coldpheasant
First Post
Magical shields have some interesting powers. Check the PHB 244-245.
Also, many paladin, cleric, and warlord powers do effects and deal damage independently of your weapon's damage. If you're a cleric that likes to use Lance of Faith and/or Sacred Flame for instance, then a two-hander brings you no benefit (accept for opportunity attacks) whereas the AC and reflex bonuses from your shield are always present.
Likewise, a warlord that primarily uses Commander's Strike and/or Furious Smash gains no benefit from his own weapon's properties but would benefit from a shield.
Paladin at-will powers do all base their damage on the weapon, so the class does seem to work better with a high-damage weapon, but if you look closer, bolstering strike and enfeebling strike are both defensive powers at heart. Giving the opponent -2 to hit combined with having a +2 to AC and reflex from a shield can make a paladin tank extremely difficult to hit. In fact, a paladin maximized for defense may be more difficult to kill than any other class so maximized.
An "optimal" paladin might not wield a shield. A "specialized" paladin would greatly benefit from a shield.
Also, many paladin, cleric, and warlord powers do effects and deal damage independently of your weapon's damage. If you're a cleric that likes to use Lance of Faith and/or Sacred Flame for instance, then a two-hander brings you no benefit (accept for opportunity attacks) whereas the AC and reflex bonuses from your shield are always present.
Likewise, a warlord that primarily uses Commander's Strike and/or Furious Smash gains no benefit from his own weapon's properties but would benefit from a shield.
Paladin at-will powers do all base their damage on the weapon, so the class does seem to work better with a high-damage weapon, but if you look closer, bolstering strike and enfeebling strike are both defensive powers at heart. Giving the opponent -2 to hit combined with having a +2 to AC and reflex from a shield can make a paladin tank extremely difficult to hit. In fact, a paladin maximized for defense may be more difficult to kill than any other class so maximized.
An "optimal" paladin might not wield a shield. A "specialized" paladin would greatly benefit from a shield.