Priest: Off-Hand Shield

[Kelesti]

Besides this, when have priests EVER used shields in any bit of history, myth, or lore before?

Anywhere outside of WoW. Because Priests wear heavy leather, or mail, and are usually called "Clerics".

Those blessed carrying out the will of the heavens, on their religious pilgrimages or simply tending to those in need in the calling of their faith. Paladins are Crusaders, there is a difference. :P

Edit: Infact, Blizzard specifically stated during the press release for the original concept of WoW that their "Cleric" was going to wear cloth and be a caster, to be different from what's been done before.

[HemmerN]

To bee fair tho, only resto/ele shamans and holy palas use spell shields, while all priests, warlocks, mages, resto and balance druids all fight for the few off-hands there is, and palas and shamans can still use off-hands...

[Wyzguy]

Priests shouldn't have shields... there is no point for them to have them. Priests are more closely related to a mage or a warlock, so why would priests be different? Ur argument makes as much sense as a druid having a shield...

[Ralamus]

a shield-wearing clothie would just look redonkulous

[Kuhnta]

Your are priest, not a cleric. no shields

[Annesh]

i don't think it's a dumb idea

i do think it's a radical class philosophy change that will never ever happen

[exquisite]

Spell shields are even harder to get than offhands (which is one of the main reasons you see pallies and shamans using offhands). If you can't get a good offhand, use a staff and be grateful that you're not a paladin.

Everything is balanced as it is. You don't need more armor in PvE. You have Fade to drop aggro, which shamans and paladins don't. You have PW: Shield. You have fear. The reason priests have these is because we are squishy. Druids compensate with roots, barkskin and the ability to go bear form.

Besides, if priests were to gain a new equipment type, the more logical choice would be 1-handed swords.

Edit: Forgot to add that it would be stupid for shadow priests to have 15% damage reduction AND a shield.

[Kelesti]

Spell shields are even harder to get than offhands (which is one of the main reasons you see pallies and shamans using offhands).

While this is true, now, the Paladin BiS included an mp5 offhand from Sunwell, not the shield.

Regarding Priests getting swords? Meh. Original Clerics couldn't have any bladed weapons. But then you have Shadow Priests having access to not only all caster cloth (stupid bloody frakking Twisted Faith grumble grumble), but then all caster weapons, too.

Edit: Forgot to add that it would be stupid for shadow priests to have 15% damage reduction AND a shield.

And yes, I can agree with this.

[Lysdexic]

You do have a shield, it's called Inner Fire.

Talented Inner Fire gives something like 5k armor, which is slightly less than a modern day shield iirc.

I do realize you're arguing from an aesthetic/rp pov, but this isn't D&D and Priests aren't Clerics.

[joostgressie]

You do have a shield, it's called Inner Fire.

Talented Inner Fire gives something like 5k armor, which is slightly less than a modern day shield iirc.

I do realize you're arguing from an aesthetic/rp pov, but this isn't D&D and Priests aren't Clerics.

Icecrown Glacial Wall
Heroic
Binds when picked up
Off Hand Shield
9262 Armor
259 Block
+102 Strength
+141 Stamina
Red Socket
Socket Bonus: +6 Stamina
Durability 120 / 120
Requires Level 80
Item Level 277
Equip: Increases defense rating by 54 (10.98 @ L80).
Equip: Increases your parry rating by 46 (1.02% @ L80).
Equip: Increases the block value of your shield by 168.

Nearly double the armor is not "slightly"

[Kelesti]

Inner Fire is also retooled to increase armor of cloth items by 90%, not to mention higher armor budget on cloth items to begin with. The gap between armor-wearing classes is getting shrunk by a sizable margin. It'll still be a difference, but a smaller one.

[Tezmata]

Anywhere outside of WoW. Because Priests wear heavy leather, or mail, and are usually called "Clerics".

Those blessed carrying out the will of the heavens, on their religious pilgrimages or simply tending to those in need in the calling of their faith. Paladins are Crusaders, there is a difference. :P

Edit: Infact, Blizzard specifically stated during the press release for the original concept of WoW that their "Cleric" was going to wear cloth and be a caster, to be different from what's been done before.

Priests have been in many games and are different from clerics. The reason they likely changed the name is that they realized their notion of a cleric was actually more in line with a priest. As you pointed out, clerics rarely wear cloth and don't even always have shields. Clerics are more like battle-priests.

[Deleted]

Giving Priests actual physical shields to wield is a terrible idea. It would require counter-balance, and to be honest, I'm already getting out-rolled by Paladins on everything I want! Be happy with your LDW offhand or go and hit BPC around a bit for one.

Scryus.