Shield requirement is a problem for arms, always was. Now it's worse

[Tallywhackér-emerald-dream]

Ill start with a bit of background. I played warrior mostly from early BC through to MoP - didnt play legion or BfA when current. Warrior had been my main through thick and thin. Had them in various races and on both factions. Fury in early BC, then Arms thereafter.

I remember using weapon macros with defensive stance well, it was clunky, but yes, doable with macros. It was able to be integrated. The 3 stance system and abilities with shield/2h requirements did add complexity.

MoP and Cata where probably my favourites though in terms of PvP, if i am honest. I enjoyed the game play quite a lot.

Roll on 2020, i come back pre SL patch and see things stripped down. Stances effectively gone (defensive stance now being a buff), and shield requirement abilities nowhere to be seen.

Ok i think, basic, but at least this seals the end of having to weapon/shield swap, something i never liked. Back when players used to have to play this way (bc/wrath), it was a common complaint. In fact blizzard changed the spell reflect ability to no longer require the use of a shield, they acknowledged this lack of fluidity was not desirable. Back then, warriors where the only class to depend on equipment macro’s and it seems yesterday we again became the only class to depend on such macros.

The real issue here for me is that this is actually worse than the old weapon swap gameplay. Since defensive stance is no longer technically a ‘stance’ or even an ‘aura’ it appears i cant even make a reliable defensive stance / weapon swap macro. Im instead using a macro solely to switch between 1h+shield and 2h - this requires an action bar space and an extra button press. Its too clunky, 2 separate button presses for one action.

Im hoping someone may have a practical workaround for now, simply put at present im inclined to just not use the shield abilities. I figure we will be balanced around using these abilities though, so that may mean im no longer willing or able to off tank or take focus damage in PvP.

I cant help but feel this is incredibly short sighted. This is a lot of complication to potentially use shield block, it’s silly.

[Karanze-ravencrest (Karanze)]

My recommendation is to macro shield block with your 1h+shield swap and MS with 2h swap, then you won’t have an extra button.
It’s not really that bad, you don’t have to use it, it’s more of a useful niche.

Also, paladins have to do the same.

[Tallywhackér-emerald-dream]

It was something i considered, in fact i have used similar methods in the past. It comes with it’s own problems, in the example given i would only be able to swap back to 2h if i use MS after shelling up. Depending on the situation that could be good or bad (especially PVP which is my main interest), so i wouldn’t use it. The same applies whichever ability you macro it to.

Played plenty of games where they have managed to give off tanking abilities to a 2h wielder without a shield requirement. I didnt mind doing it in that situation, there was no extra gear to keep up to standard and it could be done on the fly. As you say though i dont have to use it, and that’s likely to be the result. Im pushed away from off tanking at all in SL.

It’s worth noting though, with shield block and shield wall back in BC; the fact remains blizzard did balance around access to those abilities back then. We wont know for sure until we are in live end game content but we should expect our surviveabilty to be balanced around access to these abilities.

I’m sorry to hear Paladins have ended up in the same boat, it’s a dated concept that never worked well to begin with. It was always subject to complaint. Macro’s should be an enhancement to gameplay, not a requirement to use abilities. Some don’t even know how to write a macro. It’s essentially an unsupported feature - unless blizzard now have tutorials and offer technical support for them.

[Yiskko-eredar]

I know its a bit offtopic but: With WoD we got Gladiator Stance for Prot, and I loved it Ik that the damage is not as high as with Fury or Arms but is the “new” solution we have as Arms not the same as the old Gladiator Stance for Prot, but only for arms now? I wonder if we could make 1h+Shield Arms Warri good as dd