Suggestions, Feedback & Bug Reports (OOC) > Module Feedback and Suggestions
Upcoming revision of the parry system to include shields
Soren / Zarathustra217:
As some of you probably already know, we are planning to revise the parry-skill system so that it will now also grant a bonus for shields.
The overarching reason for the change is to make using shields a bit more attractive, balancing it better against high parry two weapon fighters and similar.
However, we've also used it as an opportunity to increase the usefulness of all shield variations, akin to how we in the past made other armour types have a purpose by tweaking their stats. In vanilla NWN, almost every melee warrior would wear full plate armour and carry a tower shield.
But to the numbers...
First of all, we've changed the ACP (armour check penalty) of small shields to 3, large shields to 8 and tower shields to 18 13. We have also increased the base AC of tower shields to 4. (seems like Shield AC is hardcoded in NwN, so Tower Shields will remain at 3AC with 13 ACP - EO)
Second, we've changed the parry system so that the cap is now determined by the total ACP of items worn. The maximum parry score that will be used when calculating parry bonus (not just for shields) will be 30 - ACP.
While holding a shield, you will receive +1 AC per 10 points in parry (effective rank). If you have the soon to be added feat "Shield Parry" you will get +1 AC per 5 points in parry.
Here's some examples of what the consequences of this change will be:
:arrow:Small shield + chain shirt: total ACP 5 (3+2), parry skill score cap at 25. With shield parry, this means up to +5 AC from parry.
:arrow:Large shield + chain shirt: total ACP 10 (8+2), parry skill score cap at 20. With shield parry, this means up to +4 AC from parry.
:arrow:Large shield + half plate: total ACP 15 (8+7), parry skill score cap at 15. With shield parry, this means up to +3 AC from parry.
:arrow:No shield + leather armor: total ACP 0 (0+0), parry skill score cap at 30. Depending on weapon, this means up to +6 AC from parry.
Keep in mind that these numbers are only provisionary and will likely be tweaked in the coming time once we've all been able to familiarize ourselves with it more. And if it turns out to be a complete disaster, we will of course just pull back the entire thing and allow people to have their characters adjust accordingly.
That said, we hope you will all approach this with an open mind and start experimenting some with the opportunities it offers. And afterwards, please return here with your feedback and thoughts so we can make sure to get it right.
Thanks!
Ruxandra:
What type of AC is Parry AC?
If it's Shield, it seems a little more reasonable. The idea of a small shield giving you +11 AC from the shield + parry + Magic Vestment/Varnish seems silly (well, outright absurd).
I'm just a bit more worried this throws things like dex-based warriors/bards/clerics out of whack and upturns certain things (like monks) who have nothing but high AC going for them otherwise.
APorg:
The fact that Towe Shields will be only AC3 base after all is disappointing -- it will mean the maximum AC you can get from a Tower Shield will be 7 (base 3 +4 enh.) -- because anybody at all going the Shield Parry route has absolutely no reason not to use a Large shield instead.
Could the system be changed so that if you're wielding a Tower Shield, you always get at least +1 Parry AC, even if you have zero ranks in Parry? This would effectively simulate the base AC of 4 while still letting Small and Large Shields rule the roost at greater skill investments.
RickDeckard:
What would a Full Plate + Tower Shield give you?
APorg:
--- Quote from: RickDeckard on December 27, 2017, 03:50:13 AM ---What would a Full Plate + Tower Shield give you?
--- End quote ---
In the current set-up, nothing, since you need DEX 15 to get Shield Parry and therefore wouldn't be wearing full plate in the first place.
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