Should Absorb Shields in Cyrodil be buffed?

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

This has always been something which really irritates me. The 50% absorb shield reduction in PVP. With the introduction of proc sets, does this nerf still have a place in PVP? Light armor users who rely on shields rarely exist in Cyrodil. The shield strength just isn't adequate enough in order to be a reliable defense against the insanely high burst that many of these builds have nowadays. Is it time to revisit the shield nerf?

Make Light Armor viable again.

I propose moving the shield nerf from -50% to -20%. My reasoning for this proposition is that Shields were nerfed when the gameplay/itemization didn't allow for nearly as much burst. A moderate increase to shields would be appropriate to compensate for the gains to burst that has come to exist in the game.

Obviously MagSorcs benefit the most from Absorb Shields. But, shouldn't they deserve it? They do specialize in having a strong one for a reason as part of their class-skill tree. Dampen Magic, or Harness Magic is the source for many other light armor builds. It absorbs approximately 5 to 8k in Cyrodil. 15kish in PVE. See the problem? One selene proc = nearly twice the damage the absorb shield can absorb.

Asmael · January 2017

I propose to tone down the amount of burst possible in a very short timeframe.

Fix the root, not the symptom.

MrGorv · January 2017

Should Absorb Shields in Cyrodil be buffed?

No.

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

Asmael wrote: »

I propose to tone down the amount of burst possible in a very short timeframe.

Fix the root, not the symptom.

While true that the burst should be toned down. I have always viewed the absorb shield nerf in Cyrodil to be excessive prior to proc sets. A 50% nerf is quite a bit, and they were hit pretty hard. I rarely see anyone in Cyrodil run absorb shields anymore. The exception is Blazing Shield Tanks and MagSorcs.

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

MrGorv wrote: »

Should Absorb Shields in Cyrodil be buffed?

No.

I really wish folks would add their line of reasoning to support their statements. Its a discussion thread. You're providing nothing to discuss. I have made claims which suggest the nerf is now excessive. Back then it may not have been, but the gameplay of today is quite different.

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

Asmael wrote: »

I propose to tone down the amount of burst possible in a very short timeframe.

Fix the root, not the symptom.

Also, I agree that its a symptom. But, proc sets are here to stay. Even if they tone them down the shield nerf is currently set for when this amount of burst wasnt possible. I think shields could gain some of a buff to compensate. Proc sets will still provide good burst as it currently stands.

DannyLV702 · January 2017

Shields are strong in pvp. This is coming from a sorc main who loves to abuse the shield spam and irritate people

susmitds · January 2017

If your Annulment is only 5-8k in PvP, get a new build.

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

DannyLV702 wrote: »

Shields are strong in pvp. This is coming from a sorc main who loves to abuse the shield spam and irritate people

Sorcs obviously have the most powerful shields. But, I would suspect if you're spamming shields to irritate people you aren't actually killing people. Sorcs have the luxury of blinking away combined with their shields, so that shield goes a lot further. The shields other classes have access too aren't nearly as potent.

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

susmitds wrote: »

If your Annulment is only 5-8k in PvP, get a new build.

100 points into Bastion = 15k approximately in PVE from Annulment/Harness Magicka (not the other morph - the other morph has some additional gains)

Cyrodil cuts shield strength in half (50%).

Approximately 7.5k to 8k shield in Cyrodil.

Armitas · January 2017

Shield stacking would have to end before we could buff shields. 22k shield health is still a thing even with the shorter length, hardy and elemental defender work before shields as well giving them mitigation and 100% crit defense.

Low shield strength is a issue though. Without mobility, mines, or crazy magicka stack shields don't provide much defense. It takes a whole lot of commitment to be viable and even then probably not viable enough for some situations.

susmitds · January 2017

austinwalter87ub17_ESO wrote: »

susmitds wrote: »

If your Annulment is only 5-8k in PvP, get a new build.

100 points into Bastion = 15k approximately in PVE from Annulment/Harness Magicka (not the other morph - the other morph has some additional gains)

Cyrodil cuts shield strength in half (50%).

Approximately 7.5k to 8k shield in Cyrodil.

I have 56k magicka and my annulment is 25k.

WhiteMage · January 2017

Nope. There needs to be a different reform of sorts. 1 shield is piddly-weak and flimsy, but a double shield stack is almost unbreakable, at least vs other magicka opponents.

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

susmitds wrote: »

austinwalter87ub17_ESO wrote: »

susmitds wrote: »

If your Annulment is only 5-8k in PvP, get a new build.

100 points into Bastion = 15k approximately in PVE from Annulment/Harness Magicka (not the other morph - the other morph has some additional gains)

Cyrodil cuts shield strength in half (50%).

Approximately 7.5k to 8k shield in Cyrodil.

I have 56k magicka and my annulment is 25k.

Most people don't run anywhere close to 56k magicka. Most people average 35k to 40k. Some a little higher around 45k.

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

Armitas wrote: »

Shield stacking would have to end before we could buff shields. 22k shield health is still a thing even with the shorter length, hardy and elemental defender work before shields as well giving them mitigation and 100% crit defense.

Low shield strength is a issue though. Without mobility, mines, or crazy magicka stack shields don't provide much defense. It takes a whole lot of commitment to be viable and even then probably not viable enough.

Thank you for realizing that it is in-fact an issue. Which is why I feel that currently with the introduction of these proc sets, that a moderate buff to shields is suitable and logical. If the goal is balance, then shields need to be somewhat potent for Light Armor users.

MrGorv · January 2017

austinwalter87ub17_ESO wrote: »

MrGorv wrote: »

Should Absorb Shields in Cyrodil be buffed?

No.

I really wish folks would add their line of reasoning to support their statements. Its a discussion thread. You're providing nothing to discuss. I have made claims which suggest the nerf is now excessive. Back then it may not have been, but the gameplay of today is quite different.

I still remember times, when sorcs could stack 70k shields. And I don't want them back. In its current state shield stacking is still very annoying and even Incapacitating+Viper+Widowmaker+Velidreth sick combo won't take down a sorc with all the shields on.
I see, that you want all classes to get an opportunity to effectively use shields, but, believe me, one class with that sort of thing is more than enough.
At least, as long as stamina classes were not given shields at all, because, when there was a chance, all the mana-builds went insta-triggered, and the change to Spiked Bone Shield was reverted.

austinwalter87ub17_ESO · January 2017

MrGorv wrote: »

austinwalter87ub17_ESO wrote: »

MrGorv wrote: »

Should Absorb Shields in Cyrodil be buffed?

No.

I really wish folks would add their line of reasoning to support their statements. Its a discussion thread. You're providing nothing to discuss. I have made claims which suggest the nerf is now excessive. Back then it may not have been, but the gameplay of today is quite different.

I still remember times, when sorcs could stack 70k shields. And I don't want them back. In its current state shield stacking is still very annoying and even Incapacitating+Viper+Widowmaker+Velidreth sick combo won't take down a sorc with all the shields on.
I see, that you want all classes to get an opportunity to effectively use shields, but, believe me, one class with that sort of thing is more than enough.
At least, as long as stamina classes were not given shields at all, because, when there was a chance, all the mana-builds went insta-triggered, and the change to Spiked Bone Shield was reverted.

All classes should be able to effectively use shields. Obviously sorcerers should excel at that. I'm not proposing we return to how it was. But, there is a credible argument to be made in favor of moderately buffing them as the gameplay/combat/burst mechanics has evolved.

Leandor · January 2017

Radical idea. Revise size of shields. Make them inversely proportional to physical resist, with a cap at 30% max health.

Edit 2: clarification: At 10k phys resist and below, make the shield have full strength. Make it an inverse exponential decay up to 1% max health shield strength if you have physical resist cap.

Make all damage shields non stackable. Annulment is base case. Hardened ward is cheaper than annulment, blazing shield has the damage component, bone shield the synergy at the expense of costing stamina and healing ward has healing.

That way, class specific shields have an advantage over the generally available shields, you prevent stacking and shields are most effective for classes that need them most. Also no more stack danage stat to increase defense.

Return duration to 15 seconds.

@ZOS_RichLambert @ZOS_BrianWheeler @ZOS_GinaBruno

Oh, edit: remove battle spirit for shields.

Dracane · January 2017

They must get rid off shield stack and buff single shields. Maybe reducing the battle spirit penalty to 15%, so that it doesn't affect pve.