Low Req Shields

If you have, for example a monk and you want to equip him with a shield... EDIT: Solved
-Monk tactics attribute is 0, shield is 16AL req9 tactics, so it will give you 8 armor, ain't i right?
-Ok now if the monk's attribute is 9 it will of course give you 16 armor.
-Now, if the monk's attribute is lets say...3, will it give you also 8 armor?
And why is so common to see low req shields?
-So a monk has tactics attribute 0, shield is 15AL req7 tactics, will it give 8 armor? If so, it would be the same as a 16AL req9 tactics. I mean what's the point of buying low req shields?
-If the monk attribute is 3 in tactics, and wields a 15AL req7 tactics, will it give him like 10 armor??
-Or is it just because it's easier for the monk to achieve attribute 7 than 9?
Last question, which are the armor rates for 15AL/req7 and 16AL/req8? And which one is better?

I hope you have the answers

yep. so he can get the total def out of the shield easier, rather losing 1 point than 8.

If you meet the weapon requ, you get the stated AL. If you don't meet the requ, you get half the AL.
So with a requ 9 tactics 16AL shield you get 8AL irrespective of whether you're 0 or 8 tactics
You'll get the same with a requ 7 15AL shield if you don't meet the requ, since the game rounds up the half

Low requ max AL shields are popular for their rarity
Low requ 15AL shields are popular for being that bit more available whilst being just as useful to a caster

As for your question re 15AL/req7 and 16AL/req8, depends what you want it for. If it's for a caster, and you're not looking to spec for tactics, either's just as functional
If you're looking to spec in tactics, then you need to look as what skills you're running. the 15AL/r7 gives you the flexibility to distribute more skills to other att lines whilst getting the most out of you're shield, but if you're running a tactics high build, you may already have 9 tactics, and so may as well take the extra AL to go with it

If monks were to spec q8/16 shields, they would spec 9 into tactics, in order to counteract weakness (and the subsequent loss of AL). A monk using q7/15's would only need to spec 8.

That incurs a significantly larger attribute point penalty that would be better spent on DF and prot (in hybrid builds, for instance).

Hence, they are expensive and sought after.

monks can get 8 in tactics to get the full 16 but it just means they have to lower healing or divine when they want it. With req7 15AL they don't need to take any out of healing or divine but they still get 15armor.

Answers in BOLD.

Bolded part is wrong. You will get 8 armor from any shield with armor 8-16 if you don't meet the requirement. A req7 armor 13 shield will give you 8 armor if you don't meet the requirement.



Read the introduction part of the wiki page on shields.

Thank you all. It solved all my doubts.
I did some previous search in wiki, in the req article but i couldn't find any answer so that's why I posted.