Should Shields return? (Submitted)

I'm quite a fan of shields, too. I think having them in Bloodstained mainly depends on if we have two weapon slots or not. If so, then by all means, yes...

But I would like to see them have something a little more, functionality wise. In SotN, raising a shield is literally just raising a hit box that doesn't do any damage. Only weak projectiles are taken out by this, the same ones that you could attack with any other means to deflect, even with Alucard's unarmed punch. In some rare cases, a shield may be ideal for blocking such moves (Slogra/Gaibon), but your mobility options, invincibility and weapons outclass them for that function later, if the later-game enemies even have hittable projectiles. The most interesting properties of shields were with the Shield Rod and their varying, unique block effects, yes.

What I would propose instead is something like a shield with a dragon crest actually blocking and negating fire. Not just fire balls, per se, but an actual stream of fire could be warded off. With the alchemic processes and upgrades, perhaps it could later also refill your MP/regen life from absorbing fire. In the interest of balance, or to ensure that this isn't -too- good or a required mechanic, maybe there would also be a more careful, but tricky jump or movement option around the fire, so that once you get up-close to the monster you can let loose with whatever you have in both weapon slots to be more fully offense-oriented. It may even slow you down a few frames to use the shield?

Anyway, yes, I'd like to see shields, but I'd like for them to be meaningful inclusions.

what if the regular shields were classed more like a movable platform, then things would bounce off them or stick to it (take that spear knight!) instead of simply disappearing when they impact, then the ones with offense could be programmed like a hitbox and destroy what touches it, that gives you 2 different classes of shield with their own visuals, and it could also create a bit of strategy when you come across attacks that ignore terrain billowing around platform shields and attacks that are anathema to an offensive shields property pass through but soak a bit of damage

It would be lovely having a shield could make you be able to parry attacks with exact frame inputs
If not, you block the attack reducing damage and getting some frames of stun block.

Can a lot of people agree with me here so that we can somehow get shields into this game ?

That's what Mana said needs to happen

Aside from the Shield Rod (which was degenerate), I never felt Shields had that much utility in SOTN. I mean if in Bloodstained you could do stuff like:





Then I'm all aboard but otherwise I'm unenthused. I won't stand in the way of others who really want shields though. I can just not use them (unless they have better utility this game)

Pretty much redundant, gameplay-wise.

Their implementation, in the suggested form, seems like a waste of time.

And what else would I be expressing?



It is a staple of the genre. There are, however, no specific types of equipment that need to be implemented in order to achieve the collector gameplay aspect.



They had genuine alchemy and demon summoning a few hundred years ago?



Two handed weapons are usually extra strong weapons that have the 2H requirement as a drawback. I can't see how such a feature is redundant, I see it as sensible variety.

lol at Miriam doing Captain America moves. FOR FREEDOM

Yes, as they are in SotN, shields are largely useless as I ponited out earlier. They need more gameplay significance, which I think should be a main point of discussion. If we can propose something game-worthy enough other than "it'd be cool if they were there", I think that would be ideal. Tying them to elements/absorption of damage like in my post a while back would be one way to do that. If the beryl/ruby circlet effects are instead tied to valuable attack slots, there might be tough decisions to be made to balance offense and defense.

"It's fun" doesn't make for much of an argument.



The setting isn't defined (or at least revealed to us) to the point where you could say whether or not it fits.



It is far from redundant as it gives you attack opportunities which wouldn't otherwise be available, especially if you're gear/setup locked.



Because wasting resources affects the overall quality.