Main Gauche of Parrying vs use of shields

[fogandsteel]

Lately, I have switched for the most part from using shields to giving my commanders Main Gauche of Parrying (unless the other weapon has the length of 3 or 4). I think that, having the cost of only 5 Earth gems and being level 2 Construction item, it is very efficient.

Also, Main Gauche of Parrying (x2) on commanders could be an interesting combination, especially early on.

[Silence]

Shields block missiles while Main Gauche does not. So unless you have a good armor (> 20) and it's early age (no crossbows), it's always better to have a shield I believe.

[Nrak555]

Also most shields have extra effects over just a high defense knife. Like tangle vines (vine shields), eyeloss (Eyeshield) , awe (shield of Gleaming gold). So it mostly depends on what you are building for but yes the Main gauche of Parrying is a great thug tool

[fogandsteel]

Originally posted by silence:

Shields block missiles while Main Gauche does not. So unless you have a good armor (> 20) and it's early age (no crossbows), it's always better to have a shield I believe.

True. I am playing mostly EA Hinnom, so I am biased somewhat. Hinnom's troops have fairly high defence, so in case that they do get hit extra protection from a shield might not do much for them, and I'd rather they not be hit at all than hit on the shield. Depending on who or what hits you, you might be affected by some negative extra effects.

Originally posted by Nrak555:

Also most shields have extra effects over just a high defense knife. Like tangle vines (vine shields), eyeloss (Eyeshield) , awe (shield of Gleaming gold). So it mostly depends on what you are building for but yes the Main gauche of Parrying is a great thug tool

Late game (when I have Construction 6 and can forge anything I want) my default equipment for SCs is Frost Brand + Fire Brand. However, because forging Main Gauche of Parrying requires only Construction 2 and a level 1 Earth mage, I found that it is a good option early on, usually paired with Frost Brand.

[Twogun]

might be a good assasin weapon?

[Gregstrom]

There’s an edge case too: the parry bonus from a shield doesn’t mean the attack misses, just that the attack hits the shield first. So if the other guy is using AN weapons or just hits like a truck, the main gauche might be a better bet.

[fogandsteel]

Originally posted by Gregstrom:

There’s an edge case too: the parry bonus from a shield doesn’t mean the attack misses, just that the attack hits the shield first. So if the other guy is using AN weapons or just hits like a truck, the main gauche might be a better bet.

That's what I meant when I said

Originally posted by fognsteel:

I'd rather they not be hit at all than hit on the shield. Depending on who or what hits you, you might be affected by some negative extra effects.

but you said it more eloquently.

[LDiCesare]

On the other hand, a vine shield makes sure your attacker won't strike you again next time because they're stuck in vines, so it's usually at least twice as effective as anything else in terms of defense. The eye shield also gives something like -10 atk toyour attacker for being eye-gouged, but it can be resisted and you have to wait 2 attacks before the enemy turns blind if I'm correct.
The main gauche is cheap and doesn't cause fatigue, so it's better than an equivalent5E gem shield (but then they are construction level 0). Otherwise, it's situational. A shield is much better against a black bow of Botulf which will make yoru spellcaster forever useless for example.

[Alias]

There's more. The gauche is still a weapon, and as such applies harrassment, could cause damage, makes you eligible to suffer poison barbs and full-strength fire shield, as well as be repelled which can cause a lot of damage on a non-ethereal SC, and also rolls to pop glamour.

[fogandsteel]

Originally posted by Alias:

There's more. The gauche is still a weapon, and as such applies harrassment, could cause damage, makes you eligible to suffer poison barbs and full-strength fire shield, as well as be repelled which can cause a lot of damage on a non-ethereal SC, and also rolls to pop glamour.

Very good points. I didn't consider all of them.