Warrior Armor Questions...

Well, I've tried to play a W/R, W/Mo, and now I am trying a W/E. I've got about 7 RPG toons leveled up and I enjoy my warrior/ X the most. Oddly enough, I find that I stick with more warrior skills and sometimes no secondary class skills at all for PVE.

It's time for a change, I'm trying out a W/E for PVE farmage. Was thinking Axe 12+, Air 9, Tactics 9 and the rest in whatever. Now, my build is gonna OYK's and Whirlwind with GD.
My question is about armor.

I have a full set of Sent, but I'm tired of being limited by Str. I had a great PVE build b4: Pure energy build

W/mo
15 Str (12 +1 +2)
12 Axe (10 +2)
9 Tact (8 +1)
2 Heal

Runes (majors +41 health, +2 Str, +2 Axe, +1 tact, -3 ABS)
Full Sentinels Armor

Power Atk +30 dmg
Soldiers Strike +20 dmg
Cyclone Axe +10 dmg
Warriors Endurance 23 secs to max of 25 energy
Watch Yourself +20 armor 9 secs
Dolyak Signet 20 secs +40 armor
Open slot (used for Str sig +5 dmg for 16 atks or Vigours Spirit for +6-7 health/hit or pure sig)
Heal Signet +107 health

With this build it's almost IMPOSSIBLE to run out of energy. In addition, the insane armor is really nice.

My weapon was a Vampiric hand axe of Fort (not grt but it works)
6-28dmg
+14% dmg health over 50%
-3 Health steal
-1 health degen
+27 health

Shield was Serrated Shield
Armor 16 (9 tactics)
-2 dmg reduction (in stance)
+30 health

I would usually have 100 AL vs all + 16 AL vs All + WY(+20 AL) + DS(+40AL)
= 176AL all the time and never having the need for energy do to WE.
Only issue is Degen mobs where I need to bring a healer to help.

Pretty much see 0 dmg 90% of the time in PVE.

Which leads me to my next problem...dmg output.


Now, I have changed over to my new build as W/E and I want to get away from the high Str.

How does Knights armor compare to Dreadnaught armor? Is it better to have +10 Al or -3 Absorption? Is the knights ABS vs elemental dmg as well?

What would be a solid high AL armor to use with this new build W/E?

Thanx

Vikelf

Go gladiator armor for extra energy.
Also, since you're not using your weapon for damage, why don't you just throw a +5 energy axe with an offhand in there. Should give you +5 energy. Along with gladiator, you should be set. Also, why not bring Bonetti's Defense and activate it whenever you're low on energy. As soon as you're maxed out, activate whirlwind and OYN. Should keep you set with the energy.

I never liked Glad Armor simply cuz I hate to losing the elemental armor. I was wondering how Knights Armor plays out...Is the -3 Dmg reduction applied to both physical and elemental dmg? Also, is 10 armor more valuable then -3 dmg reduction?

Although, getting +8 energy from a full set of Glad armor add in a rune of atunement +2 energy, that's 30 energy on a warrior with 100 AL vs physical and 80 AL vs elemental...not too shabby.

Somehow, I think Dreadnaught armor 80AL base +20 vs physical and +10 vs elemental isn't bad unless knights dmg reduction (-3) is considered more valuable. Or maybe Legionnaire's Armor with it's 80 AL base, +20 vs physical, and +10 AL vs all while in a stance....that's 110 while in a stance vs physical!!

I'd like to know how Armor level is calculated vs dmg reduction???

I was looking around and I couldn't find a good explanation on how dmg reduction works and how Armor level works. any links?

Also, would Knights (-3) stack with (-3) sup rune and shield (-2) in stance for a total of dmg reduction -8??

Thanks for your help,

Vikelf