[DoK] shield in RVR?

[Kylashandra]

Shield doK / WP (I play(ed) both extensively) was extremely enjoyable prior to Heal patch.
Nowadays, it's still more than decent in PvE, but lost half of its DPS if you want to heal efficiently. IT lacks big numbers so not very suitable to some LV fights (tree boss/Nkari), but otherwise still probably the best pve healer.
The issue lies in its deficiencies in PvP, it used to be one of the best choices for small scale / ranked 6v6 but is now vulnerable to debuff heal, to kiting (lost the channeled shield/speed boost), and is less tanky than before.
I do agree that the best solution for this spec would be to revert to its pre-healer patch form, because only tweaking numbers on skills (as in last patch) won't help.

[Bozao]

This is one of the most useless specs of all time... I gave up on it as soon as I got the build with the necessary items. It's not being used at all. If you want to heal, use a book; if you want to hit, go 2h.

In my opinion, it should have more utility with a shield.

[shoelessHN]

This is one of the most useless specs of all time... I gave up on it as soon as I got the build with the necessary items. It's not being used at all. If you want to heal, use a book; if you want to hit, go 2h.

In my opinion, it should have more utility with a shield.

It was a legit dps threat before, that if not focused could solo heal an entire group. It's just trash now. And it still was pretty bad in orvr. If you play a ranged dps you just target the defenseless shield dok first. If they're guarded you just keep them away from you so they can't do any healing.

Revert the changes for a month or so and see what the opinion is. I don't understand why the changes have to be these permanent sweeping things to like 10 classes and 10 specs at once.

[Lukathor]

Zawsze uważaem że ta tarcza dla Doka to jakiś rak

[Deadpoet]

TLDR:
Shield heal specs can be viable in RvR if they no longer need hit to heal

What I'm advocating here implies a big shift in mentality and concept:

NOT MELEE HEALERS BUT HEALERS IN MELEE RANGE

CASTED Heals but very short range only

Zero damage but better survivabilty in the frontline now

shield specs difficult balancing no longer a problem.

Being kited no longer a problem.

FULL VERSION

Yes, shield WP/DoK is in worse shape now, even for smallscale and pve, although I can see what the devs have tried to do, interesting and well-meant changes, and I really appreciate some features such as root break for shield and undefendable skills for DoK among some other goodies.
Yet, some further tweaking is needed for sure.

NOW, GETTING TO THE OP QUESTION:
Iirc shield spec was already unplayable in RvR before last healer patch. And I think It stands to reason that It is so:
I'm going to play DEVil's advocate here (see what I did there?)
I understand the extreme difficulty of making shieldbearer healers feasible in large RvR battles without creating an unholy fothermucking juggernaut that would feel like playing a god among crippled infant subhumans.
Having to hit to heal is a complex conundrum which imposes severe limitations for these specs. In other words, for big battles, hit to heal in melee range forces designers to engender a creature that EITHER works decent in RvR and is ridiculously OP in smallscale and pve, OR a creature (the present case) that is useless in RvR and only decent in smallscale and pve.
Imho a possible solution to that problem would be to implement shield-only abilities that are CASTED, NOT MELEE, and that have a short heal range. Some modifications would be needed, of course, and a complete rework of the concept and the essentials of the spec. This implies a huge shift in mentality for players.

THE IDEA IS:
Shield healers aren't MELEE HEALERS any more, but HEALERS IN MELEE RANGE. A subtle but profound change.
Once freed from their need to hit in order to heal shield healers are now viable in RvR.
Obviously RF/SE would be acquired either through Fueled Fury-like spec-core skills or resource generation inbuilt in shields (replacing 8% less chance to be defended)
Shield healers now do no damage (that is the Wrath/Torture guys department).
Shield healers are not anymore a half way half assed self doubting broken dream torn between healing and damaging.
Shield healers are pure healers now, but not the same as book/chalice guys. Both will heal with casted spells but with different abilities:
Book/chalice remain backline powerhouses casting 150 ft range heals.

Shield healers can only cast short range heals, one for party only, another for all allies much like martyrs blessing, another a power single target focus heal.
Shield healers are now the close sidekicks of tanks in the frontline.

Shield healers would need a mitigation overhaul to be in the frontline, a fair exchange for their now inexistent damage output.

Being kited is no more a problem as shield healers dont need to hit a target to heal.

Goodbye also to the top dmg top heals monster in scs that prompted the devs to tone the subclass down too much in an always extremely difficult equilibrium.

Shield heals would probably be lower output and more situational than book/chalice, and requiring more skill and positioning, coordination with tanks etc

Just my 2 cents.