Caster Classes with Melee Gear, why?

I see a lot of caster classes having melee+shield or wand+shield equipped in screenshots or when I watch PvP. Is there some advantage to using these vs. spell casting weapons? Is there something about losing 20% HSR and energy that makes it worth it?

Or... is this limited to making screenshots look cool and hiding energy.

Just curious.
-Ryq

1. Shield give half their AL even if you don't meet the req.
2. Melee weps have an +5 energy that isn't dependant on anything really (i.e it does'nt require health above 50%)

just for looks, it doesn't help and in fact hurts casters. Specific builds might need such things, but for normal PvE play you're better with staff or wand and offhand by a longshot

I might be quite wrong here, but I think NPCs dont target you with caster hate as much either.

I guess at that point... it is okay to feel the loss of a potential 38% HSR from a 40/40 set? I guess as a follow-up, in what situations do you commonly see this happen? I figure a SS Rt/P would be a big one.

My further assumption is that these casters are frequent weapon swappers?

Thanks in advance
-Ryq

melee weapons also allow you to have a +30 mod on your weapon while you're casting

shield + sword = +60 hp
40/40 cast set = +0 hp

edit: in response to Ryquevin - decent casters will switch their weapons according to their situation ie. - if they need energy they'll switch to a high energy set, if they need more health they'll switch to sword/shield, if you're casting an enchantment you'll switch to a +20% weapon, etc etc

true, although most people I see usually only use the shield for escaping or while being attacked... But using the melee/spear weapon for the +5 energy and 20% enchant all the time.

Edit: Post above got a good point ^

Very interesting...

I was hoping there was some awesome reason, because I have been looking for a good looking Channeling Focus, and they all look meh... some of the shields on the other hand are down right sexy.

Thanks for the info.
-Ryq

PvE, you use what you want.

PvP, you use what helps you stay alive. This means MULTIPLE weapon sets, and swapping during battle depending on what you face.

If I go around energy burning/surging you, you'll be glad to have that shield on instead of the focus. then once i burn/surge you and see that i did 0 damage because you have no energy, that's when you switch to your caster off hand and start casting stuff again. then back to shield to protect your energy pool.

when i play pvp casters i bring my spear/shield set and a 40/40 set.


weapon switching is ftw

Ah, I see... so it is mainly a PvP thign then, and probably/possibly more of a hinderence in PvE.

I'll keep that in mind.
-Ryq

It's still beneficial in PvE, but many people can't be bothered to weapon swap in PvE.

Anyone that has been a caster in The Deep
Knows why not to have a wand/staff equiped
Enemies treat u different depening on what u weild

[[Healer's Boon] monks in FoW/UW Ursan runs rarely get below 50% of their energy pool. The combinations of HB and Consumables makes you cast in a split second, and you can use your spells on recharge if you want.

So no need for 40/40, just take a shield if you like the looks, and bring a staff/wand in case the situation goes south fast and you do need a tad more energy.

Hmmm, might try HB-ing without any weapons next time, should be possible.

also sex appeal it looks way cooler lol

hmm i never thought about enemy AI reacting different depending on what weapon i wield might try going for sword + shield combo on my necro

I personally would still use a focus because of all the extra energy it grants, wands on the other hand don't have such an advantage over a melee weapon/spear.
Spear + Focus ftw! Just as a general setup

~A Leprechaun~

Many monks in pvp also use -5energy weapons for hiding energy. There are some nasty mesmer skills that drain your energy. People in pvp use multiple weapon sets. If your main weapon gives you +15e and you change it during battle to -5e weapon you wil actualy "hide" +20e that mesmers cant drain. Buy swaping it back from -5e to +15 you wil get "free" +20e that you can use.

There we go.

Enemies everywhere and anytime will cast the appropriate spells depending on what you're wielding. So if you're the type to micromanage down to that level in pve then it's a good thing to know ... among a lot of other things the AI is predisposed to do.