[2e] Artifact Shields?

[Sheridan Boyce]

There are no artifact shields, I'm pretty sure everybody knows that.  But, I ask White Wolf, how am I to make a guy who uses an artifact shield with his artifact spear?  Come on White Wolf, answer me!


Anyway, since White Wolf isn't going to answer me, I'm wodnering about artifact shields.  I was thinking that orichalcum, since it adds +2 soak and +2 hardness to armor, would probably add +1 DV vs. both melee and ranged to a sheild, as well as lowering the mobility penalty by 1.  That in an of itself isn't reason enough to give it a dot in artifact though, since there are various fancy armors and weapons that are fancy before even coosing a magical material.


Any ideas then for artifact shields?

 

[memesis]

There are no artifact shields, I'm pretty sure everybody knows that.  But, I ask White Wolf, how am I to make a guy who uses an artifact shield with his artifact spear?  Come on White Wolf, answer me!
Anyway, since White Wolf isn't going to answer me, I'm wodnering about artifact shields.  I was thinking that orichalcum, since it adds +2 soak and +2 hardness to armor, would probably add +1 DV vs. both melee and ranged to a sheild, as well as lowering the mobility penalty by 1.  That in an of itself isn't reason enough to give it a dot in artifact though, since there are various fancy armors and weapons that are fancy before even coosing a magical material.


Any ideas then for artifact shields?

How about the thunderbolt shield?

 

[Silence In Daylight]

Indeed. It can be converted directly from 1st Ed to 2nd, with no changes whatsoever (except in terminology).

 

[Sheridan Boyce]

Where might I find this Thunderbolt Shield?


Also, what do people think of orichalcum as a material for shields?  On of the other players in my troupe is thinking +1 to either melee or ranged DV and lessen the mobility penalty by 1.

 

[Silence In Daylight]

Book of 3 Circles.


 Orichalcum, for shields, increase the DV (melee and ranged) by one--to a total of DV 3 for the thunderbolt shield; the target shield mobility penalty is already negated by the artifact shield--it is a 2-dot, after all.

 

[Navander]

The TB Shield is also the source of the ever-so-broken Sidereal Soak monster.  Two damage off the top with Starmetal shield and armor.


Now I just have to build my essence 4 twilight with starmetal armor and shield...

 

[Silence In Daylight]

Don't forget to craft an orichalcum adapter for starmetal--so that the Solar can attune starmetal as if he were a Siddie...


 Sure, that's twinking, but it's no more broken than the anima power already is. Hmm, what about Celestial power armor that amplifies the effect of anima powers?  

 

[Sheridan Boyce]

I'm looking at a 1 or 2 dot shield here, probably 2 dot, so I think anything really crazy is out of the picture.


Would a DV 3, no mobility penalty target shield (that's including the benefits of orichalcum) be an acceptable 2 dot artifact?  Too powerful, too weak?

 

[Silence In Daylight]

That's what the stats for the orichalcum TB shield are, so at least you know it's canon.


 Not that it helps much, when it comes to game balance...

 

[Sheridan Boyce]

I actually want to make it a one dot artifact in retrospect, so I'm thinking a one dot might be along the lines of 2DV to each and no mobility penalty.

 

[Coyotekin]

I am glad that somebody thought about this as well. I was just thinking about it partially because I realized that I hardly saw anyone use shields in Exalted unless they were mortal foot soldiers. At least in my games so far.


Do you guys feel that an Artifact Tower Shield, with Cost: 3, +2 H2H DV, +3 Rng DV, no mobility/fatigue penalty, with commitment cost of 5 would be appropriate? And this has not taken into account MM bonuses.

 

[Persell]

given that an artifact TARGET shield give +2 to DV w/o any penelty or MM bonus  , at a rating of 2, a tower shield should offer a lot more protection.

 

[Coyotekin]

Yes, but a normal Target shield provides a +1/+1 normally, whereas a normal Tower shield provides a +1/+2. (H2H DV/Rng DV) SO it may be safe to assume that by becoming an artifact that the shield's DVs both go up by 1, MM bonused not entered into the final bonuses.

 

[Persell]

that would be fitting at atifact two, but you said at three. So it should be more then just +1 DV vs rng, a Tower Sheild at lvl 2 though would make perfect sense.

 

[Sherwood]

I made up a shield for a first ed game I called a Solar Shield.  Spend 5 motes of essence and it glows with the power of the US.  It is so bright that opponents in melee combat subtract your Essence from their dice pools against you.  This did not affect opponents that are blind, or over 50 feet away.  Ranged attackers actually get a small bonus of two dice to hit.  When the light is on, all attempts at stealth automatically fail.  This is not a device used for a sneak attack.  It also gave protection based on the size of the shield, 3, 4, or 5 B/L depending on the size of the shield.  For a single mote of essence the shield will provide a moderate amount of light with the same propertys as sunlight.  It could light up a room or let out a narrow beam like a spotlight.  I rated it as a two dot artifact.


In my game, the Solar Shield was exclusive to the Solars, but shields with a similar effect were in existance for the other Exalts with slightly different effects and powered by the Elemental Dragons, Luna, the Five Maidens, etc.

 

[Samiel]

Sherwood: I like that design, it's cool and it's functional.


I've wanted Artifact shields, but I keep shying from them because adding DV can be very, very powerful. I don't have any coherent complaints, just a primal fear of that mechanic..


Still, the Solar shield is cool.

 

[Sherwood]

Thanks.  I guess I should formally submit it to Lore 5 to get rated.