Shields

[Kharas]

Just out of curiosoty, does the certain types of shield have an impact on the main hand? For instance, does a large shield make the character miss more?

[JackOfClubs]

No. Shield size only really affects protection against missile weapons. A small shield does not increase your AC against missile weapons, a medium shield gives equal protection for missile and melee, and a large shield gives +1 against missiles in addition to whatever other AC bonus it give. (Bucklers are the same as small shields except that they are useless agains all piercing attacks, not just missiles.)

[Saros]

A small shield does not increase your AC against missile weapons,

With the exception of the Shield of Reflection. It will give you 100% immunity to missile fire since it has the spell Physical Mirror locked in it permanently. I.e. missile reflection.

Yet I cannot think of even one Large shield worth wearing. Most of the shields with useful enchantments are medium or small

[Crucis]

With the exception of the Shield of Reflection. It will give you 100% immunity to missile fire since it has the spell Physical Mirror locked in it permanently. I.e. missile reflection.

Yet I cannot think of even one Large shield worth wearing. Most of the shields with useful enchantments are medium or small

Saros, I think that it greatly depends on how much you value AC. Sometimes, yes, it's the various enchantments that you need. But sometimes, a maximized AC is what's called for.

The Fortress Shield, a large (tower?) shield with a solid AC, and a great anti-missile AC bonus, is a solid performer for a long time.

One interesting sword/shield combo that I discovered recently , but have never heard much mention of is having Mazzy use her Short Sword of Arvoreen with the (small) Shield of Harmony, against certain opponents. When you look at all the various immunities those two items give her, you realize that Mazzy becomes one deadly halfling who is immune to an incredible array of magical attacks.

[Saros]

Saros, I think that it greatly depends on how much you value AC. Sometimes, yes, it's the various enchantments that you need. But sometimes, a maximized AC is what's called for.

The Fortress Shield, a large (tower?) shield with a solid AC, and a great anti-missile AC bonus, is a solid performer for a long time.

One interesting sword/shield combo that I discovered recently , but have never heard much mention of is having Mazzy use her Short Sword of Arvoreen with the (small) Shield of Harmony, against certain opponents. When you look at all the various immunities those two items give her, you realize that Mazzy becomes one deadly halfling who is immune to an incredible array of magical attacks.

Well, if I need a maximum AC(for a Cleric, preferably), then I'd wear any time the Sentinel+Physical mirror spell against arrows if needed. The Fortress Shield is somewhat good in chapter 2 and 3. Afterwards, it becomes useless.

About the sword+shield combo - better give the shield to someone else. And best - don't use it at all. Just keep everyone buffed with Chaotic commands. It is far better if Mazzy is armed with the Short Sword of the Mask main-hand and Arbane's sword of Agility against hold in off-hand and buffed with Chaotic commands. This way, she has the same immunities and far more fighting power. And these fabulous immunities still don't help her against Mind Flayers... and Vampires...

[Crucis]

Well, if I need a maximum AC(for a Cleric, preferably), then I'd wear any time the Sentinel+Physical mirror spell against arrows if needed. The Fortress Shield is somewhat good in chapter 2 and 3. Afterwards, it becomes useless.

Not true. It may be come less useful, but never useless. The word "useless" is thrown around far too casually on these boards. Just because better shields eventually become available does not make lesser shields "useless", merely less useful.

About the sword+shield combo - better give the shield to someone else. And best - don't use it at all. Just keep everyone buffed with Chaotic commands. It is far better if Mazzy is armed with the Short Sword of the Mask main-hand and Arbane's sword of Agility against hold in off-hand and buffed with Chaotic commands. This way, she has the same immunities and far more fighting power. And these fabulous immunities still don't help her against Mind Flayers... and Vampires...

I don't like being so constantly dependent on spells. Furthermore, earlier you were extorting the wondrous qualities of carrying shields with excellent abilities. All I was doing was suggesting one potent sword/shield combo. And, from my experience, the Shield of Harmony/Sword of Arvoreen actually is fairly useful against Mindflayers. Oh, it still won't protest against INT drains, but the MF's do also have some attacks that can stun a character, so I stand by my belief that this combo is a potent one. And unless there's a desperate need for a weapon with a higher enchantment to even hit a given target, I'm not going diss a perfectly good +2 short sword with an anti-stun ability.

Also note that I did not imply that this combo was great for all circumstances. It is particularly good against spellcasters and many monsters whose spells or attacks can stun, charm, or confuse.

And don't get me wrong. I also believe that Arbane's Sword is also a great
off-hand weapon, largely for that Hold immunity. I had a different character in my last party that used it as a standard offhand weapon for much of the game.

[Saros]

I don't like being so constantly dependent on spells. Furthermore, earlier you were extorting the wondrous qualities of carrying shields with excellent abilities. All I was doing was suggesting one potent sword/shield combo. And, from my experience, the Shield of Harmony/Sword of Arvoreen actually is fairly useful against Mindflayers. Oh, it still won't protest against INT drains, but the MF's do also have some attacks that can stun a character, so I stand by my belief that this combo is a potent one. And unless there's a desperate need for a weapon with a higher enchantment to even hit a given target, I'm not going diss a perfectly good +2 short sword with an anti-stun ability.

You have to be constantly dependent on spell buffs, because mostly they solve any fight.

I was indeed emphasizing on some shields with great bonuses, but I forgot to add "Where there are no spells that could protect in the same manner as the shields". Meaning that if you have a Cleric or two in the party, the Shield of Harmony becomes nearly useless. If you have a Mage, then the Dragon Scale shield is almost useless. Well, there are certain very few situations when those shields can still be used(for instance, the Dead Magic Rooms in Watcher's Keep). The only shield that is really useful is the Reflection Shield.


Against Mindflayers you do need stun&domination protection, so if you are a solo halfling warrior it makes sense to use the Sword of Arvoreen+Shield of Harmony. Although in this case I'd prefer Sword of Arvoreen + Adjatha the Drinker. The flayers have many attacks. 4 per round to be exact. And although their Thac0 is only 8, provided they have to hit you 4 times to kill you(usually with int 18), you need to hit very fast in order to survive. So - no shields, more swords when fighting Flayers. Thus, I'd reccomend not fighting flayers with a solo warrior unless you have the Greenstone amulet since it protects and frees your hands for more potent weapons than +2 short and longsword. The Brine Potions are another option.

There is always a good reason to pick another weapon over a "perfectly-good shortsword +2 with a nice anti-stun ability". Because there are many weapons that can hit more often, deal more damage and have much more devastating effect. Not to mention the fact that after chapter 5 there are many enemies against whom +2 weapons don't work at all.

[Kipi]

You have to be constantly dependent on spell buffs, because mostly they solve any fight.

This is getting very much offtopic, but I have to comment this.
No, you don't need to buff hardly at all. I have completed the game couple of times only using the following buffs from spells: Haste, Invisibility, Improved Haste.

Got through SoA and ToB only using those spell buffs. And before anyone makes any comment about that style of playing not being even close to the most effective way of playing, I say: If you can complete the game with a certain method, it's effective enough.

[Rabain]

Woe is me for the loss of round shields in BG2!

[GawainBS]

I concur with Rabain: the old paperdolls looked better.