Shield Runs: Break the Rules, Break Some Bones

[MetalShadowChaos]

One of my favourite things to do in games is do things that you were never supposed to do. The devs may give you a rubbish weapon at some point expecting you to learn the ropes with it and then dump it. I will finish the game with that weapon. You tell me that something isn't meant for combat I will save the world with it.

If you think I need a WEAPON to go with this shield then you are sorely mistaken.

The most fun I had with Dark Souls 1 and 2 was doing this, my Captain Lordran and Captain Drangleic playthroughs were an absolute blast, finishing 1 with Giant Armor, Black Iron Greatshield and Crystal Ring shield, and 2 with Tower Shield and Disk Chime(didn't cast any miricles until the end though, did enough lightning damage anyways). And in Dark Souls 2 I even did the game using only a Broken Sword and Broken Theif sword (and got max level in the Rat Covenant) and I'm half way through playing the game without any Armor.

These playthroughs were so fun I even re-installed Skyrim and Started a new Torchlight 2 character, just so I could play them both with only a shield. Skyrim I eventually had to resort to shield and fist, the damage was s poor it wasn't even fun, but despite being quite mana intensive my Torchlight 2 playthrough is also pretty damn fun, simply changed my autoattack to a mana-consuming shield bash skill and charged through legions of enemies shield held high.


So I know I won't be the only one who does this, so who else enjoys a good pratting about challenge run? And are there any other games that can be played this way?


And as a side note, for anyone else that did a Dark Souls 2 shield run, what did you end up with? A Greatshield, Standard Shield, Smallshield or just power stance Orma and Reeves if you're unoriginal and cowardly?

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Captain America approves of this post.

 

[small]

Shield and spell is perfectly viable i found in skyrim

 

[MetalShadowChaos]

Shield and spell is perfectly viable i found in skyrim

HA! Spells. Dirty Magic user. Us real Nords use a shield and fists and that's your lot.

 

[small]

Shield and spell is perfectly viable i found in skyrim

HA! Spells. Dirty Magic user. Us real Nords use a shield and fists and that's your lot.

I also play an orc called gorog cow smasher who specialises in warhammers

 

[Mirroga]

Remembering from movies like How to Train your Dragon and 300, I have the mentality of wanting/needing a shield more than a sword. Not to mention being shield-based as a Crusader/Paladin in Ragnarok Online is fun. I'd also like to point out that using the shield in Bastion as your main offense is awesome.

I wish there was a game wherein your whole mechanic revolves around shielding obstacles, reflecting attacks, and using some mundane, but awesome stuff with your shield.

 

[MetalShadowChaos]

Just give Shovel Knight's Shield Knight her own game, I think we all loved Shovel Knight enough to cram a little more down our faces.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Shields are actually pretty viable as weapons in dark souls 1 and 2. If you want a real challenge you should go through dark souls 2 with nothing but the handmaiden's ladle. Yes, that's a weapon, and yes it's exactly what it sounds like.

You get the ladle by killing the two ogres who protect the coffin in Things Betwixt and then talking to the girl who takes care of the firekeepers.

 

[MetalShadowChaos]

Thing is, I would if doing so were any fun. Yes, it's a challenge, but the thing has 10 durability and does les damage that you're own fists. I tried doing the game with only my fists. I gave up because it was tedious. I can't imagine how bad the ladle would be.

That said, I'm sure there are people with a LOT more patience and time than me that loves the handmaids ladle as a challenge weapon, so I'm not that annoyed by how unviable it is since I know there's SOMEONE out there LOVING that shit.

Closest I got was aforementioned Broken Warrior run with Broken Theif Sword and Broken sword, which turned out to be pretty great with stone ring. The stamina cost is just so low, plus you summon some into your rat covenant world and you can stun them enough for them to get poisoned by rats. It's pretty great.


I guess if you're not up for a CHALANGE run per-se, but want something interesting, you could try doing the game with your starting equipment. Pretty fun for everyone except Depraved for obvious reasons. Or if you pre-ordered, a character based around each of the weapon and shield pairs you get is pretty fun.

 

[Fat Hippo]

Shields are actually pretty viable as weapons in dark souls 1 and 2. If you want a real challenge you should go through dark souls 2 with nothing but the handmaiden's ladle. Yes, that's a weapon, and yes it's exactly what it sounds like.

You get the ladle by killing the two ogres who protect the coffin in Things Betwixt and then talking to the girl who takes care of the firekeepers.

I've always wondered why they even bothered with that ladle. She even acts like it's supposed to be some kind of reward. What am I supposed to do with your damned ladle, you stupid git? Not that I don't commend your liberal ladling, Nashandra must have felt like a right fool, all her grand schemes being brought down by some weirdo with a ladle and nothing to lose.