Heroes and Caster Spears

Caster spears can go on monks (the only ones most likely set to avoid combat). I usually put +60 HP staves on the rest. I really don't want to have squishies moving farther out front than they have to. I do about the same. Heal or prot monks on avoid get spears and 20/20 offhands. Most other heroes get +30hp staves with +5e heads and either "Aptitude Not Attitude" or "Hale and Hearty" inscription, depending on the profession. I do use a 40/40 set on MM necro heroes. If nothing else, when a hero can't cast -- low energy, skills recharging, etc. -- he might as well at least do what damage he can, which will usually be more with a spellcasting weapon than a spear.

Also, if you bring along a hero carrying splinter weapon, he/she will waste it on the caster unless you micromanage. I'm not sure I follow. Splinter isn't going to any less damage on a caster unless the caster delays so much that it wears off with hits unused or the splinter carrier is dumb enough to recast it on the caster while the old copy still has hits left, is it?

I'm not sure I follow. Splinter isn't going to any less damage on a caster unless the caster delays so much that it wears off with hits unused or the splinter carrier is dumb enough to recast it on the caster while the old copy still has hits left, is it? A caster hero should be spending most or all of his time casting, not chucking spears, so I would expect most of the hits will wasted. If they aren't, it's probably a sign that the build needs some work. Also, the damage done to the target foe is going to be pathetic, since the caster doesn't meet the req of the weapon and has no spear attack skills. You can get the same type of problem with a hero monk carrying Strength of Honor or Judge's Insight. When I carry a Totem Axe, the hero will cast it on me, and I'm certainly not going to run into the front line to take advantage of the buff.

Since the AI seems to identify you by weapon based on these observations, the best use of a caster spear is for a non-combatant monk hero, to keep him from attracting caster hate in PvE. I haven't seen any actual data on whether this really works, but it sounds like a nice theory, so I go with it. But, being non-combatant, casting Splinter Weapon on him would be a guaranteed waste.

I like carrying a spear, myself. I can call a target without accidentally moving toward it, unlike an axe or sword. When solo farming, I can chuck a spear at a foe fleeing Sliver Armor to make him come back in range. I'm surprised that caster-modded axes and swords aren't extinct by now, given the advantages of a spear.