The ability to use side arms in tandem with a shield would be OP. Contrary to popular belief, side arms are actually pretty good weapons.

Also, how will non matar shield get repaired?

The ability to use side arms in tandem with a shield would be OP. Contrary to popular belief, side arms are actually pretty good weapons.

Also, how will non matar shield get repaired?

"As it is a Light weapon, this will also allow Commandoes to have something to compensate for their low HP total while still making the commando himself highly squishy."

I like this. Cool way to make the commando a little more viable/fun. Moving wall with a couple'o guys taking cover/firing behind him. Cool play mechanics

"Each race will have a differing racial skill as well as augmenting your melee power, as you are bashing with a shield and not slapping with your gun-butt."

Should also have some sort of sprint bash that does more damage. And maybe some kinda run for cover sprint mode were you hold the shield to one side as you sprint to cover.

"The only way to repair a shield will be from devices that repair Armor, such as Repair Tools and Triage Hives."

Should be racial shild types. Armor should have large HP and be able to be regened with rep tool. Shield sould be self repairing. Amarrian hybrid, and Mini duck tape.

Awwwcomeon.... No Side arms with Riot shields?

I was thinking about this, in that maybe the shotgun can provide a little extra protection with thy big ol arm holder thing.

I want it to be so, but I wasn't sure enough to put it in the main portion. Sidearms are short ranged enough that I feel it would be fair, and also an issue of button allocation. Would want to both be able to fire from the shield AND maintain a full set of shielded actions. Maybe limit sidearm fire to when you ADS with the shield out? I can't see any reason to ADS with just the shield, so that seems like it would solve the button issue.

I can see it now, dualshield caldari commandos. since shields will need a lot of EHP to even be viable as a combat option, I can imagine that said dualshield commando will have the EHP of a tank.

Sounds awesome. No real weapon though (not with that sprint speed). He's just a moving wall.

Would be more interested in seeing what scouts do with It. Shield/knife build. Scouts are always running away, with a shield on your back... Cool mechanic

I must admit that I'm not in love with the aesthetics of this idea. I am imagining it done one of two ways: either a huge riot shield which would look horribly clunky and not at all fitting with our sleek sci-fi suits (though perhaps it could work with the Amarr) or a sword and sorcery style kite shield that just seems to midevil for the feel of the rest of the game. The later of these ideas I'm going to lump together with the whole space ninja concept making it so distateful I will never speak of it again.

The concept behind what you are saying though, has some real merit. I love the idea of some sort of additional armor that you can use that won't take up a high or a low slot but will take another type of slot and won't provide 360-¦ protection. An equipment slot would be the ideal place for an item like this. I'm kind of envisioning a deployable armor plate that springs up in front of you as a destroyable (but very tough) deployable wall. There could also be shield variants.

While this deployable shield is not as versitile as your wearable concept I feel like it is more fitting with the theme of the game and would make for some interesting changes to the dynamics of a match.

Personally I was hoping for a large, Phalanx-style shield. A kite shield leaves too much open near the bottom and a buckler is too small to waste a weapons slot on. Also, the only 'sleek' suit is the Caldari due to their design aesthetic, the other three are clunky by default (Minmatar's scrappy, Gallente's reinforced plates, and Amarr's aesthetics-before-design).
As for deployables, those are an idea as well, but a SEPARATE one. We can have halo-esque bubble shields and blast walls, but making them instead of these would make me very sadpanda.

I must admit that I'm not in love with the aesthetics of this idea. I am imagining it done one of two ways: either a huge riot shield which would look horribly clunky and not at all fitting with our sleek sci-fi suits (though perhaps it could work with the Amarr) or a sword and sorcery style kite shield that just seems to midevil for the feel of the rest of the game. The later of these ideas I'm going to lump together with the whole space ninja concept making it so distateful I will never speak of it again.

The concept behind what you are saying though, has some real merit. I love the idea of some sort of additional armor that you can use that won't take up a high or a low slot but will take another type of slot and won't provide 360-¦ protection. An equipment slot would be the ideal place for an item like this. I'm kind of envisioning a deployable armor plate that springs up in front of you as a destroyable (but very tough) deployable wall. There could also be shield variants.

While this deployable shield is not as versitile as your wearable concept I feel like it is more fitting with the theme of the game and would make for some interesting changes to the dynamics of a match.

I'm such a good artist.. the mimi looks gorgeous.


Can't forget about the gallente... looking spiffy

I'd much rather see these Shields in the Equipment slot so the Commando could still have access to 2 light weapons.

TL;DR:

Shields should have activate effects, like resistance boosters, etc.

Main:

I actually was thinking about Shield-weapons (because they'd be in the weapon slot) in Dust two days... and honestly, by themselves (referring to OP's ideas) the Shields-weapons don't seem unique, original, or all too useful. Any FPS game can have just a Shield, and that alone wouldn't make the Shields in Dust unique or for tactical use.

However, one great thing EVE has is weapon-types (ie: laser, projectile, plasma, explosive, etc.). I think this is really where physical Shields could shine. Instead of the Shields just being Shields, give them an active function, similar to an Active Scanner. Keep the shield tiering/types of the OP (or a variation, whatever), but keep in mind the races are fighting each other. Give the Shield active effects that counteract another race's weapon types!

Examples:

When the Gallente Shield (Sleek shield) is activated, the Shield's resistance to hybrid and missile weapons would be temporarily boosted by 50% for x seconds.

When the Caldari Shield (Wide Shield) is activated, the Shield's projection width would temporarily narrow, but the Shield would be able to deflect all hybrid weapon damage and resist Flux grenade damage by 99% for x seconds.

When the Minmatar Shield (Light Shield) is activated, the Shield would resist laser damage by 30%, reduce the effects of explosives by 30% (for when the other racial explosives come; see Explosive Diversity) , and propel the user forward (using small boosters attached to the Shield) for x seconds.

When the Amarr Shield (Heavy Shield) is activated, the Shield would reduce the user's movement speed by 50%, but also resist projectile and explosive damage by 50% while using an inertial pulse (or something like that) to blow away all explosives for x seconds.


All of these would sharply boost the user's profile and render them unable to run. Having these additional effects would greatly supplement the Shield's tactical use and, to an extent, make them more than just Shields. These could act as great counters to current and future weapons (Ie: Amarr Shield for REs on objectives or grenade spam in close-quarters; Minmatar to breach heavily guarded, close-combat portable Shields).

Conclusion:

Of course, this is all speculation, and the bonuses are just examples, but I think most everything in Dust needs to be risk v. reward and have some kind of tactical advantage or niche. If there are going to be Shields in Dust, they should be more than just Shields.

I had two primary shields for Amarr.


Holy Auroa Shield
A gold sacred light that protects the user from harm and sin.

Minmatar Corpse Shield
Basically the Amarr holds up the fallen clone unit of a Minmatar clone as a shield. Well the clone doesn't have to be deactivated. Which ever works really. >:]

This is great and all, but seems more like a core feature to build a game around rather than one to add in. It is very complex, and the more complex something is the harder it is to create. I would be fine with simple 'riot shield' style weapons. Resistance boosters and such should be their own modules, we haven't got enough high slot diversity yet to count those out. Also, you have to think about battle practicality and button useage. For example, what button would turn this mode on? And who in their right mind would use the Amarr one? Such a slow, large target would get torn apart, especially with no gun to fire back. The game is an FPS RPG, not just an RPG.

Also, who's fighting who seems to be on the brink of change, has been for about a year now but still...

I would be the vanguard of an Boarding party if someone let me use a Combat Shield.

I only makes sense. The N7 Paladin is my fav gun in ME3, super powerful per hit, oh and did I mention there is a special Sentinel Varient that has an energy shield?.... you don't need to even ask whether or not this character is my favourite one.....

But yeah I always wanted to be the guy in the Amarrian Dropsuit who was first onto that titan/cruiser/battleship, shield in hand clad head to toe in ornate golden armour with much flowing parchments, bearing verses of the scriptures, swinging a mace and shield around like it aint nobodies business.