Has anyone played MA/Shield??

Ive got mine up to 20 so far, and its alot of fun. MA is very strong and with shields I dont get hit that often

Captain America.

There could be worse things than be labeled Captain America. :-)

Yes to 50, lots of fun, and yes a sort of play on Captain America, albeit a modern version for our current world wide struggle. No red, white, and blue spandex, but rather desert camo fatigues, military helmet, and a desert colored round shield with a "punisher" skull emblem (skull 2 I think). Aptly named, War On Terror, on Triumph server. Favorite themed toon although I have been harrassed in chat by haters of American foreign policy on rare occasions. No big whup, to each their own, bless them.

Initial lack of PBAOE, but hell your playing Martial Arts, thats not your deal. Once you have the shield smashing PBAOE and follow it with Dragons Tail most tight packed minion groups are finished easy. Then single target martial arts goodness on bosses and lts.

I skipped Crane Kick for the improved Cobra Strike, this keeps me from knocking foes out of Shield's damage buff aura, which is what Crane Kick will do often. I actually slotted up Boxing with Touch of Death for the melee defense bonus, but also now use it in a single target STUN/ Disorient CHAIN: Eagle Claw, Cobra Strike, Boxing yes the one, two, three, and repeat can overwhelm enemy stun/disorient protection and even have an elite boss or some av's staggering around. Throw in a Crippling Axe Kick and Storm Kick here and there to finish your staggering enemy. Staggering bad guy is a bad guy not hitting you; he just lets you kick away and kick the **** out of him as he stumbles about stupidly.

Negative energy Procs (Touch of Death) and five Crushing blows for recharge bonus is a cheap way (compared to other ways to io) I slotted my single target attacks. Shield's damage buff aura, a quick recharging Focus Chi, and the Procs make up for that highly resisted smashing damage your throwing out against the high resist enemies lev 35 and on. An Eradication damage proc in Dragons Tail also can make it more respectable and effective after a big shield smash. Regardless if it is a boss or lt still standing after a smash of the shield, a boss or lt you just now tripped is not hitting you, chain stun him and murder his evil ***!

I don't know, I am more of a casual player but MA/ Shield has actually been a 50 levels I enjoyed, and then tinkering with once I had some inf. Going to play this character some more now that the incarnate content has started.

I have a baby MA/Shield. She's too low to confirm, but I expect that Shield's AAO damage buff will synergize very neatly with Dragon's Tail, the sole PBAoE. Coupled with the crit boost from Eagle's Claw and a good bit of recharge to bring it up quickly, this might be enough to finally give a Martial Artist significant AoE capability. DT is already a pretty good PBAoE.

I have a MA/SD at 50, It was my first Shield at 50. After getting more Shields up to 50 I really haven't play him that much. I had issue with end and had to go with the body mastery pool for Conserve Power and Physical Perfection. I didn't spend a lot of inf on the build I just wanted soft capped defense. This was before the BoTZ nerf, so now I don't have soft capped defense to Range and AoE.

I did have a lot of fun playing him up to 50. He did great damage and Shield charge with DT is a lot of fun.

My Characters Deviont Art page Currently-reading Me Skydiving

My first (and so far only) shielder was a Red, White and Blue MA/Shield Scrapper, named American-Girl (Half Alien, Half Human, all American)

She wasn't intended to be a Captain America ripoff or even homage, and in fact she was originally a MA/INV untill I saw the Vanguard Shield. I'd make more Shielders if that shield unlocked at level 2!

I haven't played it since the improvements to MA, but I enjoyed her then! Never really used Shield Charge to actually charge into the group though. Run in, soak up the DMG buffs then unleash a Shield Charge -> Dragon Tail combo

Sure, other AOE combo's where stronger, but I loved it!