Curse

Nexus Icon · Nov 17, 2006, 05:42 PM // 17:42

Still not providing any evidence here.
All I see is "Sentinel's is BAD for PvP, mkay?", with nothing to back it up.
Provide a specific, mathematically correct reason why if my build is NOT energy dependent, I should run anything BUT Sentinel's, or get the hell out of Dodge...

SparhawkJC · Nov 17, 2006, 06:13 PM // 18:13

First, in order for Sentinel's to be better than base spec warrior armor you need two things. Majority of the damage you sustain must be elemental and you must have 13 in strength. If you fall under this category, then sentinel's is the armor for you, otherwise radiant/survivor/dreadnought will be better. However, no one falls under this category unless you're farming specific places in PvE. In PvP you only get the 25% damage reduction if and only if you're getting hit solely by elemental damage. If you include all the other damage you're going to be hit by, the actual damage reduction is a lot lower. Also you only use sentinel's if your build has 13 strength, you don't raise your strength to 13 to use sentinel's armor.

Also post your non-energy dependent build for pvp and I'll assure you it would be more efficient with some energy based skills in there.

Nexus Icon · Nov 17, 2006, 06:51 PM // 18:51

Okay, but this includes energy based skills, but is not energy dependent, as the energy inherent in the build is more than enough to cope with it:

13 Str
16 Sword
Bull's Strike
Frenzy
Enraging Charge
Quivering Blade
Sever Artery
Sun & Moon Slash
Gash
Res Sig

This would STILL WORK WITH SENTINEL'S.

Tell me how it wouldn't...

SparhawkJC · Nov 17, 2006, 07:58 PM // 19:58

You're right in that Sentinel's will work in that build. I won't comment on your skill choice as to not go off topic. However can you say for sure that Survivor's wouldn't give you more protection? If you get DP'ed your armor will stay the same however your health and energy pools will be decreased. It only takes 2 deaths to bring your energy pool down to 14. Survivor and Radiant insignias become more useful the more DP you get, unlike +AL insignias which are constant. If you're facing anything other than elemental damage your armor acts the same as base warrior armor. Also how much utility are you losing by not being able to take strength down to 10 and putting the points elsewhere (i.e. Tactics for Healing Signet). Even a switch to Dreadnought would allow more build flexibility for only 10 AL less.

Ultimately it comes down to how much is that extra armor protecting you and if it's worth the cost. In my opinion, it never is.

Nexus Icon · Nov 17, 2006, 09:10 PM // 21:10

Heh, well that skill choice was just a typical sword build and not something I'd use myself, but as an example, it did it's job.
I'm a big fan of passive, non-conditional effects that have a greater benefit over time, so I'm always going to favour damage reduction.
I just get fed up with people saying that there's no place whatsoever for Sentinel's in the game; if I can make it work for me, surely it must have some merit?
It's dangerous to dismiss something outright because it's not the norm; chances are with the ever-changing metagame, Sentinel's could become the norm, and people should keep an open mind on this.
Use the best tools for the job at hand. Some days this might be Gladiator's. Others it could be Sentinel's.
If you try to shoehorn one into all situations, you're restricting yourself.

martialis · Nov 18, 2006, 05:18 PM // 17:18

Yes, brawlers works while attacking or using attack skills.

If you're farming low-level monsters like vermin or trolls, then you want the absorbsion insignia, to make all the monsters do zero damage. But that's a very specialised use.

Otherwise, you want radiant, since with only 20 base energy, there are some skills that you simply can't use, and energy helps you tank and deal damage, or for general tanking, one of the +10 armour ones (brawler's, sentry's, the other one). There are about equally good, and they help more than +10 armour vs elemental, and are much more versatile and easier to use than sentinel's. You certainly won't have 13 strength on every build.

Rera · Nov 18, 2006, 05:34 PM // 17:34

Radiant is overrated. Most warriors don't use much energy.

Although, hmm, it does let you spam more Healing Breeze.

So ok! Radiant ftw!

SparhawkJC · Nov 18, 2006, 05:55 PM // 17:55

pshhh echo chained mending.