Sword and Board or Dual Wield when Soloing?

[Kryog]

<DIV>Which do you prefer?   Sword and Board or Dual Wield while soloing?   I tend to favor the dual wield, but I'm curious to see if it is impeding my effectiveness at being able to do all that I can.   For example, I know a Paladin @ 35th who solo's with his Ghoulbane and Kite shield, and is able to take down 40th solo demons in EL.   I've never been able to take down a red con mob solo.  Then again, I rarely try, so...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I duet with a Templar (my wife).   Just wondering what might be the best route to go here.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Araki]

I thought DW is just for getting aggro back on you with HtL when grouping with Wizard or Warlock.2Hander seems better choice for solo because of less riposte.

[Moontayle]

<P>I rarely, if ever, DW. But that's just a personal preference. I find I have a higher survivability factor when I use S&B which helps my wife and I (Templar, like yours) take on higher conned enemies that we wouldn't normally worry with. I mean, usually we can manage any creature that's at least 1 level below me with the occassional even level, of the Heroic variety. As long as they're at least Orange I can take any Solo mob in the game with her at my side (Reds are too much of a hassle since she's lower than me, which = more resists on her end).</P> <P>I would say that there will be situations where one is better than the other. I would play around with it a bit and find what works best for you. I'm just too lazy to do the same myself.</P>

[Vyrance]

<P>i always dual wield when i solo.  lately i've been taking out blue-con group mobs solo in feerrott at 42-44</P> <P>gogo PGT and SSoY</P>

[RafaelSmith]

For me soloing and grouping is all about DPS. In a group I am not the DPS so I go Shield...When soloing I am the only DPS so the shield gets bagged.When I solo I pick whichever choice between DW or 2h I may have that is the max DPS. ATM for me its PGT/Feysteel Spatha. (yeah i know the Spatha is POS but its the best ive got) Just a few levels ago it was SBH. Shield is never used for soloing.

[Sunth]

<P>I DW if i have sweet proc'ing weapons like PGT while I solo. Only time I mgiht Sword and Board is if I"m taking on tons of skeleton melee mobs and then I would use Ghoulbane + shield.</P> <P>Shields don't do any good against casters, so usually the PGT + another weapon is best, lots of quick damage on the mobs, chance for getting rune + power proc. Can't be beat. </P> <P>Most damage is done through specials though so it really doesn't matter whether you use sword + board or 2-hander or dw.</P>

[Wilin]

<DIV>In general, I have found that if I'm DWing solo and a creature is beating me, I can reset the encounter(yell/run), switch to sword and board and go back and beat them. This is apparent mostly with higher con solo mobs and green++ heroic mobs. But sometimes, there's a grey++ heroic mob that will chew you up with DW and it becomes a cake walk with a shield in your hand. With a shield, I have been able to solo some red solo mobs in EL with no problems.</DIV>

[Ashtaro]

I've found it evens out, but it really depends on the weapon (procs and such).  Sure you will take less damage per second with a shield, but if the fight takes longer because of reduced DPS you end up with the same health and a fight that has lasted longer.  I would go DW soloing if your weapons are good, but I stick with shield when grouping.  Your main responsibility is to tank then and other people will more than make up for the DPS difference.