So You've Wiped Out Shield Progression...Wow, Why? Because Grenades?

[Critical Errors]

What I'd like to see happen with shields is base the complete stat set off of rarity. This will piss off the shield hoarders, but it would make for a better balance imo.

example: Respark Regen
Common = All versions: Respark Regen II D
Uncommon = All versions: Respark Regen III D
Rare = All versions: Respark Regen IV DX
Epic = All versions: Respark Regen IV EX
Legendary = All versions: Respark Regen V Ark

The higher rarity should always have better stats across the board, not just the delay. The bonuses/cap/recharge should all be better based off of rarity. Trick has the right idea in his explanation in the other post. Now it just needs implemented correctly.

For all the vendors out there that want to get mad at the idea of Ark shields everywhere, get over it! We have plenty of weapon variations to use for making virtual money.

[Olaf]

What I'd like to see happen with shields is base the complete stat set off of rarity. This will piss off the shield hoarders, but it would make for a better balance imo.

example: Respark Regen
Common = All versions: Respark Regen II D
Uncommon = All versions: Respark Regen III D
Rare = All versions: Respark Regen IV DX
Epic = All versions: Respark Regen IV EX
Legendary = All versions: Respark Regen V Ark

The higher rarity should always have better stats across the board, not just the delay. The bonuses/cap/recharge should all be better based off of rarity. Trick has the right idea in his explanation in the other post. Now it just needs implemented correctly.

For all the vendors out there that want to get mad at the idea of Ark shields everywhere, get over it! We have plenty of weapon variations to use for making virtual money.

I for one would not be happy if this was implemented, would just mean yet ANOTHER kick in the nuts for those of us who love collecting shields of the respark variety. Hey guys, lets turn your OJ Respark Collection into purples and blues.

[Critical Errors]

I for one would not be happy if this was implemented, would just mean yet ANOTHER kick in the nuts for those of us who love collecting shields of the respark variety. Hey guys, lets turn your OJ Respark Collection into purples and blues.

You misunderstood my intent. I simply meant that all legendary shields would change into the top tier version. Your respark collection would be better off with the changes I proposed.

[Olaf]

You misunderstood my intent. I simply meant that all legendary shields would change into the top tier version. Your respark collection would be better off with the changes I proposed.

Sorry Im abit slow today m8 lol. Just getting pee'd off with TrickDempsey changing things that dont need changing or that have been around and a part of the game since before he was here. All the other things they have done I have dealt with (grenades/whole inventory being made useless/saws being nerf which i can understand/my syphon collection being made into a costly bmg collection and many other things), but I think changing shields/weapon stats further especially after spending so much arkforge to get them to where they are now will be the final nail in the coffin 4 me.

[BJWyler]

You misunderstood my intent. I simply meant that all legendary shields would change into the top tier version. Your respark collection would be better off with the changes I proposed.

You mean sort of like grenades are now - just the overarching categories with the color rarity indicating overall power/effectiveness. I certainly wouldn't mind that. The change to grenades made it a simple matter to see what was better (i.e. blue flashbang > white flashbang). Truth be told, doing that with shields would make it a much better system and eliminate the supposed problem that Trick talked about in his post.

[Critical Errors]

Sorry Im abit slow today m8 lol. Just getting pee'd off with TrickDempsey changing things that dont need changing or that have been around and a part of the game since before he was here. All the other things they have done I have dealt with (grenades/whole inventory being made useless/saws being nerf which i can understand/my syphon collection being made into a costly bmg collection and many other things), but I think changing shields/weapon stats further especially after spending so much arkforge to get them to where they are now will be the final nail in the coffin 4 me.

I too have hated most of the changes initially. I've actually come to accept grenades now that the loot function has been sorted out. Still a bug here or there, but overall, the grenade system is decent now.

I've always thought shields should be better balanced. It was always a downer getting a legendary shield with equal or lesser stats then an epic. Take for instance the Rearm or Bullseye shields. They had absolutely no difference in stats for an epic or legendary. Or how often do legendary shields pop up with III D suffixes? Those are actually worse than the epic version IV EX.
With my proposed change, the legendary would be legendary.

[Critical Errors]

You mean sort of like grenades are now - just the overarching categories with the color rarity indicating overall power/effectiveness. I certainly wouldn't mind that. The change to grenades made it a simple matter to see what was better (i.e. blue flashbang > white flashbang). Truth be told, doing that with shields would make it a much better system and eliminate the supposed problem that Trick talked about in his post.

Yep! That's exactly how I meant it!

[Olaf]

I too have hated most of the changes initially. I've actually come to accept grenades now that the loot function has been sorted out. Still a bug here or there, but overall, the grenade system is decent now.

I've always thought shields should be better balanced. It was always a downer getting a legendary shield with equal or lesser stats then an epic. Take for instance the Rearm or Bullseye shields. They had absolutely no difference in stats for an epic or legendary. Or how often do legendary shields pop up with III D suffixes? Those are actually worse than the epic version IV EX.
With my proposed change, the legendary would be legendary.

grenades ive come to accept but it was a low blow as spent alot of time and effort into finding that unicorn fragnova std55z with highest min/max i ever saw. as for your proposal are you suggesting that anyone with a respark regenerator legendary e.g. 25/50/75% it would be converted into respark regenerator v ark's? i wouldnt be cool with that either and that would be again the final nail in the coffin for me and im sure alot of others who spent a year working towards a goal of acquiring that respark regenerator v ark.

[BJWyler]

grenades ive come to accept but it was a low blow as spent alot of time and effort into finding that unicorn fragnova std55z with highest min/max i ever saw. as for your proposal are you suggesting that anyone with a respark regenerator legendary e.g. 25/50/75% it would be converted into respark regenerator v ark's? i wouldnt be cool with that either and that would be again the final nail in the coffin for me and im sure alot of others who spent a year working towards a goal of acquiring that respark regenerator v ark.

Why wouldn't that be cool? It would still be the best Respark Regen shield out there. Now however, it would be much simpler for those who can't or don't want to min/max. They won't have to look at stats - they could just see a Purple Repark Regen and an Orange Repark Regen and know the orange gives them better stats across the board.

The only comparison and tactical thought that would need to be give would be comparing two shield of the same rarity (such as Basic Respark and Respark Regen) and decide which trade-offs in stats are more appealing. Obviously the Regen has the health bonus, the the basic would have a better state or different bonus (such as Nano resist). Otherwise, they would still be the best shields out there in their categories and still be a reward for the time spent getting them.

[SirServed]

I have no issue with the way shields have been treated so far. The real underlying cause was that in the old system you rarely got to see a shield's effect put to use. Doing PvE content and my shield got broken? My first reaction was a heal stim or death happened. I started using an Ironclad V due to the fact that most shield effects are only marginally useful at best. The only thing that stands out about shields are capacity, regen rate and restart time. Now that health pools have been boosted, shield effects stand a chance to be more useful if the bonuses themselves are looked at and aren't so difficult to get hold of.


Regen only helps once your shield comes back.
Rearm is a whopping 1%. (That means with the highest ammo reserve weapon, you get 5 rounds. 5.)
Reloader has potential to be useful but messes with Pumped Up.
Bullseye is REALLY rare and I only use during WM.
Berserker's fire rate is nice but 5-10% of an already low number is still a low number.


At over 5400 EGO, there are still shield stats I've never personally come across. It would be nice to have a bonus shuffle of some sort with the effects that come on our shields, I'd guess the same way you can reroll weapon mastery. The base version of the shield (D, DX, EX, Ark) would be the determining factor as to which tier of the bonus is received.