Thane, spec parry or shield?

[old.NorME]

I have a Thane

I am wondering what i should put most of my spec points in , Shield or parry? I like using a big axe but if the shield spec is so good i wanna use that instead..

I am still only lvl7 so i have plenty of time lol..

Korkel

 

[Gekul]

I would pick shield over parry. Putting points in to parry will increase your chance to parry, same with shield. You get styles with shield though. Shield spec at 42 for slam is supposed to be useful If not, atleast get it up to 7 (I think) for engage.

 

[BlueJam]

Yeah parry to about 15 then shield to 42 if possible, unless you indend to go handed then it's parry all the way.

 

[Killgorde]

There's a nice +4 SC shield drop in Malmo...bear that in mind

Killgorde

 

[old.yaruar]

Personally I've gone for parry as I'm more into causing uber-damage with 2h hammers ;-)

I have put a few points in shield as I want to bring it eventually to abut 15 just for running round in RvR whilst there are archers, but I'm definately more into dealing hard damage than protracted battles.

Although apparantly until next patch parry using 2h is gimped by 50percent due to them messing up the calculations so when the patch comes watch out as we will parry twice as much ;-)

My rough plan for my thane is Maxed out stormcalling Hammers to about 44 or maybe lower once I see what adds I can get with the high lvl hammers (am keeping 2 below lvl at the moment so I can put spare points into parry...)
Hopefully will be able to raise parry into the high 30's and get a couple of +parry items too.

then all teh world will fear my two handed stumpy hammer charge.

 

[old.Zabin]

I'd go with Parry over Sheild, with a nice 2handed weapon. IMO Sheild only comes in usefull in rvr when you (sometimes) will get a archer on your back. Thats why you can just put 7 into Sheild and get the engage ability and throw the rest into Parry. 2 Handers + Parry does more damage anyway. My final tally at lvl 50 is going to be Hammer 50 Stormcall 50 Parry 27 Sheild 10

 

[Xandax]

My thane is making a dash for the 42 shield style now - should be a nice stun style.
And he is very good at blocking and guarding, so although he dosen't score the big hit - blocking like 4+ hits against the high-aggro person from a purple Jontun in Swamps makes it very usefull.
I also have a nice deal in parry - most form items (+9 in bonus) so I do parry a lot, but I would pick shield over parry anyday
Unless you are 100% sure you want to use a 2h weapon of course.

 

[BlueJam]

You'll live longer with a good shield spec, lets put it that way, helps when tanking during fort raids and the like. If I take agro off archers during fort raids it's very rare they can hit me, you can also guard someone who is taking agro in your group, makes the healers jobs a lot easier.

 

[old.chesnor]

You've got to ask yourself if you prefer to play an offensive or defensive role. A shield specced Thane makes for a better tank in PvE (engage, guard and intercept) and you can easily be the main tank in a group if a warrior is unavailable. If you spec parry you must go for 2h weapons, meaning your dmg output will be much higher but without a shield you will make a 2nd rate tank. Given that 99% of skalds go 2h + parry I would recommend speccing shield to 42 and going defensive. Groups will love you more and RvR will be easier as you have high defense and can do what thanes do best in RvR (stormcalling) and leave tanking to the warriors, skalds and zerkers.

I tried a 2h thane and a shield thane (both to around level 15, which isn't much I know) and found soloing was about the same. With 2h weaps I could kill faster but downtime was longer. With shield spec fights lasted longer but downtime was shorter. In the long run it probably evens out

 

[Negura]

"and can do what thanes do best in RvR (stormcalling)"

Ask healers about it

Mjollnir should only be used in the 2nd part of a long fight when there is no mez-ing and every1 is fighting every1, while you are free to cast. (rare case)

Hammers are indeed very useful in a keep raid. To kill the defenders on the walls or the attackers outside (when you are a defender). In this case shield is a must. (arrows, spells)

I am a troll thane with 50 wp, 50sc, 30 parry and smth like 14 shield (engage+disable).
That's because contrary to what most seem to think, thane's best weapon is the one we weild in our hand. Best STR to achieve in the game + the best damage add in Midgard + 2H = great damage. You also have 2 DD + 1 shout to soften your target while aproaching. When you fight 2H most of the time, shield points are a waste.

The best thing about shield comes at lvl 42: Slam (long dur., anytime use). But as a Thane you can get this with 46sc (last str buff sucks anyway), 44wp (use hammer as it has impossible to perform lvl50 skill, so you don't regret it ), 3 parry. And this can be very useful for thanes because we have no way to stop the target from attacking/running.

So, the advantages of having high shield skill are:
- when raiding you will block arrows like hell and partial block spells
- you can long stun your target (at high endurance cost)

But keep in mind that when you switch to 2H the shield points are a waste.

I will try the second template when the respec thing will come, just to check it out.

Another thing to be remembered is: don't make your template based on a comparition with another tank class solo.
This is a team game and Thanes have nothing to do with soloing in RvR. We don't have mez, we don't have speed, we don't have stealth.
But if you have a good team (healers who know they are supposed to stun/mez and do it well, skalds who don't run after a green and let the whole group without speed), with your very good damage (of course we don't talk here about dwarf thane + shield as they are no damage dealers and in my humble opinion somehow useless) + some range attack you are very good in RvR.

Also keep this in mind: You have to kill fast!
A good RvR battle is like: healers AE mez, tanks take care of the mezers who are still running free/casters (if I am not tired, I kill lvl50 cloth caster in 1 weapon hit + some lights; usually they stay behind and are not mezed. If you have performed well this part, the battle is a victory already. Tincans and goats are no problem at this stage.

 

[old.Odysseus]

Personal experience:

I keel thanes without shield.

I stay away from thanes with shield (meaning I dont even consider trying).

 

[old.Cronos]

need really good advise about thane? DONT PLAY THIS CHARACTER if you want to play RvR. you ask why? I tell you:

1. lack of HP
2. AE DD only useful @ keep/relic defence ONLY (sometimes @ MFG's, but thats RARE). if u break mezz you will be flamed as hell.
3. 3 sec DD is 30 sec recast which is sux.
4. Insta AE DD is a joke .
5. you dont have a chanse to avoid a fight ( thanes dont have speed :/).
6. 1/6 of whole realm are thanes, think about items ...
7. you cant solo rvr :/
some other crap more .....

but still if u want to play him, ok, here is real good template:

50 weapon (u real MAXimum damage with ur weapon and make it hammer), 42 shield, 38 Stormcalling, 10 parry.

and some good stuff:
thane is good tank
ownage @ keeps
.... thats all i think :/


48lvl atm, and wish i made something else like skald/bers/hunter :/

 

[old.Rhino-DAoC]

Definatly shield, but if you deciede to go 2H parry is almost as good