Shield Qualities

[Kolaris8472]

In trying to update RR/RC for another mod, I noted something that made less and less sense to me as I progressed.

Why doesn't the quality of the shield and the quality of the unit modify the shield value, like it does for armor?

As long as it's of the same size, a wooden plank offers the same protection as a reinforced shield, or a banded shield, or a leather covered shield, or even a steel shield.

I get that the shield can only deflect what it can reach, but it's not like that's the only consideration. A flimsy wooden affair may splinter outright when hit by a strong blow (so in practice, the attack exceeded the combined defense of the armor+defense+shield), but a more durable shield might block it.

Was there some reasoning I overlooked? If not, what do you think might be a good guideline for adding modifiers to shields? I'm thinking there should be an increase based on the quality and class of the unit just like armor, but at lower values. And then specific modifiers for the make of the shield, with stronger/heavier materials increasing the shield, heat, and mass values while lowering defense.

I guess there's a mental hurdle to jump where a steel buckler is offering more protection than a crude wooden kite shield. The buckler might not offer the coverage to stop a blow that the kite shield could, but on the other hand it may stop a direct hit that penetrates the kite shield. It still makes more sense to me if we average these possibilities though.

Oh, and one other query in passing - why is the only consideration for ammo count the type of the bow? Shouldn't the unit quality and class play more of a factor?

[Apani]

In this field I find EDU-Matic far superior; it allows you to make very customized armour suits, whereas RC2.0 gives you generic pre-defined sets only. Anyways, yes, an old RC file for TATW contained quality shield modifers as well, you can find it here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...1#post10947933

As for the ammo thing, I guess it's because each weapon has its own brand of ammunition: arrows for short bows are supposedly lighter than those of a composite, apparently.

[Point Blank]

In this field I find EDU-Matic far superior; it allows you to make very customized armour suits, whereas RC2.0 gives you generic pre-defined sets only.

As for the ammo thing, I guess it's because each weapon has its own brand of ammunition: arrows for short bows are supposedly lighter than those of a composite, apparently.

The pre-defined sets are because the armor upgrade system needs to fit in consistently with the approx +2 armor gained with each upgrade, eg Light Mail->Heavy Mail->Coat of Plates->Partial Plate, and also to match the corresponding upgraded battlefield model (ie as much as possible I aim for armed and armored as depicted by the model), though I haven't seen EDU-Matic. There also need to be decisions made that are effectively averaged over all possible upgrades, such as heat stat, movement rate, terrain penalties etc. Pre-defined sets also allow more variation in how the armor upgrade system is applied, ie high-class/quality units may get access to newer armor types more quickly than others.

Yes the lighter bows tend to get more arrows due to their lower size/weight, and as a small balancing effect vs the larger bows, eg maybe the opponents have minimal or no armor, and/or are more numerous, so it may be useful to have more arrows.As k/t says, low-quality units get shield value penalties, which is the opposite of all other benefits given to high-quality units. Shield bonuses could be added in but most shields were of pretty standard quality. A better-made shield (+1) in this context would usually mean a heavier one (+1 heat), also leading to a possible defense penalty as k/t mentions above, so this is not really a good trade unless one is facing missile troops, preferably front-on.

[k/t]

Peasant Militia and Peasant grade units get -1 to shield value.

You have a good idea, though. It could be argued that Elite and Exceptional units should get +1 to shield and perhaps -1 to defense.