Minecraft Forums

Quote from 04Leonhardt

A lot of stuff isn't needed. These would just give the player more options and freedom.
So they don't HAVE to wear full diamond armor and blow all their XP on maybe getting Protection 4.

Nobody said you had to wear any armor, you could just get better at killing mobs.

I like the idea of shields as long as you cannot have a sword in your hand at the same time.

There was a shield mod out some time ago and I really wonder why they aren't in Minecraft. As benign as combat is, this would make it just a tad more engaging.

Also have a fetish for shield bashing, and any combat involving shields, so yeah - support.

I'd like to see a fifth armor slot for the shield. Whether the shield shows on the left side or not, I don't mind. I guess losing some visibility would be a realistic trade-off for the extra protection.

only if the shields were medieval duel wielding and magic would be cool also....

Quote from Pencilshavings5

Nobody said you had to wear any armor, you could just get better at killing mobs.

Nobody said you had to carry a shield.

Quote from 04Leonhardt

Nobody said you had to carry a shield.

Nobody said I had to play on anything other than peaceful.

good idea, but you should make the amount taken away increase, like 30% for wood, 40% for gold, 50% for iron, and 60% for diamond, maybe even more.

Quote from 7eggert

Shields should work like they do in roleplaying games: Add to the armor class.

Maybe they can have a better chance of blocking, too - as long as you are blocking.

yea, they should increase your chance of blocking as well, as you go up in material cost.

If it turns out that the shield is added, and it can be held in the left hand while you swing your sword in the other, I vote that sneaking swings the shield forward to obscure most of your view, but while you have it there all damage from the front is converted to wear on the shield.

That WOULD BE EPIC! Picture a row of soldiers, shields forward, glaring at you, sword held at the ready...

I am really glad everybody likes this or is talking about it, I didn't think it would be that popular.

How did this stop being popular? It seems like a bunch of people were into it.

Quote from Dr_Troll

Shields are obsolete, since if you hold your right mouse button while having a sword, it reduces damage. But how about this: Your shield absorbs full damage from any attack which lands on it, but it should have a durability. Also, axes should do triple durability damage to shields. Aaaand no, no stone shields please.

Okay, I agree with this.

Quote from Pencilshavings5

So protection 4 enchants on diamond and blocking with a sword isn't enough?

AND I agree with this.

For that reason, here's what I propose:
Shields should /not/ reduce damage passively, but should block 90%-100% (whatever everyone else thinks is best) when blocking with right click. Because they block all or nearly all damage, shields have very low durability AND axes do triple durability damage; my specific suggestion for low durability is 60 for iron and 33 for wood (based on the tool durability table from the wiki, but downgraded). My reasoning for this is that Pencilshavings5 is absolutely correct about damage reduction with high-tier armor, but my alternative is a bit OP, all things considered. Balance is durability, in my opinion. Another player should be able to break a shield to even the odds if he has a mind to (and an axe to hack with).
Shield tiers should be reduced in amount to 2: wood shield and iron shield. With the crafting recipe you have, it makes iron shields /very/ expensive, another way that this idea is balanced. Up for consideration: wood shields burn if hit by fire aspect, flame, or any other fire source (lawlzelda64)?

All that having been said, I don't think that shields would work well at all without implementing this suggestion.

The only reason I would want shields in the game is if they reduced knockback and and damage, but less than armor. Armor does the work of shields already, so if you want to add them, make them do something other than defense stuff.

I might affect knock back, and it does affect damage. And maybe you can hit people with it.

Ya. You hold right click to use the shield, but as you are holding the right click, you can also press left click to hit people with the shield. It will do 7 out of 20 damage. It will also immobilize them for two seconds. That is the optional part.