Curse

Thom Bangalter · Jul 06, 2006, 08:35 AM // 08:35

my post got deleted too.

"Real men use focii"

to explain, my guild leader said that to me one day, and The more I think about it, the more it's true. due to the increased variety of focii, you can get all these crazy combos not possible with simply toting a 20/20 staff.

look at the examples above: +45 health while enchanted offhand when you're infusing? pretty darn smart.

-5 energy items for hiding energy? once again, smart.

i sometimes, when playing various things, use the dual +15 energy items when being heavily e denied in order to get off whatever i need.

Tark Alkerk · Jul 06, 2006, 08:55 AM // 08:55

imo when i play boon prot
i use 2 sets neither are staffs.

set 1
+5 nrg weapon
with 20% enchanting mod on it.
so basically a H.o.D. sword
and a focus +45(enchanted)
+5armour (enchanted)

set 2

the wand with 15+ nrg -1 nrg regen
and the focus that also gives 15+nrg -1 nrg regen along with the halfs recharge of protection spells mod on it.

i find that this is the best combo when boon proting
because that extra 2 nrg could be the diffrence of getting that life saveing spell off or not.
and i think that out ways the ablity to do dmg.
also if i take a pve monk i usuaally take a third set which is a staff that i can change 2 so that i can wand that person who is just a about to get away or take down sprits.

phasola · Jul 06, 2006, 09:57 AM // 09:57

i use :
slot 1 : 20%fast cast wand, 20/20 healing focus
slot 2 : +5 ene, 20% enchant, 20/20 healing staff
slot 3 : -7 ene set
slot 4 : +5 ene, 20% enchant sword, 20/20 divine focus (for sb)

Quote:

look at the examples above: +45 health while enchanted offhand when you're infusing? pretty darn smart.

why ?

dgb · Jul 06, 2006, 10:14 AM // 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom Bangalter

look at the examples above: +45 health while enchanted offhand when you're infusing? pretty darn smart.

As previously argued, it's risky. Congratulations, you just added about a third extra damage to that shatter.

Rhuobhe · Jul 06, 2006, 02:07 PM // 14:07

Is -7 energy really better than other -5 energy options? What are the other bonuses on the -2e focii?

Is -7e really better than -5 energy and a -2 damage while enchanted / +30 health always or even -5 (20%) shield with +30 health? If I'm not mistaken, you still get a small armor bonus from a shield even with 0 in str/tactics, right?

Please explain reasoning, I'm curious as to why one way is better than the other.

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

According to Guildwiki, having a gold shield (or any non-green dropped shield for that matter) will give +8 AL if the requirement is not met.

It is connusing, but it looks like if you have a pvp shield, a collectors shield, or a green shield you get either +3 or +5 AL if the requirement is not met. (does anyone know for sure if it is 3 or 5?)

Therefore, if you did have a gold -2dmg while enchanted, +30 health always shield, the net benefit would be: +8 armor, -2 damage reduction (after armor) and +30 health. Is that better than a -2 energy focus?

Is +5 armor, -2 dmg reduction and +30 health better?

Is +3 armor, -2 dmg reduction and +30 health better?

Psykewne · Jul 06, 2006, 02:27 PM // 14:27

with a GOLD or PURPLE shield you actually gain a bigger benefit than green/blue/white items such as focii and shields when you don't meet the requirement.

Green/blue/white focii: 3 energy
Gold/Purple focii: 6 energy

Green/blue/white shield: 3 armour
Gold/purple shield: 8 armour

therefore choosing between a -2 energy focus (needs to be green or blue) and a shield (assuming its a gold or purple one) you are looking at the benefits as below.

Green focii: - 2 net energy, + 30 health, + 5 armour
Gold shield: base energy, + 30 health, + 8 armour, + additional mod

So even without taking into account the additional mod (can be quite expensive to acquire a gold shield with 30 health and a good additional mod so you can almost discount this when buying for pvp unless you must get every small benefit, the items are still comparable without it)

The choice without the additional mods becomes between hiding 2 more energy with the focus or having 3 more armour with the shield (and again the chance of using a second modifier as well like - 2 while enchanted)

I prefer the shield option, but of course due to pvp items being blue stated you must acquire a gold one in pve just as you must acquire a -2 energy focus in pve.

The focus tends to be cheaper and easier to acquire but the choice is really minimal.

I prefer the shield as my monk looks cute with celestial shield in hand and i prefer the additional armour as hiding 2 extra energy isn't that amazing to me.

With more money investing in a -2 while enchanted + 30 health gold shield is advised.

JR · Jul 06, 2006, 03:21 PM // 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psykewne

with a GOLD or PURPLE shield you actually gain a bigger benefit than green/blue/white items such as focii and shields when you don't meet the requirement.

Last I tested it was only Gold shields that give you the 8 AL, the rest give you 3.

Zui · Jul 06, 2006, 10:12 PM // 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

Last I tested it was only Gold shields that give you the 8 AL, the rest give you 3.

Ditto. I don't know why you'd even bother testing a purple though, as they can never be perfect, unlike collectors, and greens.

Minus Sign · Jul 31, 2006, 06:28 AM // 06:28

I run 3 weaponsets on my monk related to PvP/Pve group play. a + energy set for lockdown, a -energy+armor/HP set for preventative mana shutdown and...
A Gordac's Holy Rod with Byzzr's Bendiction for normal casting. The 2 10% HSR stack well enough that for any spell I choose to bring I have a fair chance to get a proc. It's nice for me since I respec regularly back and forth between Heal and Prot, or mes, necro, ele, etc (any spell, equal chance for proc). The buffs are more flexible, so I don't have to horde as many weapons on a PvE character. the other two sets are for energy more than anything else (thought the armor buffs are nice in a kite).

I guess you're seeing more staffs because its easier to make one weapon than two.

FYI: there is a quest reward shield pre-Sear that gives a total +9 AL (+5 while enchanted) and +15 Health. If you're looking for a mana hide foci with reliable armor, thats a good cheap one for you.

Byron · Jul 31, 2006, 07:51 AM // 07:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

Last I tested it was only Gold shields that give you the 8 AL, the rest give you 3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArenaNet

-Thursday July 13...
Increased the inherent armor level on all unique (green text), promotional, crafted, and collector shields so that they behave the same way as other shields when the characters equipping them do not meet the necessary attribute requirement.

http://www.guildwars.com/support/gameupdates/

Problem is, they don't mention any specific numbers. I guess PvP shields still go for 3 armor?

Guillaume De Sonoma · Jul 31, 2006, 08:00 AM // 08:00

I like cane that has 20% faster recharge on Insperation skills and an offhand with 20% faster recharge. Somewhat told me that in #UtF and I started using and it works very well with Edrain for Boon Proting. I do not use stafs any more when I monk.

l Batman l · Aug 02, 2006, 03:22 AM // 03:22

For the most part, a staff is better for primary casting unless you need 20% enchanting.

No combination of wand(sword)/offhand can give +60hp 20/20

20/20 is great for boon prots...it may not seem like it but when you get a 1/2 second cast on guardian or a 1 second recharge on reversal of fortune...you'll love it

I'm pretty sure in just about every other combination a wand(sword)/focus is better than a staff.

Also you can attack with a staff...which is done more often than you might think.

Wrynn · Aug 02, 2006, 04:18 AM // 04:18

Monks, and their players I think are even more devoted to their weapon sets than warriors are.

I know I personally have probably 30 different wands (+swords/axes) staves and offhands.

Insp gear, heal gear, low energy gear, high tac req shield with +28 HP and -5(20%) two 20/20 heal staves, two 20/20 prot staves, etc etc etc.

Like other people have mentioned, you sac two energy... Honestly, if you are running full ascetics with sword + offhand... do you REALLY need that much?

I run ascetics hands and feet, because i see no reason not too. I get hit there ~ 20% of the time, and moreso because I have two sets of 8k tats for each with sup / minors and dont feel like spending the money on more armor :P And I swap out judges and wanderers chests/legs as need arises (will prolly get +10 Enchanted 15k cantha chest / legs, but its not a priority)

If you cant manage 45 energy, why can you manage 54?

Dinkytowner · Aug 02, 2006, 08:12 PM // 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrynn

If you cant manage 45 energy, why can you manage 54?

Word.

Wrynn · Aug 03, 2006, 01:41 AM // 01:41

Also, in response to shields and what benefits they give you
It is my understanding that collector / crafted / pvp weapons all count as "gold" items in terms of the game.
So with any gold. blue (collector), or pvp weapon, you will get half bonuses. With greens you get 1/4th the bonus
So using a green shield on a monk = bad
Using a blue collector / crafter shield = ok!

takahami · Aug 06, 2006, 06:57 AM // 06:57

what about the "fiery flame spitter" ? its a modable axe with 10% rechargechance which u can get pretty cheap at a PVE-collector. for 5 energy more u still can swap to ur hod or totem axe or whatever. i pretty like it.

uh and about interrupting trappers: +5 energy (allways) wand is avaiable at collector just outside nolani academy.

BuddyLeeX · Aug 06, 2006, 07:59 AM // 07:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

Last I tested it was only Gold shields that give you the 8 AL, the rest give you 3.

Thats interesting. I never knew this. So collector/crafter max shields will only yield 3 armor? How did you test this concept out?

JR · Aug 06, 2006, 08:23 AM // 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddyLeeX

Thats interesting. I never knew this. So collector/crafter max shields will only yield 3 armor? How did you test this concept out?

Through putting on a gold shield, then have someone hit you with a certain attribute level dd spell, then doing the same with the other varieties.

Although this is now beside the point, as a recent update balanced shields so that all give you 8 AL when you don't meet the req.