why go 2hander?

[strider19]

I am a lvl 27 pally, I recently purchased a really nice sword, a 2h sword with 17str, 9 wis and 9 int and 75 health and +1 slashing with 35.5 damage raiting.  I believe those were the stats, or fairly close at least.  I bought this sword to use at lvl 33 for 25 gold, but now I don't know if I should use it.  It seems everyone always uses a shield/board.  I never solo as I am on the pvp server and soloing for me=death no matter what if I'm not with a group.  In a group however I'm really uber and it's almost impossible to kill me even for lvl 40 FP.  I'm afraid though if I use this great sword over my slightly above average 1h/shield I won't be as good, especially because I'm losing shield bash:/ any thoughts?<div></div>

[FlintAH]

It is good to use a 2h if you arent MT.  You can get close to some wizzys in dmg if you are fully buffed in group and use good weapons and have your skills upgraded.<div></div>

[strider19]

I guess my question really is, if I am 90% of the time playing the role of MT would I want a really uber 2h weapon or a decent 1h and shield?  Overall I'd get better stats off the 2hander than the others combined but I'd be losing bash.  Also, if I'm using a 2h as a MT would it be more beneficial to stay in offensive or defensive stance?  Thnx for reply<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[Ricke]

<div></div>I've never PvP'd in EQ2 but I would have thought that using sword/board would have been a better option due to the additional 'stun/interupt' you get while using a shield? Ah, I see you mentioned Shield Bash. I'm guessing it may be dependant on your oponent. Have you found that there are enemies that require you to do top loaded damage rather than faster smaller damage? Would this outway having the extra stun?No idea really but for me, I've always had more success with sword/board than I've had with a similarly leveled 2hander ...<div></div><p>Message Edited by Rickety on <span class="date_text">04-04-2006</span><span class="time_text">10:17 PM</span></p>

[FlintAH]

If you are almost always going to be mt I wouldnt bother w/ 2h.<div></div>

[Kaleyen]

I play a Paladin on PvP server also, and the extra interupt from the shield bash very helpful...specially from those pesky scout types!  Also the added protection of the shield does help.<div></div>

[Arannon]

<div></div>Its always nice to have options.You might MT 90% of the time, and in PvP the sword and shield is probably better for you (the extra interrupt, and the fact that you're as much a tank in PvP as you are in PvE)...but its always nice to have options available for when you arent MT.  I always carry around a couple extra weapons with me so I can keep my skill up and change forms when its needed.  Its just always nice to have options...dont pidgeonhole yourself if you can help it.I would suggest, however, that you focus on upgrading your sword and board over your two-handers.  Keep one around, but dont break your bank buying them if you can help it.<div></div>

[OrcSlayer96]

<div>Another thing to consider is to make sure you keep at least 1 each of the crusher/piercer/slasher one handers and switch when available to keep your skills maxxed.  Having a mace/hammer type weapon coupled with the hammer ground AA gives you a 2 sec AE stun/knockdown with 4 AA points spent on it.  In LU 22 they will fix the extra attack of combat leadership so keeping your sword skill will be good also.  I see some liking the AE atrtack with the agility spear required ability also.   It is also a good idea to have some 2 handers around when taking on lower conned mobs/ multiple healers in the group or when mobs have a percentage resistance to physical damage.  I agree that if you are MT then the block/shield bash is very helpful, and dont forget the nice taunt on that shield bash.  If you have good dps/healing try the sword and board in offense and see how you fare.  If you look like you health is droppin like crazy, toss up the defense mode and go from there.  When going against pesky charm type mobs always a good idea to be defensive stance to resist their abilities...<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[oneeyedlotus]

<div></div>In your situation id keep the 2 hander, theres 2 ways to PvP, group and solo, solo id sword and board just for the added interupt. but in a group situation as you say you are ussually in DPS is king and every little bit extra you get helps. many would say that DPS is just as important in solo, it is depending on your style of PvP are you a hit and run type or do you use strategy/skill. I play an assassin on PvP so i can run up behind 1-2 hit kill and run away. that 2 hander is not gonna 2 hit someone (maybe a weak wizzy heh) but 10 hits mixed with CAs and spells should kill someone if you catch them off guard. I would say at your lvl keep the 2 hander but as you get 40-50+ you should be keeping 2 sets of weaps anyway or more, i keep 1 and 2 hand sword 1-2 hand axe 1-2 hand crush and a 1 hand piercer(just to keep skill up just incase heh) and a really good shield selection is good to have but protection factor should be main concern.just my 2 cp<div></div><p>Message Edited by oneeyedlotus on <span class="date_text">04-05-2006</span><span class="time_text">10:34 AM</span></p>

[Turb]

Note your damage will vary far more switching between defensive and offensive stance, than by swapping out a 1h for a 2h.At L50 in def stance raw I have 53% mitigation and 39% avoidance with a shield, 1h weapon rating 49.7.If I switch to a 2h, but stay in def stance, my damage rating goes up to 62.1 (just over 20% more DPS), mit is still 53% but avoidance is 29% (down 25%). So I trade a bit more DPS for being hit more, and being unable to use a 4 second stun every 20 seconds. Stats for a 2h are also usually a little less than the 1h and shield combo. In def stance I'll also hit less, as my weapon skillsa re reduced.If I think go offensive stance with the 2h, I lose my wisdom (spell resist) bonus, gain a lot of STR (damage bonus), my mit drops to 47% and my avoidance to 16%. I'll hit more, and do more damage, but get hit a lot more (16% avoidance isn't much!). The fourth option is off stance with the shield, which gets me up to 29% avoidance, still 47% mit, and a little less DPS through the lower weapon rating on melee damage.I hope these numbers give some idea that it's not just the 2h vs 1h+shield that counts.Pallies now also have the option to go +INT AA path, equip a 1h and symbol, and get more damage crits. You might want to explore that path for DPS. Not seen many pallies do this, but it looks interesting. No avoidance bonus with a symbol though <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[OrcSlayer96]

<div><blockquote><hr>Turb0T wrote:Note your damage will vary far more switching between defensive and offensive stance, than by swapping out a 1h for a 2h.At L50 in def stance raw I have 53% mitigation and 39% avoidance with a shield, 1h weapon rating 49.7.If I switch to a 2h, but stay in def stance, my damage rating goes up to 62.1 (just over 20% more DPS), mit is still 53% but avoidance is 29% (down 25%). So I trade a bit more DPS for being hit more, and being unable to use a 4 second stun every 20 seconds. Stats for a 2h are also usually a little less than the 1h and shield combo. In def stance I'll also hit less, as my weapon skillsa re reduced.If I think go offensive stance with the 2h, I lose my wisdom (spell resist) bonus, gain a lot of STR (damage bonus), my mit drops to 47% and my avoidance to 16%. I'll hit more, and do more damage, but get hit a lot more (16% avoidance isn't much!). The fourth option is off stance with the shield, which gets me up to 29% avoidance, still 47% mit, and a little less DPS through the lower weapon rating on melee damage.I hope these numbers give some idea that it's not just the 2h vs 1h+shield that counts.Pallies now also have the option to go +INT AA path, equip a 1h and symbol, and get more damage crits. You might want to explore that path for DPS. Not seen many pallies do this, but it looks interesting. No avoidance bonus with a symbol though <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><hr></blockquote>The funny thing is you can use your shield bash with a symbol equipped in the shield slot, you are truely throwing the book at him i guess...<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[Turb]

You can? Hmmm <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />That's actually pretty useful. Some symbols are pretty heavy solid looking things. A good club over the head with that ought to stun something <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[OrcSlayer96]

<div><blockquote><hr>Turb0T wrote:You can? Hmmm <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />That's actually pretty useful. Some symbols are pretty heavy solid looking things. A good club over the head with that ought to stun something <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><hr></blockquote>Remember also that only the 2nd tier and end tier require a symbol to gain the abilitity to use the spell.  The 3rd and 4th tier are passive abilities that require no symbol to be used to gain benefits...<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[Gwydion20]

<DIV><EM>"If I switch to a 2h, but stay in def stance, my damage rating goes up to 62.1 (just over 20% more DPS)"</EM></DIV> <DIV><EM></EM> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>Yes 20% more dps on AUTOATTACK which has been parsed to be about 30% of our total dps. So if you do the maths it's just a 9% dps increase. The big hits fools people into thinking we do MUCH more dps with a 2hander than with a 1hander and that's not true. Stay 1h, shield and enjoy the one more stun you get this way.</STRONG></DIV> <P>Message Edited by Gwydion2000 on <SPAN class=date_text>04-13-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>07:16 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Gwydion2000 on <span class=date_text>04-13-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:19 AM</span>

[Turb]

I do use a 1h and shield most of the time, but you miss one point with the 30% statement... when you are toughing it out with a mob (using melee and wards) then your only source of damage is your melee, and that 30% is pretty much 100%. I just find sometimes the only way to solo certain mobs is to use that approach, although I am then most often sword and board.

[Daydeee]

<P>24points in Wisdom... immunity to fear > than most<BR>14points so far in int, pre update =50% crit bonus, lots and lots and lots of crits, post 34% at rank4 still lots and lots.<BR>Have toyed alot with combinations.<BR>Being immune to fear, and being able to reflect spells.... now that is a combination.....</P> <P>With the change equipment time down to 2secs, you can drop out your shield for symbol, buff and have the shield back... to get the reflec up. Its ona minute timer, but its great comedy watching a mage eat his own nuke....</P>

[MsChief]

<P>I'm one of those that believe in skilling up anything you can (except fishing)...</P> <P>I use my 2h for support tanking and my 1h/ shild for MT and soloing mobs that hit a little harder.  While I would definitely suggest prioritizing which weapon type you spend money on, make sure you keep your skills up in case a godly weapon you can use drops that may not be your primary weapon type.</P>

[Turb]

<blockquote><hr>Daydeee wrote:<P>With the change equipment time down to 2secs, you can drop out your shield for symbol, buff and have the shield back... to get the reflec up. Its ona minute timer, but its great comedy watching a mage eat his own nuke....</P><hr></blockquote>This would be handy for the Carpet Quest 3 mob (L55^^^) that packs a 16K ice comet <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />More impressive than getting a summoner's pet to eat the comet for sure.

[BigPig The Destroy]

So 2 handed if you grouped and not mt and 1hand/shild at all other times ?

[Crib92]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> BigPig The Destroyer wrote:<BR> So 2 handed if you grouped and not mt and 1hand/shild at all other times ?<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Not necessarily.</P> <P>What I do:</P> <P>Solo - Only 2H as I run out of power 1H and board and takes too long.  I kill faster in offensive and 2H. (May switch to defensive for more mit...situational)</P> <P>Group - Tanking 1H and board</P> <P>Group - Off tank Depending on group, if the group is wild and you get alot of adds then I usually stay 1H and board.  If the group works well together then I usually do 2H since I won't have to pull mobs off casters.</P> <P>Raid - Limited raids, but I usually stay 1H and shield in all circumstances to max resists and mitigation.</P>