Sword and Shield Style

pcgiant · 12-05-2002, 01:34 AM

Does anyone else find this extremely useless? I mean, I've never ever used it, but it sounds pathetic! Wow, -4 to my Armour Class vs Missile Weapons! Missile Weapons never cause me any problems. If I have a character who uses shields, I don't even use this!

Is there actually an effective way to use it, because it seems pretty useless.

SpiritWarrior · 12-05-2002, 02:02 AM

Hey theres quite a few enemy archers in BG2...

[ 12-05-2002, 02:04 AM: Message edited by: SpiritWarrior ]

pcgiant · 12-05-2002, 02:56 AM

There are none, however, which are threatening enough to motivate me into using two proficency points to protect myself.

dragon_lord · 12-05-2002, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pcgiant:
There are none, however, which are threatening enough to motivate me into using two proficency points to protect myself.

You wouldnt be saying that if you were wiping out the Improved Underwater City. All Sahuagin have called shot ability, light crossbows of speed and alot more HP.

pcgiant · 12-05-2002, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dragon_lord:
You wouldnt be saying that if you were wiping out the Improved Underwater City. All Sahuagin have called shot ability, light crossbows of speed and alot more HP.

Yup, I am saying that. No problem with the Sahuagin.

[ 12-05-2002, 03:34 AM: Message edited by: pcgiant ]

wellard · 12-05-2002, 04:06 AM

G'day
it took me a long time to come to the same conclusion. It's useless and apart from jaheira i never equip anyone with a shield. Apart from one room in a certain dungeon where orc archers hit you with a well planned trap there is a total lack of Sniper attacks or instances were enimies keep their range and use missile's rather than mellee weapons. (a criticism of bg, WOW!)

Radek · 12-05-2002, 04:18 AM

Pretty useless. I agree. I allocate proficiencies to this style only if placing them elsewhere is even more useless. This can happen to a cleric or a ranger/cleric at high levels, for example.

Whailor · 12-05-2002, 04:29 AM

Spoilerish, but not much:
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Yes, you can generally even fix the archery issues with one little shield from Adventurer's Mart, as well. No more worries with the archers.. However, when you finish SoA and move on to ToB (or have ToB and go to Watchers Keep), then in one spot (at least one) the archer can really hurt you. All the defense against it is handy there, but yeah, no point to waste proficiencies just for one encounter... Just buy the Shield of Reflection and done with the archers

Rataxes · 12-05-2002, 10:44 AM

A shield is far from useless, wielding one can get you as much as +5 AC, even the most powerful enemies have severe problems hitting you if you run around with an AC of -17 [img]smile.gif[/img]

But I'd have to agree with the Sword & Shield profiency being crap, it really should've added +4 to your overall AC. It makes perfect sense that you should be able to defend yourself better against any kind of physical attack when you improve your skill with the shield, it would also make the combo far more popular and useful.

Indemaijinj · 12-05-2002, 12:34 PM

+4 would be way too much overkill.

I would rather say something around.

First slot: +3 armor class against missile weapons.

Second slot: +1 general armor class.

12-05-2002, 01:34 AM	#1
pcgiant Symbol of Cyric Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: NZ Age: 38 Posts: 1,268	Does anyone else find this extremely useless? I mean, I've never ever used it, but it sounds pathetic! Wow, -4 to my Armour Class vs Missile Weapons! Missile Weapons never cause me any problems. If I have a character who uses shields, I don't even use this! Is there actually an effective way to use it, because it seems pretty useless. __________________ If possible, I want to relive my life... not as a devil. This time, someone like you.

12-05-2002, 02:02 AM	#2
SpiritWarrior Jack Burton Join Date: May 31, 2002 Location: Ireland Posts: 5,854	Hey theres quite a few enemy archers in BG2... [ 12-05-2002, 02:04 AM: Message edited by: SpiritWarrior ] __________________ Still I feel like a child when I look at the moon, maybe I grew up a little too soon...

12-05-2002, 02:56 AM	#3
pcgiant Symbol of Cyric Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: NZ Age: 38 Posts: 1,268	There are none, however, which are threatening enough to motivate me into using two proficency points to protect myself. __________________ If possible, I want to relive my life... not as a devil. This time, someone like you.

12-05-2002, 04:06 AM	#6
wellard Dracolisk Join Date: November 1, 2002 Location: Australia ..... G\'day! Posts: 6,123	G'day it took me a long time to come to the same conclusion. It's useless and apart from jaheira i never equip anyone with a shield. Apart from one room in a certain dungeon where orc archers hit you with a well planned trap there is a total lack of Sniper attacks or instances were enimies keep their range and use missile's rather than mellee weapons. (a criticism of bg, WOW!) __________________ fossils - natures way of laughing at creationists for over 3 billion years

12-05-2002, 04:18 AM	#7
Radek Red Dragon Join Date: April 3, 2001 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Posts: 1,586	Pretty useless. I agree. I allocate proficiencies to this style only if placing them elsewhere is even more useless. This can happen to a cleric or a ranger/cleric at high levels, for example. __________________ My name is Demon\'s Last Day. Yes, the last one.

12-05-2002, 04:29 AM	#8
Whailor Avatar Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: Estonia Posts: 532	Spoilerish, but not much: . . . . . . . . . . . Yes, you can generally even fix the archery issues with one little shield from Adventurer's Mart, as well. No more worries with the archers.. However, when you finish SoA and move on to ToB (or have ToB and go to Watchers Keep), then in one spot (at least one) the archer can really hurt you. All the defense against it is handy there, but yeah, no point to waste proficiencies just for one encounter... Just buy the Shield of Reflection and done with the archers __________________

12-05-2002, 10:44 AM	#9
Rataxes Symbol of Cyric Join Date: November 17, 2002 Location: Sweden Age: 39 Posts: 1,359	A shield is far from useless, wielding one can get you as much as +5 AC, even the most powerful enemies have severe problems hitting you if you run around with an AC of -17 [img]smile.gif[/img] But I'd have to agree with the Sword & Shield profiency being crap, it really should've added +4 to your overall AC. It makes perfect sense that you should be able to defend yourself better against any kind of physical attack when you improve your skill with the shield, it would also make the combo far more popular and useful. __________________ [img]\"http://atlas.walagata.com/w/rataxes/ymca3.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br />I want <b>YOU!</b>

12-05-2002, 12:34 PM	#10
Indemaijinj Symbol of Cyric Join Date: June 15, 2002 Location: Denmark Age: 44 Posts: 1,163	+4 would be way too much overkill. I would rather say something around. First slot: +3 armor class against missile weapons. Second slot: +1 general armor class. __________________ The Bleak Caballero<br /><br />Proud and original member (and secret admirer) of the Pro-Mazzy movement.

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