Prismatic Choice in Anticipation of the Expansion

[Pathin Merrithay]

<DIV> </DIV> <DIV> As I begin to get to the point in the various Naggy quests that I should begin considering my prismatic choice, I wanted to get people's opinions. While levelling from 1-50, I found myself MTing most of the time, something that is greatly aided by the sheild and board combo. It was only after 50 that I began using a 2-hander (simply for the additional DPS it provides on raids, where I tend not to be an MT.) So, initially, I was certainly going to choose the greatsword.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This being the case though, as the level cap is raised to 60, would it be worthwhile to go with the Prismatic Longsword in anticipation that once DoF comes out that we'll likely be doing group levelling, quests, and slip back into our MT roles again?</DIV>

[Lairdragna]

I haven't started raiding yet, but I have to ask... how much more DPS are you really adding to the equation by off-tanking with a two hander?  When you are talking about a mob that has hundreds of thousands, if not millions of hitpoints... what difference is your 50-130 1 hander versus your 75-200 two hander going to make?  I know every bit adds up, but your role in a raid is never going to be DPS.  Seems to me that a one hander would be a better bet for the very reason you alluded to, you will soon be grouping again.  When you do you will likely be main tanking, and you will want the extra mitigation and stats from say a fabled shield.  For me, it will be the long sword when I finally get to that point. <div></div>

[Littlet]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Lairdragna wrote:<BR> what difference is your 50-130 1 hander versus your 75-200 two hander going to make?  I know every bit adds up, but your role in a raid is never going to be DPS.  <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Paladins can be amazing DPS in a raid and a 2h vs 1h does make a big difference with all the haste buffs you can get. I've tried parsing using the prismatic greatsword vs soul harvester/Zalak's kite shield (makes my combat arts lvl 51) and I ended up much higher on the list with the greatsword.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As to the question of prismatic longsword vs greatsword, I would just go for whatever you need. There are quite a few fabled 1h swords compared to fabled 2h slash. Since I already had the soul harvester, I felt it was more useful to get the greatsword. However, if you just have a nice collection of 2h fabled weapons then do go for the longsword. I dont think the mana regen on the prismatic will be very much needed for tanking in a regular group. Sure it does help but hopefully, with your group, you'll be killing mobs fast enough to not run out of power incombat. And with our "nice array of taunts," maybe we won't need to burn power to maintain agro anymore.</DIV>

[eyes007]

<P>I agree with Lair, the ironic thing is we won't know until after the combat revampt AND after the expansion is released. Why I say this is if you remember back to your noob days there wasn't a noticeable difference with tanking with a 2-hand and tanking with a 1-hand/shield, if anything the extra DPS with a 2-hand made a world of difference. After 40, that's when things turned to custard and if it wasn't for the fact that SBS is such an awesome shield, people would be finding out the hard way that tanking with a 2-hand was a big mistake.</P> <P>But as you say, "for the right reasons" in a raid it's questionable, a prismatic 2-hand is so much more superior than the standard 2-hand weapons, but for me it's comes down to what you will use the most in any situation, and for me it would have to be a 1-hand/shield combo. I think it's a waste to have a 2-hand sitting in your bags waiting for raids or minor groups, but like I said, who knows? We don't know how much the combat revamp will affect us or the expansion and it's various changes. To be safe, a 1-hand will always be a good choice, a 2-hand would be more a luxury than anything <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Percivale</P> <P>Lvl50 Paladin</P> <P>Phoenix Rising</P> <P>Oggok</P>

[Doylen]

I just got my prismatic and I debated a long time with other paladins which would be best and I was going to go for but the day before we were going to take down darathar a Soul Harvester was looted to the guild bank so I bid on it with DKPs and won it so I picked the 2-Hander Because together with the Soul Harvester and Kite Sheild of the King I basically get the same strength bonus as I would get with the 2-Hander which is 38 Strength and now that they're nerfing our DPS what good would we be if we won't be tanking. We'd be even more useless than we are now. The only thing we COULD do would be rez. So I say go for the 2hander if you're in a bigger guild that get fabled weapons once in a while and get one of the fabled one handers. And also the Screaming mace is increadible to tank with. Now that they're putting in better taunts it'll be even easier to keep up with the aggro loss that you get from the mace proc and still get the good Power heal <div></div>

[BdybldKris]

<P>I originally took the 2h Prismatic and was upset a couple weeks later when I heard rumors of the revamp.  Now several months have gone by and I'm VERY happy I took the 2h.  There are SO many great 1h weapons out there that you'll kick yourself when your 1h Pris goes in your bank.  </P> <P> </P> <P>In my opinion, if you're in a decent raiding guild or have cash to buy off the broker, go for the 2h.  There are too many better 1h's in the game to waste it on the prismatic.  The 2h Slash Prismatic does great dps and will be a great weapon for offtanking for months to come.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Sav]

I am my guild's main tank.  As a result, I chose Prismatic Longsword.  I was tempted to get  Prismatic Sceptre, but decided that Screaming Mace could fill in that role.  While there are many many good fabled 1H weapons we can use, 12 power regen in combat is quite nice.  As far as I know, Prismatics are the single highest in combat power regen item in the game. <div></div>

[Darki]

When the time came for me to chose I already had a fabled 2hs that gave me a bonus to my slashing skill, had the same damage rating as the greatsword, and had a 12% chance for it's proc (greatsword is 7%), and I was still using Blood Fire as my 1hs. So I took the longsword and I don't regret it. <div></div>

[uzhiel feathered serpe]

<P>Umm...im sorry to break the news, but Paladins in a raid ARE dps. Look at parses before you make such a statement. Yes, we rez too, but we only rez when something goes wrong. The other 90% of the time in a raid I am sworn striking, refusal of gracing, unyielding wrathing, and shater will'ing. ALL adept III...do the math.</P> <P>Sworn strike = 800+ with dots</P> <P>Refusal of Grace = 500+</P> <P>Unyielding wrath = 5 dots of 70 to 90.</P> <P>Shatter will = 170+</P> <P>Vengeance= 150+</P> <P>Blessed rush = 250+</P> <P>Divine judgement = 200+</P> <P>That doesnt even include our AE. All these have 20 sec or less timers, except Sworn, which is 30 i think. Now do the math on a 10 minute or more raid and tell me we are not DPS in a raid. I can outclock any class, other than berserkers, bruisers, wizards, and warlocks. Our DPS is sustained as well, not in bursts. Of course these require breeze or other mana regen, but properly buffed we can do this for quite a while. It will change when combat revamp happens, but this the reality right now.</P> <P>Uzhiel, lvl 50 Paladin, Eternal Chaos (lvl 30), Faydark.</P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P><p>Message Edited by uzhiel feathered serpent on <span class=date_text>07-29-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:31 AM</span>

[daymoore21]

<DIV>This fact will change with the combat changes for better or worse it will change.....</DIV><p>Message Edited by daymoore21 on <span class=date_text>07-29-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:56 AM</span>

[Aquittas]

<DIV>rumor is they're taking away the rez ability too <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[TooSwi]

Honestly, it comes down to your playstyle.  For raids, Royal Great Flail > all.  Period.  I went with the 1h because I was used as the off tank quite a bit, as well as the main tank for the easier epics, though it doesn't really matter.  I'd rather use the 1h and Zalak's kite shield.  But again, it all comes down to prefrence. <div></div>

[MeridianR]

Was hoping this morning I could post, I took the 2h last night after we beat Darathar...but the buggy encounter ended up taking to long for me, so didn't get a chance to complete....lol I am though taking the 2h'er, since compared to some of the Fabled 2h Slashers, it compares quite nicely.    <div></div>

[eyes007]

Also don't forget, if you have a high level Weaponsmith who has scribed Volume 40 I think it is, you will have access to crafted rubicite weapons which are better than Prismatics or at least on par. This would be a nice little addition to the armoury, only problem is getting the rubicite powder <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />