Melee Weapon

[branvil]

<p>Hey folks.. </p><p>I've been raiding with my Warden for a few months now and have always been speced for just healing and cures.  Lately i've become so bored during raids unless it's a named mob due to the fact that once you have a good tank, shamy, and temp you just don't have much to do on the trash mobs..  </p><p>Now if it's a hard mob then as all you fine folks know we can just crush the heal parses, we are absolute monsters at producing those big green numbers above everyones heads! </p><p>So last night I finally broke down and tried the Melee spec to if I could actually put up some decent numbers of a different color.   </p><p>Not bad, not bad at all.  parsed a little over 500 on some soloable heroics when I was testing it out..  I have no str gear and no procs so I figured that was not to bad.  I tested it with my dime a' dozen one hand hammer from labs.. Adamite or whatever..  and I have a blackscale maul..  but the 8 second delay seems soooooo long..</p><p>My question is this..   what weapons are you other melee Wardens using that put up good numbers?  Now keep in mind my guild is only capable of raiding Kos for the most part so things like Mayongs ulitmate two handed Warden smacker is out of the question..  it doesn't even have to be a raid drop. If I can purchase it on the broker, even better..  </p><p>Thanks in advance for any advice..</p><p>Bansaw Alebane</p><p>Official Warden and Jester of Queens Aegis guild of the Blackburrow server )</p><p>p.s Always looking for casual raiders  <a href="http://www.queensaegis.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.queensaegis.com</a> </p>

[Oakum]

<p>I am using the legendary club that drops from the war ancient in Acadachism. Its got a relatively quick swing for a 2 hander. Some of the velium shard weapons (don't remember the exact name) are probablly better but havent got one yet. I like the 50 str on the club too. </p><p>I wish they would let us use a 2 handed sword since swords are our flavor weapon just like hammers are clerics and spears are shaman's and they can both use 2 handed versions of them. That would probably open up a lot more choices for us. </p>

[Volkov]

<p>My main is a zerker, which has to focus a ton on our weapons.  (I would check out the Zerker forums for info on weapon mechanics)  The longer the delay on a weapon, the better (Although 8 sec may be too much)  This means you will miss less auto attacks while you use your spells/CAs.  When you have higher haste, if your weapon delay is small you will miss even more auto attacks.  A higher delay weapon won't hit as often, but you will get higher DPS from less missed attacks.  The other thing that matters, esp. if you have the 75% melee crits, is the top end of the weapon.  A melee crit is the top end of you weapon damage +1-30%.  So the higher the spread and the larger the top end, the more your melee crit will help you.  I am not sure what some of the longer warden casting timers are, but as soon as you start using skills that push your auto attack out, you lose that DPS.  You will auto attack as soon as you finish a cast/CA, so if an auto attack is due while you cast, even if you que up the next skill, you will still get that auto attack in-between.</p><p>My warden is only 54 atm, but I am looking forward to the blackscale maul, which my wife's 70 templar has.</p><p> I have learned a lot from reading the other forums, (I check the Zerker, Warden, and Ranger forums) they help you understand the mechanics of how they play their class, and that can lead to how to play your class better.</p>

[Veedublya]

<p>Unless you can get the Vraskan Claw Club (sp?) you will want to stick with the blackscale Maul. Reason for that is you want that long 8 sec delay so you can time your CA's in between swings. The blackscale maul also has a nice high end dmg because of the long delay so with your 75% crit you will be hitting high numbers with it.</p>

[Skivley101]

<p>volkov wrote :  I would check out the Zerker forums for info on weapon mechanics</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~</p><p>Sheesh ... Why does the op need to go there .... sounds like you explained it pretty good.</p><p>LOL ... yep ive learned alot from that forum too <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>The Blackscale maul probably puts up the most respectable dmg For one of the easier weapons to get ahold of (its great when ya see 2 crits on a double attack) & the heal proc mechanic makes it work just as good as the shorter delayed ones ... Its just that when you miss with it , it really sux compared to the other ones.</p><p>Id say the Ancient Velium war hammer is somewhat better , just as the dmg rate shows ... I payed 1.5 plat for mine , thought it was a good deal.</p>

[Velugor]

<p>I have also recently changed to the STR line and found it very enjoyable. Being new to melee I have a question about my weapon choice, heal proc and DPS. </p><p>My main concern is the heal proc. Forgot the number but I think the group heal is on average of 1.8 times per minute. Does weapon delay effect this proc or is this a set in stone number? I chose a 1hs with a short delay thinking it would. More times I hit the mob, more chances of getting a group heal. My DPS is around 450 in a short fight and drops a bit in a longer one. </p><p>From what you all have posted it looks like I have it all backwards. Changing to a longer delay/higher dmg weapon will give me the same amount of the group heal proc and also more DPS?   Thanks in advance. <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[branvil]

<p>Thanks for all the great reply's folks...</p><p>I found them all to be very helpful.  As for your questions Velugor, I wouldn't be much help to you as I'm as new to it as your are.  I would be curious to know as well.</p><p>Thanks again folks..</p>

[xandez]

<cite>Velugor wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I have also recently changed to the STR line and found it very enjoyable. Being new to melee I have a question about my weapon choice, heal proc and DPS. </p><p>My main concern is the heal proc. Forgot the number but I think the group heal is on average of 1.8 times per minute. Does weapon delay effect this proc or is this a set in stone number? I chose a 1hs with a short delay thinking it would. More times I hit the mob, more chances of getting a group heal. My DPS is around 450 in a short fight and drops a bit in a longer one. </p><p>From what you all have posted it looks like I have it all backwards. Changing to a longer delay/higher dmg weapon will give me the same amount of the group heal proc and also more DPS?   Thanks in advance. <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p></blockquote><p>slower delay = higher proc chance</p><p>why? because the chance to proc (%) is normalized against 3.0s delay weapons, with slower weapons (higher delays), the proc % is higher to counter the less amount of hits </p><p>formula was something like: actual proc % = weapon delay / 3.0 * weapon proc %, so with eg. 4.5s delay weapon a 15% chance to proc per hit (this was the way they used to announce procs) converts to 22.5% chance to proc per hit</p><p>also, slower delay = time to perform CA:s and cast spells between autoattack, which in general is good.</p><p>There has been many posts and arguements, whether eg. Blackscale Maul (very high dmg 8.0s delay weapon) is good or not. Personally i use that, but i dont have access to fabled weaponry anyways...</p><p>++Xan</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<cite>Volkov wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>My warden is only 54 atm, but I am looking forward to the blackscale maul, which my wife's 70 templar has.</p><p> <b>I have learned a lot from reading the other forums, (I check the Zerker, Warden, and Ranger forums) they help you understand the mechanics of how they play their class, and that can lead to how to play your class better.</b></p></blockquote><p> That is so awesome.  I wish everyone did.     </p><p>It's also helpful if every class is open to hearing what others have to say.  For example, if a Templar consistently asks me for my WIS buff, or if a melee DPS always wants my offensive buff, then that lets me know A) they know I have one and B) maybe that class is the best choice to get it - over what *I* consider the best class to get it.   (I put the WIS buff on a Templar - since I have one I know the struggle to get WIS off of plate items...)</p><p>Also cool since this is a multiplayer game.  Unless you plan to solo the entire content, it's nice to know how to work cooperatively - and how to maximize the effort.</p><p>P.S.  Mortality's Weight - the 1H that drops in CMM - is also something to consider.   I like a 1H that does huge dmg, still leaving me with another slot for extra stats....over a 2H, but that's personal preference.   An Inquis with a Blackscale Maul, spec'd to damage...../whistle.  Melee Wardens would be a close 2nd I'd think.</p>

[Isard]

<p>The STR line heal proc is listed as a strait % chance to proc from a melee hit.  I think mine is upto a 30 - 34% chance?  I forget.</p><p>Anyway, its not one of those 'average of 1.8 times a minute' things.  So, for that a quick hitting weapon is BETTER for us.  100 hits a minute = 100 chances to heal proc... 50 hits a minute = 50 chances to heal proc (yes, its a 33% chance on each hit but you can do the math)</p>

[Skivley101]

Tenal@Unrest wrote: <blockquote><p>The STR line heal proc is listed as a strait % chance to proc from a melee hit.  I think mine is upto a 30 - 34% chance?  I forget.</p><p>Anyway, its not one of those 'average of 1.8 times a minute' things.  So, for that a quick hitting weapon is BETTER for us.  100 hits a minute = 100 chances to heal proc... 50 hits a minute = 50 chances to heal proc (yes, its a 33% chance on each hit but you can do the math)</p></blockquote><p> The Natural Boon proc is normalized on a 3.0 sec delay weapon (it states the proc % for a 3 sec delay  weapon)  I know it doesnt read like that but it does work like that. The % goes down for quicker weapons and goes up for slower weapons. But it is still subject to the RNG ... So in actuallity , quicker weapons do roll the dice more times per minute.</p><p>After reading this in a few threads and some self testing between the 1.4 Xegonite Scimitar and the 8.0 Blackscale Maul ....with the results over time .... The normalization of this proc is the only thing that could account for the results.</p><p>The slower delay weapons tend to give proc bursts (unreliably i might add) where as the quicker delays tend to spread it out evenly. I also noticed this on the phantom handle adorments for mana regen.</p><p>Makes ya wonder if the Double attack and Tiger bite are normalized like that too? ... never botherd to check it yet.</p>

[branvil]

My problem with the Blackscale maul is the 8 seconds..   I can fire off all of my CA's and then be standing there admiring the scenery for a few seconds before it swings again..    and god forbid you miss!   But like Skivley said, it is nice to see a double crit. 

[IA~CHAOS]

Dont know the progress in EH you've made but Twisted Mahog Staff from Treah Pwns, I melee for about 1.5-2.5k every 7.5 seconds, well with haste and dps

[Goozman]

<cite>branvil wrote:</cite><blockquote>My problem with the Blackscale maul is the 8 seconds..   I can fire off all of my CA's and then be standing there admiring the scenery for a few seconds before it swings again..    and god forbid you miss!   But like Skivley said, it is nice to see a double crit.  </blockquote> That's why you get infusion too and stop shootin off group heals and stuff inbetween. Or if you're soloing, single target stuff jeje

[TastesLikeChicken]

I've been using Modinthalis with a Vampiric adornment for some time and really enjoy it. 

[xandez]

<cite>Skivley101 wrote:</cite><blockquote> But it is still subject to the RNG ... So in actuallity , quicker weapons do roll the dice more times per minute.</blockquote><p>Yes, but in the long run that doesnt matter. If you take a relatively shot time period, the results are not showing up correctly...</p><p>Normalizing the proc chance to 3.0s delay weapons is done to equalize the amount of procs with weapons (no matter what delay) in longer time period. This makes all weapons do eg. equal amount of dmg via proccing (theoretically). Slower weapons however are generally better, since you might more easily "miss" hits because of casting spells or doing CA:s with faster weapons.</p><p>++Xan</p>