W/E (My first build) - Please Critic

So, so far this is only an on-paper build. Im going to be making it as soon as I post this. Basically I wanted something that was effective but not boring and overdone like W/Mo (sorry guys... but don't worry, you can rest knowing that when this build blows up in my face Ill end up conforming- also I looked around and there weren't many builds which I found fun, I may try to make one of my own). I looked around for some ideas and saw that W/E was a build of medium use. So then I sat down and looked at its skills and tried to make something with which I could solo medium-level areas, such as the Sand Drakes and Griffons, and with which I could group-fight higher areas. So basically what I am asking is if this build will be a good team-player (a tank maybe), and will it be able to hold its own in some medium-level farming (drakes, griffons, Hydras(...I can only hope). Here is the set-up:

Healing Signet
Riposte
Magnetic Armor
Gash
Severe Artery
Disciplined Stance
Armor of Earth
Ward Against Mele

The skills will be distriputed so Tactics get the most, then Earth Elemental, then Swordsmanship.

Its been a while since I have played this game (I quit around June), so Im not sure what has changed, but, this looks like a good build which, when all the defenses are added up, will be able to hold its own. This is the attack sequence I was thinking about:

Pre-Cast;
Disciplined Stance
Magnetic Armor
Armor of Earth

Battle"
Severe Artery
Riposte
Gash
Riposte
Severe Artery on another guy
Riposte
Gash on another guy
Heal when needed

It looks like it would be decent, and when going up against like guys in the Dragon place, Id go with a team, and hopefully monks would help heal me.

Oh, and also, since I don't use any Strength skills would a E/W be a better idea for Energy? My only grief against that is that the Armor dosen't give enought Defense, but with all the defense spells this might not be a problem...

Also, Im now thinking about switching out Severe Artery for Deadly Riposte... it does take energy but essentially it does cause bleeding which is why I have severe artery in the first place... any thoughts?

Thinking about it, a way better idea would be a E/W where the W is for defense and E is for damage, seeing as how it is probably more likely to work. Here is what I was thinking:

Aura of Restoration
Deadly Riposte
Magnetic Armor
Earthquake
Aftershock
Disciplined Stance
Armor of Earth
Ward Against Mele

It would, essentially work the same way, where the pre-cast is:
Armor of Earth
Disciplined Stance
Magnetic Armor
Aura of Restoration

Then as the battle starts I would cast Earthquake, followed by Aftershock for suppementary damage. Then I would cast Ward Against Mele and follow it up by spamming Earthquake, Aftershock, Deadly Repoiste and re-casting the pre-casts when needed.

The energy pool would be greater and more damage would be delt without sacrificing healing (the aura which will heal me whenever i cast) or defense...

If it's E/W, you're in the wrong forum.

Also, W/E will beat E/W in a melee fight... Why?

Simple fact. Which character was Lord of the Melee...?