2hs vs 1hs + shield

[HordesLo]

<DIV>             I am a big time fan of the big 2 handed swords in different games. Here though when I use a 2 hander  I am really not seeing a big damage increase over using a 1 hander and a shield. It really don`t make any sense but for 31 lvls I have carried my s/s setup and a 2 hander and I always find myself favoring the s/s/ setup because my damage with a 2 hander is ver poor.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>           Anyone else notice this? Or is it just me? Or maybe you don`t start seeing a noticable difference in 2hs damage till you reach a certain lvl? Right now I carry sword of thunder and a pristine forged carb greatsword and a feysteel morning star. Both one handers seem to outdamage the greatsword when they really shouldnt. The great sword is around 92 max damage I think. I know I haveseen alot of posts with questions reguarding how much str you have. Currently at lvl 31 i have 79 str. Read somewhere that 100 and over you see a difference in dps. aybe this is the case with me seeing poor dps with my 2 handers. Any high lvls out there wanna post their average 2hs damage and what weapon they using? Just don`t seem right that a toothpick is better then a cleaver. For me anyway.</DIV>

[Troodon]

Ive share your sentiment: Berik coupled with a good shield are a very strong combination, good damage, stats and utility. However you're not really comparing like with like, Berik is /the/ one handed sword to have (if you're lucky enough/persistant to get it in Stormhold) for mid 20s to 30, contrasting that with nice but generic player made weapons isnt really fair. Apparently theres a nifty twohander called Soulreaver that is appropriate for this level range and might offer ballance against Berik, anyone care to share more information on it?

[RSZ]

<DIV>Generally go with a 2 hander if you're soloing or off-tanking or killing greys, at all other times wear a shield.  If your CA's/spells are upgraded to ad1/ad3 you should have a shield on you all the time as most of your damage will come from combat arts/spells.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Currently @ level 40 I find I rarely ever use a 2 hander.  Our spells boost shield deflection effectiveness and with some awesome shields you just lose out way too much if you're not wearing them.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As a Paladin you need to embrace the shield, live with it and think of a 2 hander as a diversion.</DIV>

[HordesLo]

<DIV>                 I don`t know not the answers I was really looking for. Allthough helpful, still does not answer my questions. You would THINK a 2 handed weapon 40+ points more damage would easily out dps a 1 one.  I do think berik is a great sword till 32 but even a carbonite greatsword should do more damage since the damage is so much higher. I see maybe a 10-15 damage difference on hit with the weapons. Thats not very much considering you are sacrificing AC for pure damage output. Sounds good on paper but ingame it isn`t working. At least for me it isn`t.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>     I always wear the shield fight blue and up mobs and save the 2 hander for killing greens and when I don`t tank. It gets boring running around with same weapons and I like to change it up every now and then just so I have something different to look at. In EQ1 at low lvls you really didn`t see a huge difference in damage when using a 2 hander vs a 1 hander, not until you were lvl 60 then you saw the damage output the 2 hander could do come alive. That was one gripe from the first game that annoyed me and has carried over to this one. If I am going to sacrifice my defense for the sake of damage output then they should at least make the outpu very noticeable. And I mean by no hitting a mob for 24 damage with a 2 hander when on the same mob im hitting it for consistantly for 30 and over with a 1 hander. The bigger the weapon the more damage it should do. Kinda like being hit with a ball [Removed for Content] hammer then getting smashed with a 10 pound sledge and saying  the ball [Removed for Content] did more damage. I really hope this is something they look into if this is the best it really gets for 2 handers.</DIV>

[Siphar]

<DIV>Yes a 2 hander is better DPS generally speaking if you have a decent 1 hander and a decent 2 hander.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But obviously speaking if you are fortunate enough to pick up a decent 1 hander and lack a 2 hander upgrade then even he 1 hander / shield combo could offer better stats and DPS.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Im a 50 pally and use my EBBC a lot, only pull out the mace/totemic shield for named or multiple target higher level encounters as i've mentioned in other posts.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have upgraded a lot of my spells to and got some more armour upgrades (full rare ebon) etc so that makes 2HS more viable, not only for grey mobs but even con grp mobs too. Ill whip my 2HS just to ive the cleric something to do sometimes... as adding 780ish ac just reduces teh damage on normal mobs too much.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>To answer your question: use teh best weapon you got whether its a 1 hander or a 2 hander and if you have both, then select according to teh situation and the strength of your grp.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>have fun..</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ach</DIV>

[Seomon]

<DIV>A 2H is only better DPS when you're not doing specials. Since specials scale on their own, and your weapon has nothing to do with it, you won't really notice a huge increase in DPS when you're using a 2H and spamming specials, or if you're using a 1H/Shield and spamming specials.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm 50, and generally only use my EBBC. The only time I'll whip out the Shield is if I'm fighting raid mobs, or if the cleric with me is kinda crappy, then I'll use the shield and heal myself.</DIV>

[uzhiel feathered serpe]

Hehe..im lvl 48..and i've been using my EBBC for the last 5 lvls. Glad im not alone, since my dps with it averages to 150 average per fight..not too shabby..not Warlock/ Wizard / Bruiser..but decent. <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>At that point I look at in thse terms..I can use my EBBC and cause so much damage that the MOB will die faster, which makes healers happy..or I can use a shield and kill the mobs slower, which requires more heals, and makes healers not as happy. My AC is pretty decent  at 48..It was +6700 without a shield and using benediction. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm currently working on having a full set of ebon armor with a couple of master armor items..so I see my AC being somewhere around +7300 unbuffed.</DIV>

[Seomon]

<P>Right now, with buffs, a full set of ebon, and a Totemic Kite Shield, I'm sitting at 8234 AC. With the EBBC, I go down to 7447. I'm trying to work on getting those master drop accessories for the AC increase.</P> <P>But back on subject, on those hard mobs, make sure you're using Aegis of Hope or Unwavering Faith. It makes a difference.</P>

[Kyllspa]

Plz excuse me if this is a dumb question, or I missed it above, but what is the EBBC and how do you obtain it?

[uzhiel feathered serpe]

<DIV>The EBBC is the electrified bone bladed claymore. If you do a search it will give you a guide thats posted in the forums.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Short story- its a quest you can get at lvl 42 from the floating sword in Stormhold. When u click on the sword if gives u the BBC quest starter. You will need ebon to complete the BBC. If you have the Berik sword, u combine them and it gives you the EBBC.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The EBBC has a nice proc and it lasts you till lvl 52.</DIV>

[Seek]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> uzhiel feathered serpent wrote:<BR> <DIV>The EBBC is the electrified bone bladed claymore. If you do a search it will give you a guide thats posted in the forums.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Short story- its a quest you can get at lvl 42 from the floating sword in Stormhold. When u click on the sword if gives u the BBC quest starter. You will need ebon to complete the BBC. If you have the Berik sword, u combine them and it gives you the EBBC.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The EBBC has a nice proc and it lasts you till lvl 52.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>when u mention the berik sword, is that the un-inspected sword, or the actual usable sword you get after inspecting it and completing the quest?

[Deathspell]

The quest-starter is called "Sword of Thunder", upon finishing the quest you get the sword and then it's called "Berik, Sword of Thunder".You need to have the actual SoT-sword to get the EBBC.

[Seek]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Deathspell wrote:<BR>The quest-starter is called "Sword of Thunder", upon finishing the quest you get the sword and then it's called "Berik, Sword of Thunder".<BR><BR>You need to have the actual SoT-sword to get the EBBC.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>ok, i got this drop when i was in my teens and completed the quest to turn it into the "berik sword", i guess i need to go back into SH and start killing mobs to see if i can get the drop again for the EBBC quest :smileymad:

[Siphar]

<DIV>Actually,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>EBBC can be started at 40 in SH and equippable at 44.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>i have around 8200ac with sword+shield and around 7400ac with EBBC which is plenty to tank with and have 2HS.. (self buffed)</DIV><p>Message Edited by Siphar on <span class=date_text>03-17-2005</span> <span class=time_text>04:20 AM</span>

[Deathspell]

Well, AFAIK the Sword of Thunder quest is not repeatable.If you sold or destroyed the actual sword itself, then I guess you can't get the electrified version of the BBC.You can try contacting a GM and explain your problem, but since you go rid of the sword AFTER you finished the quest I doubt that they would give it back.

[Brigh]

<DIV>multiple casters can suck, so use shield with AE bash when you get it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Remember with 2h you have limited interrupt options.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You can only block with shield as well, so knight's stance doesn't work as well.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I find soloing with 1h / shield works with KS works better sometimes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I KS down the first one, KS down 1/4 or 1/2 the second on a two pull...depending on the amount of power left on the enemy, I will take off KS and go offensive (adept 3 Oath Strike).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>