Lol Caster Shields

Wep-switching anyone?

Woah!
Shield and sword DO NOT look cooler on casters, seriouly. They use it just to show up their "uber leet rare" itens (because sword and shields usually cost much much more than any caster weapon).
Just like staffs dont look cool on a warrior.

Lets be honest - if you really need to swap outside of of an aggro holding RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO-up in a PvE elite area, there is something seriously wrong with the team setup

PvP is a whole different ballgame.

*edit* OOOOOOH - first time ever I've fallen foul of the profanity filter - yeah to me!!!!

alright fine since no one else will say it I will. In PvP, a shield/sword combo actualyl has a purpose. If you really need anything other than a 40/40 set or an occasional 40/20/20 staff, and still run out of energy, you're pretty god damned terrible at this game. (pve wise that is )

More defense is always better, although I agree that these things aren't mandatory in terms of PvE. Sword / Shield is usually used as a defensive set.

For the most part, its going to be +8 armor, not +18. Unless you want to carry a shield for each element/species in the game. You would need at least a few for any given zone. I'd rather have HSR/HCT bonuses than +8AL 99% of the time. When I'm playing a caster, I am usually not being hit enough to justify the loss of casting bonuses/energy. I know I could swap weapon sets, but even that would still mean holding the offhand during the vast majority of a fight. For me, this is even more true for my monk. If I am taking enough damage that I feel I need 8AL to save my life, the situation is most likely to point where the casting/energy bonus of an offhand will do more good(for both myself, and everyone else).

I recall questioning a monk's reason for holding a shield once, and he/she gave a quite valid response of it being for energy hiding. Unfortunately, the area we were in had absolutely no energy denial, so they were just wasting the offhand item. Those are basically the only situations where I swap away from a staff or wand/caster martial+offhand set. And even then, its not to a shield. In PvE those situations are rather limited, and certainly do not justify the need for 30 different shields just to be able to have +18al is any given foe.

Using defensive sets is fine.


But as long as yoiu have other wepon sets, otherwise its pretty stupid

I think in pve elite areas you should be weapon swapping often and effectively. If you know the damage you will encounter in each area you can easily pull out the necessary shield to prevent significant amounts of damage. Not using your 40/40 wand offhand set is just crippling you. Shield sets are also very helpful in avoiding energy denial from enemies.

Weapon swapping goes a long way to make you a more aware and better player.

This guy ^^

Use your shield for if you are taking damage and need armor, or if you're just hanging around and aren't having energy issues. If you start having energy issues, switch to an off-hand.

Although the average PvE-er is bad at the game and doesn't know this.

My tormented e-peen set makes me awesome.

True story.

It's called energy mangement or weapon switching???...cept its pve dont really need if u run out of energy...gg

As said in lots of other threads...

More energy =/= energy management.

You use a 40/40 set for the quick cast and recharge on spells, all your casts should be on this set. The shield set is for when you are not casting and are being beat on.

I use a caster shield and really, I have no energy problems unless the team is horrible in a out-of-this-world manner, and it happens every now and then. I run with different energy, health and casting/recharge sets outside my usually shield+caster weapon settings.

It's amusing seeing people make a big deal outta that though...

Ok I'm not gonna ponder you OP, I'll just explain what I bring as a monk in DoA going with Ursans. Such groups use consets so you'll have +10 energy.

1) a + 10 armor vs demons shield to get + 18 armor for close encounters of the annoying kind

2) I also bring a high energy set (+30/-2) for emergencies so I have a reserve in my pool. And to train weapon switching, which can always be better.

3) And ofcourse my normal set which is an offhand and a sword or axe with 20% longer ench, cause 'seed of life' is really a group saver and I want that one extra sec it lasts longer that way.

4) A 40/40 set is nice, but HB does a good job on itself most of the time. So I often take a staff with longer ench. with me.


Imo Aegis of terror, Aegis of Augh etc. > tormented shields in DoA

My favourite bears in a fr hm: r10/8 warriors or paragons with +10 armor vs demons shields.

Shields mainly used in pvp for casters but sometimes I even question that. I've seen warriors with over 600+ hp including a shield get beat down in a heartbeat. I don't see how a shield is majorly beneficial to any caster other than looks.

Even in PvE switching weapon is something that should be done by ever profession just because it helps. What bugs the heck out of me is seeing a warrior running between mobs with their vampiric weapon still equipped. If you are given 4 weapon slots and changing out involves pressing one button, what is so hard about it? I do have to shake my head when I see a monk that is carry some over price equipment and never switches out because then they would loose the e-pen.

A caster shield has its place in pve because when trying to keep a group alive you just don’t have the flexibility to run away at an instant. When you get a break you should be kitting and pinging for help.

I run 40/40 when trying to heal multiply targets, and a shield with "Soundness of Mind" and a +45 while enchant for when trying to shake an agro and a caster weapon with a focus item with a “Live for Today” when an extra bit of energy is needed. I also bring a staff with an enchanting mod if I am running an enchant build.

F1 – F4 for the win!!!

Two words, [protective spirit] and keep it on the tanks and that means reapply as needed.

I sit on my defensive set.
I don't sit on my 40/40 sets for two reasons... a) I only use my monk in areas like FoW/UW/DoA where there's always consets up b) sometimes I leave them on heroes and forget xD.
If I have enchantments in my bar, I bring enchanting swaps, etc.
I have a +30/-2e swap if I need it... I don't think I have at all in the recent past.

I get that each swap has its purpose... but if you're trying to say a shield swap is near useless, you need to either get better at the game or find a new profession. If you're going to do something, aren't you going to want to try and be as good at it as you can? Which means learning how to e-man and maybe staying on your low set a little bit longer?

There are four weapon slots... and only a small handful of common weapon combos:

~ defensive
~ 40/40
~ enchanting
~ low energy
~ high energy

Some of those swaps are more critical than others, and like I said before, if I'm running with celerities, I usually opt out of the 40/40 set and just carry the others. It depends on me bar.

//Edit// Another reason I like my low/defensive set is because it forces me to think before and with each cast. I have 25 energy on my low set, and in my mind, that is my "max" energy. I rarely swap up to my mid-set (40e?), and almost never see my high set (73e). It makes me a better player because I'm not a button-mashing monkey. When I monk with others in groups, I hear them 20 seconds into battle that they're almost out of energy, and I can't help but snicker... but then I see them PS-ing someone with degen, and using SoA-ing someone taking hex damage, or using Remove Hex on Conjure Phantasm when a caster has migraine.

U know they are doin just for looks, if they were doin it for fuction they be sporting the Aegis of Terror or Aegis of Augh, but DoA greens are so last year....
You know they are just using luck of the draw
not +lighting vs margo, + fire vs terror webs, or + earth vs titans

So if a Warrior can get spiked, why wouldn't you bring a shield set?

As for spiking, that Warrior was probably in Frenzy and was in an unlucky moment due to an error in choice and got spiked down within the duration of Frenzy.