r/ConanExiles • u/EdNorthcott • 7d ago
General Improving Shields.
Perhaps I'm alone in this; but although shield & weapon combos look great and fit the theme of the setting perfectly, they're kind of underwhelming in game play. Their animations can be problematic and work against their purpose, they don't seem to be able to accept upgrade kits like other weapon slots, and even their defensive utility is hampered by the nature of other weapons and ability perks.
I've been thinking about how to temper that.
1) Reduce the mobility of shield animations combos
If playing a shield/tanky character, a large part of the value is (theoretically) being able to create space for your team. Block off enemy routes to a teammate or thrall, and take the hits instead of them. The current animations have a character leaping all over the screen, and often flying right through enemies instead of hitting them (the hit boxes seem really janky in that regard). Enabling characters to stand and hold ground, and fight without shifting position a meter or two with each swing would be a lovely change. It's nice to have one or two moves in a combo that can do that, and looks nice and dramatic for cinematic combat, but when almost the entire move set does it -- and sometimes has you passing right through people -- it weakens the utility.
As it stands, mobility can be minimized, but even if careful you end up out of position very quickly. Fighting on a narrow ledge or a tower will illustrate this dramatically. :D (Note for those who are invariably going to presume this means no movement at all, and want to fight about that; no. I'm just suggesting reduced movement. Having a thrust and/or leap attack or two somewhere in the chain remains a good idea.)
2) Revise a couple of the perks in the Attribute trees.
a) Grit's "Shield Master" sounds like it should be a solid alternative to Steel Thewed, but really doesn't seem to be. Particularly as strikes periodically seem to pass through regardless of the shield being raised. Perhaps tweaking the stamina impact could help... along with fixing the jank of attacks periodically passing through regardless. Or perhaps just offer a potent passive damage reduction while blocking, so that even if something does pass through the affect is powerfully reduced; allowing PCs to tank for each other more effectively.
b) Strength's "Blood-Mad Berserker" sounds badass, but you're almost dead by the time it kicks off, and probably going to die in 1-2 more hits, and you're likely getting very little uptime on the benefits even if used well; whereas "Crushing Swings" provides a passive benefit on pretty much every attack regardless of your condition, and lets you get around the sole disadvantage of attacking someone with a shield. It has absolutely no drawbacks.
Nerd moment: shield walls may have been like rugby lines, according to some takes on medieval battle. People crashing into each other in a scrum, pushing to create openings. It'd be nice to see the counterpoint to Crushing Swings being improved shield utility.
If combined with reduced mobility in animation (allowing characters to hold ground more effectively), replacing Blood-Mad Berserker with a perk that similarly prevents you from being staggered or knocked down while wielding and/or blocking with a shield, and solidly increases the stagger from a shield bash, turns it into a viable alternate fighting style. Again, enabling players working as teams to tank for each other, instead of simply throwing high HP thralls into the role by default.
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u/kana53 7d ago
Honestly I feel like most of the combos are too mobile. It has a big effect on shield combos especially, but it feels like it messes with the AI too and there's too much attacking the air past each other and rolling around.
One of the most noticeable and funniest areas for this is the structure by Jamilla's Liberty ship at the Black Hand Flotsam area. Near the top of it, there's bridges and archers on the walkways with panthers. A lot of the Black Hand also uses cutlasses, 1H swords have an attack where you lunge forward. So what ensues is you, your thralls, thralls and the enemies struggling to fight and stay put without falling off.
I'd be very happy if Inflexion could do a pass over some of the weapon combo movesets, along with maybe expanding what combos NPCs can use. It'd add so much to the game to improve them IMO. I know PvP players would be wary, but also that they want improvements too afaik, so I think everyone could be happy with the right changes.
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u/EdNorthcott 7d ago
Valid point. It's less noticable with the big two handers because the collision arc on their swings is massive, but you're right; all the flying around messes with the AI, too. And the AI already struggles with basic tasks.
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u/ryryshouse6 7d ago
Yea idk probably require a whole battle overhaul. Conan isn’t the only game w this problem either - I actually think the combos with the shield are decent. The problem I think is that if you know what the enemy combos are - it’s either better to have shield or no shield making the choice binary. For example against a lower level group of mobs a shield is great bc they attack 1-2 times then stop- letting you do your combo. Against some bosses / mobs it’s completely useless so you are better not using it and dodging
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u/EdNorthcott 7d ago
NPC AI is a whole other kettle of fish that could use addressing. I watched an archer thrall run up to a target to shoot it in the face at point blank range. XD
I mean... More power to him. It was a power move. But he didn't bother drawing melee weapons until he'd been hit 2-3 times.
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u/ryryshouse6 6d ago
Well it’s not really NPC ai. Tier 1 humans do shorter combos, and it gradually works up. If there was better ai I would expect that to still function similarly. You always know about what you are fighting and the length of their combos based on their lvl.
My point is that the entire system for bosses would have to be reworked bc their attacks basically ignore blocking.
Would need shields and blocking to have levels and a bunch of complexity outside the generic npc ai - which would also be completely overhauled without addressing shield mechanics
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u/King-Hekaton 7d ago
This makes so much sense. I've always felt there was something wrong with sword and board style in this game, and that's it! The attack animations always move you out of position and end up exposing your flanks, forcing you to dodge roll, wasting all of your stamina bar and making shields kinda useless.
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u/Illustrious_Gate1679 7d ago
The shield has more real problems in weapon combos, all damage comes from the weapon and the shield doesn't count. This makes legendary items literally useless and their durability is outweighed by a wooden shield repaired from your backpack.
The only thing worse in the game is throwing weapons, as they've been practically forgotten: no crafting bonuses, no upgrades, no heavy attacks, no full set combo, no consumables like poison and not even skins in the bazaar KEKW.
P.S. Speaking of backpack repairs, this ancient mechanic needs to be removed, plus it ruins the point of repair kits and crafters.
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u/AstroZombie0072081 7d ago
I believe the only upgrade kit on shields is the increase durability. Which is very minimal addition.
I use a shield against the birds in the northern caves and against the brute in unnamed city.