Difference between revisions of "Shield of the gong"

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{{flavour|A heavy bronze gong that can be worn as a shield. According to some mystics, beating on such a gong can grant the wearer spiritual protection.}}
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{{flavour|A heavy bronze gong that can be worn as a shield. Locked away in a temple for many years, its bearer is shielded by decades of accumulated prayer.}}
 
[[File:Shield_of_the_Gong.png]] '''''the +18 shield of the gong'''''
 
[[File:Shield_of_the_Gong.png]] '''''the +18 shield of the gong'''''
  
+18 [[shield]]
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+18 [[kite shield]]
  
 
-5 EV<br>
 
-5 EV<br>
rElec<br>
+
rCorr<br>
 
rN+<br>
 
rN+<br>
+40 MR<br>
+
+40 Will<br>
Makes noise whenever you block
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Makes very loud [[noise]] (intensity 40) whenever you block
  
 
==Desirability==
 
==Desirability==
Despite first appearances, the '''shield of the gong'''<ref>{{source ref|0.24.1|art-data.txt|932}}</ref> is actually incredibly dangerous to use. Admittedly, its excellent enchantment level makes it very effective at defending against pure melee opponents, but its EV penalty renders you much more vulnerable to enemy [[Bolt spells]] and other attacks that can't be blocked. Also, the noise it makes is much louder than shouting or even the [[Singing Sword]]; using it will attract everything nearby to your position. Unless you're playing a brute force caster who's already making enough noise to wake the entire Dungeon, it is best to use this shield situationally, such as when facing dangerous sources of [[electricity]] damage.
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The '''shield of the gong'''<ref>{{source ref|0.29.1|art-data.txt|1051}}</ref> is an incredibly loud, and therefore dangerous, artefact. While a +18 kite shield ''is'' good at blocking melee and ranged attacks, keep in mind that shields do nothing against [[penetration|piercing]] attacks like [[bolt spell]]s and [[javelin]]s. More importantly, every time you block, you make an intensity 40 noise; using it will attract everything nearby to your position. For reference, it's as loud as an [[alarm trap]], and much louder than both [[Qazlal]]'s storm shield (~20 noise) and regular shouting (12 noise).
  
Max-piety [[Qazlal]] worshippers make comparable noise anyway, and so may not notice the noise penalty.
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That being said, there ''are'' characters who would like to use this. Qazlal worshippers attract lots of monsters to them, anyway, and a "little" more noise can't hurt. In a similar vein, blasters with spells like [[Fire Storm]] already wake the entire dungeon up. It has potential use for careful [[necromancer]]s, as spells like [[Death Channel]] can be great at managing crowds. There are characters which are just plain weak - if the player is very very careful, they can use the shield to overcome enemies they otherwise wouldn't. [[Stair dancing]] is heavily recommended.
  
==References==
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You can also use it as a swapout.
<references />
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*Clear the whole level, then use this shield to take out a [[ghost vault]].
 +
*Use it to lure enemies away from [[vault]]s at a distance. Examples include the [[Elf]]:3 and [[Zot:5]] end vaults.
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*Loud noises won't mean much in a [[Ziggurat]]. Note that a character doing [[megazig]]s will likely prefer either a highly enchanted [[randart]] [[tower shield]] or an [[orb]] of [[mayhem]] instead.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Prior to [[0.15]], its enchantment was +27.
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*Prior to [[0.30]], the shield provided [[electricity resistance]] instead of [[corrosion resistance]]. The [[Storm Queen's shield]] provides rElec in its place.
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*Prior to [[0.15]], its enchantment was +27.
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*Prior to [[0.14]], its enchantment was only +6, and it did not reduce the wearer's EV. This change essentially combined the original shield of the gong with the now-retired shield "[[Bullseye]]."
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*Prior to [[0.13]], the shield of the gong also provided a [[spirit shield]].
  
Prior to [[0.14]], its enchantment was only +6, and it did not reduce the wearer's EV. This change essentially combined the original shield of the gong with the now-retired shield "[[Bullseye]]."
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==References==
 
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<references />
Prior to [[0.13]], the shield of the gong also provided a [[spirit shield]], making it a fairly iffy proposition for casters.
 
  
 
[[Category:Unrands]]
 
[[Category:Unrands]]
 
[[Category:Shields]]
 
[[Category:Shields]]

Revision as of 08:42, 18 January 2024

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
A heavy bronze gong that can be worn as a shield. Locked away in a temple for many years, its bearer is shielded by decades of accumulated prayer.

Shield of the Gong.png the +18 shield of the gong

+18 kite shield

-5 EV
rCorr
rN+
+40 Will
Makes very loud noise (intensity 40) whenever you block

Desirability

The shield of the gong[1] is an incredibly loud, and therefore dangerous, artefact. While a +18 kite shield is good at blocking melee and ranged attacks, keep in mind that shields do nothing against piercing attacks like bolt spells and javelins. More importantly, every time you block, you make an intensity 40 noise; using it will attract everything nearby to your position. For reference, it's as loud as an alarm trap, and much louder than both Qazlal's storm shield (~20 noise) and regular shouting (12 noise).

That being said, there are characters who would like to use this. Qazlal worshippers attract lots of monsters to them, anyway, and a "little" more noise can't hurt. In a similar vein, blasters with spells like Fire Storm already wake the entire dungeon up. It has potential use for careful necromancers, as spells like Death Channel can be great at managing crowds. There are characters which are just plain weak - if the player is very very careful, they can use the shield to overcome enemies they otherwise wouldn't. Stair dancing is heavily recommended.

You can also use it as a swapout.

  • Clear the whole level, then use this shield to take out a ghost vault.
  • Use it to lure enemies away from vaults at a distance. Examples include the Elf:3 and Zot:5 end vaults.
  • Loud noises won't mean much in a Ziggurat. Note that a character doing megazigs will likely prefer either a highly enchanted randart tower shield or an orb of mayhem instead.

History

References