AA setup advice in PVP - Group Specific

[Oo]

I am lvl 40 Guardian.  I run with a group that is Guard/Temp/Fury/Warlock - all the same level.  We PvP and PvE equally (50/50).  At lower levels we could roll through pretty much any group that was not as balanced as us, even full groups over our level range.  Recently (at the end of T4), though, we are having problems bringing down any group larger than us, even blues and greens.  We tend to last a while, and I keep the damage focused on me.  Groups we fight now just burn me down then take on our others.  I take a ton of damage, more than the temp can keep up with, forcing our fury to heal as well.  That leaves just the warlock at full dps, and the opposing groups tend to stay up through taunting/healing longer than I do.  Once I'm down, it's over.

Looking for advice on PvP AA setup given this scenario.  I have 40 AA at the moment.  I had speced STA 4/4/8 and STR 4/6/6/7 (or something like that) with the plan to finish out the STR line.  This setup keeps all agro on me, but I sure seem to take a lot of damage.  I find myself switching to Tower Shield often just to try to stay alive.  It works fine in PvE, though.  Do you suggest another setup for PvP at this level range and with this group makeup?  Should I focus more on mit/resists/damage absorption and less on dps/agro management with my AAs?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. 

[lost]

I'd suggest dropped str to 4/4/8 and putting your additional points into sta 4.  The reason for this is that str4 (that you show 7 points in) does absolutely nothing in pvp.  It simply increases your hate mod such that a taunt does a few percentage more hate.  In PvP, the amount of hate is irrelevant, as your taunts force target for 3 seconds.  STR2 only works for your next crit, and with 4 points in it, it gives ~75% crit chance to your next attack.  Combined with 8 in str3, this basically guarantees that your next attack is a critical hit.  Maxing out sta4 will give you 8% avoidance to attacks from all directions and help your survivability.In the end, you will see most builds for pvp starting with 448 str and if buckler specced going for 4488 sta.  If you plan on using a tower shield for pvp, the best build for your group is probably 448 str, 44862 agi, 44862 int with 5 points left over (could go 4/1 wis for a decent short term mitigation debuff in pvp).The thing that would probably help out your group the most is adding in a scout of some type--swashbuckler (for really nice damage/debuffs/track) or dirge (excellent support buffs and track), as pvp is only going to get more difficult as you level up.

[Oo]

Thanks Lost. 

Your point on respecing the STR line is a good one.  Do you have an opinion on going STA/Buckler or AGI/Tower or INT/Tower given what we do, our setup and 40 AA to spend atm (I will only be able to choose one in addition to the STR line at this time)?  I can see that putting points into AGI4, STA4 or INT4 will help with my survivability, rather than wasting it on hate gain in STR4. 

Unfortunately, we are a foursome, although we can try harder to pick up another dps/scout on a regular basis. 

[Oo]

One more thing.. I've gone buckler so I'm STR 4/4/8 and STA 4/4/6/8.   Where path should I take next - main for PvP given the group makeup above.  INT?

At what point would you to go the EoF lines, or would you recommend against it until the Warrior paths are completed?

[Oo]

I have gone 4/4/8 STR 4/4/8/6/2 STA and 4/4/ AGI with 1 more point to go in Warrior path.  What EoF line would you recommend, again with the group build I mentioned in OP?  Slaughtering? 

[lost]

Nothing in the guardian tree is really a must have for pvp.  Realistically, the things I find most useful in pvp at 80 are mostly ancient teachings to reduce damage you and your allies take, but with you being lower level, it might be best to enhance your damage cas down to double attack and help supplement your group's single target damage.