Shields - Revision history

Hordes at 17:22, 6 February 2026

2026-02-06T17:22:58Z

Hordes: /* Blockable attacks */

2025-11-07T15:35:24Z

‎Blockable attacks

Hordes at 15:32, 7 November 2025

2025-11-07T15:32:43Z

Patrick2011b: /* Blocking */ copy over changes from Shield (stat)

2025-02-07T23:55:25Z

‎Blocking: copy over changes from Shield (stat)

Vulpes Logos: /* EV Penalty */ Changed the size of the ev_penalty image to update the formula properly.

2024-11-23T02:28:28Z

‎EV Penalty: Changed the size of the ev_penalty image to update the formula properly.

Hordes: /* Attack Penalty */

2024-02-04T22:46:01Z

‎Attack Penalty

Hordes: /* History */ really fix history note

2024-01-15T13:09:55Z

‎History: really fix history note

Hordes: adjust history note

2024-01-15T13:09:32Z

adjust history note

Hordes: /* SH calculation */

2024-01-15T07:09:06Z

‎SH calculation

Hordes: de-CBA

2024-01-15T07:08:35Z

de-CBA

@@ Line 106: / Line 106: @@
 |Tower shield || 4
 |}
 ===SH calculation===
@@ Line 134: / Line 136: @@
 ==History==
-*Prior to [[0.31]], shields did not have a hard limit on the number of attacks you could block. However, for each attack you blocked, future blocks attempts were less likely (attackers' pierce value was <code>1d(15 + to_hit/2 +5 × past_blocks^2)</code> for melee, similar for ranged). Also, instead of gaining 0.82 SH by default, the first three levels gave an extra +0.19 SH/level, and you only got 0.25 SH by default.
+*Prior to [[0.31]], shields did not have a hard limit on the number of attacks you could block. However, for each attack you blocked, future blocks attempts were less likely (attackers' pierce value was <code>1d(15 + to_hit/2 +5 × past_blocks^2)</code> for melee, similar for ranged). Also, instead of gaining 0.57 SH by default, the first three levels gave an extra +0.19 SH/level, and you only got 0.25 SH by default.
 *Prior to [[0.30]], species [[size]] impacted shield encumbrance and SH score. Larger species were less encumbered by shields, but received slightly less SH from kite shields. Smaller species were the opposite, more SH from bucklers/kite shields, but more encumbered by them. Strength had no effect on shield penalties.
 *In [[0.28]], magical [[orb]]s were added as a new category of off-hand equipment.

@@ Line 90: / Line 90: @@
 *Enchantments: [[Agony]], [[Pain]], [[Confuse]], everything that checks [[willpower]].
-The [[warlock's mirror]] can block piercing attacks, perfect accuracy attacks that target you (e.g., Magic Dart), and enchantments. Piercing attacks use the normal SH formula, while perfect hit attacks and enchantments
+The [[warlock's mirror]] can block piercing attacks, perfect accuracy attacks that target you in a beam path and aren't AOE (e.g., Magic Dart), and enchantments. Piercing attacks use the normal SH formula, while perfect hit attacks and enchantments use a special formula.
 ===Max Blocks===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{version031}}
+{{version033}}
 ''For the skill, see [[Shields (skill)]]. For the item formerly known as just a shield, see [[kite shield]].''
 {{flavour|“Let who will boast their courage in the field,<br>
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ===Spell Penalty===
-The spellcasting penalty is significantly more complicated. Shields add to "SpellFailure", not to be confused with your actual % chance of failure:
+The spellcasting penalty is significantly more complicated. Shields add to the "SpellFailure" variable, not to be confused with your actual % chance of failure:
-<code>spell failure = 19 * ev_penalty </code>
+<code>SpellFailure = 19 * ev_penalty </code>
-For reference, 12 SpellFailure = 1 level in every spell school (excluding [[Spellcasting]]). 15 SpellFailure = 1 level in every school, including [[Spellcasting]].
+For reference, the penalty from 12 SpellFailure = 1 level in every spell school (excluding [[Spellcasting]]). 15 SpellFailure = 1 level in every school, including [[Spellcasting]].
 This number is then modified by various functions described in the [[spell success]] page.
@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 ==Blocking==
-As long as your [[SH]] is above 0, you can block melee and ranged "projectile" attacks.
+As long as your [[SH]] is above 0, you can block melee and ranged "projectile" attacks. Your ability to block does not depend on [[EV]]; shield blocking is done before rolling your [[evasion]] or your [[AC]].
-All melee attacks can be blocked (except for successful [[stab]]s), but many types of ranged attacks are unblockable:
+When you attempt to block a valid attack, the attacker rolls a pierce value and the defender rolls a block value; if the attacker's value is lower, (see below for more details). However, there is a hard limit on the amount of attacks you can block per player turn.
-Some examples of ranged attacks that can be blocked:
+===Blockable attacks===
-*[[Ranged Weapons]], like [[shortbow]]s and [[sling]]s
+'''What ''can'' be blocked'''
-*Spells that fire single-target projectiles, like [[Iron Shot]], [[Poison Arrow]], [[Orb of Destruction]], [[Sandblast]]
+*Melee attacks, [[Ranged Weapons]] and non-penetrating [[Throwing]] weapons.
-If the attacker's pierce value is less than the defender's blocking value (see below for details), the attack does no damage. However, there is a hard limit on the amount of attacks you can block per player turn. Shield blocking is done before rolling your [[evasion]] or your [[AC]]. Blocking doesn't benefit from [[repulsion]] or [[EV]].
+'''What ''can't'' be blocked normally'''
-Your ability to block missiles doesn't benefit from [[repulsion]] or [[EV]].
+The [[warlock's mirror]] can block piercing attacks, perfect accuracy attacks that target you (e.g., Magic Dart), and enchantments. Piercing attacks use the normal SH formula, while perfect hit attacks and enchantments
 ===Max Blocks===
@@ Line 117: / Line 118: @@
 All other sources of SH ([[Qazlal]] shield, [[amulet of reflection]]...) are flat bonuses, and are added on top of the physical shield bonus. The final value is rounded to the nearest integer and displayed as the player's SH value.
-If you are [[paralysed]], [[petrified]], or if [[dexterity]] is 0, then SH is set to 0 regardless of any other factors.
+If you are [[paralysed]], [[petrified]], or a[[sleep]], then SH is set to 0 regardless of any other factors.
 ===Chance to block===

@@ Line 107: / Line 107: @@
 ===SH calculation===
-If you are wielding a physical shield, its SH is determined as follows:<ref>{{source ref|0.31-b1|player.cc|2200}}<br>These values are divided by 200 by later functions.</ref>
+If you are wielding a physical shield, its SH is determined as follows:<ref>{{source ref|0.32.1|player.cc|2300}}<br>These values are divided by 200 by later functions.</ref>
 *Your '''Base SH''' is determined by type of shield. 3 for [[buckler]]s, 8 for [[kite shield]]s, 13 for [[tower shield]]s.
@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
 *Add '''[[Dexterity|Stat Bonus]]''' of <code>DEX * 38 * (base_SH + 13) / 5200</code>.
 *Add '''[[Enchant]]ment''' value. +1 enchantment = +1 SH.
-*Add 0.82 SH.<ref>{{source ref|0.31-b1|player.cc|2254}}<br>Divided by 2 by a later function.</ref>
+*Add 0.57 SH.
 All other sources of SH ([[Qazlal]] shield, [[amulet of reflection]]...) are flat bonuses, and are added on top of the physical shield bonus. The final value is rounded to the nearest integer and displayed as the player's SH value.
@@ Line 123: / Line 123: @@
 The attacker's pierce value is dependent on their [[to-hit]] (accuracy) and the type of attack:
-* '''Melee attack:''' <code>1d(15 + to_hit/2)</code>
+*'''Melee attack:''' <code>1d(15 + to_hit/2)</code>
-* '''Ranged attack:'''  <code>1d(1.3×to hit)</code>
+*'''Ranged attack:'''  <code>1d(1.3×to hit)</code>
-The defender's blocking value is equal to:<ref>{{source ref|0.30.1|player.cc|5656}}<br>Note that "player_shield_class" is half of your displayed SH.</ref>
+The defender's blocking value is equal to:<ref>{{source ref|0.32.1|player.cc|6078}}<br>Note that "player_shield_class" is half of your displayed SH.</ref>
-* '''All attacks:''' <code>2d(4×SH)/6 - 1</code>
+*'''All attacks:''' <code>2d(4×SH)/6 - 1</code>
-* Divide by 3 against melee attacks from [[invisible]] opponents.
+*Divide by 3 against melee attacks from [[invisible]] opponents.
 If the blocking value is greater or equal than the attacker's pierce value, the attack is blocked.

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 Your shield EV penalty is equal to:<ref>{{source ref|0.30.0|player.cc|5739}}</ref>
-[[File:Shield encumbrance ev.png|500px|alt=<code>2/5 * encumbrance^2 / (5 + str) * (27 - shield_skill) / 27</code>]]
+[[File:Shield encumbrance ev.png|642px|alt=<code>2/5 * encumbrance^2 / (5 + str) * (27 - shield_skill) / 27</code>]]
 [[Strength|Stronger]] characters are less encumbered by shields, and anyone can eliminate shield penalty by maxing out the Shields skill.

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 The shield penalty, in units of EV, is converted into attack delay, in units of [[aut]]. When you attack with a shield, it'll take from <code>EV_penalty</code> to <code>EV_penalty + 0.05</code> aut longer.<ref>{{source ref|0.30.0|player-act.cc|348}}<br>Note that the function random_var is rolling a number from (20 * EV_penalty) to (20 * EV_penalty + 1), which is then divided by 20, and rounded in a weighed fashion. (See {{source ref|0.30.1|random-var.cc|11}})</ref> If the penalty is not an integer, it is rounded in a weighted manner.
-Note that it is in units of aut, and not [[decaAut]]/[[turn]]s. E.g., having 1 EV penalty slows you down by 1 aut = 0.1 turn.
+Note that it is in units of aut, not [[decaAut]] or "[[turn]]s". For reference, having 1 EV penalty slows you down by 1 aut = 0.1 turn.
 ===Spell Penalty===