Paladin weapon/shield vs 2hs

[nuuki]

To preface, I've never played a paladin before at any point, but with velious around the corner and the eventual hybrid penalty removal, I decided to make one.

I got to level 20, and about to head out to Unrest. I picked up a Ghoulbane and Sarnak Battle Shield and figured I was set, until someone laughed at me for using sword/shield on a Paladin, which I didn't understand.

Apparently Paladins should be played as 2hs or 2hb? Is this a well known fact that I wasn't aware of or was it just one person's opinion?

Interested in some thoughts on this and likely other options and suggestions on weapons or shields if my Ghoulbane and Sarnak shield aren't necessarily ideal :)

[evilkorn]

I think people tend to play to the undead side of the pally/cler side. People stay in unrest for so long because of undead procs and nukes. I'm not sure how it stacks up dps wise, but 150dd proc factored in with a couple stun casts can would be pretty nice way to solo as a pally.

[Swish]

Keep the shield on, your group will thank you when the cleric isn't suffering so much...at later levels particularly you're going to have a lot less HP than your ogre warrior pals.

Skill up 2h weps if you're soloing and/or bored :p

[Champion_Standing]

2h is ultimately going to be superior for dps and aggro generation

[Daldaen]

2HB (like Baton of Faith or Granite Face Grinder) are the best DPS weapons you will have until your epic.

Shield is useful to bash interrupt casters like Festering Hags and the sort. Also it's another slot for more stats/HP if you are needing it when tanking.

In a group, there's not much difference between the two as your DPS is negligible and the stat increase from a shield isn't huge either. But I'd opt on shield/sword until epic'd for bash purposes.

[Swish]

2h is ultimately going to be superior for dps and aggro generation

You've got FoL/stun for aggro generation.

Lets not forget how many rogues have their epic at level 1 and many are crap at evading.

Give the cleric a hand, keep your shield on - let the dps classes do the dps.

[Ezalor]

always sword and board in groups, always two-hand when soloing

[Monty405]

will this change when 2 handers get their damage bonus? Thats in velious, is it?

[Zalaerian]

Yes. Paladins will go from meh on red to god mode top teir class in velious in red. I'm seeing all the paladin rerolls coming out now

[Ezalor]

the 2h bonus patch won't come out until 9-12 months after velious releases

[Champion_Standing]

You've got FoL/stun for aggro generation.

Lets not forget how many rogues have their epic at level 1 and many are crap at evading.

Give the cleric a hand, keep your shield on - let the dps classes do the dps.

When I last played my pally I could not hold aggro over the bad rogues with my 1h, and they even complained about me using blind because a few of the mobs did that sliding around shit, I lol`d

But I do generally agree that the shield is the way to go as a group tank. Best bet is to have both ready to go.

[curtischoy]

always sword and board in groups, always two-hand when soloing

This. Also you have a great wep and uber shield for your level.

[Jaleth]

When I last played my pally I could not hold aggro over the bad rogues with my 1h, and they even complained about me using blind because a few of the mobs did that sliding around shit, I lol`d

But I do generally agree that the shield is the way to go as a group tank. Best bet is to have both ready to go.

Yeah I think its funny when WoW players come along a mash dps as hard as possible. Aggro management is everyone's responsibility, not just the tanks.

[Taryth]

Why would someone laugh? Do they really think a Pally with a 2H vs a Pally with a 1H is a huge difference?

I'd rather take the shield + 1H for bash and uncontested shield AC. As Swish says, your clerics will thank you.

[webrunner5]

2HB (like Baton of Faith or Granite Face Grinder) are the best DPS weapons you will have until your epic.

Shield is useful to bash interrupt casters like Festering Hags and the sort. Also it's another slot for more stats/HP if you are needing it when tanking.

In a group, there's not much difference between the two as your DPS is negligible and the stat increase from a shield isn't huge either. But I'd opt on shield/sword until epic'd for bash purposes.

Well written. Good stuff. :D

[Kutsumo]

It's situational... If you don't have twinked melee DPS making things die instantly and the healer isn't struggling for mana, there's nothing wrong with busting out the baton of faith to help hurry things along.

[Issar]

Keep your 2h, 1h, and bash skills up. You'll want a shield handy for interruptions.

[Aviann]

When I last played my pally I could not hold aggro over the bad rogues with my 1h, and they even complained about me using blind because a few of the mobs did that sliding around shit, I lol`d

But I do generally agree that the shield is the way to go as a group tank. Best bet is to have both ready to go.

I'm not sure what you were doing wrong, but this is definitely an odd case. Aggro generation should not be an issue for your weapon to decide on. The only time 2h is really potent is if by some odd reason you have a badass 2h and a shitty 1h and shield. Otherwise its mainly only used for extra dps on mobs that you aren't tanking (like during raids). Otherwise always keep the shield on.

As for the aggro thing, if you are blinding a rooted mob, it will still prox aggro... That's the only thing I can see that you are doing that would allow a bad rogue to keep aggro over you with FoL. To quick fix the sliding thing, keep root memmed. Its an aggravating bug that becomes intense in high level situations.

[Alanus]

When in a group and tanking mobs you might have issues with and have enough DPS, use a shield.

When in a group with lower DPS and/or tanking mobs you have little issue tanking, then use a 2h. Baton of Faith for like 75pp is the best deal on the server, in my opinion.

[sktank]

Shield also gives you bonus AC. Even if the shield says 10 AC your probably getting 15-20 AC. Unequipt it/ equipt it to see the difference

[Mistle]

Unless fighting serious casters a paladin using a one hander over a baton of faith (or better) is doing it wrong. It isnt even close. You arent saving clerics any mana with the puny difference shield ac makes. You are saving mana by making the mob die faster though and from 20 on its a very noticable difference.

Dont be bad. Put the shield away and actually contribute to the group.

[Ezalor]

Unless fighting serious casters a paladin using a one hander over a baton of faith (or better) is doing it wrong. It isnt even close. You arent saving clerics any mana with the puny difference shield ac makes. You are saving mana by making the mob die faster though and from 20 on its a very noticable difference.

Dont be bad. Put the shield away and actually contribute to the group.

found the server's most terrible paladin guys

[curtischoy]

Unless fighting serious casters a paladin using a one hander over a baton of faith (or better) is doing it wrong. It isnt even close. You arent saving clerics any mana with the puny difference shield ac makes. You are saving mana by making the mob die faster though and from 20 on its a very noticable difference.

Dont be bad. Put the shield away and actually contribute to the group.

The difference in dps of 1h v 2h is puny. Not the difference between shield and no shield.

found the server's most terrible paladin guys

[Swish]

Most paladins quit before 50 anyway.

[Mistle]

The difference in dps of 1h v 2h is puny. Not the difference between shield and no shield.

Wrong.

Its okay though. Lots of people going off their gut in this thread rather than learning the facts. They're the baddies with sword and board on regular mobs and then complaining no one wants a pally in a group.

[Ezalor]

Wrong.

Its okay though. Lots of people going off their gut in this thread rather than learning the facts. They're the baddies with sword and board on regular mobs and then complaining no one wants a pally in a group.

i don't think it's any wonder why people have bad impressions of the paladin class after grouping with you

you don't even know the basic role of the class

[Mistle]

Wrong.

I just understand how to actually make it contribute. But you stand there with your little shield pretending that you are actually helping in any way beyond casting stun and fol while your group finds excuses to drop all you like. Less competition for me. :-)

[tristantio]

I thought on this era shield doesn't apply separate from normal AC cap (it's just treated as if it were the same AC as your breastplate).

If you're level capped for gear AC, shield won't be doing a whole lot (other than bash - but you can swap out your 2h and put on a shield for bashing when needed on the fly).

Also - all armor gets the bonus AC if you're a plate class (equip a 10 AC breastplate, watch yourself get 15AC). I think warriors get 2x not 1.5 but I may be misremembering.

[Mistle]

Not just "not a whole lot", you literally NEED a parser to see the difference even under optimal conditions.

These things are easily tested, even solo. Go fight a mob with each setup. See the difference. If it were close then arguments could be made... but its not. The difference that pitiful amount of ac makes is nowhere near enough to offset improved dps and aggro generation from far superior ratios on cheap two handers. After epic you cant even claim bash anymore. Sword and board after 20 is a bad paladin unless the target requires bashing and you are pre epic. There is no excuse for not having a baton.

[username17]

I have a 56 pally which I play often so I can speak from experience. Paladin DPS sucks no matter what weapon you use. My 35 monk with a IFS hits harder and more often than my pally with Her epic.
I personally used a Sword of the Morning and Sarnak shield until I got my Fiery Avenger and then Defender. Once I was 30 I started carrying my Soulfire and a Baton to keep my skills up. But when the going got tough I went back to sword and shield.
A paladins job is to be the best group tank while offering support via heals, stuns on mobs beating the enchanter or clerics face in, and maybe doing some root parking or lull pulling. Some people like to see big numbers and feel like they're helping kill the mob faster. I think that's where the 1h vs 2h debate comes from. I gave my paladin a haste item, but I had no delusions about my role. I am tank/support/heals, not DPS.

Whoever said using a Ghoulbane in Unrest at 20 is a bad idea is wrong. I was using my Ghoulbane in CoM at 40 and it was making a difference then. Imagine it's effectiveness at 20. The undead mobs just melt.

Regarding blind, I've found that sometimes (due to lag I guess) the game doesn't think I'm in melee range when I am. If I blind a mob when this happens it will run. My solution is to hit the mob atleast once (we miss a LOT, so stunning them in place first helps) and THEN blind. That tip should help.

I am by no means a Paladin expert. But I absolutely love my Paladin and enjoy playing her. Hit me up on one of the toons in my Sig if you have any questions. Or you can PM me on the boards.

[Colgate]

top end paladin 1handers dominate 2handers in terms of DPS on this server

no one takes your parse of shit tier weapons seriously dawg

2hand damage in general on this server sucks

[Rooj]

I don't understand why people are so set into one playstyle. On my Ranger I have always carried about multiple types of equipment, a STR set, a tanking set, MR set, DEX set, etc. What is stopping anyone from carrying around both a 2H and a 1H+Shield and switching accordingly...? A good player will carry both and even when using a 2H will swap in their shield to interrupt spell casts.