Ballistic Shield

[Axis of Lint]

Genuine question - Do people feel that running the ballistic shield + knight/defender is better than running one of the more 'meta' weapon picks (sickle/dominator? I'm not sure what people think is meta at the moment tbh)?

I've seen quite a few people bring it up, but having tried the ballistic shield a few times I wasn't impressed in the slightest, especially when I can run the personal shield gen instead.

Extol me with the virtues of your shield mastery.

[Kashra Fall]

It's just choice really. I ran a ballistic shield in my last mission with a defender/AMR and had the most kills/least amount of deaths of my team that were running sickles/auto cannons etc. Just use what you like. Having the (Basically.) invulnerability while running away from bots feels nice. You get to watch the shots deflect off the shield lol.

[Catteus Of Mars]

when you have 4 strategems maby when you have 3 nah cant afford it.

[Azinar Elyrum]

Me and some friends were trying combinations with shields n would have the shielded person crouched allowing someone to stand behind them far safer (and yes you can just tank out several rockets with the heavy 50% damage resistance armors) this allows people using the AMR, eruptor, or other such guns that benefit from accuracy the ability to easily wipe out a hoard of devistators or hulks knowing that they wont get stagger-spammed

[LordoftheRobe]

there is no meta, just the right weapon for the right job that you can use.

I use the eruptor since its the closet thing we have to a DMR. It shoots slow, hits hard, but is horrendous up close as its bugged and will cause you to fly towards the enemy.

the so called "meta weapons" are just weapons with the fastest ttk against enemies and the devs fail to realize this. had they buffed DMR to be like the slugger at far range and semi-good up close then people would use them.

unfortunately the devs have created a problem of their own making due to their incompetence and instead of admitting it they're using a "meta" as the excuse.

people would use more weapons if they actually were useful, but they aren't.

so saying meta weapons is like telling someone who's eating soup they should use a fork instead of a "meta" spoon.

[Axis of Lint]

Originally posted by LordoftheRobe:

there is no meta, just the right weapon for the right job that you can use.

I use the eruptor since its the closet thing we have to a DMR. It shoots slow, hits hard, but is horrendous up close as its bugged and will cause you to fly towards the enemy.

the so called "meta weapons" are just weapons with the fastest ttk against enemies and the devs fail to realize this. had they buffed DMR to be like the slugger at far range and semi-good up close then people would use them.

unfortunately the devs have created a problem of their own making due to their incompetence and instead of admitting it they're using a "meta" as the excuse.

people would use more weapons if they actually were useful, but they aren't.

so saying meta weapons is like telling someone who's eating soup they should use a fork instead of a "meta" spoon.

Thanks for your entirely offtopic response to my question.

[Baelog]

The Ballistic Shield blocks any Bot projectile that doesn't have the Explosive tag (this includes shots from Heavy Devastators, Scout Walkers, Tanks, Turrets, and even the chin guns of the Factory Strider) and reduces damage from Explosives as well.

Since the devs improved the shield, you have a pretty wide forward arc to block shots from, meaning you can make a walking advance on anything without explosives and be relatively unharmed.

The biggest advantage the ballistic shield has over the shield generator is that it's way more durable, and can take hundreds of shots before breaking and while the shield gen has 360 protection, it also has a tendency to soak up damage that wasn't going to hit you anyway and deplete it's charge further.

[Mathias Giovanni]

Honestly I like it as a sniper play. AMR, Shield with stealth armor. You have the shield on your back when you need to run away. And it allows small crowd clear. It's a decent combo.

[Axis of Lint]

Originally posted by Baelog:

The Ballistic Shield blocks any Bot projectile that doesn't have the Explosive tag (this includes shots from Heavy Devastators, Scout Walkers, Tanks, Turrets, and even the chin guns of the Factory Strider) and reduces damage from Explosives as well.

Since the devs improved the shield, you have a pretty wide forward arc to block shots from, meaning you can make a walking advance on anything without explosives and be relatively unharmed.

The biggest advantage the ballistic shield has over the shield generator is that it's way more durable, and can take hundreds of shots before breaking and while the shield gen has 360 protection, it also has a tendency to soak up damage that wasn't going to hit you anyway and deplete it's charge further.

That's entirely fair and I get that part, but do you feel that the offset from using the limited pool of weapons that pair well with the shield = shield gen + any primary?

[abcd]

i like being able to put the shield on my back, as this is often the safest configuration with the most coverage. so i prefer a 2h for that purpose.

otherwise I like the defender and it reloads partial mags much faster with the shield up, along with the p2. just the shield is more useful on my back a lot of the time. like when running from a close arty drop or proneing for a long range bot shootout.

being able to panic and whip it out when you run into a machinegun nest can save your life too. as can turning around and walking away in a straight line.

finally if you need to dive off a cliff for some reason, if you have the shield out and aim it at the ground it'll block the damage and fall out of your hands.

[LoboFH]

After the buff you won't feel like it's a wasted slot. It's only drawback, no mid penetration weapons with it, but you can use a support weapon for those targets, it will protect your back at least.

[Baelog]

Originally posted by Axis of Lint:

Originally posted by Baelog:

The Ballistic Shield blocks any Bot projectile that doesn't have the Explosive tag (this includes shots from Heavy Devastators, Scout Walkers, Tanks, Turrets, and even the chin guns of the Factory Strider) and reduces damage from Explosives as well.

Since the devs improved the shield, you have a pretty wide forward arc to block shots from, meaning you can make a walking advance on anything without explosives and be relatively unharmed.

The biggest advantage the ballistic shield has over the shield generator is that it's way more durable, and can take hundreds of shots before breaking and while the shield gen has 360 protection, it also has a tendency to soak up damage that wasn't going to hit you anyway and deplete it's charge further.

That's entirely fair and I get that part, but do you feel that the offset from using the limited pool of weapons that pair well with the shield = shield gen + any primary?

Solo? Probably not unless you're doing a defense mission and can toss down some turrets for backup.

Team? Definitely. You can tank and draw enemies out while your buddy can use the fancy guns. This dynamic is going to get better as the devs are adding a medic drone backpack and maybe a medic gun since it was in the first.

Also, more SMGs will be coming as well as more secondaries, so the pool is going to expand.

[Everoth]

The reason I wear shield and defender. Apart of being the shield of democracy for my team. Is not only to take agro, protect sample bearers. But also effectively engage groups of raiders. The bubble will pop really quick, the shield, will stay with you unless you get hit with enough rockets or something bigger. If you are good at aiming, you can take out devastators and raider groups on your own, and with heavy armor, I have been feeling like an asset to the team. Not to mention the shield also protects your back and head when you run away from the enemy. Which has saved me and my allies so many times so far. I am waiting for more one handed weapons to pair with the shield.

[Mathias Giovanni]

Originally posted by Axis of Lint:

Originally posted by Baelog:

The Ballistic Shield blocks any Bot projectile that doesn't have the Explosive tag (this includes shots from Heavy Devastators, Scout Walkers, Tanks, Turrets, and even the chin guns of the Factory Strider) and reduces damage from Explosives as well.

Since the devs improved the shield, you have a pretty wide forward arc to block shots from, meaning you can make a walking advance on anything without explosives and be relatively unharmed.

The biggest advantage the ballistic shield has over the shield generator is that it's way more durable, and can take hundreds of shots before breaking and while the shield gen has 360 protection, it also has a tendency to soak up damage that wasn't going to hit you anyway and deplete it's charge further.

That's entirely fair and I get that part, but do you feel that the offset from using the limited pool of weapons that pair well with the shield = shield gen + any primary?

They really need a few more one handed. Tons of shotguns but no new SMG. And only a few pistols really fit with it. So it would be nice to have some more SMG or other one handed style weapons.

[Mathias Giovanni]

Originally posted by Everoth:

The reason I wear shield and defender. Apart of being the shield of democracy for my team. Is not only to take agro, protect sample bearers. But also effectively engage groups of raiders. The bubble will pop really quick, the shield, will stay with you unless you get hit with enough rockets or something bigger. If you are good at aiming, you can take out devastators and raider groups on your own, and with heavy armor, I have been feeling like an asset to the team. Not to mention the shield also protects your back and head when you run away from the enemy. Which has saved me and my allies so many times so far. I am waiting for more one handed weapons to pair with the shield.

It does allow some unique tactics. You can draw fire and cause them to turn their backs to your team.

[Axis of Lint]

Originally posted by Baelog:

Originally posted by Axis of Lint:

That's entirely fair and I get that part, but do you feel that the offset from using the limited pool of weapons that pair well with the shield = shield gen + any primary?

Solo? Probably not unless you're doing a defense mission and can toss down some turrets for backup.

Team? Definitely. You can tank and draw enemies out while your buddy can use the fancy guns. This dynamic is going to get better as the devs are adding a medic drone backpack and maybe a medic gun since it was in the first.

Also, more SMGs will be coming as well as more secondaries, so the pool is going to expand.

Again, fair. I'd love to see more options to pair with it. At the moment the defender is the only thing I would take probably and I just feel like it doesn't really as effective to me as running sickle + shield gen.

The other issue I've had is a bug when you stim and it puts the shield away so you have to switch weapons to get your shield back again.

Anyway, appreciate the viewpoints.