So I go for the shield every time in Beast Hockey because no one else on my team usually does. The enemy team always hard targets me and when you are holding the shield you are literally defenseless. The shield should block hits from the front at least. Hell they can even just grab you and drag you away and you can't do anything.
Beast hockey needs an update
I agree somewhat. I feel like in its current state, a lot of people don't take the shield because it does just kinda make you a target for the other team.
I've also seen a lot of people take the shield and not really know how to parry the puck in a way that actually makes it move very far, and that tends to cripple that players ability to contribute much of anything.
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Allistervf I disagree—I think it is balanced perfectly. The puck can't get past you when you're holding it but you can still be knocked out by other players or if your back is turned. If you're holding the shield and an enemy player comes, drop the shield and then fight him. I think players just haven't really figured out how to use them correctly yet.
UnseenMind that's what I meant
My only minor complaint is that the shield-party timing window seems super tight; could be slightly more forgiving imo, but I'm not gonna complain about it. The hockey mode overall does seem mostly balanced.
UnseenMind They can knock you out even if your back is not turned. Getting knocked out from behind makes sense and I'm fine with that. Allowing the shield player to block KOs with the shield would be balanced as they have to aim the shield at the player attacking them as opposed to at the puck.
Allistervf To add to that, when I'm on a team and my teammate actually does take the shield, 3/4 of the time he goes on offense with it which is not efficient as you are slower with it (as you should be).
bkramer This is also part of the game, where enemies come and attack the goalkeeper, and in the same way your teammates can attack the enemy goalkeeper, which involves strategic deployment, which is also a fun part
zuimaomao413 I'm not suggesting removing that aspect, I'm just saying the goalie needs some way to defend himself. IE if he has to face the shield at his attacker in order to block their blows I think that would be balanced. While doing this the puck could go by him from another direction, or someone else could knock him out from behind. I'm just saying one guys shouldn't be able to solo maul and drag around the shield player when he can't defend himself at all.
bkramer You say your teammates charge with shields, 3/4 of the time, which also involves strategy, you need to communicate with your teammates
bkramer Sometimes if someone attacks me, I throw my shield, and offense is sometimes the best defense
zuimaomao413 Oh yeah, that was more a reply to Allistervf's comment on people not knowing how to parry the puck far away, I was adding that people also don't know that they should stay back with the shield. There's nothing devs can do about that aspect though, there are going to be noobs and people who don't understand right away in every game.
I'm usually in a party with several friends, only one of whom plays Party Animals regularly with me so I'm usually in party chat. If I actually hear people on my team talking I'll switch to game chat for that game but it's pretty rare unfortunately. But that's also not the game's fault and that's all part of the chaos of random matchmaking.
bkramer yes,you got it
bkramer Or they could just drop the shield and then fight them.
UnseenMind Dropping is too clunky and takes time, and by the time you drop it he'll already have you knocked out.
bkramer Practice creates perfection