Shields
Shields are an item type found in Diablo III. Specific types of shields are not yet known, but they will be familiar to gamers from other RPGs; the D3 Team isn't reinventing this item type.
Shield Changes in Diablo III
Shields are much changed in function in Diablo III.
They still block attacks, but while their % chance to block varies (as in D2), they only absorb a set amount of damage. The buckler, the weakest shield and the only one we know the stats of, absorbs 6-10 damage. Higher quality shields will take much more damage with a successful block.
This differs greatly from Diablo II, where any shield could block (absorb) 100% of any physical attack, even huge hits from boss monsters that would have dealt hundreds of points of damage.
This change makes shields much more realistic, but also much less effective (mandatory) in Diablo III than they were in Diablo II.
The stats of a Buckler as of August 2010.
- Armor: 78
- Chance to Block: +25%
- Block Amount: 6-10
- Durability: 25/25
- Sell value: 1
This is presumed to be part of the Barbarian's starting equipment, since the sell value is just 1.
Shield Skills
The Barbarian's Battlemaster skill, Shield Specialization gives more information about this change. Here are the stats, as of October 2008 (figures will be changed in the final game):
- Shield Specialization
- Passive Skill
- Max Rank: 15
- Description: Increases the Barbarian's chance to block with a shield and the amount of damage he can block.
- Rank 1: +8% chance to block, +6 damage blocked.
- Fury cost: None
Note that description; this skill increases the chance to block and the amount of damage blocked. This is because shields in Diablo III block a % of the time, and only absorb some set amount of damage when the do.
In retrospect, blocking was overpowered in Diablo II. That a shield gave your character up to a 75% chance to completely erase all incoming physical damage hardly seems fair, and was certainly not realistic. How can a weak Sorceress or Necromancer with a little wooden plate on their arm completely stop the damage from a massive polearm? If the Diablo III system works as Shield Specialization makes it sound, the use of shields should be much more interesting in D3. It would make two-handed weapons more viable, for one thing, since a player wouldn't be giving up 75% damage reduction by using them.
