On Mon, 20 Sep 1999, Janko S. wrote:

>
> Could someone please explain something to me? Can a bard use a shield? I
> have seen quite a lot of bards with shields and they are saying that they
> can use them and on the other side you are saying here that bards don't have
> parrying. Doesn't that mean that we can't use shields? I allways thought
> that parrying is the skill that you need if you want to use your shield. Ohh

Parry typically means to deflect a blow using your weapon. I
have no idea why UO chose to apply it to shield skill. In EQ
your shield is just extra AC, like any other armor piece.
Parrying increases your chance to just avoid an attack, like
dodge does. Riposte avoids the attack, and deflects it back
so the attacker takes damage (actually it's an attack
immediately following a parry, but the way it works in EQ is
that the attacker takes damage; the riposter's combat ability
doesn't seem to matter - a successful riposte always results
in the original attacker taking damage).

> yes and please no criticism that I should know that. Thanks for your
> answers.

You should know that! :-)

--
John H. Kim
kim@...