Big Shields

[DaciaJC]

For the answer to that question and a lot more you should read the Ludus Magna.

Yes, I took a gander there and didn't find any thread related to something I recall reading here in the EB forums... and I had no desire of meticulously going through every thread in the hopes of answering my query, not with a soccer match a mere twenty minutes away.

But my question was answered nonetheless.

[Azathoth]

Yes, bigger shields undoubtedly deserve a higher defence value. In EB, shields make up a relatively small part of a soldier's defence. A shield defence rating of 4 is kind of ridiculous (To me, maybe the EB team has some reasons?) when you consider that many units have a defence skill of three times that. My guess is that all scutum and aspis shields should get a shield defence of 6, not 4.

Phalangites have 5 shield, and they're almost impervious to missiles. I think the PhalanxMod does give hoplites 6 shield though.

[antisocialmunky]

Never compare phalangite vs missiles to anything else vs missiles. They get a ridiculous frontal bonus. If you guys haven't noticed, missiles are fairly how attack weapons in EB due to the 100% lethality. The average missile attack is 4 for archers and 1.5 for slingers. Big shields average 3-5.

Also shield defense does not get APed in half.

[Lanceari]

...shield defense does not get APed in half.

What is APed?

[Aemilius Paulus]

What is APed?

AP is armour piercing, or when a RTW/EB unit with the AP attribute overlooks half of the opponent's armour. For example: a Dakian Falxman attacks a Roman Hastati with 22 armour, but due to the falx's AP attribute, the falxmen has only 11 armour to go against.

antisocialmunky was saying that the AP attribute only halves the armour, but not the shield and the defence skill.

[Lanceari]

AP is armour piercing, or when a RTW/EB unit with the AP attribute overlooks half of the opponent's armour. For example: a Dakian Falxman attacks a Roman Hastati with 22 armour, but due to the falx's AP attribute, the falxmen has only 11 armour to go against.

antisocialmunky was saying that the AP attribute only halves the armour, but not the shield and the defence skill.

Thanks, I was confused by the "ed" in APed. Never thought of using AP as a verb in past tense.

[Aulus Caecina Severus]

I was more interested about those low shield values in EB.
Some units like roman legionary carry a big rectangular "scutum" with 4 of defence.
Strange: also pedites extraordinarii (with their round shield) have 4 of shield defence.
And phalangites carry a round shield with 5 (!).
Then, i ve did some test and I ve noted that phalangites are very strong also out of phalanx mode.
I agree with EB team choice to give low shield values, but i don t like that round shield carry the same value of big rectangular/oval shield.

However, for game mechanics, shield value count only for attack in front or left(for melee) and become double in front for missile attack(for example roman scutum(4) become 8 for missile attacks from the front).
For this reason an extra shield value(like 7 or 8) make unit too powerful in the front.
I ve already made this battle EDU with +2 to all shield value(without phalangites of course) in my unofficial mini-mod.
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=119572

But, after this, I ve noted that units was too strong against missile weapons, so I made +1 to all missile weapons.