If Giants existed in BC times...

[Sombre]

Who says the shield of gleaming gold is better at parrying arrows because it's shiny? It's just that it's a magic shield.

The only reason people associate shields and defence at all is the way it's displayed on the unit screen. If weapon damage was added on to strength in the display you'd get the same thing there. Fortunately it isn't, so it's less confusing.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by Sombre

Who says the shield of gleaming gold is better at parrying arrows because it's shiny? It's just that it's a magic shield.

The only reason people associate shields and defence at all is the way it's displayed on the unit screen. If weapon damage was added on to strength in the display you'd get the same thing there. Fortunately it isn't, so it's less confusing.

Pretty sure they mean the Shield of Valor, which gives you Air Shield (like the also mentioned Silver Hauberk).

The irony being that in many cases, these missiles are fired somewhat "blind" anyways, just arced in the general direction of potential enemies..... Yet they miss the pretty armor every time.

[Sombre]

Does the item description say the air shield effect is because the item is shiny? It seems more like they just, you know, give an air shield.

[MaxWilson]

Originally Posted by Sombre

Who says the shield of gleaming gold is better at parrying arrows because it's shiny? It's just that it's a magic shield.

The description strongly implies that the shininess is what gives it its high parry. You'll see the same thing for other high-parry shields like the Shield of the Accursed (?). High parry also gives good missile protection.

-Max

[KissBlade]

Bah, regardless, the whole point of this post was to say that that theme should not overtake balance.

[Redeyes]

How fun is a discussion when everyone agrees ?
Que someone who disagrees:

[vfb]

Originally Posted by MaxWilson

The description strongly implies that the shininess is what gives it its high parry. You'll see the same thing for other high-parry shields like the Shield of the Accursed (?). High parry also gives good missile protection.

-Max

But that's not at all how they should affect missile defense, if the mechanism is through interfering with the archer's vision. The shield should reduce the precision of any archer targeting the square the Gold/Accursed-Shielded unit is in. The shield should not be more effective against arrows coincidentally falling into the space where the unit is standing.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by vfb

But that's not at all how they should affect missile defense, if the mechanism is through interfering with the archer's vision. The shield should reduce the precision of any archer targeting the square the Gold/Accursed-Shielded unit is in. The shield should not be more effective against arrows coincidentally falling into the space where the unit is standing.

Shield of Gleaming Gold is not a specifically anti-missile shield, it's is just fast, and heavily enchanted. The "shiny" part of this description is for the Awe effect, causing melee attackers to "avert their eyes" and miss the opportunity to strike.

Silver Hauberk "distracts the eyes of the enemy", such that missiles rarely hit - this is a bit odd to me, for reasons you describe.

Shield of Valor says "Symbols of power are inscribed on the surface of this shield to protect the bearer from missiles". So, totally unshiny reason for deflection there.

Interestingly, Valor is 8 Parry + 80% Air Shield, while Gleaming Gold is simply 9 Parry. You are virtually immune to missile fire with Shield of Valor..... simply well protected by Gleaming Gold, because it's a good shield.

[MaxWilson]

Originally Posted by MaxWilson

I know, but for our purposes it doesn't matter. The fact that the shield of gleaming gold is better at deflecting *arrows* because it's shiny is actually even weirder than if it boosted defense directly.

-Max

Originally Posted by vfb

But that's not at all how they should affect missile defense, if the mechanism is through interfering with the archer's vision. The shield should reduce the precision of any archer targeting the square the Gold/Accursed-Shielded unit is in. The shield should not be more effective against arrows coincidentally falling into the space where the unit is standing.

Precisely, vfb.

-Max

[MaxWilson]

Originally Posted by MaxWilson

The description strongly implies that the shininess is what gives it its high parry.

Originally Posted by JimMorrison

Shield of Gleaming Gold is not a specifically anti-missile shield, it's is just fast, and heavily enchanted. The "shiny" part of this description is for the Awe effect, causing melee attackers to "avert their eyes" and miss the opportunity to strike.

Other high-parry shields like Aegis and the Shield of the Accursed have similar notation about how they're hard to look at, in addition to their other effects. It appears to me that they're trying to explain why they get such an insanely good Parry.

But okay, maybe I'm wrong. I'm not KO or JO or anything.

-Max