Hey All, and especially Vixara...

I was curious if you had any suggestions on whether or not to go 1hs or 2hs towards level 70. I have almost always used 1hs with a shield, but I have seen some of the 2hs out there and they are lookin' mighty nice. I picked up a Kettleleader Katana and a Voulge last night for my use after I ding to 63, but I was curious what the benefits/draw-backs are of using 2hs vs. 1hs. I know the shield move that paladins get won't work with a 2hs, but I think I can live with that if I'm doing some major damage with my giant meat cleaver of doom. I probably should know this stuff already, but for some reason it just never came up until now. Anyway, any information/guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
-Aranoth

I generally use a 1H & shield when in Defensive Stance, and a 2H when in Offensive Stance.  In fact...I change most of my armour and jewelry as well for stances.  Strength & Intelligence for Offence and Stamina, Agility and Wisdom for Defensive Stance.

With a 2H you lose the benefits of the shield for defensive.  Chogar / Polly recommended I try to go as offensive as possible, but if the healer(s) has a hard time keeping up, then start improving your defence, either by stance, or gear.

With my new AA lines, I have STA and STR.  The intent to so use a blunt weapon in Def stance and a shield.  It has a pretty good AoE knockdown and stun to help defensively.  Offensively, I am currently shopping for a 2H Greataxe for when I'm in offensive stance.  With my STR AA line there is a "haste" type effect for it.

When we do raids...it's good, but maybe overkill to have a really good weapon for each type, slashing, piercing and crushing.  Mobs have different resists for different weapons and sometimes our raid leaders will ask us to switch out gear for each type of mob we run up against.

Your Kettleleader Katana.....I think it out DPS'd my Voulge and pretty much any other weapon I have even though it's DR may be less.  I think it must be the proc.  Depends on if you have lots of strength too..the Voulge has a good strength to it, but the proc on the Katana still outweighed the Voulge.  Use it on a raid when someone parses damage....it's what I did.  Oh..be wary of the strength cap...I don't know what it is.  I think in the mid 500's at level 70.  So lots of strength may not affect damage up to a certain point.  Maybe someone can clear this up.

The Katana is what I used up until yesterday, probably will still use it on DPS occasions.

I solo in Offensive stance and use my ward and healing if things get tough.

But for my 2H Greataxe, I'm using my Pristine Imbued Xegonite crafted one until our guild & friends can get enough practice to do some serious raiding.  I'd love the Ardevaas, the Render dropped from an Amorphous Drake in I think Deathtoll in Bonemire.....or maybe even just settle for the Helmsplitter from a Monolith on the ravasect Island.  Guess I can dream can't I??

Vix




Edited by Vixara 8/24/2006 10:22 AM (Most Recent)