AA's for a tower shield, or a better defensive buckler AA build!!!!!

[ChopStix]

<DIV>ok fellow beserkers... </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>what i'm debating, is going to a tower shield.. i've started on the claymore stuff, and have obtained the shield of 4 winds, would it be worth repeccing aa's with this tower shield, or should i wait until i get something better? and if later on i obtain a better tower shield  whats the best spec for a tower shield ? and  will the dps compare to the buckler build?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>or would i be better off staying with a buckler, and going down the agility line, say getting out of the wisdom line totally and going 4/4/4/8 in agility for the +defense, maybe an aa build of agility 4/4/4/8 and sta5/8/8/8, or 5/4/8/8agi sta4/8/8/8 or would this totally crap on my dps?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>i'm lvl 70 with 70aa's  in defensive stance, with buckler, ungrouped i'm at 4300mit, 46.3% avoidance [base 31.6%  block9.9% parry 12.8%]  aa's in warrior at the moment sta 4/4/8/8 -wisdom 4/4/8/8 and i stuck remaining point in agility....   i have the ironplate shielding as a buckler</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>str 547</DIV> <DIV>agi327</DIV> <DIV>sta375</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[FightGame]

<P>Well, people can give advise on what has worked for them, but nobody can really tell you whats best for you.  And that's the best part!  And each build isn't the best for every encounter.  For a mem wiping mob with little damage, then max hate is all that matters.  For a hard hitting mob, that you can hold aggro on, then maybe a tower shield set up with max mit, and def/parry.  Alot depends on your typical group make up along with the quality of your gear.  If you have 2 people transfering aggro, then you picking up hate and/or dps probably isn't needed.  Check you defense and parry numbers, once buffed up.  If you sit at 420+ (455 is cap) then you probably don't need more, because you can use your temporary defensive buffs on the pulls, until the raid gets the mob debuffed.</P> <P>That said, I'm pretty much completely offensive spec'ed and I am the guild's MT.  Sta 4-8-8-8 and Str 4-4-8-5 in KoS tree, and as you know, pretty much only offensive things can be picked up in EoF tree.  We clear Labs, Lyceum, DT, HoS pretty much weekly (although I'm still equipped in all relic/doomrage).  AoAx4dragons and Harla Dar are also killed frequently with this set up.  With this set up, I only need a dirge for hate, and parse over 1,000 zone wide.</P> <P>Get as many +1% block adornments as you can, because block is the only type of avoidance that is (or is suppose to be) UNcontested.  In other words, regardless of mobs level and if it's epic.  You can put one on the DT amulet (while equipped on the wrist) then move it to the neck.  Then 2 more on the wrists.  One on shield (t5 adornment).  Also get 2% to reposte on your 1H.  I'm pretty sure that when you reposte, you don't take damage, so that's pretty much like a block.  So, for the tough encounters, when you have your big shield up (regardless if in stamina line), you should have almost 20% block.  With adornments, you can raise this to effectively 26%.  20 to 26 is HUGE.</P> <P> </P> <P>Edit:  I'm speaking for raiding purposes.  For group or solo stuff, then max offensive all the way.</P><p>Message Edited by FightGame on <span class=date_text>01-10-2007</span> <span class=time_text>04:03 PM</span>

[fyrelan]

The claymore gear adds plus defense, so you really do not need to go down the agi line for more defense.  What you do want to do is go down the int line for the plus parry, thus increasing your avoidance.   I went from the sta/wis build to a sta/int build and noticed a big difference in how well I can tank.  Your avoidance seems a bit low, I would try to increase my agility  or if you can't get your avoidance into the high 60 percent go with the tower shield.

[uux]

<div><blockquote><hr>FightGame wrote:<div></div> <div></div> <p>Get as many +1% block adornments as you can, because block is the only type of avoidance that is (or is suppose to be) UNcontested.  In other words, regardless of mobs level and if it's epic.  You can put one on the DT amulet (while equipped on the wrist) then move it to the neck.  Then 2 more on the wrists.  One on shield (t5 adornment).  Also get 2% to reposte on your 1H.  I'm pretty sure that when you reposte, you don't take damage, so that's pretty much like a block.  So, for the tough encounters, when you have your big shield up (regardless if in stamina line), you should have almost 20% block.  With adornments, you can raise this to effectively 26%.  20 to 26 is HUGE. </p><hr size="2" width="100%"></blockquote>Riposte is a part of parry, AFAIK.  When you parry, you have a % chance to do a counter attack (riposte) that can't be blocked, or dodged.  An additional chance to riposte shouldn't add any additional avoidance.</div>

[FightGame]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> uux wrote:<BR> <DIV><BR><BR>Riposte is a part of parry, AFAIK.  When you parry, you have a % chance to do a counter attack (riposte) that can't be blocked, or dodged.  An additional chance to riposte shouldn't add any additional avoidance.<BR></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I know...but if you riposte an incoming attack, do you take damage?

[uux]

<div><blockquote><hr>FightGame wrote:<div></div>I know...but if you riposte an incoming attack, do you take damage?<hr></blockquote>No, same with a parry.  If you riposte, you already did a successful parry.  The 20% block raised to 26% is what is throwing me off.  There is only 4% block from adorning 3 wrist items, and 1 shield.  The 2% riposte shouldn't be added if it was.  You're not blocking an additional 2% of attacks.</div>