Shield Merc - viable as a solo rvr option?

[Lorimez Shadowblade]

Hi.

Thinking about changing my merc once I hit RR7; due to lack of groups that I'd make him shield spec, for much more solo or duoing play. Looking at the spec of : -

50 Dual Wield
42 Shield
39 Thrust

I've read some info about this but how useful do you think this is for a solo spec?

I'm thinking that shield would be used for slam (obviously) and then switching to DW. Figured with +16 in my skills that I'd still be able to hit for max damage but with a reduced WS?

Basically this is nothing more than a twinkle in my eye, but would like some input from people in the know. Any input (Spare flaming - cba with those people) would be taken onboard I assure you. Thanks in advance.

/bow

 

[fettoken]

Hi.

Thinking about changing my merc once I hit RR7; due to lack of groups that I'd make him shield spec, for much more solo or duoing play. Looking at the spec of : -

50 Dual Wield
42 Shield
39 Thrust

I've read some info about this but how useful do you think this is for a solo spec?

I'm thinking that shield would be used for slam (obviously) and then switching to DW. Figured with +16 in my skills that I'd still be able to hit for max damage but with a reduced WS?

Basically this is nothing more than a twinkle in my eye, but would like some input from people in the know. Any input (Spare flaming - cba with those people) would be taken onboard I assure you. Thanks in advance.

/bow

If you slam someone, expect them to purge 8 / 10 times. Spend all dual wield points in parry x>

 

[Manisch Depressiv]

I think you need an Armsman respec Lori .

 

[Deepflame]

I've been dabbling about this idea myself as well, however, that was not meant for solo, but more for guarding my group if needed. Oh, and for looking like a cleric, ofcourse.

 

[Morian]

ur gonna have lots of fun switching shield to offhand weapon every time u slam

 

[CstasY]

Its debatable speccing 39 weapon for a light tank, some do and preach it, others dont and say its crap. Aslong as you have 51 modified skill in your primary weapon, your damage wont drop much when using dual-wield styles. However, your overall weaponskill WILL drop by speccing like that. If you find slam being purged a lot, use numb first of all, if you're against a purge3 target, 9/10 times they'l panic and purge the numb - thinking you've slammed them. Then you only need to wait 10 seconds before slamming again for a full duration stun.

 

[Jjuraa]

incidently, 50DW 39 thrust is poor, as the duelwield style Dual Shadows (which i assume youll be using) takes its dmg from your main melee spec line, so your Dual Shadows dmg will be coming from the 39 thrust, not the 50 duelwield. yes its a bug, yes its stupid.

 

[Shanaia]

Why is that a bug that's just how DW works and always has.

And ever heard of wyrd?

39 main damage line is fine as long as you go for modded 51.

And I think it would be a nice experiment tbh... why should everything always have to be the same or even optimized ... just try something and have fun

 

[SoulFly]

And ever heard of wyrd?

39 main damage line is fine as long as you go for modded 51.

51 is good for your baseline damage, not your main damage.

I.E Two-Handed draws WS from Two-Handed. 51 base damagetype is enough to have maximum minimum damage.

It's not the case for main damage, as in using slash and only hitting 51 :|

 

[Elitestoner]

Its debatable speccing 39 weapon for a light tank, some do and preach it, others dont and say its crap. Aslong as you have 51 modified skill in your primary weapon, your damage wont drop much when using dual-wield styles. However, your overall weaponskill WILL drop by speccing like that. If you find slam being purged a lot, use numb first of all, if you're against a purge3 target, 9/10 times they'l panic and purge the numb - thinking you've slammed them. Then you only need to wait 10 seconds before slamming again for a full duration stun.

thats actually a pretty good idea, why didnt i think of that

 

[CstasY]

thats actually a pretty good idea, why didnt i think of that

Yes well I'm full of them.

 

[Arethir]

Imo, don't.

 

[Cloudz]

My friend tried it, i had alittle play around on it... seemed okay

Didnt really play it in grp RvR, but I wouldnt spec to it myself

 

[Arid|Disci]

lethuls merc is specced shield atm he lajks

 

[Dracus]

I know a few BMs who are specced like that..and they swear by it. A lotta ppl dont purge the stun in fg fights, in my experience anyway.

/Dracus

 

[Darzil]

Why is that a bug that's just how DW works and always has.

And ever heard of wyrd?

39 main damage line is fine as long as you go for modded 51.

Yes, except for the Duel Shadows style, which uses main damage line for some reason. Any other DW lines won't be affected by going down to mod 51 spec, as per Wyrd's testing.

Darzil

 

[Shike]

if it wasnt for that dual shadows depended on basespecc I would specced 42shield asap but.. as it is, I use DS alot when soloing :s

 

[Case]

Wouldn`t you just be better off with a reaver?

 

[Tallen]

I know a few BMs who are specced like that..and they swear by it. A lotta ppl dont purge the stun in fg fights, in my experience anyway.

/Dracus

My BM has always been sword-n-board specced. For BG and defense, i dont think there is a better character than a shield specced light tank. The only problem is your damage will be poor compared to other light tanks and light tanks excell at damage dealing.

Your choice.

 

[Rhori]

Tallen you're link of AYBABTU isn't working ;(, or it isn't working at my com

 

[Osri]

Yes, except for the Duel Shadows style, which uses main damage line for some reason. Any other DW lines won't be affected by going down to mod 51 spec, as per Wyrd's testing.

Darzil

Havent found any proof of 50 lvl style moves sucking even some ppl talk about it.

Think ppl just messing up with base damage variance which causes higher gr styles sometimes hit lower than bit lower gr ones.

Giv evidence or link.

 

[Lorimez Shadowblade]

Many thanks for the posts guys.

A few come backs -

Mani - he he Armsmen suck . .so glad I made Lori a merc but thanks for the wub

Case - Cba to lvl a reaver and then get him to RR7 . .I stick with me merc thanks

Shan - \o/ I agree mate. I've never been fotm with any of my specs (Lori should be slash but I went thrust as the weapons looked good and its different), so I'm gonna give it a go at RR7.

Thanks agin for peoples postings. Only time will tell about how well it works

/bow

 

[SoulFly]

Havent found any proof of 50 lvl style moves sucking even some ppl talk about it.

Think ppl just messing up with base damage variance which causes higher gr styles sometimes hit lower than bit lower gr ones.

Giv evidence or link.

Even if you hit lower, a style which had lower growth rate would've hit for less aswell with the same type of hit. It still hits for more. You see, for example, let's take backslash. it has a growthrate of 0.85 and amethyst has 0.60

You hit with ameslash and hit for (xx) 250

Then you perform a backslash for (xx) 230

The backslash did less damage than ameslash yes, but if that backslash had been an ameslash, it would've hit for less than the backslash did.

It's called variance. So anyone saying "higher growthrate styles hitting for less are bugged and crap" is wrong and should take a deeper look into the game mechanics

 

[Blizard]

PM Corranhorn mate, hes 42 shield and i think he likes it

 

[Tallen]

Tallen you're link of AYBABTU isn't working ;(, or it isn't working at my com

Bugger, fixied