Shield of the Haradrim

[Ingwe Ingweron]

Did the Haradrim shield once have an Aggravate flag? Its text description says, "Its wielder will ... draw attention to himself." But there is no aggravate flag in the properties description or on the character screen when this shield is wielded. Personally, I'm glad for the absence of the flag because I use the shield almost as much as Elros or Thorin, sometimes even preferring it over those two powerhouse shields. Just curious about the history.

[Timo Pietilä]

Did the Haradrim shield once have an Aggravate flag? Its text description says, "Its wielder will ... draw attention to himself." But there is no aggravate flag in the properties description or on the character screen when this shield is wielded. Personally, I'm glad for the absence of the flag because I use the shield almost as much as Elros or Thorin, sometimes even preferring it over those two powerhouse shields. Just curious about the history.

It originally was way more powerful. IIRC extra blows or shots/might to bows. Something like that.

[Zikke]

It used to add quite a lot of power and the aggravate was appropriate, based on the bonuses you got. It was neat to have that choice to make.

[Timo Pietilä]

It used to add quite a lot of power and the aggravate was appropriate, based on the bonuses you got. It was neat to have that choice to make.

Problem was that it was no-brainer for endgame. Nothing else did come even close.

[PowerWyrm]

Yes it had aggravation because it was powerful. Same applied to Hammerhand. Since those artifacts were sensibly nerfed, the aggravation became pointless (nobody would use them with aggravation).

[Timo Pietilä]

Yes it had aggravation because it was powerful. Same applied to Hammerhand. Since those artifacts were sensibly nerfed, the aggravation became pointless (nobody would use them with aggravation).

Hammerhand originally was worse than Crown of Might +3 and it had aggravation. Removing that from it was no-brainer IMO.

Now finding crown of might with +3 to all three stats is rare.

If Hammerhand was overpowered at some point I have blocked that from my memory. Now it is what it is supposed to be.

[Derakon]

I think it had aggravation because someone decided it should have combat boosts, and +to-dam on a helmet was overpowered. The original Hammerhand didn't aggravate.

So basically it got changed, then reverted.

[Nick]

I think it had aggravation because someone decided it should have combat boosts, and +to-dam on a helmet was overpowered. The original Hammerhand didn't aggravate.

So basically it got changed, then reverted.

I checked a couple of data points - it had no aggravate in 2.9.3, and then did in 3.0.6. I'd always assumed it aggravated for thematic reasons, because he always sounded his horn before going into battle.

[Timo Pietilä]

I checked a couple of data points - it had no aggravate in 2.9.3, and then did in 3.0.6. I'd always assumed it aggravated for thematic reasons, because he always sounded his horn before going into battle.

3.0.x also added sustains which were removed with aggravation. It was quite bad helmet until multi-pvals were introduced. Now finding a crown of might +3 to all three stats is no longer guaranteed, so it remains competitive much longer (usually entire game).

Selection used to be:
do I take Rnexus (which I have covered by two other items)
or
do I take sust STR, DEX, CON and FA with slightly less AC.

It was always no-brainer to take the latter.

[Derakon]

Hammerhand still had a window of use, since it was considerably less rare than a Crown of Might (+3). But you're right, if you could find such a crown it would beat out Hammerhand.