Is a sword and shield build viable in late game, your best guess?

[solaris32]

Obviously the full game isn't out yet, so I'm asking for your best guess.

I love playing defensive tank builds with a shield. Problem is in the majority of rpgs shield builds suck in the late game, because enemies do so much damage that your armor matters little, when going 2-handed damage focused matters a whole lot more. Kill fast or be killed fast.

Hopefully that's not the case here.

[Recjawjind]

Originally posted by larhtas:

Originally posted by Recjawjind:

Oh yeah one caveat to shields being good is... karmic dice.
If you haven't already, please turn it off. It sucks.

If you run a shield and get more AC, the enemies just suddenly start rolling better against you, making the investment into defenses pointless :)

+1
I recommand disable kharmic dice always in this game

I love most of the things Larian has done but Karmic dice? I really, really don't know what they were thinking. And for what ungodly reason is it on *by default*?

[[Heretic]Rivga]

Originally posted by solaris32:

Obviously the full game isn't out yet, so I'm asking for your best guess.

I love playing defensive tank builds with a shield. Problem is in the majority of rpgs shield builds suck in the late game, because enemies do so much damage that your armor matters little, when going 2-handed damage focused matters a whole lot more. Kill fast or be killed fast.

Hopefully that's not the case here.

Shields in DnD games traditionally can get + modifications on them. So a plus 5 Shield will add 7 (rather than 2) - which is 35% less change of you getting hit vs a 2%.

You do lose out on damage, as Two handed or Duel wielding causes more damage. If I recall there is a feat that allows you shield to an attack - like a Duel wielder you can attack with main hand and then one with shield, obviously it does not do as much damage but another attack is always good.

[Recjawjind]

Originally posted by HereticRivga:

Originally posted by solaris32:

Obviously the full game isn't out yet, so I'm asking for your best guess.

I love playing defensive tank builds with a shield. Problem is in the majority of rpgs shield builds suck in the late game, because enemies do so much damage that your armor matters little, when going 2-handed damage focused matters a whole lot more. Kill fast or be killed fast.

Hopefully that's not the case here.

Shields in DnD games traditionally can get + modifications on them. So a plus 5 Shield will add 7 (rather than 2) - which is 35% less change of you getting hit vs a 2%.

You do lose out on damage, as Two handed or Duel wielding causes more damage. If I recall there is a feat that allows you shield to an attack - like a Duel wielder you can attack with main hand and then one with shield, obviously it does not do as much damage but another attack is always good.

+5 shield? +5s aren't a thing in 5e, and I hope larian doesn't go that crazy with their homebrew magic items. The max is +3, which puts it at very rare for weapons and shields. +3 armor is even legendary.

[cire87]

Ive never used a shield in WOTR or BG3, does it pair well with anyone we met so far in BG3?

[[Heretic]Rivga]

Originally posted by Recjawjind:

Originally posted by HereticRivga:

Shields in DnD games traditionally can get + modifications on them. So a plus 5 Shield will add 7 (rather than 2) - which is 35% less change of you getting hit vs a 2%.

You do lose out on damage, as Two handed or Duel wielding causes more damage. If I recall there is a feat that allows you shield to an attack - like a Duel wielder you can attack with main hand and then one with shield, obviously it does not do as much damage but another attack is always good.

+5 shield? +5s aren't a thing in 5e, and I hope larian doesn't go that crazy with their homebrew magic items. The max is +3, which puts it at very rare for weapons and shields. +3 armor is even legendary.

Sorry I have just come out of Playing Pathfinder WotR - with the 3.5ed - my mistake.

[.Master Jiren, The Strongest]

Originally posted by solaris32:

Obviously the full game isn't out yet, so I'm asking for your best guess.

I love playing defensive tank builds with a shield. Problem is in the majority of rpgs shield builds suck in the late game, because enemies do so much damage that your armor matters little, when going 2-handed damage focused matters a whole lot more. Kill fast or be killed fast.

Hopefully that's not the case here.

Well, yeah, I get it. Most players just want to pick the highest damage dealing class and roll all the dice and deal all the damage and dont care much for the other 2/3rds of DnD.

But this is a video game. And so, if you stack your AC to 21, most enemies are not going to be hitting you. But, sure, the enemies who DO hit you are going to hit you HARD. And of course the AI seems to crit 50% of the time, or they spam Sleep on Gale.

Either way, I still say its perfectly viable to be an invincible tank. Most people are probably going to tell you to just spec the highest damage possible though. Luckily, you can do both, by playing a Paladin.

[jk2l]

it can be very satisfying to see the end game boss miss all of his attack on you when you got ridiculous high AC

[Zeption™]

Originally posted by solaris32:

Obviously the full game isn't out yet, so I'm asking for your best guess.

I love playing defensive tank builds with a shield. Problem is in the majority of rpgs shield builds suck in the late game, because enemies do so much damage that your armor matters little, when going 2-handed damage focused matters a whole lot more. Kill fast or be killed fast.

Hopefully that's not the case here.

your gonna want 1 tank with shield on your party regardless of your choices, what is important is that you have a decent team or i assume there is a Lone Wolf talent to go solo but still, shields are always good

[Hairy Coo]

Absolutely, just do whatever seem more fun. DnD does not require powergaming, neither does BG3 really from what I've seen so far. You want a shield on your barbarian or something - do it, you likely still going to win if you know what you are doing in combat.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Zeption™:

Originally posted by solaris32:

Obviously the full game isn't out yet, so I'm asking for your best guess.

I love playing defensive tank builds with a shield. Problem is in the majority of rpgs shield builds suck in the late game, because enemies do so much damage that your armor matters little, when going 2-handed damage focused matters a whole lot more. Kill fast or be killed fast.

Hopefully that's not the case here.

your gonna want 1 tank with shield on your party regardless of your choices, what is important is that you have a decent team or i assume there is a Lone Wolf talent to go solo but still, shields are always good

D&D 5e barely has "tanks" (in that there are nearly no taunt like abilities or ways to gain 'aggro') and the design philosophy is based around all characters having the capacity for self-sufficiency while contributing to the party. This means that even "squishy" classes can have absurdly high AC's (Abjuration Wizard), there is less emphasis on healing in combat (so no 'healbots'), and with customization any class can be made to deal damage or support, or a little of both - not to mention all of the out of combat stuff that is also critical.

Now, in BG3 you can sort of "tank" by tricking the AI in some cases or creating chokepoints. And the best "tank" isn't the one with the highest AC, but rather the one most likely to be attacked and be able to survive.

Generalky this means the Barbarisns, Druids, and Barb/Druid multiclasses, as they have large hp pools, temp hp, hp buff (Aid), damage resistance, and healing, while having a low enough AC that enemies actually want to attack them.

[solaris32]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Originally posted by Zeption™:

your gonna want 1 tank with shield on your party regardless of your choices, what is important is that you have a decent team or i assume there is a Lone Wolf talent to go solo but still, shields are always good

D&D 5e barely has "tanks" (in that there are nearly no taunt like abilities or ways to gain 'aggro') and the design philosophy is based around all characters having the capacity for self-sufficiency while contributing to the party. This means that even "squishy" classes can have absurdly high AC's (Abjuration Wizard), there is less emphasis on healing in combat (so no 'healbots'), and with customization any class can be made to deal damage or support, or a little of both - not to mention all of the out of combat stuff that is also critical.

Now, in BG3 you can sort of "tank" by tricking the AI in some cases or creating chokepoints. And the best "tank" isn't the one with the highest AC, but rather the one most likely to be attacked and be able to survive.

Generalky this means the Barbarisns, Druids, and Barb/Druid multiclasses, as they have large hp pools, temp hp, hp buff (Aid), damage resistance, and healing, while having a low enough AC that enemies actually want to attack them.

Well Larian has made it clear it's going to be very easy to respec, so if I hate my tank fighter I can try something else.

[Cirrus]

Viability can decrease in higher difficulties where Larian Tactician AI wants to kill lower AC caharacters first.

Based on the difficulty descriotions at normalnAInpropably tries to hit high ac tanks too. (Closest etc...)

[AncientsLegacy]

Shield is fine, just make sure you have something to use your bonus action on,