Curse

Burst Cancel · Mar 01, 2008, 08:19 PM // 20:19

Some of you guys are talking about what monks 'use' as if you only have one weapon set. The reason monks use things other than caster weapons is because you can weapon swap. There is rarely any good reason to sit in a caster set when you aren't, you know, actually casting something.

Normally I wouldn't even consider this worth mentioning because most would consider it obvious, but some of you are missing the point. Forget about the pro/con of sword+shield vs. casting weapons. You're not using one or the other, you're using one and the other.

N1ghtstalker · Mar 01, 2008, 08:31 PM // 20:31

they use the inscriptions from the shields for extra armor against some things like fire, earth, air and other stuff
and the spear/sword/axe is a casterweapon

Melody Cross · Mar 02, 2008, 02:16 PM // 14:16

I have a preference question about some shield stats.

I've recently taken to using a +60hp while hexed w/ a -3 dmg mod for my swap in some areas where aoe hexes will be the order of the day. Personally, I've preferred using these mods over just swapping back and forth through +10AL vs dmg types/fortitude mods. I like the global dmg reduction bonus because in those areas much of the damage received to the backline is AL ignoring also. And--if its not--I can just swap to whats doing the most dmg.

I'm curious what others think of this. do other monks use this combo when facing hex spam? is it worth is for an extra 30 HP in degen situations? Is the global dmg reduction worth bothering with, or should it be swapped to something else? I'm not in any way suggesting that +AL/Fort shields are hyped. I have several, each for a particular damage type from the four elementals to the three physicals. But more and more, I'm grabbing my darkwing from the bag when i see that necro group gaining agro.

Thanks for the input.

GGs

Burst Cancel · Mar 02, 2008, 04:11 PM // 16:11

An unanswerable question, really. You're asking if it's 'worth it' - in this instance, whether it's worth the trouble to first procure (which you've already done) and then actually combat-swap the shield. I don't think there's any argument that if you can guarantee the hex condition for the duration of the battle, that 'while hexed' modifiers are categorically superior to unconditional modifiers - but the question of whether it's worth it or not is going to come down to your own tolerance for micromanagement.

I'll be honest - although I have a full inventory of +AL vs. X shields, I typically don't swap them unless a particular damage type has overwhelming pressence (e.g., burning forest of Sacnoth). I'm not going to claim that swapping doesn't make a difference either - I've died in situations where, sure, if I'd bothered to swap the shield I might have survived. The issue is that I just don't care enough to bother.

On the issues of hex mods in particular though, I typically run enough hex removal on my teams that I can't guarantee being permanently hexed. Generally, massive hex pressence means you can pull out weapons like Hex Eater Vortex, Smite, and Shatter, in addition to staple removals like Cure/Remove. The condition is also inconvenient if hexes are being pulled off of you (for instance, by heroes that don't care that you have a hex mod) while you're under pressure, and you're unlikely to have time to swap the shield back in mid combat in any fight that's dangerous enough for the shield to even matter. A final issue is that I've often found that hex-heavy monster groups typically have several hexes that you really want removed, and if those happen to sit at the bottom of the stack your hex mod again becomes a liability.

Taurus · Mar 02, 2008, 05:07 PM // 17:07

tip for req 7 shields, hunt charrs in NORMAL MODE.

bog boy · Mar 08, 2008, 11:54 AM // 11:54

yer Nm charrs are best for it i have found (eotn)
i got a req6 14al tactics shield from them once

blue.rellik · Mar 08, 2008, 12:02 PM // 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallcingi

lol ur kidding right?
he means mods as in +10 vs slash/burn/cold etc...

NO U!

Ensign · Mar 08, 2008, 07:04 PM // 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melody Cross

I have a preference question about some shield stats. I've recently taken to using a +60hp while hexed w/ a -3 dmg mod for my swap in some areas where aoe hexes will be the order of the day...I like the global dmg reduction bonus because in those areas much of the damage received to the backline is AL ignoring also.

You should probably know that the -3/hexed shield mod is not global damage reduction, it's -3 *physical* damage. It's actually not all that bad against normal mode physical / hex mobs, but against harder hitting mobs the armor is better, and it is a rather niche mod.

+60 while hexed is something I've used more that I thought I would though. I don't think it matters at all in degen situations; when you die from degen it's because the energy finally gave out, not because your health buffer was too small. I have liked it quite a bit against 'hex spikers' like Icy Veins or the like; putting +60 while hexed on your cold shield is likely to pay dividends over the long haul.

For the most part though, I don't think the distinction between +30 and +60 matters when you are facing a bunch of hexes, since you generally don't get blown up by those mobs (stuff like Water Tormentors are notable exceptions), and -3/hexed really isn't a very good mod. A +10/cold:+60/hexed shield would be attractive in the few situations where I'd really want a hexed shield however.