Lol Caster Shields

What the hell is a caster shield ? Im tired of going on DoA runs and getting whiped because our monks just HAD to show off their torment shields, Thus running out of energy too soon. And during a run once some ele and I argued over it. She Insisted a caster shield was MUCH MUCH better than an offhand, because you don't always have the att req. and some mesmer skills lower your reqs and that makes them useless. and I know out there, some monk is going to read this and petition full throttle against me, defending his precious shield, But Im actually just posting this for a reasonable answer as to what a Caster shield is - Why you use it - and what its mods are.

Caster shields are for the +8 armour, and then +10 armour from the inscription (any armour +10 vs.) Suddenly... VOILA! Your Squishies now have 78 armour. Plus, if they are worth their salt, they can switch to offhands when they need the energy.

I usually start out with the torm shield, but then i go to my staff when low on energy. If i run out of energy on my staff (i run 40/20/20), i switch to 40/40 set for a bit more energy. If your team know what they are doing, the monks shouldn't be running out energy anyway. when im with a good group, the only place i have no energy is foundry.

Hmm, even though it still seems pointless - since 18 extra armour is only like >_> 3 points of damage, thank you for telling me. =O

shields are obviously the best choice for preventing as much damage as possible on any profession. +30 hp, +10 armor vs. x. /doh

If a monk runs out of energy too soon that's what a +30/-2 energy set is for. So stop the rage.

And for a 60 armor base that +18 makes a difference.

You made me lol there

The OP is right. Perhaps the shields are beneficial in PvP but in PvE (which is a spam-fest with Ursan teams) you're better off using staves or wands + focus items.

Arrogance prevails though and the black-dyed FoW, chaos-ninja monks can't possibly remove their purple shiney shield of doom at the risk of looking cheap.

I dunno, i prefer a focus and a +5 weapon for pvp. The more blue juice the better.

Are you delusional? PuG Monks are actually using shield sets?!

Oh, and shields are worth alot to every profession on Guild Wars.

If they're switching to their 40/40 set for casting, and 40/20/20 staff for casting enchantments and switching to high when they need the energy I'll be even more impressed.

Oh, and extra defense > extra energy.

It's simple really though. You can have four weaponsets. Utilise them all for maximum benefit, be it defense extra energy and so on.

The common mods for the shields are already said above. +30HP, +10AL vs. Type.

You have 4 weapon slots for a reason, learn to weapon swap. Take every advantage you can get, 18 more armor is still 18 more armor.

Not true! (Well, probably not true... )

An increase in 18 armor is a decrease of 26.8% of damage. So it you get hit by a 100 point Earthquake, you only take 73 damage. See the Armor Tables for more information:

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Armor...g#Armor_tables

(Something has to hit you for 11 points of damage to only reduce it by 3 points. I'm not sure if there is even anything in DoA there that only does 11 points of damage!)

Consider the diversity of damage in a DoA run. There are SF nukers, Mind Freezers, EQ + Aftershock titans, Choking Gas rangers, hammer minions and dervish bugs... to name a few. Is it really all that efficient for a monk to be switching to the most appropriate shield in such a fast-paced environment where it makes little difference anyway? If your monks are dying it is because the Ursan-wall wasn't good or the team overextended and not because of a weapon set.

Let's face it; we know they're all using -5 [20%] inscriptions anyway.

Also, the extra health makes no little difference to mob behaviour because Ursans will have more health than the monks so the monsters will be more inclined to target the backline if the monks are wielding a shield or not.

Seriously, armor are for the ones who need.
Playing as a Mesmer, Ritualist or Elementalist, i usually use a Staff for the Halves Casting Time/Recharge. Not giving up that for some 18 armor. I keep myself away from beeing targeted and VOILA! I dont need armor.

Keeping yourself from danger: thats what i recommend you people.
Some people just have the bad habit of standing still, so they need the armor and think the others play as they do... silly.

the problem is that most pug monks don't know that negating damage through well placed prots > out healing damage

I find that caster shields are much more needed in PvP.

Also this probably goes in the Q & A section of the forum

staff on ele is quit bad actually. 40/40 sets are all the way.

PvP caster shields = good
PvE caster shields= unnecessary

In PvE I'd rather have extra energy HCT HSR etc. Extra armor is only more beneficial than those in very rare instances.

Just my couple pennies.

You only need the extra energy , 20% enchantment and half cast/recharge from a wand/offhand or staff when you actually cast a spell. Equipping a shield and swapping weapons gives you more armor and health to ensure you are alive to cast those spells. If you aren't casting, why wouldn't you use a shield?

I would agree that caster shields in PvE are not quite as necessary, whereas in PvP that 18 armour can make all the difference in a spike.

As for more blue juice in PvP, e-denial anyone?

Ursan + prot?

I thought you just stand there and try to out damage level 28 monsters with ursan. I don't think ursan groups use any form of prot. It's just out damage and out heal button smash.

Ursan: "Seed Me you n00b. Seed me!!!"

OP: I think those monks use the shield for looks because it obviously looks cooler. But if you want to use it properly, you would have at least 2 or 3 weapon sets and swap out of shield when necessary which in PvE most people don't do.