Curse

tebuddy · Dec 29, 2007, 03:13 AM // 03:13

Ive seen alot of monks in pvp + pve using shields instead of a normal energy offhand.

My question is, is the shield worth investing the points to obtain the armor bonus, as well as forfeit the energy you receive from a normal offhand?

Thanks.

Stormlord Alex · Dec 29, 2007, 03:27 AM // 03:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by tebuddy

My question is, is the shield worth investing the points to obtain the armor bonus

A shield that you don't meet the req. for gives you 8 armour, and with the +10 vs X mod, you can have +18 armour vs. a damage type on demand - which is a pretty substantial (don't have the exact figure, but it's around 25% damage reduction).

When you're getting killed, you pull out the right shield and enjoy taking much less damage.

When you're getting energy denied, you pull out a shield and hide 12 energy.

You only really need that max energy when you're actually casting - as long as you've got a focus to hand, you've always technically got that energy.

Teh [prefession]-zorz · Dec 29, 2007, 03:33 AM // 03:33

I use a shield for basically looks, since a good monk rarely runs out of energy, its just for taking less damage...

Zamochit · Dec 29, 2007, 03:37 AM // 03:37

Also in PvE a monk with a sheild will usually have at least 8AL more than the other "squishies" in a Hero hench team, the enemy AI will target lowest health and armour targets ~ using a sheild and survivor insignia is a recipe for an easy life. ~ Also agreeing with Alex ofc - weapon swapping is win

tebuddy · Dec 29, 2007, 03:51 AM // 03:51

so get a shield with + 10 x armor, be ready to switch to e-denial offhand when needed.

got it.

Thanks.

RhanoctJocosa · Dec 29, 2007, 04:08 AM // 04:08

Try get into the habit of staying in your shield set and swapping to your wand+focus set for your spells. As for the -5e focus, I don't think many people run that as an "F" set anymore; most just go +5e wep/shield, 40/40 set, +30/-2 set and staff.

You might also want to look into an inscribable 15AL req7 shield (16AL/R7 are expensive) if you're speccing into tactics etc.

Avarre · Dec 29, 2007, 06:48 AM // 06:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by tebuddy

so get a shield with + 10 x armor, be ready to switch to e-denial offhand when needed.

got it.

Thanks.

Also make sure you have weaponsets that benefit specific spells, such as 40% faster cast/20% enchanting staves for protection spells like Aegis, or a 40/40 set for some healing spells. That way you can swap to them before casting, giving you normal energy and weapon mod benefits, then swap back to your shield set for the armor. You don't need your energy when not casting, after all.

Burst Cancel · Dec 29, 2007, 01:43 PM // 13:43

The other reason for having a shield is the +health bonus. Your casting sets won't have any +health if you're good at the game, so swapping down to your shield set is an instant +60hp.

General rule of thumb is to sit in your defense set when you aren't doing anything, and only swap up to your other sets to cast.

ender6 · Dec 30, 2007, 02:41 AM // 02:41

I have a shield 13 AL req 5 tactics +30 health mod +10 AL vrs slashing...

So with a few pts invested in tactics i get +13 AL i add balanced stance to my bar, and it does wonders against sins and kd's...

Overall, if you are going to get serious about it you can equip several different shields with various mods. Once you determine what type of dmg your enemy is dishing out you can switch to the shield that is of the most use.

Age · Dec 30, 2007, 03:00 AM // 03:00

It is always to your benefit to be a /W or /P to get the best use out of it by putting points into tactics or motivation.What Alex said is right though.

Winterclaw · Dec 30, 2007, 04:58 AM // 04:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex

A shield that you don't meet the req. for gives you 8 armour, and with the +10 vs X mod, you can have +18 armour vs. a damage type on demand - which is a pretty substantial (don't have the exact figure, but it's around 25% damage reduction).

Every AL increase of 40 halves the damage you take.

blue.rellik · Dec 30, 2007, 05:01 AM // 05:01

So +18 armour is around 20% damage reduction methin

horseradish · Dec 30, 2007, 08:15 PM // 20:15

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the most common types of physical damage seem to be slashing and blunt in PvE, so a +10 armor vs. Slashing is a good all-around shield.

I'm not so sure about PvP.

blue.rellik · Dec 31, 2007, 03:48 AM // 03:48

Scythes, axes and swords deal slashing damage. They're the main form of physical damage, generally speaking in PvP as well

Burst Cancel · Dec 31, 2007, 02:31 PM // 14:31

Armor is logarithmic, not linear; +18AL is 26.8% damage reduction.

Slashing damage also comes from daggers. For PvE, I'd say slashing and piercing are the most common damage types. Elemental damage tends to be divided by area - you'd really want a cold reduction shield for southern shivers, for instance.

Age · Dec 31, 2007, 10:28 PM // 22:28

It also helps if you intend on using [skill]Shield Bash[/skill]on those pricky Sins as well as [skill]Shield Stance[/skill].