Switching from Duel Wield to Sword/Shield - WOW

[JoshuaRowan]

<DIV>Just wanted to drop a note in here to comment on the fact that switching from my Duel Wield weapons (what I was using from Levels 1 thru 19) over to my new Troub One-Handed Sword with Ash Round Shield (of the Brotherhood) seems to have made a <STRONG>HUGE </STRONG>difference in my ability to take on fights now. I also took the advice of several posts here by focusing all my Concentration on defensive spells (i.e. Songster's Luck, Arcane Chorus, Insatiable Ardor, etc). The bottom line is that from what I can tell, by making this switch alone I am now able to take on large groups of Greens that are both 3 & 4 levels below me (16th & 17th when I was 20th, now 17th & 18th at 21st) with almost no difficulty at all, and most of the time ending the fight with my health still in Green. I've also started tackling the ^ and the ^^ Greens around those same levels, again with no difficulty. When I was Duel Wielding before this, I was literally getting my rear handed to me about 90% of the time whenever I even attempted one of these fights....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm thinking that my upgrade to Chain Armor may have had some affect on this as well, but from what I can tell, the shield definitely seems to be almost a MUST for us Troubs. If anyone has experienced this differently, please share.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Tidena]

<DIV>I will have to try this approach. I am currently duel weilding two daggers and I can solo two ^^ greens at a time but any more then that and I get clobbered. Where can you quest a decent shield for lvl22?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Asheb]

<DIV>I agree, having a 1hs/shield option is a good one when you're out solo'ing. When you're in a group go for whatever helps you do the most damage.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>However, you may also be seeing the effect of improving spell choices and levels. At around your level you get the 20th level training upgrade to rousing tune, probably found an affordable adept1 scroll for songster's luck, and you're debuffing your target with reproaching discant. Disregard the complaints, in the mid levels at least our buffs make a huge difference in survivability. A good friend plays a guardian and we do just fine duoing in TS without a healer. Against most mobs our level and lower, he rarely gets hit at all.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But I support your observation on 1hs/shield, in fact I'm going to be taking the weakened ghoulbane 1hs in the dusty blue stone quest for that very reason (that and it's another heritage quest to have fun doing).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Auhal]

There is a decentish shield quest started from a bookcase in Windstalker Village - not sure what level it is good for though sorry.Hope that helps.

[Tidena]

Oh the Motte quest shield. Forgot about that one. Thanks

[Vasii]

<P>I myself use an axe/shield combo.   I usually play in a group of 5 consisting of mystic - inquisitor - ranger - coercer and myself, with myself being the tank.  We have zero problem at all with me tanking in any zone, whether it be sol's eye, perma or CT.   I have actually parsed myself with the axe/shield im using against the SBD/Ykesha that scouts typically use.  Max dps i got with the dual wield was bout 82, with the axe/shield combo tops i had was 103... taking into account i used the same special attacks on each encounter. </P> <P>                     Feel free to check out my profile or shoot me a tell in game with any questions you might have, Good day~</P>

[aeio]

I have gone back and forth on this... I started using a shield a while back and it made a significant difference to my defense.. Then I got some spell upgrades and new weapons, and went back to dual wield weapons for the time being... I have just been too lazy to keep up both sets, because in groups you would want to be using dual wield weapons for the slightly greater damage output.

[MMThunda]

Yep, by activating as many of your buffs that increase the Defense skill as you can (not just agility buffs), using a shield appropriate for your level, and having otherwise good equipment, a troubador can tank green con groups quite handily. If you are high enough level and have a PGT, so much the better. Beware named enemies though, since they almost always have a higher attack rating than other monsters of the same level.The trick is finding the cutoff point between where the enemies you are fighting can and can't hit you. If you tackle something just strong enough to hit you through your defenses regularly, you go down pretty quick. Find what the limit is and go after things that are just below it, and they'll never touch you unless they are casting a spell or using a combat special attack. Granted, this limit is generally going to be green cons and below, but would not be at all surprised if a 50 troubador decked out in all rare armor & shield with an adept 3 or master 1 Swan Song and Invigorating Opus couldn't tank a group of blues indefinitely. The buffs, the equipment, and the shield certainly dont' hurt when it comes to fighting solo mobs either, and make the difference between being able to solo blues and being able to solo yellows or oranges.

[JoshuaRowan]

<P>As you mentioned, I noticed this when fighting a few Solo MOB's in TS last night too - I was taking them down EASILY even when they were 23rd Level Yellow (currently 21st). This compares to just a couple nights ago when I was still using Duel Wield and actually having a fairly difficult time staying alive even against Whites. Needless to say, I have no intention of going back to Duel Wield anytime soon now because of these results <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>And a dumb question for you - What does PGT stand for???</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Jordinn]

PGT = Polished Granite Tomahawk, quested item starting with the giant language and Obsid (boulderboom?) a giant in TS. <p>Message Edited by Jordinn on <span class=date_text>03-18-2005</span> <span class=time_text>04:09 PM</span>

[Pik'ee]

<span> <blockquote><hr>JoshuaRowan wrote:<p>As you mentioned, I noticed this when fighting a few Solo MOB's in TS last night too - I was taking them down EASILY even when they were 23rd Level Yellow (currently 21st). This compares to just a couple nights ago when I was still using Duel Wield and actually having a fairly difficult time staying alive even against Whites. Needless to say, I have no intention of going back to Duel Wield anytime soon now because of these results <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><hr> One thing to bear in mind here is that only a few days ago the patch notes stated that the huge jump in difficulty of mobs from lv 19 to lv 20+ has been toned down. Before a lv 20 mob would absolutely batter someone who could hold their own against a 19, but now the difference is not so pronounced. Add this to the benefit the shield gives, and that probably accounts for your greater success here. This is not to knock shields, far from it, just to say that if you tried lv20-24 mobs before this patch with duel weild, then after patch with sword and board, the difference will probably seem astonishing. </blockquote></span><div></div>

[Mase]

Hate to bust your bubble but the shield isn't whats making you able to tank so well and beat those mobs, its one buff, and basically the most important buff any bard has, Your skills buff, by using SL your raising defense and spell avoidance, along with your offensive skill by a lvl. To be honest you will have better luck tanking with dual weild than with shield and sword, because you will parry more than you will be blocking with a shield than only mitigates dmg not avoids it. And yeah dps goes up because damage comes from combat arts for the most part and a big part of that is related to the dmg of your primary wep, as a 1hander is much higher than any dual weild. Goofy game, more dmg shield/1hander, better defense dual wield, Don't believe me, leave all those other buffs up and drop SL. Don't believe the damage, parse it. Basically you want your skills buff the best it can be.

[Half_swashbuckle]

<DIV>I have to agree.  defence while soloing is the main thing.  But usally the s/s in a group is a waste and i usally just carry around my DW weapons if i can get into a group.  </DIV>

[Nobol]

<blockquote><hr>Maseen wrote:Hate to bust your bubble but the shield isn't whats making you able to tank so well and beat those mobs, its one buff, and basically the most important buff any bard has, Your skills buff, by using SL your raising defense and spell avoidance, along with your offensive skill by a lvl. To be honest you will have better luck tanking with dual weild than with shield and sword, because you will parry more than you will be blocking with a shield than only mitigates dmg not avoids it. And yeah dps goes up because damage comes from combat arts for the most part and a big part of that is related to the dmg of your primary wep, as a 1hander is much higher than any dual weild. Goofy game, more dmg shield/1hander, better defense dual wield, Don't believe me, leave all those other buffs up and drop SL. Don't believe the damage, parse it. Basically you want your skills buff the best it can be. <hr></blockquote>Btw the dw parry thing was dubunked, when I saw a dev using a shield and having better luck tanking sigh.Its about mitigation and AC, best example of this, have a bruiser pump you with their deflect and you will tank just as good a tank, with less HP of course. 9k AC for the win!

[Geero]

<DIV>I can't say that I know the difference between dual wield and 1hs/shield, since I haven't tried 1hs/shield...  But I have no problem soloing -3~4 level group mob long as they aren't casters.  I also have soloed -2 level ^^ a fallen blute in FG at level 22 so I really don't think I would try to use 1hs/shield option.  But as someone said above, know your limit...  Casters are easy no no mob, but I had to learn that hard way.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>P.S. Anderson in xroad is just not any named mob...  He can whoop you like a lil 3 year old.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Geero on <span class=date_text>03-21-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:50 PM</span>