Curse

Khazad Guard · Oct 02, 2007, 04:59 PM // 16:59

So I want a Tall Shield for my Warrior. I want the Tall Shield because i want my Warrior to have a 'knightly' appearance, and the Tall Shield looks great. The problem is Tall Shields are Tactics only; and i happen to invest no points in Tactics.

So if i do equip a Tall Shield, i read somewhere that if you dont meet the requirements you only get half AR. So if i equip a max Tall Shield with req 9-13 (it wont really matter what the req is) I will only get AR 8? Also if i have a perfect Fortitude grip and a Run for your Life (-2) inscirption, are they fully operational even though i dont meet the req?

The main thing about this thread, is havign 8 less armour (half of shield) going to be that drastic? I mean its basically fighting with a Hammer, but with +8AR.

What are your opinions?

chadamir · Oct 02, 2007, 05:11 PM // 17:11

If you are using a run for you life inscription which is a stance inscription then why not put points into tactics and have a build based on that? 8 ar is around a 5-6% increase in damage. Maybe try to find one that is like req 2-3 and has a higher armor rating than 8? I always wondered why if you put points in but dont meet the requirement you still only get 8 but if you find a shield with higher armor that you do meet the req for with those same points you would get a higher armor.

axe · Oct 02, 2007, 05:14 PM // 17:14

There is a strength version of the tall shield, but the stats arent the best. However its at least another option for you

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Thorgall%27s_Shield

Armor 16 Req 9 str
-2 while enchanted
reduces weakness

You could pick one of those up cheap too.

Zodiak · Oct 02, 2007, 05:30 PM // 17:30

Here is what Wiki says

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Req

I dont know how this reports to shields but as wiki states, you get a similar effect of a starter Item

Seeing as the starter shield http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Starter_Shield

gives a +3 to AR, thats quite low

If i may recommend something. If your looking for something to make yourself look knightly or close enough, a Shield of the Lion might be interesting. it has a gladiator theme to it.

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Shield_of_the_Lion

iridescentfyre · Oct 02, 2007, 10:06 PM // 22:06

If you're going to burden yourself with carrying around a shield, my opinion stands that it should probably be max or not at all. Sorry, I know this sort of strays from the topic, but I highly recommend using Tactics.. there's a lot of great skills in Tactics that help both you and your party.

A shield's requirement is listed directly after its armor level:
Armor: 16 (req. 9 Tactics)
-2 damage (while in a stance)
+30 hp

Any other mods except the armor level are not linked to attributes. Its the same situation with a focus item or staff: only its Energy stat is linked to a required attribute.

**Marty Silverblade** · Oct 03, 2007, 01:26 AM // 01:26

Remember that the requirement only influences what it is written after. A long sword of fortitude (+30 health) will give you +30 health if you have it equipped, whether you meet the requirement or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iridescentfyre

Any other mods except the armor level are not linked to attributes. Its the same situation with a focus item or staff: only its Energy stat is linked to a required attribute.

Actually, note that the staves requirement is for damage, not for energy. If you have the Insightful Spiritbinder from the Factions CE, it will give +15 energy no matter what your communing is.

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Insightful_Spiritbinder

iridescentfyre · Oct 03, 2007, 01:40 AM // 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Silverblade

Actually, note that the staves requirement is for damage, not for energy. If you have the Insightful Spiritbinder from the Factions CE, it will give +15 energy no matter what your communing is.

Oh damn, I knew that. You're right. For some reason I was totally thinking of focii.

Sir Pandra Pierva · Oct 03, 2007, 05:13 AM // 05:13

lol

Also I prefer tactics warriors to streangth espicially after the nerf of the Sentinal Armor.

Khazad Guard · Oct 03, 2007, 06:14 AM // 06:14

Quote:

There is a strength version of the tall shield, but the stats arent the best. However its at least another option for you

Yeah its good because its Green and relies on Strength, but at the end of the day, I'm usually never enchanted and I'm never Weakened. I either choose to go for that or go for AR8 with +30HP and -2 whilst in stance.

The thing is i heavily rely on Strength. My build (involving shields are) are:

Sword Build with a Forgotten Sword (15^50, 20/20, +30) and Lotus Shield of Fortitude (+30, -2 in stance)
Power Attack|Pure Strike|Barbarous Slice|Whirlwind|Warrior's Endurance|"For Great Justice!"|Endure Pain|Sprint

Sword Build with a Droknar's Axe(15^50, 20/20, +30) and Lotus Shield of Fortitude (+30, -2 in stance)
Power Attack|Penetrating Blow|Dismember|Triple Chop|Whirlwind|"For Great Justice!"|Endure Pain|Sprint

With 12 in Axe Mastery/Swordmanship (bumped to 15 with runes/armor) and 12 in Strength (bumped to 14 with Runes). I'm even going through the trouble of passing GWEN again just because the Droknar's Sword looks more 'knightly' than the odd looking Forgotten Sword.

Quote:

If i may recommend something. If your looking for something to make yourself look knightly or close enough, a Shield of the Lion might be interesting. it has a gladiator theme to it.

Yeah i was considering that, also Shield of Wings, but the Tall Shield looks so much cooler with Templar armour

I guess at the end of the day is whether I want to go more for aethetics, or for effectiveness....Or i could totally modify my builds to incorparate Tactics. I would out i could get.

Thanks for all the help

nechronius · Oct 03, 2007, 07:55 AM // 07:55

I can completely understand the aesthetic choices you are making.

My primary runs around in Droknar's Platemail, a 15AR +16hp(when enchanted) Summit Warlord Shield, and a Cruel Long Sword of Fortitude +29 (+18% while below 50%). The only nice thing about the sword is that it's a max damage Req 8 sword, old school style from the first month or two of Guild Wars being online.

If you're going for a specific look, go for it. Don't be afraid to show off those imperfections!

Although I DID recently pick up a suit of Templar Armor... looks nice but to me it looks more like "parade" armor with which a Tall Shield fits perfectly. But for heavy duty in-your-face action I still prefer the dirty looking Platemail.

Oh yea, anybody have a decent Summit Warlord Shield that's better than mine for cheap? I sorta blew all my remaining cash on the armor and booze.

Div · Oct 03, 2007, 08:00 AM // 08:00

An 8 armor difference is roughly equivalent to ~10% more damage taken. Whether you're willing to trade dying more and risking teamwipes more when facing mobs for better looks on your character is your choice. But I'd rather not waste time dying to mobs due to a large handicap just because I want to look a little better (because less time wasted = more time killing stuff = more gold income = being able to get the perfect versions of good skinned items).

Khazad Guard · Oct 03, 2007, 08:25 AM // 08:25

Quote:

risking teamwipes more when facing mobs for better looks on your character is your choice.

Who cares about team mates wiping out if you look good dying

Well i decided to suck it up. I already got a purple tall shield which i've modded up to perfection for me, which requires 11 Tactics. I took Swordsmanship down to 12 (from 15) and got Tactics up to 12. So once i find a Req 9 gold (some guy was trying to sell me one for 35k, but he modded it up...) then i can go to back up to Swordsmanship 13, and Tactics 10. I also had to sacrifice 35 health (for Major Tactics) and 10 health for Vitae (which was on boots, where Major Tactics now occupy). Once i get a req 9, i can take Major down to a Minor Tactics aswell..

Ohh what i do for aesthetics....I also got a Req12 Strength, Gold shield of Lions which i can use if i need my Attributes back up. Apart from that, havign Tactics opens up more optiosn for skills, which is always good.

Problem Solved, thanks!

I heart my Knightly Warrior

nechronius · Oct 03, 2007, 08:27 AM // 08:27

It's all in what you get out of it. You can be a min-maxer or you can accept a small disadvantage for what you like and try to be a savvier player. Although as a tank, not a whole heck of a lot of wiggle room for savvy.

Wulfgast · Oct 03, 2007, 05:51 PM // 17:51

I'm not sure if it's necessarily your style, but I could see a Kournan Defender matching the Templar armor pretty well.

I totally understand your aesthetic pursuits, because I often find myself in similar struggles. However, if you're really sold on the Tall Shield, your best bet is to put points into Tactics, imho. The skill "Watch Yourself!" is worth it alone.

troll · Oct 04, 2007, 07:32 PM // 19:32

IMO get both a tall shield and an ugly strength-shield, and use the ugly one just when you really need the extra 8 armor.

Coloneh · Oct 04, 2007, 09:36 PM // 21:36

If your not using tactics what the hell are you using? strength? newsflash! strengh sucks! get tactics

iridescentfyre · Oct 04, 2007, 09:53 PM // 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloneh

If your not using tactics what the hell are you using? strength? newsflash! strengh sucks! get tactics

Basically what I was trying to say. Power Attack, Endure Pain, and Warrior's Endurance are pretty bad skills. You'd be better off using Tactics, and get to use the shield you want anyway.

Age · Oct 04, 2007, 10:58 PM // 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by iridescentfyre

Basically what I was trying to say. Power Attack, Endure Pain, and Warrior's Endurance are pretty bad skills. You'd be better off using Tactics, and get to use the shield you want anyway.

Tactics is self defence not about not offence and it is best to use your weapon mastery anyway.

Wulfgast · Oct 05, 2007, 03:32 PM // 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Age

Tactics is self defence not about not offence and it is best to use your weapon mastery anyway.

...wait, what?

mazey vorstagg · Oct 05, 2007, 03:47 PM // 15:47

Well, can we see the finished look?!