Shield question (and more)

Miele · 01-24-2007, 02:51 PM

Hi all,I recently made a SK to be the tank for a trio (Inquisitor and warlock the other 2).I'm still low level (dinged 14) and I have to admit it's night and day from lvl 1-11 and from 12 and beyond, so I'm glad I stuck around in the first 11 levels (I admit reading these boards helped me to keep trying).It's not an easy class to grasp compared to others, but I'm starting to get a clear idea of how it performs and already had a marvelous experience in the Ruins, with 6 orcs attacking me (all solo, not an encounter) and going down one by one, it was pretty close, but it was a blast and already made me love the class.I'm a dark elf and my question is: is the tower shield my best choice? I ask because there are graphic issues while running, with elbows and part of the head/hair clipping through the shield when I have the tower on my back. Certainly it doesn't look pretty, but I can pretend I don't see it if that shield is the only valid choice.Is it worth using a symbol and Legionnaire's smite instead of a big wooden table in secondary? (keep in mind I always tank)

I think I read somewhere that kite shields are basically useless now, they were more stilish at least. Oh well...For tier 1, 2 and possibly 3, I'm not gonna go crazy on gear, but after I catch up with my friends (high 30s), we'll keep our slow advancement pace (combat exp off 99% of the time) and will get as good gear/spells as possible.On a more technical topic: I put my first 5 AA in the prereq of the crusader line and in the INT line, planning to get 4-4-8 INT before anything else. Should I go for reaver right after or is better to raise some other tree first?Thanks

Soefje · 01-24-2007, 06:42 PM

Not only am I a SK, but also a armorer, so I got a chance to compare the tower shields and kite shields side by side. I chose to make myself a kite shield. The rationale was that the protection rating was the same, but the kite shield as a +INT stat. Now this is the crafted items, not so sure about the treasured items. I do know that at T7, I have not found a shield (yet) that I think is better than the imbuded xegonite kite shield. When I say better, I mean one that I am willing to pay for, or one that I am willing to choose over the other options available as a reward. I am currently happy with my choice, but I do have to admit, I am always on the look out for something better.In my opinion (others my disagree), at your level, I would pick up whatever you can afford right now, I would not worry so much about the kite vs tower. I would keep a look out for upgrades as you level, and if you end up a with a rare ore, consider getting your local friendly armorer to make you a rare imbued shield.Hope this helps.

Axxon · 01-24-2007, 07:18 PM

I am currently 59 and have an imbued xegonite kite shield in my bank for when I hit 62 for the same reason mentioned above: greater INT. Right now, I have an imbued cobalt kite shield that I have been using since 52 and Sunderguard (tower) that I picked up from a quest. Sunderguard has worse stats but better protection IIRC, so I keep both in my bags. At lower levels, I really just used what I could get and more often than not, I use a 2-hander anyway.

As far as the lousy tower graphic, I also play a DE and I agree it looks bad. Once you have a cloak on, however, you will not see the shield unless you are in combat, and then it looks fine IMO.

Miele · 01-24-2007, 07:26 PM

As far as the lousy tower graphic, I also play a DE and I agree it looks bad. Once you have a cloak on, however, you will not see the shield unless you are in combat, and then it looks fine IMO.

Thanks, you saved my eyes from popping off watching that horrible clipping SMILEY

I had this T2 crafted tower to use banked since an eternity, at T3 I'll give a better look at kite shields.Thanks again for the feedback.

Kathun · 01-29-2007, 03:16 PM

Thanks, you saved my eyes from popping off watching that horrible clipping

I had this T2 crafted tower to use banked since an eternity, at T3 I'll give a better look at kite shields.

Thanks again for the feedback.

All you have to do at level 20 (or if you find one for your level off a mob) is put a cloak on and it cures all your problems, if you want to keep a tower shield. The cloak hides your shield. Preventing the graphics issue all together. I am a Shadow Knight as well and love my tower shield at lvl 38, and have not seen the shield on my back since i started wearing a cloak. I just now switched over to a Kite shield, because it had like 200+ more Armor class and stats than the level 32 master crafted tower shield.

Anyways this is an older post I see, but thought I would share the cloak trick.

01-24-2007, 02:51 PM	#1
Miele Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 231	Hi all,I recently made a SK to be the tank for a trio (Inquisitor and warlock the other 2).I'm still low level (dinged 14) and I have to admit it's night and day from lvl 1-11 and from 12 and beyond, so I'm glad I stuck around in the first 11 levels (I admit reading these boards helped me to keep trying).It's not an easy class to grasp compared to others, but I'm starting to get a clear idea of how it performs and already had a marvelous experience in the Ruins, with 6 orcs attacking me (all solo, not an encounter) and going down one by one, it was pretty close, but it was a blast and already made me love the class.I'm a dark elf and my question is: is the tower shield my best choice? I ask because there are graphic issues while running, with elbows and part of the head/hair clipping through the shield when I have the tower on my back. Certainly it doesn't look pretty, but I can pretend I don't see it if that shield is the only valid choice.Is it worth using a symbol and Legionnaire's smite instead of a big wooden table in secondary? (keep in mind I always tank) I think I read somewhere that kite shields are basically useless now, they were more stilish at least. Oh well...For tier 1, 2 and possibly 3, I'm not gonna go crazy on gear, but after I catch up with my friends (high 30s), we'll keep our slow advancement pace (combat exp off 99% of the time) and will get as good gear/spells as possible.On a more technical topic: I put my first 5 AA in the prereq of the crusader line and in the INT line, planning to get 4-4-8 INT before anything else. Should I go for reaver right after or is better to raise some other tree first?Thanks __________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "In war it doesn't matter who's right, only who's left..."

01-24-2007, 07:18 PM	#3
Axxon Server: Antonia Bayle Guild: The Discipleship Rank: Sovereign Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 417	I am currently 59 and have an imbued xegonite kite shield in my bank for when I hit 62 for the same reason mentioned above: greater INT. Right now, I have an imbued cobalt kite shield that I have been using since 52 and Sunderguard (tower) that I picked up from a quest. Sunderguard has worse stats but better protection IIRC, so I keep both in my bags. At lower levels, I really just used what I could get and more often than not, I use a 2-hander anyway. As far as the lousy tower graphic, I also play a DE and I agree it looks bad. Once you have a cloak on, however, you will not see the shield unless you are in combat, and then it looks fine IMO. __________________

01-24-2007, 07:26 PM	#4
Miele Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 231	As far as the lousy tower graphic, I also play a DE and I agree it looks bad. Once you have a cloak on, however, you will not see the shield unless you are in combat, and then it looks fine IMO. Thanks, you saved my eyes from popping off watching that horrible clipping I had this T2 crafted tower to use banked since an eternity, at T3 I'll give a better look at kite shields.Thanks again for the feedback. __________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "In war it doesn't matter who's right, only who's left..."

01-29-2007, 03:16 PM	#5
Kathun Champion Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: EST, North Carolina Posts: 31	Thanks, you saved my eyes from popping off watching that horrible clipping I had this T2 crafted tower to use banked since an eternity, at T3 I'll give a better look at kite shields. Thanks again for the feedback. All you have to do at level 20 (or if you find one for your level off a mob) is put a cloak on and it cures all your problems, if you want to keep a tower shield. The cloak hides your shield. Preventing the graphics issue all together. I am a Shadow Knight as well and love my tower shield at lvl 38, and have not seen the shield on my back since i started wearing a cloak. I just now switched over to a Kite shield, because it had like 200+ more Armor class and stats than the level 32 master crafted tower shield. Anyways this is an older post I see, but thought I would share the cloak trick.

01-24-2007, 06:42 PM	#2
Soefje Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 302	Not only am I a SK, but also a armorer, so I got a chance to compare the tower shields and kite shields side by side. I chose to make myself a kite shield. The rationale was that the protection rating was the same, but the kite shield as a +INT stat. Now this is the crafted items, not so sure about the treasured items. I do know that at T7, I have not found a shield (yet) that I think is better than the imbuded xegonite kite shield. When I say better, I mean one that I am willing to pay for, or one that I am willing to choose over the other options available as a reward. I am currently happy with my choice, but I do have to admit, I am always on the look out for something better.In my opinion (others my disagree), at your level, I would pick up whatever you can afford right now, I would not worry so much about the kite vs tower. I would keep a look out for upgrades as you level, and if you end up a with a rare ore, consider getting your local friendly armorer to make you a rare imbued shield.Hope this helps.