shield & parry?

[granny]

Anyone have any hard info about speccing both shield & parry? I'm getting conflicting information from people.

What I'm wondering is is it best to spec both evenly or just one? Character is a reaver and the choice will be to either spec both shield & parry to 20 each or just spec one of them to 28. Now the thing that's confusing me is that some people have said that having even spec in both has a 'cancelling out' effect and you will end up blocking/parrying less than you should do. However, the raw maths of it would suggest a significantly higher chance to stop an incoming attack with even spec in both.

Finally of course the best reaver style chain is dependant on blocking so my inclination would be to dump it all into shield...

Anyone have any *hard* facts about this?

 

[Aravis]

If you have styles that chain off block/parry then keep whichever one you want to use most, highest.

Parry is probably best as it is checked before shield so with high parry and shield you will parry more than you block (I find that with s+s Armsman, and it's bloody annoying, my best styles all chain off block :/)

As for them cancelling each other out, not in my experience.

 

[Danya]

Shield is generally the more effective spec as you get shield styles, engage and guard. Not to mention shields get a big bonus on ranged attacks.

 

[Meatballs]

I believe the reason some people say they "cancel each other out" is that parry is before shield in the hit order (Ie, it checks if you evade, it checks if you parry, it checks if you block, it checks if someone guarding you, it checks for intercept, it checks for hit/miss, it checks for bladeturn - or something along those lines). If your parry is about the same level as your shield, and you want to use a chain off of a block, you'll be parrying probably more than your blocking. It doesn't really cancel each other out, just a bit frustrating if you have specific style chains you want to use

If you have parry/block about equal you're defence isn;t too screwed whether you fighting a 2hander or a duel wielder.

 

[old.windforce]

parry only blocks 1 oponent
big shields up to 3
42 shield style is uber
engage gifvs block
guard is cool

i'd say shields and leftover points in parry (don't know reaver styles so not sure if the chain of parry >> chain of block)

 

[granny]

Parry chain reaver styles are a bit pants, medium damage and a bleed that more often than not does 0 damage per tick for well, who cares how many ticks, it's still 0

Pretty much decided then, it's gonna be all into shield. Prolly only 28 though, I just have this desire for 50 SR and 50 flex

Cheers for info guys.

 

[-mk-]

Originally posted by old.windforce
parry only blocks 1 oponent
big shields up to 3
42 shield style is uber
engage gifvs block
guard is cool

i'd say shields and leftover points in parry (don't know reaver styles so not sure if the chain of parry >> chain of block)

Shields only block up to 3 hits/round, that's true. Shields don't get any penalties by blocking more than one opponent.

Parry has a chance of blocking ALL attacks in your front arc, although it gets penalties if there is more then one enemy attacking you.

42 shield slam is nice, i agree but it has no to-hit bonus and eats lots of endurance.

engage is uber

guard is just lovely

IMO it's best to spend points on both skills, as they will augment each other given their strenghts/weaknesses in certain situations.

 

[Danya]

Go 50 shield for brutalize, the only 10s melee stun in the game!!

 

[Meatballs]

Originally posted by -mk-


Shields only block up to 3 hits/round, that's true. Shields don't get any penalties by blocking more than one opponent.

I think all defence is lowered by having more than one opponent on you. Evade/Parry/Shield/Hit-Miss etc

 

[-mk-]

that's the bugged group PvE code they're supposed to fix

 

[Gimly]

Originally posted by Danyan
Go 50 shield for brutalize, the only 10s melee stun in the game!!

Thought it was only 9sec?

 

[Meatballs]

Originally posted by -mk-
that's the bugged group PvE code they're supposed to fix

With more people on you you should get lower defences (and currently if they're in a group with people that group counts against you too even if they're running around nuking/healing other people - thats the bug)

 

[Danya]

Originally posted by Gimly
Thought it was only 9sec?

Slam is 9, brutalize is 10...

http://www.camelotherald.com/styles/style.php?s=283
Brutalize
Shields - available at spec level 50
Opening: You block
Fatigue used: Medium
Bonus damage: Medium
Special: Stunned


Stuns the target for a brief period of time.
Resist type: N/A
Duration: 10 seconds

 

[monkeynutter]

it has high endurance but is worth it, either to stun so you can run or healer can cast etc. used it other night to be able to step back after agro for friar to do his stuff. takes 3secs to use most potions etc so if you can stun some nasty mob long enough to use one thats not bad. plus damage inflicted is pretty good even on high mobs. never tried the brut one, got mine 49 slash 42 shield rest parry, with some small points in polearm since they look good. and even with very low pts with good polearm damage seems pretty good.

 

[Danya]

Main bonus of brutalize is the lower endurance cost compaired to slam.

 

[Gimly]

I have Brutalise.. only thought it was 9sec so thanks for that

As for the end use, very little end is used at all and as you have 50 in shield for the style you know you will get the block to chain the move sooner or later

 

[kreig]

Parry only works on unstyled attacks.

 

[Yussef]

Parry works on styles also

 

[Gimly]

Originally posted by Yussef
Parry works on styles also

Yep.