Caster Classes with Melee Gear, why? - Guild Wars Forums

Ryquevin · Jun 08, 2008, 12:29 AM // 00:29

I see a lot of caster classes having melee+shield or wand+shield equipped in screenshots or when I watch PvP. Is there some advantage to using these vs. spell casting weapons? Is there something about losing 20% HSR and energy that makes it worth it?

Or... is this limited to making screenshots look cool and hiding energy.

Just curious.
-Ryq

Murmel · Jun 08, 2008, 12:31 AM // 00:31

1. Shield give half their AL even if you don't meet the req.
2. Melee weps have an +5 energy that isn't dependant on anything really (i.e it does'nt require health above 50%)

Masseur · Jun 08, 2008, 12:35 AM // 00:35

just for looks, it doesn't help and in fact hurts casters. Specific builds might need such things, but for normal PvE play you're better with staff or wand and offhand by a longshot

Unreal Havoc · Jun 08, 2008, 12:35 AM // 00:35

I might be quite wrong here, but I think NPCs dont target you with caster hate as much either.

Ryquevin · Jun 08, 2008, 12:36 AM // 00:36

I guess at that point... it is okay to feel the loss of a potential 38% HSR from a 40/40 set? I guess as a follow-up, in what situations do you commonly see this happen? I figure a SS Rt/P would be a big one.

My further assumption is that these casters are frequent weapon swappers?

Thanks in advance
-Ryq

seandom · Jun 08, 2008, 12:37 AM // 00:37

melee weapons also allow you to have a +30 mod on your weapon while you're casting

shield + sword = +60 hp
40/40 cast set = +0 hp

edit: in response to Ryquevin - decent casters will switch their weapons according to their situation ie. - if they need energy they'll switch to a high energy set, if they need more health they'll switch to sword/shield, if you're casting an enchantment you'll switch to a +20% weapon, etc etc

Murmel · Jun 08, 2008, 12:37 AM // 00:37

true, although most people I see usually only use the shield for escaping or while being attacked... But using the melee/spear weapon for the +5 energy and 20% enchant all the time.

Edit: Post above got a good point

^

Ryquevin · Jun 08, 2008, 12:41 AM // 00:41

Very interesting...

I was hoping there was some awesome reason, because I have been looking for a good looking Channeling Focus, and they all look meh... some of the shields on the other hand are down right sexy.

Thanks for the info.
-Ryq

MagmaRed · Jun 08, 2008, 01:06 AM // 01:06

PvE, you use what you want.

PvP, you use what helps you stay alive. This means MULTIPLE weapon sets, and swapping during battle depending on what you face.

toastgodsupreme · Jun 08, 2008, 01:41 AM // 01:41

If I go around energy burning/surging you, you'll be glad to have that shield on instead of the focus. then once i burn/surge you and see that i did 0 damage because you have no energy, that's when you switch to your caster off hand and start casting stuff again. then back to shield to protect your energy pool.

Alex the Great · Jun 08, 2008, 02:41 AM // 02:41

when i play pvp casters i bring my spear/shield set and a 40/40 set.

weapon switching is ftw

Ryquevin · Jun 08, 2008, 03:46 AM // 03:46

Ah, I see... so it is mainly a PvP thign then, and probably/possibly more of a hinderence in PvE.

I'll keep that in mind.
-Ryq

Savio · Jun 08, 2008, 03:49 AM // 03:49

It's still beneficial in PvE, but many people can't be bothered to weapon swap in PvE.

Miss Eisei · Jun 08, 2008, 06:18 AM // 06:18

Anyone that has been a caster in The Deep
Knows why not to have a wand/staff equiped
Enemies treat u different depening on what u weild

Arduin · Jun 08, 2008, 08:56 AM // 08:56

[[Healer's Boon] monks in FoW/UW Ursan runs rarely get below 50% of their energy pool. The combinations of HB and Consumables makes you cast in a split second, and you can use your spells on recharge if you want.

So no need for 40/40, just take a shield if you like the looks, and bring a staff/wand in case the situation goes south fast and you do need a tad more energy.

Hmmm, might try HB-ing without any weapons next time, should be possible.

obsidian ectoplasm · Jun 08, 2008, 12:36 PM // 12:36

also sex appeal it looks way cooler lol

Elena · Jun 08, 2008, 12:44 PM // 12:44

hmm i never thought about enemy AI reacting different depending on what weapon i wield might try going for sword + shield combo on my necro

A Leprechaun · Jun 08, 2008, 01:26 PM // 13:26

I personally would still use a focus because of all the extra energy it grants, wands on the other hand don't have such an advantage over a melee weapon/spear.
Spear + Focus ftw! Just as a general setup

~A Leprechaun~

Axis · Jun 09, 2008, 07:43 PM // 19:43

Many monks in pvp also use -5energy weapons for hiding energy. There are some nasty mesmer skills that drain your energy. People in pvp use multiple weapon sets. If your main weapon gives you +15e and you change it during battle to -5e weapon you wil actualy "hide" +20e that mesmers cant drain. Buy swaping it back from -5e to +15 you wil get "free" +20e that you can use.

then emaris says · Jun 09, 2008, 08:04 PM // 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Eisei

Anyone that has been a caster in The Deep
Knows why not to have a wand/staff equiped
Enemies treat u different depening on what u weild

There we go.

Enemies everywhere and anytime will cast the appropriate spells depending on what you're wielding. So if you're the type to micromanage down to that level in pve then it's a good thing to know ... among a lot of other things the AI is predisposed to do.

Jun 08, 2008, 12:29 AM // 00:29	#1
Ryquevin Banned Join Date: May 2008 Profession: R/E	Caster Classes with Melee Gear, why? I see a lot of caster classes having melee+shield or wand+shield equipped in screenshots or when I watch PvP. Is there some advantage to using these vs. spell casting weapons? Is there something about losing 20% HSR and energy that makes it worth it? Or... is this limited to making screenshots look cool and hiding energy. Just curious. -Ryq

Jun 08, 2008, 12:37 AM // 00:37	#6
seandom Academy Page Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Guild: Nine Inch Males [IX] Profession: W/E	melee weapons also allow you to have a +30 mod on your weapon while you're casting shield + sword = +60 hp 40/40 cast set = +0 hp edit: in response to Ryquevin - decent casters will switch their weapons according to their situation ie. - if they need energy they'll switch to a high energy set, if they need more health they'll switch to sword/shield, if you're casting an enchantment you'll switch to a +20% weapon, etc etc Last edited by seandom; Jun 08, 2008 at 12:42 AM // 00:42..

Jun 08, 2008, 03:49 AM // 03:49	#13
Savio Teenager with attitude Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]	It's still beneficial in PvE, but many people can't be bothered to weapon swap in PvE. __________________ People are stupid.

Jun 08, 2008, 12:31 AM // 00:31	#2
Murmel Krytan Explorer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Land of Confusion Guild: [swea] Profession: W/	1. Shield give half their AL even if you don't meet the req. 2. Melee weps have an +5 energy that isn't dependant on anything really (i.e it does'nt require health above 50%)

Jun 08, 2008, 12:35 AM // 00:35	#3
Masseur Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southern California Profession: R/Mo	just for looks, it doesn't help and in fact hurts casters. Specific builds might need such things, but for normal PvE play you're better with staff or wand and offhand by a longshot

Jun 08, 2008, 12:35 AM // 00:35	#4
Unreal Havoc Guest Join Date: Dec 2007	I might be quite wrong here, but I think NPCs dont target you with caster hate as much either.

Jun 08, 2008, 12:36 AM // 00:36	#5
Ryquevin Banned Join Date: May 2008 Profession: R/E	I guess at that point... it is okay to feel the loss of a potential 38% HSR from a 40/40 set? I guess as a follow-up, in what situations do you commonly see this happen? I figure a SS Rt/P would be a big one. My further assumption is that these casters are frequent weapon swappers? Thanks in advance -Ryq

Jun 08, 2008, 12:41 AM // 00:41	#8
Ryquevin Banned Join Date: May 2008 Profession: R/E	Very interesting... I was hoping there was some awesome reason, because I have been looking for a good looking Channeling Focus, and they all look meh... some of the shields on the other hand are down right sexy. Thanks for the info. -Ryq

Jun 08, 2008, 01:06 AM // 01:06	#9
MagmaRed Furnace Stoker Join Date: Mar 2007 Guild: Our Crabs Know True [LOVE] Profession: R/	PvE, you use what you want. PvP, you use what helps you stay alive. This means MULTIPLE weapon sets, and swapping during battle depending on what you face.

Jun 08, 2008, 01:41 AM // 01:41	#10
toastgodsupreme Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2005 Location: United States Profession: Me/	If I go around energy burning/surging you, you'll be glad to have that shield on instead of the focus. then once i burn/surge you and see that i did 0 damage because you have no energy, that's when you switch to your caster off hand and start casting stuff again. then back to shield to protect your energy pool.

Jun 08, 2008, 02:41 AM // 02:41	#11
Alex the Great Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: America.....got a problem with that? Guild: [Lite] Profession: W/	when i play pvp casters i bring my spear/shield set and a 40/40 set. weapon switching is ftw

Jun 08, 2008, 03:46 AM // 03:46	#12
Ryquevin Banned Join Date: May 2008 Profession: R/E	Ah, I see... so it is mainly a PvP thign then, and probably/possibly more of a hinderence in PvE. I'll keep that in mind. -Ryq

Jun 08, 2008, 06:18 AM // 06:18	#14
Miss Eisei Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In The Scribe October 19, 2006 Guild: [BrKn] The Brovian Knights Profession: Mo/	Anyone that has been a caster in The Deep Knows why not to have a wand/staff equiped Enemies treat u different depening on what u weild

Jun 08, 2008, 08:56 AM // 08:56	#15
Arduin Grotto Attendant Join Date: May 2005 Location: The Netherlands Guild: Limburgse Jagers [LJ] Profession: R/	[[Healer's Boon] monks in FoW/UW Ursan runs rarely get below 50% of their energy pool. The combinations of HB and Consumables makes you cast in a split second, and you can use your spells on recharge if you want. So no need for 40/40, just take a shield if you like the looks, and bring a staff/wand in case the situation goes south fast and you do need a tad more energy. Hmmm, might try HB-ing without any weapons next time, should be possible.

Jun 08, 2008, 12:36 PM // 12:36	#16
obsidian ectoplasm Desert Nomad Join Date: Jan 2008	also sex appeal it looks way cooler lol

Jun 08, 2008, 12:44 PM // 12:44	#17
Elena Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2005 Location: Belgium	hmm i never thought about enemy AI reacting different depending on what weapon i wield might try going for sword + shield combo on my necro

Jun 08, 2008, 01:26 PM // 13:26	#18
A Leprechaun Desert Nomad Join Date: Feb 2006 Profession: W/	I personally would still use a focus because of all the extra energy it grants, wands on the other hand don't have such an advantage over a melee weapon/spear. Spear + Focus ftw! Just as a general setup ~A Leprechaun~

Jun 09, 2008, 07:43 PM // 19:43	#19
Axis Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: White Redeemers Profession: N/Me	Many monks in pvp also use -5energy weapons for hiding energy. There are some nasty mesmer skills that drain your energy. People in pvp use multiple weapon sets. If your main weapon gives you +15e and you change it during battle to -5e weapon you wil actualy "hide" +20e that mesmers cant drain. Buy swaping it back from -5e to +15 you wil get "free" +20e that you can use.