dual wield vs. 2h weapon

[zubov]

Hi guys,This is my first melee character so I had a couple questions regarding weapons. My bruiser is level 19 so it probably isn't a big deal right now, but what deals the best damage and/or works best if the duel wields together are comparable damage to the 2 hander? Also, I guess a bruiser can use a buckler but I can't imagine that you'd ever want to choose that and a good one hander since the bruiser doesn't get hit much anyway. Answers to these questions and any other newbie advice is much appreciated. I'm used to playing casters so this whole fighter bit takes some learning. Also, I mostly solo so I have been using the heated fists stance.Thanks<div></div>

[Gungo]

we can not use bucklers. At level 19-50 there are very few good dual or 2 handers easily obtainable. I would go for rare imbued wpns but sinc eyou will quickly outlvl them. I would go for the str line and wpnless combat aa's until you hit ~lvl 60 and get some legendary+ wpns. then respec to the type of brawler you choose dps or tank. So in other words use dual wield till you get abotu ~10+ aa's in str line then go unarmed until lvl 60 when you start to get decent legendary wpns then respec to your liking.<p>Message Edited by Gungo on <span class=date_text>05-22-2006</span> <span class=time_text>12:24 PM</span>

[Kaedi]

<DIV>Question about unarmed combat, do you still swing 2x per round as if you were dual weilding but slower, or does it reduce you to 1 attack per round?</DIV>

[Quicksilver74]

<DIV>Unarmed is once per round, as if you had a 2hand crushing weapon... (Yes I know it sounds silly, but it's true)</DIV>

[Kalem]

<P>If you could afford the imbued crafted weapons (preferably the rare imbued) then stick with weapons.  You'll benefit from the stat bonuses they provide, and the procs.  It will be a long while before you can really benefit from going unarmed using the strength line of AA's.  If you can't afford the rares, I'd recommend harvesting them.</P> <P>In the low levels...heck even up through the 60's you'll be hard pressed to find a 2 hander staff that out damages a dual wield combo.  That changes in the end game though.</P>

[J4k]

<DIV>I personally like Slow hard hitting weapons rather then fast weapons but its situational. I use both duel wield and 2handers about equally.</DIV>

[Luke1]

I have a question that fits this topic pretty well:When you are dual wielding how should you decide what goes in primary / secondary?  Does it matter?  For example:  Higher top damage in primary?  Lower delay in primary?  ect.Are there any benefits at all to this?<div></div>

[Quicksilver74]

<DIV>Personally I use the weapon with the better proc in my primary slot, as that weapon will have the most chances to proc.   </DIV>

[Raidi Sovin'faile]

<P>Why would it have more chance to proc?</P> <P>They changed it so that procs (other than from weapons) only proc off primary hand attacks. However, weapons will still use their own proc (as it's a factor of the weapon's level of power, not multiplying the power of other spells/abilities).</P> <P>So where do we get more chance to proc on the primary? I've missed on the primary attack and landed a hit with the secondary... just as much chance. It's not like old, old eq1 where it would check for secondary only after primary hits... they are their own seperate entities.</P>

[Vorham]

you can still proc off combat arts, but due to the .5 second casting time the chance is very small<div></div>

[Raidi Sovin'faile]

Well yeah... I just meant, between primary and offhand, you only proc spells and arts off the primary. But that's the only real difference in "effectiveness" between primary and offhand, all other things being equal. You won't proc a weapon proc more often on your main hand than the off hand.

[Gungo]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Raidi Sovin'faile wrote:<BR> Well yeah... I just meant, between primary and offhand, you only proc spells and arts off the primary. But that's the only real difference in "effectiveness" between primary and offhand, all other things being equal. You won't proc a weapon proc more often on your main hand than the off hand.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I think what crabbok was trying to say is that combat arts ONLY use your primary wpn for the dam type( melee based combat arts)  and Proc. In otherwords it is commoly believe yoru secondary does not proc off your combat arts. So for the BEST dps setup why not place the BEST proc in primary.<p>Message Edited by Gungo on <span class=date_text>05-25-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:17 AM</span>

[Shankalot]

to kaedian: if you choose the str line path, you will hit twice a round as if dual wielding, it is great dmg if you plan to do dps but since you get dps you lose the stats from weapons so iys either better stats or better dmg =P

[Raidi Sovin'faile]

<P>Short of non-damage procs (like stifle or stuns or power regen, etc) and +skills, the stats on weapons aren't really that necessary.</P> <P>The way equipment in the later levels works (50+ really), you can boost your stats quite high, and in a group easily go past the cap. Raid buffed is ridiculous... I end up wearing my tanking gear cuz my Str and Agi are in the 600 range in offensive gear. Hell, I don't even use a t7 chest piece when going offensive! I still use my blood drenched gi, just for looks, lol!</P> <P>And unless you are going to be getting a ton of AA's before you reach your 50s, it's not going to be a big deal to go down the Strength AA line. Maybe start with Int first or something (for crits), and by the time you get the 30-odd points to max out str and another line, you'll be well into the 50+, breaking the stat cap.</P>