shield inscription. - Page 2 - Guild Wars Forums

Evil_Necro · Sep 13, 2008, 03:08 AM // 03:08

5 is a bigger number than 2, and 3. people like big number, and coupled with 20% there to make it awesome to look at..

people, people...

/sigh

beserk · Sep 13, 2008, 03:09 AM // 03:09

wow ive gotten some pretty interesting answers thanks for all the insight everyone.

Victorious · Sep 13, 2008, 08:53 PM // 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil_Necro

5 is a bigger number than 2, and 3. people like big number, and coupled with 20% there to make it awesome to look at..
people, people...
/sigh

QFT and a half.
Adding to all this is the fact that many green/endgame shields are -5/20, which leads many people to believe that's what they should be using.

As stated previously, it's all conditional/situational. When playing Warrior in any instance it's difficult for me to see why I'd want to reduce physical damage 20% of the time. I'm a friggen' Warrior.

In stance I can see, armor +5 against whatever I understand, even reduced blind isn't out of the question. People are sheep.

I rock the 'show me the money'. What more could you want from a shield?

Dante the Warlord · Sep 13, 2008, 09:11 PM // 21:11

Because people see the -5 and think OMG AWESOME and don;t realize that its only 1. 20% of the time 2. only vs. physical dmg(like a WAR needs that) and 3. think just because its expensive that means everyone should have one, really mods make no diff. so paying 10k for one doesn't mean much, while u could pay 1k for a 19%. In all, mods will give you a slight advantage making about 10%- 20% of the battle outcome, but they are useless in the hands of a non experienced person... and just remember in GW you wanna go with the mod that isn;'t popular so u get an advantage in PvP

BrettM · Sep 13, 2008, 10:49 PM // 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savio

What does a list of fire-using foes tell you about how often you'll be facing them? Is there one or more in every single mob in every area of every campaign? Is there one or more in half the mobs in every area? One third of the mobs? My point was about statistical probability, and this response is ridiculously off the mark. (BTW, some of those you listed do more than one kind of damage. How does an AL10/Fire help when an Afflicted Elementalist throws Lightning Orb?)

So what if I know what damage types I'll be facing? Let's say I go out in Sunward Marches and make my way from Venta Cemetary to the Inlet. I'm going to face just about every type of damage along the way. Lightning, piercing, slashing, etc. Am I supposed to fill up my bags with shields for Koss and switch them before every group? Heck, most of the groups will do more than one kind of damage, since they're a mix of martials and casters. It's the same in almost every area of PvE, with certain exceptions. So what's your point?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savio

http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Flail

Are you saying that every build that doesn't use Flail is no good? You're entitled to your opinion. Of course, considering that Flail is only available from a skill trainer in Gates of Torment or from a cap on a boss in Arkjok Ward, then you can hardly expect every warrior to have it. Are we to consider players who don't have every skill in the game as being "stupid"?

Edit: @HawkofStorms: Mind telling me how to give Drunken Master to a warrior hero? :/

Savio · Sep 13, 2008, 11:51 PM // 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettM

My point was about statistical probability, and this response is ridiculously off the mark.

There is no statistical probability, the monster types in an area don't change. Saying only 20% of mobs use fire magic is a useless statement; if I'm facing ice golems in the Shiverpeaks, I'll use +10 vs water, if I'm against Sparks of the Titans I'll use +10 vs fire.

For a player warrior (which is the topic at hand, who cares what Koss is running) you ideally have one shield for every type, or at least vs fire and slashing. The other types are less common or don't deal as much damage.

Quote:

Are you saying that every build that doesn't use Flail is no good?

Your IAS of choice. And yes, general purpose warrior builds without them suck.

Flossie · Sep 14, 2008, 12:19 AM // 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettM

What does a list of fire-using foes tell you about how often you'll be facing them? Is there one or more in every single mob in every area of every campaign? Is there one or more in half the mobs in every area? One third of the mobs? My point was about statistical probability, and this response is ridiculously off the mark. (BTW, some of those you listed do more than one kind of damage. How does an AL10/Fire help when an Afflicted Elementalist throws Lightning Orb?)

So what if I know what damage types I'll be facing? Let's say I go out in Sunward Marches and make my way from Venta Cemetary to the Inlet. I'm going to face just about every type of damage along the way. Lightning, piercing, slashing, etc. Am I supposed to fill up my bags with shields for Koss and switch them before every group? Heck, most of the groups will do more than one kind of damage, since they're a mix of martials and casters. It's the same in almost every area of PvE, with certain exceptions. So what's your point?

Are you saying that every build that doesn't use Flail is no good? You're entitled to your opinion. Of course, considering that Flail is only available from a skill trainer in Gates of Torment or from a cap on a boss in Arkjok Ward, then you can hardly expect every warrior to have it. Are we to consider players who don't have every skill in the game as being "stupid"?

Edit: @HawkofStorms: Mind telling me how to give Drunken Master to a warrior hero? :/

You seem to fail to realise that the -5/20% mod is also vs. a certain type of damage - physical. So, if you don't mind me turning the question around, how often do you face pure physical damage? Can you plan for every situation in which you will face physical damage and hope that negating 5 damage 20% of the time will be a better payout than equipping (for arguments sake) a +10AR vs. Fire shield in the Ring of Fire missions?

Please note that the RoF missions are just an example, in PvE you generally know the damage type prevalent in an area, so can plan in advance for the main threats you're likely to face.

MagmaRed · Sep 14, 2008, 01:26 AM // 01:26

People who have played the game for a LONG time, and play a LOT can get by with a variety of shields for different damage types. However, people who are new, or don't play much, just can't afford the inventory space, money, and time to invest in a shield for different damage types.

Personally, I don't care much about the inscription slot on my shields. I don't change them often, and certainly don't swap during battles just for a damage reduction. THIS IS PvE MIND YOU. I actually like the +1 attribute mods for general use, as they can benefit me for skill use. I don't find a need in PvE for more damage reduction on a warrior or paragon.

LifesRestorer · Sep 14, 2008, 01:50 AM // 01:50

ideally you'd have a shield for each damage type, and Savio has explained perfectly why you should do so.

If you don't have the money/inv space to get a shield of every spec, then you STILL shouldn't be using -5/20%. On average, this will save you 1 damage each hit, while a -2/Stance already saves you -2, and if you don't have a stance on your bar as a warrior... well that's a different issue of fail...

Savio · Sep 14, 2008, 03:00 AM // 03:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagmaRed

However, people who are new, or don't play much, just can't afford the inventory space, money, and time to invest in a shield for different damage types.

In the case of a new player, just vs slashing and vs fire covers a lot. Otherwise, -2 stance/+30 is fine. Or else just any old max shield - as a new player, it's beyond what you need to worry about.

Quaker · Sep 14, 2008, 02:29 PM // 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifesRestorer

while a -2/Stance already saves you -2, and if you don't have a stance on your bar as a warrior... well that's a different issue of fail...

So, you're saying that all those Obsidian Warrior type builds which use Earth Magic enchantments instead of stances "fail"?!

Also note, as has been pointed out about the -5/20%, the -2/stance is only vs physical damage.

The simple truth about it is - if you want to micro-manage your play-style (and/or PvP), you must carry an assortment of shields for various damage types. However, most of the game is not so difficult that it really matters in the long run. If you like to just PvE wearing your favourite armor and carrying your favourite weapons, then basically any mod will do, because the damage reduction of any mod is very small relative to the total damage received and your total health.
But, some mods are more universal than others, and, given that most warriors end up being the front line "blockers", they tend to suffer a higher percentage of physical damage than other classes, therefore damage reduction vs physical is better in an overall sense for the average warrior - especially, as I said, those who like to PvE using their favourite (and/or only) gear.

Savio · Sep 14, 2008, 02:35 PM // 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker

So, you're saying that all those Obsidian Warrior type builds which use Earth Magic enchantments instead of stances "fail"?!

Yes, because you should have an ele run Obsidian Flesh instead.

BrettM · Sep 14, 2008, 03:21 PM // 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flossie

Please note that the RoF missions are just an example, in PvE you generally know the damage type prevalent in an area, so can plan in advance for the main threats you're likely to face.

Going up against Titans in RoF seems like a pretty special case to me. Most areas have a mix of damage types, and that mix is heavily weighted towards the physical.

Take a look at, say, the list of monsters for Arkjok Ward. I count 16 types doing physical damage, 5 types doing elemental (of all 4 varieties), and 7 types doing other (holy, chaos, etc.). And this breakdown is probably typical for most PvE areas in the game, in any campaign. Furthermore, the ones dealing physical damage outnumber the others in the average group. E.g., a group might have one scribe backing up a handful of guards and bowmen.

S. Shivers? Take a walk between any two outposts. Say Ice Caves to Camp Rankor or Granite Citadel to the Seer in Mineral Springs. You'll find pockets of Ice Golems and Imps, sure. But you're going to find a lot more Grawl, Giants, Avicara, and Stone Summit, most of which are doing physical damage. I don't see how one could claim that cold damage is the "prevalent" damage type in the area. It's only the most prevalent type of elemental damage, and elementalists are in the minority of enemies overall.

The OP wanted to know why -5/20 was more expensive. The reason for this is supply and demand. It might be best for a player warrior to carry a selection of shields, but most players are not warriors. However, most players do have a need for equipping warrior and paragon heroes, so there is a high demand for single, all-purpose shields. (This makes Koss pretty relevant to the topic, Savio, wouldn't you say?)

Given the topic, then the question is whether -5/20 is actually the best all-purpose mod for such a shield. It may or may not be, but the question certainly isn't answered by calling anyone stupid or insisting that the only proper solution is to carry a pack full of shields.

Savio · Sep 14, 2008, 07:21 PM // 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettM

The OP wanted to know why -5/20 was more expensive. The reason for this is supply and demand. It might be best for a player warrior to carry a selection of shields, but most players are not warriors. However, most players do have a need for equipping warrior and paragon heroes, so there is a high demand for single, all-purpose shields. (This makes Koss pretty relevant to the topic, Savio, wouldn't you say?)

Most players don't buy -5/20 mods for their warriors and paragons, they'd get greens or collector weapons instead. Or not bother equipping their hero warriors at all because nobody uses them outside the missions they're required for. Try again.

For +10 vs x, you go with whatever's most prevalent - nobody expects it to work against everything. If you don't like the idea of multiple shields, you take -2 while in a stance. People use -5/20 when they're trying to sell a shield or when they don't know any better.

As to the rest: you can switch shields between mobs, or even while you're fighting a mob.

Sep 13, 2008, 09:11 PM // 21:11	#24
Dante the Warlord Desert Nomad Join Date: Jul 2006 Profession: W/R	Because people see the -5 and think OMG AWESOME and don;t realize that its only 1. 20% of the time 2. only vs. physical dmg(like a WAR needs that) and 3. think just because its expensive that means everyone should have one, really mods make no diff. so paying 10k for one doesn't mean much, while u could pay 1k for a 19%. In all, mods will give you a slight advantage making about 10%- 20% of the battle outcome, but they are useless in the hands of a non experienced person... and just remember in GW you wanna go with the mod that isn;'t popular so u get an advantage in PvP Last edited by Dante the Warlord; Sep 13, 2008 at 09:19 PM // 21:19..

Sep 13, 2008, 03:08 AM // 03:08	#21
Evil_Necro Desert Nomad Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: 川崎区、日本 Guild: currently guildless.. Profession: Rt/	5 is a bigger number than 2, and 3. people like big number, and coupled with 20% there to make it awesome to look at.. people, people... /sigh

Sep 13, 2008, 03:09 AM // 03:09	#22
beserk Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK Profession: W/	wow ive gotten some pretty interesting answers thanks for all the insight everyone.

Sep 14, 2008, 01:26 AM // 01:26	#28
MagmaRed Furnace Stoker Join Date: Mar 2007 Guild: Our Crabs Know True [LOVE] Profession: R/	People who have played the game for a LONG time, and play a LOT can get by with a variety of shields for different damage types. However, people who are new, or don't play much, just can't afford the inventory space, money, and time to invest in a shield for different damage types. Personally, I don't care much about the inscription slot on my shields. I don't change them often, and certainly don't swap during battles just for a damage reduction. THIS IS PvE MIND YOU. I actually like the +1 attribute mods for general use, as they can benefit me for skill use. I don't find a need in PvE for more damage reduction on a warrior or paragon.

Sep 14, 2008, 01:50 AM // 01:50	#29
LifesRestorer Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London, England Profession: Mo/	ideally you'd have a shield for each damage type, and Savio has explained perfectly why you should do so. If you don't have the money/inv space to get a shield of every spec, then you STILL shouldn't be using -5/20%. On average, this will save you 1 damage each hit, while a -2/Stance already saves you -2, and if you don't have a stance on your bar as a warrior... well that's a different issue of fail...