I don't think it's nasty, the power till gives him +4 defence for a turn, and a chance at blocking the attack.If you are a nasty DM you won't say a thing and the player won't see the roll, so he has to just guess to see if shield will work. In which case expect him to choose a different utility spell!
no. that was not what I said. But a level 2 wizard utility power shouldn't overshadow a racial power of a level 1 or level 30 halfling.Are you saying that a lvl 2 wizard shouldn't be more powerful than a halfling with no class?
Indeed it would If it was for just the one attack, Majushi might have an argument, but the +4 bonus lasts a round. That is pretty significant indeed, and is still a good choice for a power.But how does it compare to the other lvl 2 utilities? The wizard has made great use of expeditious retreat, but that is a daily, as is feather fall. The other PHB utility is jump. Would always knowing if sheild would work make it the must have utility?
There are two people in this thread with direct experience saying no, it's not. In fact, one of them hasn't used it yet in 8-10 tries! I think knowing the roll is fine. I especially don't like the idea of "gambling" on an unknown roll, which makes it only fun on a successful guess. Think of Anthraxus, if he had to guess. On combat 11, he guesses wrong. That would suck so bad I would take mach1.9pants up on the offer of a different spell.Would always knowing if sheild would work make it the must have utility?