Curse

Celestial_Kitsune · Feb 21, 2008, 03:15 AM // 03:15

Some published literature indicates that the armor is applied uniformly with spells, but with attacks it is only applied if the target is being attacked from an arc of approximately 110-140 degrees in front of the target (1, 2). Other experiments contradict these findings (3). Can anyone confirm that shield armor is non-directional? Was it always non-directional and people just miscalculated it or was it updated at some point from front to global defense?

arsie · Feb 21, 2008, 04:02 AM // 04:02

Never thought of this.

I've always assumed games just make it all round. Especially one like GW, where you don't get other benefits of positioning: like WoW Rogue Backstabs.

evenfall · Feb 21, 2008, 04:03 AM // 04:03

AFAIK shield armor is non-directional. It was updated to global defense a short while after release.

Kale Ironfist · Feb 21, 2008, 09:21 AM // 09:21

It's been non-directional (if it ever was directional) well before Factions.

Biostem · Feb 21, 2008, 09:43 AM // 09:43

It doesn't make sense that shield armor would be uni-directional for the simple fact that, if it was, then there would be skills that would take advantage of your angle of attack; you'd see assassin skills w/ bonus damage if delivered from behind, you'd see extra damage from flanking your enemy, etc.

Simply put, if the direction an attack came from mattered, it'd be a more prevalent game mechanic...

Washi · Feb 21, 2008, 09:55 AM // 09:55

Isn't there a rule that says if you are running and get hit in the back it's always a critical? Or is just running enough and direction doesnt matter?

JR · Feb 21, 2008, 01:34 PM // 13:34

Shields are indeed nondirectional.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Washi

Isn't there a rule that says if you are running and get hit in the back it's always a critical? Or is just running enough and direction doesnt matter?

I believe it will autocrit if your target is running directly away from you as you attack them. If you were around when Bull's Strike triggered on 'fleeing' targets as opposed to 'moving' you would be able to relate. It was incredibly difficult to land a Bull's under those conditions, and is equally difficult to score an autocrit now.

Chthon · Feb 21, 2008, 03:05 PM // 15:05

I believe it was changed from directional to non-directional in a stealth update at some point. The original damage article reported it as directional, and I'd tend to think it was correct, since the article was right on just about everything else. Much later, someone (Deford I think it was) showed pretty conclusively that it's non-directional now. (Yes, I just found the link: here.)

Celestial_Kitsune · Feb 22, 2008, 12:22 AM // 00:22

Thank you everyone for your replies