Should a PVP Oriented Ranger Use a Shield?

[brbe]

<DIV>Hello. I am level 21 now and as I level up higher and higher I find myself using melee weapons less and my bow more for pvp. I currently have 2 duel wield weapons and I dont want to spend the pp to but the best duel wieldsers since I dont melee much. I always have the best pristine imbued bow though. I am thinking it would be worth the money to buy the best shield though since I do get hit a lot! Also, I should still be able to use all of my CA's even with one melee weapon instead of 2?</DIV>

[DaenReard]

My theory has always been that if I'm in melee, I'm in trouble and want the guy dead as fast as possible.  If I remember right, dual wielding gives about 25% more damage than a 1h/shield setup, and I just don't see a shield letting me last 25% longer against someone.  Of course, that's just my justification, the real reason is that being a Ranger is all about style and if one sword is good, two swords is better.<div></div>

[brbe]

<DIV>Looking for more comments please..</DIV>

[Jay]

<P>Sorry man, I don't do PvP. I've always subscribed to "the best defense is a good offense" when it comes to playing a DPS class, though. It seems to me that if you're falling back on a sword & board in a duel, you're on the defensive and likely fighting a losing battle. At that point, you've compromised all of your aptitudes and are falling back on defense and endurance, and we don't excel in either area. </P> <P>But it might be appropriate if you have the enemy down to a sliver of health and you just need to outlast him. It's hard to make a general rule here. </P><p>Message Edited by Jay42 on <span class=date_text>05-18-2006</span> <span class=time_text>01:08 PM</span>

[Fennir]

The only thing your dual wield weapons do is autoattack.Now, I haven't done any PVP on an actual PVP server, but after playing in the arena and dueling people I can tell you that your dual wielders aren't doing crap for you against another player the way they help out against a stupid mob.We cannot toe to toe anyone.  It is stupid for us to do so... essentially to stop moving is to ask to die.  So our second DW weapon is really nothing more than stats any time you aren't directly swinging it in someone's face.I would say get yourself a nice shield and 1H if you are primarily fighting PVP.  All your CAs will still be usable and you will probably survive longer.It's possible that my lack of experience on PVP servers may make all of this worthless info, but as far as the theory goes and how I've implemented it in duels/arena, it feels like I'm giving sound advice and that's enough for me. =)<div></div>

[DaenReard]

A question, you mentioned you want an imbued shield.. do imbued shields proc defensively?  If so, you don't want one.  The absolute worst thing that can happen on PvP is to be put in combat by a proc when you are trying to flee.Honestly, it's probably a wash.  I'm usually attacking any caster up to a low red, any rogue up to a low yellow, any non-bruiser tank up to white, and any healer up to high green at 45.  The only time I melee is when I get jumped by a rogue, or when someone I attack survives being hit by one of every bow CA I have (between max range, reaction time, leg shot, poink blank shot and lunge) and a backstab.  If it takes me longer than that to kill someone I'm already in trouble and worrying about being spotted (and since half of Feerrott is harvest botters I know there's a level 50 assassin or wizard making a beeline for me from somewhere nearby when I hit his buddy).I'd say give it a shot, if I had a one hander that even remotely compared to SSOY/SBD combo I'd put it and the shiny brass shield on for solo play.<div></div>

[Teksun]

Theres actually an interesting thread on the Swashy board on how little extra DPS you get in dual wield vs sword and board. I would THINK that in a PVP environment the more you can do to stay alive the better. You MAY even want to consider the STA AA line... <div></div>

[DaenReard]

I wouldn't touch the STA line with a 10 foot pole.  Agi/Int and even Str just offer so much more.  Point blank shot is by far the most useful melee attack I have against players, and PvP is all about front-loading so Poise is a must in my mind.  Intoxication lets you unload on someone and when they get to you in melee, hit em with a snare and let the poison tick away while they hobble along behind you.  Strength would be nice just to get sniper shot down from 15 minutes to 10 minutes but in my mind it still takes a back seat to the other two.  I'll be going for Poise/Intox with the extra point in one of the crit abilities.<div></div>

[LoreLady]

I use an ebony round shield when tanking or dueling - having that boost in avoidance just helps to much when your going to be using your bow to do damage anyways.. Unless your a nut who likes fighting a monk headon.