The bottom line is the Shield is not good enough to cost you 200. It's an offhand that is more for show than anything. Shield mastery only helps the very few classes that can use it. It should be available as a skill. You can't really put anything on a shield dude unless he's bare bones which we know in this game melee is a bit ugly. You get TK'd as much as anything in melee, the shield looks cool, but really isn't worth 200 AP.
Block everything in the game is a pretty good investment, no one in this game can invest 250lp for the ability to tank a cannon shot or block 14 light attacks from a striking scorpion or even tank a lascannon, I would normally consider its highly under-priced if the pistols weren't so effective this patch, people really downplay the punishment it can take, plus if you have armour regen trinkets it could buy you enough time to bring all your amour back mid fight with someone. Side note if you melee a shield your melee weapon loses durability, how mad is that, literally can take a break 1vs1 whenever you like unless an Eldar has a fusion pistol for some reason, personally I learnt this the hard way though.
But that's my point. It does not block everything in the game. Plus remember while you are using it, you are not doing damage. Put it this way: I have no ulterior motive for saying this: - I get way more kills with my Khorne Zerker with dual lifesteal (mark + Axe) And I'm slow as heck. An Eldar can whoop me if I'm not really countering well. The Axe is too slow, yet I'm easily twice as successful as my LSM shield dude. Why is that? - The Shield dude is holding his shield up instead. While the Khorne guy is absorbing health by hitting you on the melon. The Shield dude slows to a crawl as he covers the front arch of his body, attempting to get into CC as slow as possible while he is being kited from 2-3-4 directions. (The shield is only maybe protecting you against half of those shots in the best case scenario). All the while, you are not doing any damage Don't forget high AP weapons toast that shield fast. I've had it crumble -extremely- fast from taking a fist hit, or mace hits which doesn't make sense to me because this is what the shield does is absorb damage. I think it's a clunky mechanic and you're much, much better off going for speed and lifesteal way more than a super slow moving shield that onlyl kind of works and takes your damage ability out of the game. You're better off using 200 pts for better armour or something.
So you are comparing a defensive role with a shield with the offensive role of the berserker and think that it equal? You could fit a boltpistol instead of the shield, The current lifesteal mechanics do not allow you to "tank" damage or to "shield" you against anything. They give you a small advantage in an even (albeit purely theoretical) fight (as if this would ever happen in the current melee meta combined with the low ttk). After the fight lifesteal prevent you from beeing completely drained on the berserker over since you cant be healed. Maybe you should use the shield to support your team? I heared that leading a charge into a room or blocking damage for the capguy or protecting wounded allies can be a thing with shields. Not to mention that the shield might allow you to walk up to a heavy bolter guy to smash him in the face. Dont think khorne is with you on that one.
You lose almost nothing(most people don't even use their pistols at all), and you gain the ability to become a meat-wall for your capping buddies. If you're using the shield wrong, or expect it to be the best choice in all scenarios, you will obviously feel it's a waste.
Can you pay 250lp to tank a 2000 damage shot without a shield? no? that why the shield is already at a generous price, while the defense is active not passive the damage you can block more than makes up for it, the shield should be at 400lp honestly or at least the master crafted should since it tanking weapons that auto kill veterans without a scratch, maybe a stun instead.
^ There it is. With my zerker, I can do damage and mitigate damage at the same time. I can't put into any simpler term than that.
Ok I goto add my 2 cents in here as someone who mains a shield bro with a power sword as my LSM. I dont know what you guys are doing with a shield but I find it to be one of the best things out there for a defensive option. If your out solo charging enemy lines thinking the shield is going to absorb the entire enemy teams fire... well your doing it wrong. Your job is to protect others, be it heavy weapons or your tactical units that are trying to take a point. Dose this mean you cant be out in the front? Of course not, you can be right up in the thick of it but the moment you raise your shield you got to realize you are raising a target for the enemy to shoot at. Done correctly you should draw fire or defend your allies with this shield.
