Concept idea: Shields

I made this idea a few months ago and thought it was a really stupid idea... then modern me now decided to give it a chance to see how the community thinks about it and sort of rework it so, here we go! (I'll be using images from my old drawing of the concept and maybe remake them later.)

purpose:

Alot of new and a small handful of experienced players either might be bad at kiting, might lag too badly to be able to fight, or even just doesnt like the combat in total. Even I have a friend who sometimes finds it difficult, getting him killed in some situations.( "Don't tell him I said that, he would kill me!" XD) The purpose of this is to find a way to make learning the combat system easier and time your attacks. And to sort of add something new to combat system instead of the classic hit and run or Tank.

how it works:

A shield can be equipped In the hand slot of your character. when equipped, If you push a certain key/buttom (haven't thought of it yet) your character shifts into a blocking animation for about perhaps a second long.( Similar to the block animation using the blacksmith's edge from the forge)

If anything attacks you during this animation, your character would be pushed back a tiny bit and the shield would absorb the damage! (maybe 80 or 85% say-ish percent) however, if you are not in blocking animation when you WILL be taking damage WITHOUT the shield's armor absorption meaning you will take full damage if you are not wearing Armor! And maybe I'm thinking you would also take damage if you are either facing the wrong way or if the attack is from above or below you, but that might be a little too harsh and specific... I made it designed like this to Help teach someone the attack pattern and make it based on knowledge and timing rather then how fast you can quickly move the opposite direction to avoid the hit. You can hit with a normal weapon and when your opponents about to attack. Quickly equip your shield, guard the attack and get right back to hitting. After you block though you will have a cool down of probably a second so you cant just spam block.

Design:

I tried to make it look, something from Don't starve based on how other things man made items would look made by the survivors, a wooden plank shield with a gold nugget in the middle of it with metal outline covering the outer layer. The shield will be held by an arm strapped around the character's arm. When dropped on the floor, maybe it makes a clunking sound and play a short animation of it spinning like a quarter before laying down as a cute little detail! images (4).mp4

Crafting:

Something a little bit pricey for constructing and stocking up on early game, but effective enough to use mid game! For now I would say 2 boards and 2 gold. And maybe its can be prototyped with a science machine, but it would fit just right in the Fight tab.

Projectile and lunge Block:

If a projectile such as a blow dart, spitters's shots, or a bishop's range attack as Example. Blocking it would fully negate all damage from blocked projectiles. Though maybe if the attack does more then 100damage (assuming  your probably not going to safely block a giant laser or something your way)then it will still hurt you, but you will still get damage absorption. 

If a small or medium creature like a spider or Clockwork Rook lunges at you while you are shielding, you can negate the attack and stun the attacker. However lunges from creatures like Klaus or ancient guardian, will not work and instead act like blocking a normal attack.

 Guarding other players:

If a creature intends an attack for another player or maybe an Aoe attack, and you use your shield while you are standing directly in front of the player and the attack, you will absorb some of the damage the player would take and share it with them (as an example the player blocking could take away probably 80% of the damage and give it to them instead while the protected player receives only 20% of the damage.) 

Things not decided yet or seeing what people think about these :

-Damage absorption

-Durability

- absorption % for protecting other friends

-should attacks below (ex: ant lion pillars) or attacks above (coconuts from shpwrecked) be blocked and absorbed from shields?

-projectiles negating all damage from shields

Conclusion:

I know I say this alot but, let me know on your thoughts I really like making concepts and stuff for the game, and I try my best to make the idea something that could actually work in the game and give it a purpose to make an object useful and fun, just like my last concept with the banana duck thing.if you guys think this is good or not, I will try to add more to this (Images and ect) thank you for listening!