Curse

MrSmexy · May 10, 2010, 01:21 AM // 01:21

I see a lot of mesmers using what they calling ''Casting Swords/Shields'' Why? for example I saw a mesmer with a Longsword and a shield of Wings but had no swordsmanship or tactics on em. I don't get the benefit of it... I currently use a cane (20/20) and a offhand (20/20) for Domination Magic.

1) Should I also convert to Casting Sword/shield?

2) What mods r common for casting swords/shields?

3) What are benefits of using em?

maxxfury · May 10, 2010, 01:32 AM // 01:32

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Shield_set

Quote:

A shield set, also known as a defensive set, consists of a one handed martial weapon and a shield for which the req may or may not be met. It is generally regarded that every single character should carry one of these sets (usually one for every kind of armor bonus damage type and possibly others such as cripple reduction) in PvP situations to reduce the damage received when under fire. Specific mods chosen can vary slightly, but the goal is to increase the survivability of a character at the cost of other beneficial weapon mods such as enchanting mods or skill recharge mods.
Any disadvantages that arise from being inside a shield set can easily be removed by simply swapping back to another set before casting a spell or attacking a target.
While considered necessary in PvP, shield sets can also be useful in PvE.

With no tactics/shield attribute, you still get the mods on the shield and half the listed armour value, same with a martial weapon.
Martial weapons are usually used for the fixed +5energy and +30hp(+5def or +20% enchant) that arent available on wands, as well as for avoiding "anti caster" spells as mobs dont cast them on you if you have a martial weapon instead of a caster weapon.

If you want multiple weapon sets, its usual to have a defensive set, 40/40 sets for your main attributes and maybe an unlinked hct/fct staff and an enchant staff if you use enchants.

Some people also just have them to look pretty and show of their epeen with 'expensive' shiny skins, like tormy shields and obs blades..

**Marty Silverblade** · May 10, 2010, 04:53 AM // 04:53

Martial weapons are able to take different inscriptions, some of which are more desirable than the caster counterpart. For example, you can get a +5 energy unconditional on a martial weapon, but you can only get conditional ones on caster weapons.

Also, in PvE, physical damage spears can be used to make use of physical buffs; stuff like Order of Pain, Mark of Pain, etc will all trigger on physical damage, regardless of how significant that damage is.

Spiritz · May 10, 2010, 06:51 AM // 06:51

Also a caster swords/spears usually have 20% enchanting on them where a wand ( stupidly enough ) doesnt have the 20% enchanting option

lukzah · May 10, 2010, 04:50 PM // 16:50

I dont know for sure but i use caster sword/shield on my assassin when in fow cuz sf nerf... i use 3 shields with + 30 or 45hp when enchanced with +10 vs ( dmg type ) u have benefit of that becouse there is no req for that +10al. For sword i use +5 energy and +20 % ench. If ur caster u wont have big benefit from sword and shield only +30 hp. Casters should look for +20 energy staff instead

= hope i helped you

Xx Confuto Xx · May 10, 2010, 08:57 PM // 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spiritz

Also a caster swords/spears usually have 20% enchanting on them where a wand ( stupidly enough ) doesnt have the 20% enchanting option

Staffs do though

Faye Aeris · May 10, 2010, 11:35 PM // 23:35

Yeah, but staffs don't give you the armor bonus that shields give you. Which is why people like using a spear/shield set.

maxxfury · May 11, 2010, 12:28 AM // 00:28

Aye, a shield with 10/18/26 armour (with right mod vs element) is quite a BIG damage reduction to be fair..

for casting spells 40/40 wand +foci for attribute
for casting enchants 40/20/20 staff for attribute
for shield set spear + shield (+10 armour vs x)
for high set -1regen +15energy wand & -1regen +15 energy foci

Cast spells in 40/40 for optimal effects, enchants with enchant staff for optimal effect, shield set for taking damage/sitting in or for proccing active hex/daze/ect while not casting, high set for dipping into when your low or to fuel AI+25e spell. You have 4 weapon slots for a reason, for optimal swapping for the correct situation....or you could be lazy and sit in a crappy generic green staff with +5 +5^50 e..

MrSmexy · May 11, 2010, 07:24 AM // 07:24

Well at the moment I am being ''lazy'' and sitting on ''The Magekiller'' Green.

Its

20/20 dom
+60 HP
+10 en

So should i convert to sword and shield?

**Marty Silverblade** · May 11, 2010, 08:08 AM // 08:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSmexy

Well at the moment I am being ''lazy'' and sitting on ''The Magekiller'' Green.

Its

20/20 dom
+60 HP
+10 en

So should i convert to sword and shield?

It's optimal to have a spear and shield set (well... a full set of shields, for that matter), but you definately don't need to. You should be sitting in your 40/40 set when you do most of your casting (as maxxfury described), so you won't be swapping to anything else often in PvE. PvP is another matter.

Lillium · May 12, 2010, 10:06 AM // 10:06

Mr, you should really specify if you play PvE or PvP (or both). It makes a world of difference what gear you'll want to look at. Since it looks like you're looking for just one set, not a swap...

If you're in PvE, stick with your staff. If you get a caster (+5 energy, 20% ench) sword/axe do actually get a sword or axe (melee) and not a spear (not melee). Reason? Mesmers don't have particularly many enchantments you'll be using, and the most notable enchantment that would benefit from +20% ench and that might see your skill bar is Illusionary Weaponry which requires a melee weapon. If you use a melee weapon, use a caster offhand. Reason? You should not be getting hit enough for a shield to be much use, and when you are you're only getting 8 AL off of it which equals out to a very small percent reduction. You'll need the 12 energy from an offhand when you're casting on a very large mob of targets.
If you're in PvP, get a caster spear and shield. You'll need the range of the spear, and you won't use IW in PvP so melee is not an issue. Every little bit of defense counts, and you only cast on priority targets when it matters to shut them down - not spamming off damage. Then either keep your staff and/or get a high energy swap for casting.
If you're casually doing CMs/AB it doesn't matter. It's a cross between PvP and PvE, so meh.

Themis · May 15, 2010, 10:03 AM // 10:03

Some use melee weapons/shield because they don't want the usual 20/20 bonus attributes to interfere with their energy management.

maxxfury · May 15, 2010, 02:18 PM // 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Themis

Some use melee weapons/shield because they don't want the usual 20/20 bonus attributes to interfere with their energy management.

The only way a 40/40 set could "interfere" with their energy management skills is to make them more efficient by making them cast faster and be ready sooner...

Themis · May 16, 2010, 08:33 AM // 08:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxxfury

The only way a 40/40 set could "interfere" with their energy management skills is to make them more efficient by making them cast faster and be ready sooner...

Yes, exactly. Casting faster is not the main issue. Being ready sooner is an advantage, but only if you have the required energy to cast.
The efficiency of a build is often to have just enough energy when each skill is available. With a 40/40 set, you add a 40% variable which makes things more complicated.

Depending on the build, some people prefer a stable reload time, rather than a 40% chance of being oom.

maxxfury · May 16, 2010, 12:07 PM // 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Themis

Yes, exactly. Casting faster is not the main issue. Being ready sooner is an advantage, but only if you have the required energy to cast.
The efficiency of a build is often to have just enough energy when each skill is available. With a 40/40 set, you add a 40% variable which makes things more complicated.

Depending on the build, some people prefer a stable reload time, rather than a 40% chance of being oom.

No, been ready sooner is ALWAYS an advantage, meaning its ready when you need it...you dont have to cast it on recharge. People wanting their skills to recharge slower, are, to be fair....just bad. ESPECIALLY when the skill its self IS Eman.

Steps_Descending · May 17, 2010, 02:59 PM // 14:59

To the OP, even if you PvE, I'd sugest looking for a sheild/defensive-weapon set. Even if you don't use it. Just keeping 2 slots in your inventory sitting there might mike your life easier in the few zones with more dangerous mobs. That also means I suggest keeping the staff for most part of PvE.

It may be just psychological, but I'm pretty sure I can see a difference in the damage I get using sheild/wand vs caster set. Plus I think the AI might take you as lower priority with one. At least compared with other casters.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxxfury

No, been ready sooner is ALWAYS an advantage, meaning its ready when you need it...you dont have to cast it on recharge. People wanting their skills to recharge slower, are, to be fair....just bad. ESPECIALLY when the skill its self IS Eman.

You're right, but there is actually a single situation I can think of where that set wol be detrimental. If you use your cooldown to time a spell, say a blind or an hexe like backfire.

maxxfury · May 17, 2010, 03:07 PM // 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steps_Descending

It may be just psychological, but I'm pretty sure I can see a difference in the damage I get using sheild/wand vs caster set. Plus I think the AI might take you as lower priority with one. At least compared with other casters.

You're right, but there is actually a single situation I can think of where that set wol be detrimental. If you use your cooldown to time a spell, say a blind or an hexe like backfire.

If you rock a martial weapons, mobs give you empathy and melee shutdown, instead of migraine, daze ect

so thats win win :P

Every 40 armour halves the damage you take? ( i think that right :P) so a shield is like maybe 20% damage recution? cant recall off the top of my head, and headache prevents math atm

I guess if you dont want to count multiple spells

or i suppose for organised spikes in pvp you woudlnt want your spell to go off early and give spike away... but im pretty sure its pve related

Lillium · May 18, 2010, 09:40 AM // 09:40

Quote:

Every 40 armour halves the damage you take? ( i think that right :P) so a shield is like maybe 20% damage recution? cant recall off the top of my head, and headache prevents math atm

Yea, it's every 40 armor. A shield on a caster only gives 8, unless you've dumped (and likely wasted) attribute points into it. 20 armor is about a 25% reduction, so a caster shield should give less than half of that. If you happen to meet the req for a 16 armor shield that would be around the 20% reduction.

Edit: A 15AL/r7 shield is a lot easier to meet the req. for if you're trying to as a caster. The difference between 1AL is negligible, and is faaar cheaper to come by than a 16AL/r8. If you're going to be putting this many attribute ranks into a shield make sure to make use of a few skills out of that attribute.

maxxfury · May 18, 2010, 12:58 PM // 12:58

A proper shield set will give you 18 armour without spec..base 8 armour + 10 vs x. inscription. With spec its 26. Tho its often enough @18 to be ignored for agro vs people who keep their staffs/wands on at all times..

Most people would be lazy tho, and rock their pretty tormy shield all day, and not make the most of it.

Mizardian Shard · Oct 20, 2010, 09:21 AM // 09:21

You should use martial weapon + shield set coz:

a) Shield provides you +8armor when atri spec cant reach requirement of your shield. + you should have many different shields versus each types of damage (slashing, piercing, fire etc.) + You should have +30 hp as a midliner on your shield. After all your shield should provide u 18armor +30hp for example versus axe warr.

b) You should have also various martial weapons with different mods. For example you should have -5e,+5e, 10%HCT etc insc. on your martial wep. +You should have defensive mod (+5armor, which is better than hp) or fortitude mod on martial weapon.

Remember: most important thing is to swap your sets from 40 40 set to shield set.