Shield (skill)
In some variants of NetHack, the usage of shields is a trainable skill that can improve the defensive prowess of a hero wearing a shield (usually in the form of an AC bonus), and in certain cases may even enable them to shield bash monsters for additional damage.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the following roles have access to the shield skill:
| Shield | |
|---|---|
| Max | Role |
| Basic |
|
| Skilled | |
| Expert | |
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 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 heavier shields. This means that a shield considered "small" for a human or elven hero may be "large" for a gnomish hero, while a "large" shield for them might be "small" for a chiropteran.
The following bonuses are granted for reaching particular skill levels in shields:
- 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.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, the following roles have access to the shield skill:
| Shield | |
|---|---|
| Max | Role |
| Basic | |
| Skilled | |
| Expert | |
| Master | |
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 1⁄3 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-fighting via 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 shields deal 2-4 base damage before applying bonuses for material hatred, while all other shields deal 2-7 base damage, and shields with the fire, frost or shock object properties have a 1⁄4 chance of applying elemental damage when used for shield bashes.
The following bonuses are granted for reaching particular skill levels in shields:
- While the hero is at Basic or higher in shields, worn shields gain a +1 bonus to AC, and shields that are not bracers enable the hero to perform a shield bash attack on 1⁄8 of melee attacks.
- While the hero is at Skilled or higher in shields, worn shields gain further AC bonuses in addition to those from lower skill levels - bracers gain a +1 bonus for a total of +2 AC, while all other shields gain a +2 bonus for a total of +3 AC. Worn shields that are not bracers enable the hero to perform a shield bash attack on 1⁄6 of melee attacks.
- While the hero is at Expert or higher in shields, worn shields cannot be disarmed by the use of a dwarvish bearded axe, and gain further AC bonuses in addition to those from lower skill levels - bracers gain a +1 bonus for a total of +3 AC, while all other shields gain a +2 bonus for a total of +5 AC. Worn shields that are not bracers enable the hero to perform a shield bash attack on 1⁄4 of melee attacks, and these shield bashes have a 1⁄10 chance to stun the target. Shield bash attacks also gain +d4 damage bonuses.
- While the hero is at Master in shields, worn shields gain further AC bonuses in addition to those from lower skill levels - bracers gain a +1 bonus for a total of +4 AC, while all other shields gain a +3 bonus for a total of +8 AC. Worn shields that are not bracers enable the hero to perform a shield bash attack on 1⁄3 of melee attacks, and these shield bashes have a 1⁄10 chance to stun the target. Shield bash attacks retain their +d4 damage bonus from Expert skill.
