>but we're certainly interested in ideas on how to improve shields in general. For all the training points thrown into them, shields do seem somewhat lackluster, don't they?

How about something like this...

>Shield Specialization Skills

Skill Name: Deflect Bolts
Mnemonic: dbolts
Other Requirements: A large or tower size shield.
Available to: Warriors, Rogues, Paladins.
Prerequisites:
None
Armor Point Cost:
Rank 1: 20
Rank 2: 30
Rank 3: 40
Rank 4: 50
Rank 5: 60
Description: Readies a shield to be used more effectively against missle and magical bolt attacks. 2% per rank is added to the chance to outright block such attacks, and offers +2 to DS per rank against them as well.

Skill Name: Deflect Melee
Mnemonic: dmelee
Other Requirements: A small or medium size shield.
Available to: Warriors, Rogues, Paladins.
Prerequisites:
None
Armor Point Cost:
Rank 1: 20
Rank 2: 30
Rank 3: 40
Rank 4: 50
Rank 5: 60
Description: Readies a shield to be used more effectively against close combat weapons. 2% per rank is added to the chance to outright block melee attacks, and offers +2 to DS per rank against them as well.

>how about some
>New CMAN skill ideas?

Skill Name: Shield Wall
Mnemonic: swall
Hostile: No
Stamina Cost: 25
Other Requirements: Must be standing and using a large or tower size shield.
Available to: Warriors, Paladins.
Prerequisites:
None
CMP Cost:
CMP Cost:
Rank 1: (Squares) 2 (Semis) 3
Rank 2: (Squares) 4 (Semis) 6
Rank 3: (Squares) 6 (Semis) 9
Rank 4: (Squares) 8 (Semis) 12
Rank 5: (Squares) 10 (Semis) 15
Description: Readies a shield to be used more effectively for defense, sacrificing the ability to perform any other combatative actions. Activating this skill puts the Warrior or Paladin into 10 seconds of hard Roundtime, instantly into Defensive Stance, and with a +20 boost to all forms of DS per rank and a +3% chance per rank to outright block any attack.

Skill Name: Shield Combo
Mnemonic: scombo
Hostile: Yes
Stamina Cost: None
Other Requirements: Must be standing and using a small or medium size shield.
Available to: Warriors, Rogues.
Prerequisites:
Shield Bash (at rank 2)
CMP Cost:
CMP Cost:
Rank 1: (Squares) 4
Rank 2: (Squares) 8
Rank 3: (Squares) 12
Description: There is a 5% chance per rank that any single attack with a weapon while holding a shield will result in an extra "bonus" strike, as per Shield Bash, with no additional Roundtime or stamina cost. The foe must be standing for this to have any effect.
>Training higher in Shield Bash makes this skill more effective as it basically generates Shield Bash flares.

-James-
player of Fremie

Mirayam says, "You are not a rogue, sir."

Mirayam exclaims, "You are noble!"

one more...

Skill Name: Ward Fittings
Mnemonic: wardfit
Other Requirements: A shield with no special properties other then enchantment, sanctification and/or enhancive qualities. Scripted, flaring and/or spiked shields can not have wards fitted to them.
Available to: Warriors.
Prerequisites:
None
Armor Point Cost:
Rank 1: 20
Rank 2: 30
Rank 3: 40
Rank 4: 50
Rank 5: 60
Description: Uses specially made anti-magic wards to be fitted to a shield. Different societies in the game have different wards based on their beliefs (each guild could have its own kind of ward). Each rank allows a warrior to place the wards more precisely where they need to be to best deflect warding spells (+3 to TD per rank). This effect lasts for 4 hours with a timer only active while the shield is being held in a hand.

-James-
player of Fremie

Mirayam says, "You are not a rogue, sir."

Mirayam exclaims, "You are noble!"

https://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=30&topic=2&message=1978


-farmer

*

That's just what we want, criss-crossing furrows all over the town streets from someone wandering through with their animated plow super buddy.

-Strath