Shield Skill

[Gandaug]

What is the point in upgrading your shield skill? It seems that no matter how many points I put into shields it never effects anything about them. If I put points into heavy armor I get better damage resistance. Swords; better damage and chance to hit. Shields? No idea.

Oh, one other thing. Do shields have any effect besides added armor rating?

[Kreador Freeaxe]

In Book I, no. One point so you can use a shield without penalty is all you ever need. Personally, I never bothered with a shield in Book I.

[xolotl]

Yeah, I just did some quick tests using a character editor, and higher levels of shields don't seem to actually do anything for you, unless it's something subtle that I'm missing. So the initial point may be worth it, but I wouldn't bother with more than 1.

In Book 2, higher-level shields definitely help, and provide extra benefits.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

In Book 2, higher-level shields definitely help, and provide extra benefits.

Indeed, so said my shield-wielding untouchable character.

[Gandaug]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

You've confirmed what I suspected.

[Evnissyen]

Kreador is our resident Shield Hero.

[xolotl]

Bah, our beautiful posting symmetry has been ruined! Ruined, I say!

[Evnissyen]

And I'll do it again!

[Average Joe]

I've only begun playing Book I today, but maybe I am missing something. When I am holding the shield, I get error messages if I try to use a torch or switch to my bow.

I can certainly understand why, because I only have two hands, but it is really awkward and annoying to have to open the equip screen to swap out the shield for the torch and back again. And I can't put my bow in the secondary weapon slot for easy changing if I am holding the shield, either.

Is there no way to have the torch automatically be put away while I am holding the shield? It not, I will probably just forget about using a shield altogether.

[Painted Lady]

You just identified the problem with shields. I personally didn't think they were worth all of the trouble in Book I. The one time I used a shield I made Fire Dart my ranged weapon. Taking this tact also means you need to rely on Predator Sight and Cat's Eye rather than on torches when you are running around....

[SpottedShroom]

Shields are certainly not for everyone. They obviously don't work well for bow fighters, and melee fighters need an alternate light source (spell or item) to use them underground. Spellcasters probably have the easiest time with them, but if you're a spellcaster you probably hope you'll never need to use it.

[Damiarch]

I played a *cleric* type through the game.
Mace+shield+spells with a healthy dose of Breaking and entering skills.