Vargarian Guard ARE effected. Just ran some tests, one with the Vargarian Guard set to have 60 sheild, the other with them set to the defualt 3 sheild. Both with fixed attack animations, (Voulgiers Animation). They fought Dismounted Conquistodors with my sheild fix (add the sheild value plus 2 to their defence skill).

With the standard sheild the Vangarian guard slaughtered the Conquistodors with less than 10 dead. With the 60 sheild they where down to just 10 left when the Conquistodors routed. Go figure.

@Reverant: I'd also say the pikes are a definte bug, they simply refuse to use pikes when not reciving a charge 90% of the time and are hopless without them. I don't think that issue is in any doubt eithier.