Melee info I should have known after 51 levels but didn't

[Ni]

<div></div><div><div>So, you have a 1H from several levels ago and a brand new shiny dual wield set up. You are tanking. The DR and stats on a single DW weapon > 1H. You figure, hey, I should use the DW with my shield instead of the 1H!WRONG!Nitz (level 51) has a pair of beautiful imbued cobalt leafbaldes (level 50) and Deathknell, a Treasured 1H spear (level 49) from "A Delicate Matter" quest in SS (Ghassen the Trader):Leafblade: DR 37.2 +6str/sta/agi +150 to a bunch of resists.Spear: DR 3?.? +10wisSeems straightforward to me: a single leafblade is better.However, I decided to check my Attack number with both weapons:<u>Leafblade</u>: 580ish<u>Spear</u>: 850ishUsing a single DW = 30% reduction in Attack. This means Nitz would hit less often and for less damage. Yikes.Use a 1Her - any 1Her - if you need to use a shield.</div><div> </div><div>Happy to read anyone's thoughts on the issue.</div><!-- / message --><!-- sig --></div>

[infernus006]

Thank you for pointing this out.  I've always hated seeing other tanks walking around with a single DW weapon and a sheild.  I always knew there was something wrong with that.<div></div>

[cr0wangel]

<div></div>I thought one dual wield will be better at first, but I quickly noticed that once equiped its aweful, so it's important to use a one handed weapon with the shield and not a dual wield. Unless you have no other weapon or your one handed is broken.

[Tudd]

<div></div><span><blockquote><hr>Shiznitz wrote:<div></div><div><div>So, you have a 1H from several levels ago and a brand new shiny dual wield set up. You are tanking. The DR and stats on a single DW weapon > 1H. You figure, hey, I should use the DW with my shield instead of the 1H!WRONG!Nitz (level 51) has a pair of beautiful imbued cobalt leafbaldes (level 50) and Deathknell, a Treasured 1H spear (level 49) from "A Delicate Matter" quest in SS (Ghassen the Trader):Leafblade: DR 37.2 +6str/sta/agi +150 to a bunch of resists.Spear: DR 3?.? +10wisSeems straightforward to me: a single leafblade is better.However, I decided to check my Attack number with both weapons:<u>Leafblade</u>: 580ish<u>Spear</u>: 850ishUsing a single DW = 30% reduction in Attack. This means Nitz would hit less often and for less damage. Yikes.Use a 1Her - any 1Her - if you need to use a shield.</div><div> </div><div>Happy to read anyone's thoughts on the issue.</div><!-- / message --><!-- sig --></div><hr></blockquote>Attack rating is a conglomerate number. It is a measure of both % to hit and potential for damage.Equiping a single DW will not reduce your chance to hit. And if two weapons have the same DR, it won't reduce your DPS, either.If you parse out your attacks, you will see that your hit % and DPS is roughly equal when you use either of those weapons.That's one of the reasons I hate the Attack and Damage Ratings, because they are confusing to most folks and in some cases counter-intuitive, like in this case. The reason your attack rating drops when you have a DW and shield is because the attack rating is taking into account you've only one DW equipped, of course. But it won't mean anything when you actually parse the numbers and compare.Here's an example from a parse:Using Strap of Flaying, with shield. Atk rating 601 in Offensive stanceMob: desert lunatic in PoF, Lvl55. Hit %: 98.4Using Sandstorm, with shield. Atk rating 1098 in Offensive stance.Mob: desert lunatic in PoF, Lvl55. Hit %: 100.As you can see, the chance to hit wasn't really any different. I don't have any comparable DW/1hdr's like you have, but I'd be willing to bet if you parsed out both weapons, you'd find your hit% and DPS would be roughly comparable with the two weapons you have.</span><div></div><p>Message Edited by Tuddar on <span class="date_text">02-01-2006</span><span class="time_text">10:30 AM</span></p>

[Ni]

<div></div><div>Thanks Tuddar. Glad to know the UI readings are completely unreliable. Jesus.</div><div> </div><div>I guess I will use my leafblade after all.</div>

[Tudd]

<span><blockquote><hr>Shiznitz wrote:<div></div><div>Thanks Tuddar. Glad to know the UI readings are completely unreliable. Jesus.</div><div> </div><div>I guess I will use my leafblade after all.</div><hr></blockquote>Get yourself a rare and have a 1hdr made out of it, and you'll be much better off. DR on T6 rares for one handers is in the upper 40's, if I'm not mistaken.But yeah, in the meantime I'd use the leafblade.</span><div></div>

[Docimodo]

<div></div><div>I find certain dualwield weapons to be surprisingly good for tanking with a shield and have you seen the animations of a quarter staff when you have a shield on? It's just the coolest thing ever. buffing looks great and taunts are just so funny! some lovely auto attack animation too.</div><div> </div><div>For your info my alt is a 45 serker using Quarterstaff of flowers with a standard shield. Also have a scaled scimitar for group mobs and an rgf for when the smack must be layed down.</div><div> </div><div>Tanking is so fun <3 serkers</div>