Well i pretty much gave up my shield tests.
Ok, set is avarage, but the animations are far far far from what i expected. Running with sword/shield is the same freaking [censored] walk archers have (and db), really aint my style. Likewise the powers itself, it doesnt 'use' the shield rather lame copies of WP/Inv set animations.
Sadly, but for shields and dual whielding, cabal remains my all time no 1 on best animations.
50)Sinergy X/(50)Mika.
(50)MaceX/(50)Encore
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BAB made this post about animations:
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There are variations of the 'block' animation that incorporate the shield. Those are mixed in with the dodge animations for variety. Blocks and Dodges are fairly low on the totem pole in terms of priority, so they tend to only play when you're not attacking, getting hit, being held, moving around, etc.
As far as other visual FX go, we intentionally kept them subtle and brief so as to not interfere with any character concepts as much as possbile. A lesson that we've learned from complaints about the visual FX for powers like Super Strength, Regen, etc. and previously tried to implement for Willpower.
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Basically, there are animations for the Shield, but if you are doing anything else that uses animations, like attacking, they will be overridden and won't play. Another quirk of a badly written game engine.
I really should do something about this signature.
Yup, i saw that post also. Sounds like a 'we couldnt get it working that great, but this is what we came up with' story, specialy riot shield on female characters goes pretty weird.
Although i cant really see why visual FX should be this lousy for the shield set, WP was already unnoticable (unlike ice, stone or fire armor), why not add a option 'supress player FX', like the already implemented feature to disable other people's FX.
I was remaking another toon, i noticed i could choose other shields in elemental set. Energy or kinetic (quite cool), Dark (funny) and i believe electric, but later on i couldnt pick them anymore.
50)Sinergy X/(50)Mika.
(50)MaceX/(50)Encore
Sign the petition, dont let CoH go down! SIGN!
Currently some of the elemental shields are bugged, and not available on huge or female. There should also be another tec shield which isn't showing for anyone yet.
I really should do something about this signature.
Despite the change I think it needs some better resistance, high end. I don't have to play one to 50, I can make any tanker pretty much feel like one using insps and the onning and offing of the toggles.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
I'm inclined to agree with you. If it is to have low defense debuff resistance it really needs some serious S/L resistance as backup (or much larger -dmg).
I really should do something about this signature.
When the crunch comes to the crunch resistance is very important. I do not want to be fussier about team make ups as I rather value players over powersets.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
Ok, I have to be missing something here, someone help me, because I know I like completely overlooking obvious stuff all the time, and I just took a look at shields over on Test.
My question is thus; a base resist and defense of FIFTEEN percent!? Isn't this merely a creative way of committing suicide? Can I have Willpower instead and just stick a shield to my arm for show?
Italics and arrogant tone added to allow responders to feel superior.
Chairman of the Charity of Pain; accepting donations of blood and guts.
Prophet of the Creamy Truth; "If it's empty, fill it with cream."
15% def reduces incoming damage by the same amount as 30% resistance, which is the standard value for a tanker res shield (but is more easily overcome, which is what the backup resistance is for).
When PF is added in, base def is raised to 20% anyway.
Will Power is certainly stronger, but just because any defense set with regen or healing is stronger than any defense set without.
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Italics and arrogant tone added to allow responders to feel superior.
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Thanks, but not needed, I always feel superior . 
I really should do something about this signature.
Shield charge, take the alpha to them instead of taking the alpha.
Some new news from the latest build:
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Phalanx Fighting now has (tank number) 5% defense to self, unenhanceable, and 3% enhanceable for up to 3 teammates in range. This is now not only a solo power, it's a pretty dang useful one. So that would be... 3.75% unenhanceable for scrappers and brutes, with 2.25% enhanceable for up to three teammates.
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Basically, +5% def unenhanceable to base def. Should make quite a difference, especially at low levels.
Now all I have to do is un-skip the power!
As for AAO, it appears to debuff damage by about 10%. The damage bonus is strange, it seems to self stack for a fraction of a second, causing the combat attributes to flick around. That makes it difficult to read, but it appears to be 15.5% for the first mob, and an additional 5.5% per mob. I haven't tested it up to 10, but the implication is it caps at +65%.
I really should do something about this signature.