Shield (skill) - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: clarify shield weight for dnh

2026-05-12T13:28:26Z

clarify shield weight for dnh

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2026-03-19T05:43:52Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2025-10-12T00:15:30Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: detail

2025-06-29T11:54:34Z

detail

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2025-05-23T10:49:00Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: duped entry

2025-05-21T21:52:22Z

duped entry

Umbire the Phantom: /* DynaHack */ todo

2025-05-21T20:11:24Z

‎DynaHack: todo

Umbire the Phantom: dyna

2025-05-21T20:10:48Z

dyna

K2: /* EvilHack */ shield bash damage

2025-02-22T04:26:30Z

‎EvilHack: shield bash damage

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-01-03T07:28:36Z

word choice

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 [[Berith]] is a [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] that grants skill in shields while bound.
-The shield skill grants bonuses to AC from worn shields that are partially decreased when using that shield to attack, i.e. as part of the shield bashing [[knightly stance]]. The bonus granted depends on the size of the shield and the hero's skill level in shields: due to [[Item size (dNetHack)|item sizes]] being variable, "small" shields for this purpose are shields with a [[weight]] equal to or lower than a [[buckler]] made to fit that hero's [[physical size]], while "large" shields are any shields heavier than a buckler of their size. This means that a shield considered "small" for a [[Human (starting race)|human]] or [[Elf (starting race)|elven]] hero may be "large" for a [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] hero, while a "large" shield for humans and elves might be "small" for a [[Chiropteran (starting race)|chiropteran]].
+The shield skill grants the following bonuses to AC from worn shields that are partially decreased when using that shield to attack, i.e. as part of the shield bashing [[knightly stance]], and are dependent on the hero's skill level:
 * At Basic level, large shields grant a +1 bonus to AC.
 * At Skilled level, large shields grant a +2 bonus to AC while fighting in the shield bashing style, and a +3 bonus otherwise. Small shields grant a +1 bonus to AC.
 * At Expert level, large shields grant a +5 bonus to AC while fighting in the shield bashing style, and a +8 bonus otherwise. Small shields grant a +2 bonus to AC while fighting in the shield bashing style, and a +3 bonus otherwise.
 ==DynaHack==
@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 |}
-{{todo|Document the shield skill as it functions in this variant further.}}
+{{todo|Further document the shield skill as it functions in this variant.}}
 ==EvilHack==

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], the following roles have access to the shield skill:
 {| class="prettytable"
-! colspan="2" style="font-size:larger" | Shield
+! colspan="2" style="font-size:larger" | Shield skill
 |-
 ! Max !! Role
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 | Basic
+|
-* [[Archeologist/dNetHack|Archeologist]], [[Noble]] (dwarf), [[Priest/dNetHack|Priest]] (all except drow and hedrow), [[Tourist/dNetHack|Tourist]]
+* [[Archeologist/dNetHack|Archeologist]], [[Noble]] ([[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarf]] only), [[Priest/dNetHack|Priest]] (all except [[Drow (starting race)#dNetHack|drow and hedrow]]), [[Tourist/dNetHack|Tourist]]
 |-
 | Skilled
+|
-* [[Noble]] (human, half-dragon, elf), [[Valkyrie/dNetHack|Valkyrie]]
+* [[Noble]] ([[Human (starting race)|human]], [[Half-dragon (starting race)|half-dragon]] and [[Elf (starting race)|elf]]), [[Valkyrie/dNetHack|Valkyrie]]
 |-
 | Expert
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 [[Berith]] is a [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] that grants skill in shields while bound.
-The shield skill grants bonuses to AC from worn shields that are partially decreased when using that shield to attack, i.e. as part of the shield bashing [[knightly stance]]. The bonus granted depends on the size of the shield and the hero's skill level in shields: due to [[Item size (dNetHack)|item sizes]] being variable, "small" shields for this purpose are shields with a [[weight]] equal to or lower than a [[buckler]] of the hero's [[physical size]], while "large" shields are any shields heavier than a buckler of their size. This means that a shield considered "small" for a [[Human (starting race)|human]] or [[Elf (starting race)|elven]] hero may be "large" for a [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] hero, while a "large" shield for humans and elves might be "small" for a [[Chiropteran (starting race)|chiropteran]].
+The shield skill grants bonuses to AC from worn shields that are partially decreased when using that shield to attack, i.e. as part of the shield bashing [[knightly stance]]. The bonus granted depends on the size of the shield and the hero's skill level in shields: due to [[Item size (dNetHack)|item sizes]] being variable, "small" shields for this purpose are shields with a [[weight]] equal to or lower than a [[buckler]] made to fit that hero's [[physical size]], while "large" shields are any shields heavier than a buckler of their size. This means that a shield considered "small" for a [[Human (starting race)|human]] or [[Elf (starting race)|elven]] hero may be "large" for a [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] hero, while a "large" shield for humans and elves might be "small" for a [[Chiropteran (starting race)|chiropteran]].
 The following bonuses are granted for reaching particular skill levels in shields:
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 | Basic
+|
-* [[Archeologist]], [[Caveperson]], [[Convict/EvilHack|Convict]], [[Priest]], [[Rogue]], [[Tourist]]
+* [[Archeologist/EvilHack|Archeologist]], [[Caveman/EvilHack|Caveperson]], [[Convict/EvilHack|Convict]], [[Priest/EvilHack|Priest]], [[Rogue/EvilHack|Rogue]], [[Tourist/EvilHack|Tourist]]
 |-
 | Skilled
+|
-* [[Barbarian]], [[Ranger]], [[Samurai]]
+* [[Barbarian/EvilHack]], [[Ranger/EvilHack|Ranger]], [[Samurai/EvilHack|Samurai]]
 |-
 | Expert
+|
-* [[Knight]]
+* [[Knight/EvilHack|Knight]]
 |-
 | Master
+|
-* [[Valkyrie]]
+* [[Valkyrie/EvilHack|Valkyrie]]
 |}
 Roles that can reach Expert or higher in shields (i.e. the Knight and Valkyrie) start the game with Basic skill, and all others start out Unskilled.
-The shield skill increases AC gained from shields and enables shield bashing at higher skill levels - the skill is trained with a {{frac|3}} chance every time an attack directed against the hero misses, and is also trained if the shield directly blocks an attack.
+The shield skill increases AC gained from shields and enables shield bashing at higher skill levels&mdash;the skill is trained with a {{frac|3}} chance every time an attack directed against the hero misses, and is also trained if the shield directly blocks an attack.
 If the hero has a minimum of Basic skill in shields and is wearing any type of shield other than [[bracers]], they gain the ability to use a shield bash against monsters: this has a chance of occurring automatically whenever the hero attacks in melee and is not [[force-fight]]ing via {{kbd|F}}, and the odds increase along with their skill level; a flat damage bonus to shield bashing is also added if the hero is at Expert skill or higher. [[Small shield]]s deal 2-4 base damage before applying bonuses for [[material hatred]], while all other shields deal 3-8 base damage, and shields with the fire, frost or shock [[Object properties#EvilHack|object properties]] have a {{frac|4}} chance of applying elemental damage when used for shield bashes.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 [[Berith]] is a [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] that grants skill in shields while bound.
-The shield skill grants bonuses to AC from worn shields that are partially decreased when using that shield to attack, i.e. as part of the shield bashing [[knightly stance]]. The bonus granted depends on the size of the shield and the hero's skill level in shields: due to [[Item size (dNetHack)|item sizes]] being variable, "small" shields for this purpose are shields with a [[weight]] equal to or lower than a [[buckler]] of the hero's [[physical size]], while "large" shields are any shields heavier than a buckler of their size. This means that a shield considered "small" for a [[Human (starting race)|human]] or [[Elf (starting race)|elven]] hero may be "large" for a [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] hero, while a "large" shield for humans and elves might be "small" for a [[chiropteran]].
+The shield skill grants bonuses to AC from worn shields that are partially decreased when using that shield to attack, i.e. as part of the shield bashing [[knightly stance]]. The bonus granted depends on the size of the shield and the hero's skill level in shields: due to [[Item size (dNetHack)|item sizes]] being variable, "small" shields for this purpose are shields with a [[weight]] equal to or lower than a [[buckler]] of the hero's [[physical size]], while "large" shields are any shields heavier than a buckler of their size. This means that a shield considered "small" for a [[Human (starting race)|human]] or [[Elf (starting race)|elven]] hero may be "large" for a [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] hero, while a "large" shield for humans and elves might be "small" for a [[Chiropteran (starting race)|chiropteran]].
 The following bonuses are granted for reaching particular skill levels in shields:

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 [[Berith]] is a [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] that grants skill in shields while bound.
-The shield skill grants bonuses to AC from worn shields, which are partially decreased when using that shield to attack (i.e. as part of the shield bashing [[knightly style]]). The bonus granted depends on the size of the shield and the hero's skill level in shields - "small" shields for this purpose are shields with a [[weight]] equal to or lower than a [[buckler]] of the hero's [[physical size]], while "large" shields are any shields heavier than a buckler of their size. This means that a shield considered "small" for a [[Human (starting race)|human]] or [[Elf (starting race)|elven]] hero may be "large" for a [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] hero, while a "large" shield for humans and elves might be "small" for a [[chiropteran]].
+The shield skill grants bonuses to AC from worn shields that are partially decreased when using that shield to attack, i.e. as part of the shield bashing [[knightly stance]]. The bonus granted depends on the size of the shield and the hero's skill level in shields: due to [[Item size (dNetHack)|item sizes]] being variable, "small" shields for this purpose are shields with a [[weight]] equal to or lower than a [[buckler]] of the hero's [[physical size]], while "large" shields are any shields heavier than a buckler of their size. This means that a shield considered "small" for a [[Human (starting race)|human]] or [[Elf (starting race)|elven]] hero may be "large" for a [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] hero, while a "large" shield for humans and elves might be "small" for a [[chiropteran]].
 The following bonuses are granted for reaching particular skill levels in shields:

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 | Basic
+|
-* [[Archeologist]], [[Caveperson]], [[Convict]], [[Priest]], [[Rogue]], [[Tourist]]
+* [[Archeologist]], [[Caveperson]], [[Convict/EvilHack|Convict]], [[Priest]], [[Rogue]], [[Tourist]]
 |-
 | Skilled

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 * [[Knight]], [[Priest]], [[Valkyrie]]
 |}
 ==EvilHack==

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 * At Skilled level, large shields grant a +2 bonus to AC while fighting in the shield bashing style, and a +3 bonus otherwise. Small shields grant a +1 bonus to AC.
 * At Expert level, large shields grant a +5 bonus to AC while fighting in the shield bashing style, and a +8 bonus otherwise. Small shields grant a +2 bonus to AC while fighting in the shield bashing style, and a +3 bonus otherwise.
 ==EvilHack==
@@ Line 68: / Line 88: @@
 {{variant-343}}<!--{{variant-36X}}-->
 [[Category:dNetHack skills]]
 [[Category:notdNetHack skills]]
 [[Category:notnotdNetHack skills]]