shield Bash for determining success, modified by your ranks in [[Shield Strike]] (-20 to success chance at Rank 1, -15 at Rank 2, -10 at Rank 3, -5 at Rank 4, and no penalty at Rank 5).
|-
|-
| [[Tortoise Stance]] || || || X || Block Mastery (rank 2) || Martial Stance, reduced AS and additional block chance.
|[[Shield Strike Mastery]]
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| When making a focused [[MOC|multi-attack]], in addition to your normal strikes, you may end with a free minor [[Shield Bash|shield bash]].
|-
|-
| [[Spell Block]] || X || X || X || Shield Focus (rank 3), ensorcelled/anti-magic shield || Allows blocking magical bolts and balls.
|[[Shield Trample]]
| || Yes ||
| If you are successful upon attacking your primary target, it will be sent careening into another foe on the battlefield before falling to the ground. If a secondary [[maneuver]] check is passed, that foe will also be knocked down. All foes successfully affected by this maneuver will suffer [[Roundtime]] (RT).
|-
|-
| [[Shield Mind]] || X || X || X || Spell Block (rank 2) || Ten seconds of automatic warding success while in defensive stance.
|[[Shield Trample Mastery]]
| || Yes ||
| Each rank of Shield Trample Mastery adds an additional foe to the maximum number of targets of a Shield Trample attempt.
|-
|-
| [[Protective Wall]] || X || || X || Shield Focus (rank 2), tower shield || Reduced DS penalty from conditions on group members/self.
|[[Steely Resolve]]
| Yes || Yes ||
| For 30 seconds, you gain +15 [[Block]] [[DS]] per rank and a +15% chance per rank to block incoming attacks. There a 5 minute recovery period after using this ability, where it cannot be re-invoked.
|-
|-
| [[Shield Strike]] || X || X || X || Shield Bash (rank 2) || Unbalancing shield bash followed by weapon attack.
|[[Phalanx]]
| Yes || Yes || Yes
| There must be at least two capable Phalanx-trained members in a group before the Phalanx bonus may be activated. Each party member that is trained in Phalanx gains a [(Phalanx Rank * [[Combat Maneuvers]] Rank) / Level] bonus for themselves to their [[Block]] chances, plus a bonus (using the same formula) from the highest two trained Phalanx members. Each party member that is not trained in Phalanx gains half this bonus from up to three other party members. In order for a party member to count towards the Phalanx bonus, they must be able to have a chance to block the incoming attack on their own (which [[injury]] or insufficient [[level]]s may prevent).
|-
|-
| [[Shield Strike Mastery]] || X || X || X || Shield Strike (rank 3), 30 ranks [[MOC]] || End your [[MSTRIKE]]s with a shield bash.
|}

{| border="1" class="wikitable"
|+ Shield [[Martial Stance]]s
! [[Shield Skill]]
! [[Paladin]]
! [[Warrior]]
! [[Rogue]]
! Description
|-
|-
| [[Shield Trample]] || || || X || Shield Charge (rank 2) || Knock down multiple targets and give RT.
|[[Disarming Presence]]
| || Yes || Yes
| This is a [[Martial Stance]]. When you successfully [[Block|block]] a [[melee]] weapon attack while in a forward or greater [[stance]], you have a chance to attempt to knock the weapon from the attacker's grasp. The chance to react is 30%/50%/70% at Ranks 1/2/2. The disarm attempt takes 2 seconds of RT and are limited to one every (6 - Rank) seconds.
|-
|-
| [[Shield Trample Mastery]] || || || X || Shield Trample (rank 3), 30 ranks MOC || Additional targets for Shield Trample.
|[[Tortoise Stance]]
| || Yes ||
| This is a [[Martial Stance]]. While in this stance, you gain an additional chance to [[Block|block]] attacks. This chance activates 75% of the time at Rank 1, and is automatic at Rank 2 or greater. You suffer an [[attack strength]] (AS) penalty of -50 at Rank 1, -35 at Rank 2, and -20 at Rank 3.
|-
|-
| [[Steely Resolve]] || X || || X || Shield Focus (rank 3), tower shield || Bonus DS and block chance for a brief period.
|[[Shield Riposte]]
| || Yes || Yes
| This is a [[Martial Stance]]. When you are struck by a [[melee]] attack while in a forward or greater [[stance]], you have a chance to respond with a free reactive [[Shield Bash]]. This bash deals no damage, but instead knocks your opponent off-balance and into greater [[roundtime]] (RT). The chance to react is 50%/75%/100% at Ranks 1/2/3. Larger shields apply a penalty to the reaction chance (-5% per shield size above small), but apply more RT upon a successful bash. Shield Ripostes are limited to one every (6 - Rank) seconds.
|-
|-
| [[Phalanx]] || X || X || X || None || Work with group members with Phalanx to grant your group extra block chance.
|}
|-}


== Changes since GemStone III ==
== Changes since GemStone III ==

Revision as of 11:02, 4 April 2013

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 2 1 1
1 1
Training Point Cost 4/0 2/0 8/0 5/0 3/0 5/0 13/0 13/0
13/0 13/0

Defensive Strength Calculation: Blocking

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

((Shield Ranks + TRUNC(STR bonus/4) + TRUNC(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

and stance is given by:

  • offensive: 0
  • advanced: .2
  • forward: .4
  • neutral: .6
  • guarded: .8
  • defensive: 1.

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.

Shield Maneuvers

This system provides Warriors, Rogues, and Paladins with exclusive access to new options and abilities related to the Shield Use skill. The SHIELD (verb) provides access to this new system. The goal of this release is to provide new capabilities to the shield use character builds within the martial classes, so that those character builds can better compete with the powerful twohanded and ranged weapon builds.

The system is broadly similar to the existing CMAN and ARMOR systems. Each rank in the Shield Use skill provides the warrior, rogue, or paladin with one (1) Shield Training Point, which they may then use to buy ranks in the various SHIELD skills via SHIELD LEARN. Skills may be unlearned via SHIELD UNLEARN, and you may view the lists of skills to learn via SHIELD LIST. SHIELD HELP provides you with detailed information on each of the skills.

List of Available Shield Maneuvers

Changes since GemStone III

The effectiveness of a shield in Gemstone III depended heavily on the enchantment of the shield, in a formula where the shield's benefit was calculated with (Enchantment Bonus + 20). Therefore, 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.

See Also

External Links

Shield Specializations
Name Paladin Warrior Rogue Prerequisites Description
Small Shield Focus X X None Adds attack bonus and CvA with small shields, unlocks other abilities.
Medium Shield Focus X X X None Adds attack bonus and CvA with medium shields, unlocks other abilities.
Large Shield Focus X X X None Adds attack bonus and CvA with large shields, unlocks other abilities.
Tower Shield Focus X X X None Adds attack bonus and CvA with tower shields, unlocks other abilities.
Shield Bash X X X None Attempt to wallop your foe with your shield, causing stance change/knockdown/RT/minor damage.
Shield Charge X X Shield Bash (rank 2) Improved version of Shield Bash.
Shield Push X X Shield Bash (rank 2) Push an enemy into another room and give RT.
Shield Pin X Shield Bash (rank 2) Fake a shield bash, followed by a weapon attack with critical weighting.
Shield Swiftness X X Shield Focus (rank 3), small/medium shield Reduces dodge DS penalty from shield.
Shielded Brawler X X X Shield Focus (rank 3) Reduces MM penalty from shield.
Prop Up X X Shield Focus (rank 3), large/tower shield Reduced chance to be knocked down from critical damage, CML defense against knockdown maneuvers.
Adamantine Bulwark X Prop Up (rank 2) Reduced RT inflicted on you by physical attacks.
Shield Riposte X X Shield Bash (rank 2) Martial Stance, give extra RT to attacking opponents.
Shield Forward X X X None Gain a bonus to defensive Shield Use after using offensive shield attacks.
Shield Spike Focus X X X None Reduces the penalty when using a spiked shield to attack.
Shield Spike Mastery X X X Shield Spike Focus (rank 2) Allows reactive shield spike flares.
Deflection Training X X Shield Focus (rank 3) Redirect ranged/thrown attacks at enemies.
Deflection Mastery X X Deflection Training (rank 3) Additional CML and maneuver defense.
Block the Elements X X None Reduces damage from elemental flares and ball explosions.
Deflect the Elements X X None Provides a chance to block elemental flares and ball explosions.
Steady Shield X X Stun Maneuvers (rank 2) Reduces the penalty to block chance from being stunned.
Disarming Presence X X Disarm Weapon (rank 2) Martial Stance, chance to disarm on a block.
Guard Mastery X None Increased effectiveness when GUARDing.
Tortoise Stance X Block Mastery (rank 2) Martial Stance, reduced AS and additional block chance.
Spell Block X X X Shield Focus (rank 3), ensorcelled/anti-magic shield Allows blocking magical bolts and balls.
Shield Mind X X X Spell Block (rank 2) Ten seconds of automatic warding success while in defensive stance.
Protective Wall X X Shield Focus (rank 2), tower shield Reduced DS penalty from conditions on group members/self.
Shield Strike X X X Shield Bash (rank 2) Unbalancing shield bash followed by weapon attack.
Shield Strike Mastery X X X Shield Strike (rank 3), 30 ranks MOC End your MSTRIKEs with a shield bash.
Shield Trample X Shield Charge (rank 2) Knock down multiple targets and give RT.
Shield Trample Mastery X Shield Trample (rank 3), 30 ranks MOC Additional targets for Shield Trample.
Steely Resolve X X Shield Focus (rank 3), tower shield Bonus DS and block chance for a brief period.
Phalanx X X X None Work with group members with Phalanx to grant your group extra block chance.
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