Shield (wear/wield)

Horace · Post by **Horace** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:13 pm

I imagine it'd be a pain in the rear to change, but since i'm not sure i'll suggest it anyhow.

I think it'd be a nice luxury to have a wear and wield command with a shield. When you wear a shield, it would act much like sheathing would - but it'd place the shield on the shoulder slot (back would work too, but that's already a full slot), then when you wish to use it you can wield it - acting like a draw.

I know wield and wear are already both commands, so something else. Maybe sling and remove...the principle is the same.

Very minor

thanks guys,
Tyson

Kelemvor · Post by **Kelemvor** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:42 pm

I've seen players smoting slinging and unslinging shields to represent the action your referring to and I think this could be a useful addition if not unbearably complicated to implement. Currently the user is forced to leave it in inventory and smote.

The only thing that bothers me is a vague notion that there are issues with allowing a shield to be worn on arms or backs as it is a unique single layer item and those locations are tri-layer. I think it is similar to the problem which prevents a bow being worn over the shoulder as well as held.

Kelemvor · Post by **Kelemvor** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:06 pm

I got to thinking about this and Horace and I did some brainstorming in game.

Am I right in thinking that an intercept_prog can be placed on an item? If so, can they be used to intercept any word and not just a command?

I'm hoping that what could work is an intercept_prog for the words 'sling' and 'unsling' on a container that could be worn in the arms or back layer over slot.

Call it a shield sling, limit it to one shield and have the intercept prog force removal and storage or taking out and wearing.

Pie in the sky or achievable? I've got a few vnums left in my current area to give it a try....

Japcil · Post by **Japcil** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:40 pm

Any word not just commands. Use ITEM_TYPE_SHEATH

Balek · Post by **Balek** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:19 am

Would it be possible to make a shield that can be worn on the back by simply setting the shield to the 'over' layer and allowing it to be worn on the body or held? By doing this, you could wear it over armor or you could hold the shield as you normally can. I don't believe you would be able to use any other items in the same hand even if the shield was set as 'over' since there are only two locations for held items: left and right hand (whereas there are three body locations: under, armor, and over)

I'm not sure if this would work, but it might be worth a try before attempting more complicated coding challenges.

Japcil · Post by **Japcil** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:54 am

Nope that wear location would be for a container or armour not a shield. That would be like gaining a weapons bonus while it is sheathed it just doesnt make sense. And wearing a shield on your back actually limits movement I would think since you would be forced to turn completely around in order to see behind you.

Kelemvor · Post by **Kelemvor** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:36 am

ITEM_TYPE_SHEATH wont work though, will it? Since that is for weapons only. It will have to be ITEM_TYPE_CONTAINER with a capacity of 1, I thought.

As for shields on other wear locations, I'll have a look at re-layering to see if that is an option. Though I concur with what Jacpil said about improper armour bonuses.

With relayering rather than creating a 'sling' the player could feasibly wear a shield on back, arms and in the hand and gain all three protective effects.
Worse still, any enchanted shield(s) could be worn on the back and/or arms and give the worn affect while the player might happily be dual wielding and not even using the shield.

Too many worms in that can I think

Japcil · Post by **Japcil** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 8:43 pm

It would require testing but I think item type sheath will allow other objects. Containers work on weight not item amounts i believe.

Japcil · Post by **Japcil** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:11 pm

Big suprise that Kelemvor is right...

but perhaps with the code from item type sheath it could be modified to create ITEM_TYPE_SHIELD_SHEATH. From there we change it to only allow ITEM_TYPE_SHIELD. From there you can add a feat that allows you to use the shield to protect you while it is slung giving a slight bonus to AC and not allow the special effects still.

Horace · Post by **Horace** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:17 pm

would that effect being able to bash too?

Japcil · Post by **Japcil** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:44 pm

While slung the shield wouldn't be able to be used to bash. You would receive the 'You need to hold a shield to do that' echo.

Kelemvor · Post by **Kelemvor** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:06 am

Container capacity is in weight, so setting it to 1 lb would limit it to one shield as all shields have a weight of 1lb currently. Yes, that's unrealistic, but it saves me having to go along with Japcil's convoluted coder's solution

Sometimes, the simplest solution is to work with what you have.