New Paladin

[sindrael]

<DIV>I've searched through some of the old and new threads and ended up somewhat confused as to where things ended up for the Paladin class. I recently started one (after the update) and have a few questions:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. What stats serve the paladin the best overall? If there is not an overal, does say STA favor a defense oriented Paladin?</DIV> <DIV>2. I have a shield with some great stats (looks like armor), but my mitigation stays the same..Is this intended?</DIV> <DIV>3. I read that our ability levels matter much, much more now (adept1, 2, 3). Can anyone confirm?</DIV> <DIV>4. Should I bundle myself in the heaviest, highest mitigation armor I can find? I'm concerned I might be going with something too obvious and not putting stats/work into other areas that might need it more.</DIV> <DIV>5. Best Sword/Shield Combo for 20-30? 30-40?</DIV> <DIV>6. Best 2 Hander? (Blunt or Slash) for 20-30? I read a post that indicated the sword of thunder may a good choice anymore after the changes. Not sure if was speculatory though.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sorry for all the newbie questions. After the changes, some of the stickies and searched seemed "off". I appreciate the time!</DIV>

[Majorminor]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> sindraelin wrote:<BR> <DIV>I've searched through some of the old and new threads and ended up somewhat confused as to where things ended up for the Paladin class. I recently started one (after the update) and have a few questions:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. What stats serve the paladin the best overall? If there is not an overal, does say STA favor a defense oriented Paladin?</DIV> <DIV>2. I have a shield with some great stats (looks like armor), but my mitigation stays the same..Is this intended?</DIV> <DIV>3. I read that our ability levels matter much, much more now (adept1, 2, 3). Can anyone confirm?</DIV> <DIV>4. Should I bundle myself in the heaviest, highest mitigation armor I can find? I'm concerned I might be going with something too obvious and not putting stats/work into other areas that might need it more.</DIV> <DIV>5. Best Sword/Shield Combo for 20-30? 30-40?</DIV> <DIV>6. Best 2 Hander? (Blunt or Slash) for 20-30? I read a post that indicated the sword of thunder may a good choice anymore after the changes. Not sure if was speculatory though.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sorry for all the newbie questions. After the changes, some of the stickies and searched seemed "off". I appreciate the time!</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>1.  We have argued (nicely) about the stats.  Some feel str/sta, some feel Int.  some as much str as you can get.  Some think as much Sta.  Think it's just a personal view point.  I like to be strong and have as many hits I can get. </DIV> <DIV>some things to know though. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>str=3/4 of our power and auto melee damage</DIV> <DIV>wis=1/4 of our power and adds to resists.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2.  Yes.  Your Mitigation won't go up with shield.  You need to look at your avoidance stat to see an increase.  Shield increases block rate.  Kite shields give a base value of 10%</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3. I think this holds tru for everyone now. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4. for me I look at several different things when I upgrade.</DIV> <DIV>When I had all my AQ's done and I was looking to upgrade, I looked at Mitiagation first on the upgrade.  If that passed the test next I looked at str/sta (my 2 stats I like alot of, personal choice here)  If those passed the test, I.E. no substantal lose hope Increase, I then looked at resists.  If no major lose of any then I moved to the other stat, Wis, Agility.  I never gave Int a second thought.  And even after the changes I still don't (personal choice again).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As far as 5,6 there are better ones to handle those as I don't remeber hehe.  There's a few quest weapons I had and used, but the names of them escape me.</DIV>

[lisasdarr]

<span><blockquote><hr>sindraelin wrote:<div>I've searched through some of the old and new threads and ended up somewhat confused as to where things ended up for the Paladin class. I recently started one (after the update) and have a few questions:</div> <div> </div> <div>4. Should I bundle myself in the heaviest, highest mitigation armor I can find? I'm concerned I might be going with something too obvious and not putting stats/work into other areas that might need it more.</div> <div>5. Best Sword/Shield Combo for 20-30? 30-40?</div> <div>6. Best 2 Hander? (Blunt or Slash) for 20-30? I read a post that indicated the sword of thunder may a good choice anymore after the changes. Not sure if was speculatory though.</div> <div> </div> <hr></blockquote>4 - I never used to look at mitigation before the changes as much of the time the difference in mitigation would be pretty similar if neither item was blue or green. However now that has all chanegd so you are more likely to find a variation in mitigation between different armour pieces, beyond that I look at everything, if the piece has great mit but junk stats and resists I wouldn't wear it, I prefer balance since you need to be able to do more than soak melee damage. 5 - Lots of choices here, for your crusher I'd suggest Skullcrusher (quested from olde military pick drop in Fallen Gate) for low end and Starfall (quested from jagged metal drop in Thundering steppes) for higher end. For a sword Sword of Thunder is a nice weapon, but is hard to find, dwarven sword of cleansing is an Ok sword. Shield wise, the ancient kite shield from Hess (named in Stormhold), stormshield (drops from Bloodtalon and windfeather in thundering steppes) are both decent shields. 6 - For a two hander I would recommend Soulreaver, which drops from Zerak the bloodsaber ritualist in Vermins Snye for a sword, as to a blunt I am don't really know.</span><div></div>

[GilfalasElaandrin]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><EM><FONT color=#999999>1. What stats serve the paladin the best overall? If there is not an overal, does say STA favor a defense oriented Paladin?</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM></EM> </DIV> <DIV>Str is great since it is our primary boost to damage and also our primary stat that increases our power pool. </DIV> <DIV>Wisdom is good for spell resistance and it also helps boost our power pool a little. (About 80% of our Power pool is str and abotu 20% is wisdom assuming both are equal).</DIV> <DIV>Agility is good for tanking since it helps our avoidance an little.</DIV> <DIV>Stamina is good for lots of hit points which is never a bad thing.</DIV> <DIV>Intelligence helps boost offensive spell damage and there is talk it may boost holy damage as well. Still (IMO) not a Critical stat for Paladins but it can help.</DIV> <DIV><EM></EM> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT color=#999999>2. I have a shield with some great stats (looks like armor), but my mitigation stays the same..Is this intended?</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Shields provide AVOIDANCE style AC since they block incoming damage totally. As such they do not change your mitigation value but you should definately see a nice change to your avoidance when they are equipped.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT color=#999999>3. I read that our ability levels matter much, much more now (adept1, 2, 3). Can anyone confirm?</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM></EM> </DIV> <DIV>Yes. The quality or your spells and arts makes them very much more power efficient and damaging. Therefore they play a larger role than they used to.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT color=#999999>4. Should I bundle myself in the heaviest, highest mitigation armor I can find? I'm concerned I might be going with something too obvious and not putting stats/work into other areas that might need it more.</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If your plan is to tank then yest get the bet armor you can find/afford. It will keep you alive longer. Additionally the good armor usually also has good stat bonus' as well.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT color=#999999>5. Best Sword/Shield Combo for 20-30? 30-40?</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>20-30 Best Sword would be Berik, Sword of Thunder from Stormhold or a pristine imbued steel weapon, probably assault axe if you wnat GREAT stats and +HP/Power. pristine imbued steel longsword is also very good and the equal of Berik, almost. Best shield? pristine imbued rare wood kite shield.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>30-40 best sword would be Ghoulbane from the heritage quest. Best shield would be pristine imbued oak kite shield or the Gaurd of Grumm.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>These in fact are not the <STRONG>absolute</STRONG> BEST but they are near it and are far more readily available than the super rare raid drop only fabled items that ARE the best.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT color=#999999>6. Best 2 Hander? (Blunt or Slash) for 20-30? I read a post that indicated the sword of thunder may a good choice anymore after the changes. Not sure if was speculatory though.</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM></EM> </DIV> <DIV>Best two hander would be an imbued steel 2 hander of your choice or perhaps Soulreaver from Crypt of Decay. </DIV> <DIV>I would lean to the imbued weapon for the great proc. Or you try for the Shiny Brass Halberd heritge quest. Can be done with one group pretty reliably in about 6 hours. No proc but a nice weapon none the less.</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>

[sindrael]

Thank you all very much for your time and insights! <div></div>