Vulak Axe vs. Tunare Sword

[Balimon]

Originally Posted by Solist [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Thats not how shield AC works broski.

There is a worn item AC 'cap' in which returns on mitigation AC diminish above that cap. Shields are in addition to this worn AC cap. As far as I'm aware nothing that is a weapon adds mitigation AC at the full rate of return.

That said, returns on AC above the worn AC cap are still ridiculously strong for most classes so it's always better to stack it anyway.

300 worn AC soft cap for a paladin, so anything above that you add up on each item is adding 34% of the effective mitigation AC. But the displayed number is still the same. So if you were naked and put a vulak axe on, you get the full benefit of the 80AC. If you're geared above 300 worn AC, you get the effect of 27AC. A 50AC shield however would give you 50AC.

Distinguishing what offhand items are shields is harder, the bash test is one way.

I also don't know if the tunare sword of vulak axe are shields either, they very well might be. Would take an hour or so either way to parse. By being above worn cap with a couple of items removed, and tanking something with vulak axe, then adding 80AC from something else like statue breastplate and vulak ear and removing axe. Should get identical results. 27 to 80AC is a fairly big difference and would show up on a cliff golem or something without having to endure hours of clicking a hosh staff on someone.

TLDR: Your displayed AC number is just a number, does not reflect whats going on behind the scenes. It always displays the worn AC amount+defense modifier regardless of if it's above or below a class cap.

This is how most understand AC to work, there may be some debate as to what the actual softcap is though. I was just shocked to see Rip claim that those weapons add shield AC, never heard that before. I wonder if he would lump Nature's Defender in there as well with 45 AC.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by Solist [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It’s very interesting. Like, people who play shadowknights fear kite for maybe 5 hours total of the entire toon. Then somehow parade it as some skill. Like rangers fear kiting in solb for 1-2 levels. Doing so anywhere isn’t a special thing, and nobody with any real amount of gear ever does as it’s the most asinine boring thing you can do short of playing a shaman. Solitaire is more engaging than these shit ways to play eq.

Thank you for conceding that fear kiting is not simply something people do in Dreadlands while leveling. Your opinion on how often people fear kite is baseless.

If you don't like fear kiting, that is perfectly fine. Some people like fear kiting, such as myself. It is also more efficient than face tanking generally speaking, so that is nice too!

[Dundrige]

Originally Posted by DeathsSilkyMist [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Thank you for conceding that fear kiting is not simply something people do in Dreadlands while leveling. Your opinion on how often people fear kite is baseless.

If you don't like fear kiting, that is perfectly fine. Some people like fear kiting, such as myself. It is also more efficient than face tanking generally speaking, so that is nice too!

Yes. We all have different play styles. That is what makes the world a very fun place.

I think I will go with Tunare sword. The fashion quest is undeniable.

[zati]

have both but I don't play anymore tho.. only 3 practical uses for tunare sword over vulak axe I can remember is:

1. Max mana on solo challenges.. Equip PD robe+Tunare sword that's like 2-3 free drain souls at the start of battle then swap to vulak/ac bp cuz its gonna be a 10 min + fight rofl

2. Keeping aggro off rangers. Their nonstop procs will eventually kill ur mana esp in Crypts seb or anywhere fast paced xp grouping when clarity isn't available. only have this prob with rangers. Root solves everything

3. Fashion, vulak axe looks like a newbie weapon

almost certain weapon AC is not shield ac it's why sks always carry an extra shield even if their main weapon is 2H to take least amount of dmg when running thru mobs, making trains / pulling esp in VP some wurms hit for 1200 dmg max hit. you basically will die in 5 hits (6kdmg) but if you have high AC and shield you get 5 "roll the dice".. imagine getting hit 5x for 600 instead in a short time frame that you might be able to escape its melee range or buy time to hit wort pots/reaper

[Dundrige]

Originally Posted by zati [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

have both but I don't play anymore tho.. only 3 practical uses for tunare sword over vulak axe I can remember is:

1. Max mana on solo challenges.. Equip PD robe+Tunare sword that's like 2-3 free drain souls at the start of battle then swap to vulak/ac bp cuz its gonna be a 10 min + fight rofl

2. Keeping aggro off rangers. Their nonstop procs will eventually kill ur mana esp in Crypts seb or anywhere fast paced xp grouping when clarity isn't available. only have this prob with rangers. Root solves everything

3. Fashion, vulak axe looks like a newbie weapon

almost certain weapon AC is not shield ac it's why sks always carry an extra shield even if their main weapon is 2H to take least amount of dmg when running thru mobs, making trains / pulling esp in VP some wurms hit for 1200 dmg max hit. you basically will die in 5 hits (6kdmg) but if you have high AC and shield you get 5 "roll the dice".. imagine getting hit 5x for 600 instead in a short time frame that you might be able to escape its melee range or buy time to hit wort pots/reaper

What practical use cases does a Vulak Axe have over Tunare sword?

[zati]

Originally Posted by Dundrige [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What practical use cases does a Vulak Axe have over Tunare sword?

DPS is way higher because its delay is over 40 it receives 2H bonus dmg and the proc is unresistable 80 dmg/80 heal. In long fights 10 procs is 800 dmg 800 hp heal whereas a tunare sword is 160dmg druid root which can be resisted and partial damage iirc and if you're fighting a summoning mob that won't really help much. Not to mention it has +25 dex. Unless you are rolling with a shaman 24.7 most SK's don't have max dexterity even with focus buff

Easiest way to look at it is if you want to do grouping crawling then I'd personally go with a tunare sword but it doesn't mean the axe is any less superior...doubling for 300s+ was fun and the faster you kill stuff means you take less damage overall

[Toxigen]

its not even a question vulak is better in 90%+ of scenarios

unless you can get tuna on the cheap, save for big V

[Naethyn]

Knights don't have triple attack so who cares.

[Toxigen]

Originally Posted by Naethyn [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Knights don't have triple attack so who cares.

I watched Sudz solo wreck Sebilis the day he got his palladius. He was happier than a pig in poo.

Said it was noticeably better than tuna.

For solo artist stuff, no question vulak. Nobody cares otherwise I guess.

[Snaggles]

Originally Posted by Solist [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It’s very interesting. Like, people who play shadowknights fear kite for maybe 5 hours total of the entire toon. Then somehow parade it as some skill. Like rangers fear kiting in solb for 1-2 levels. Doing so anywhere isn’t a special thing, and nobody with any real amount of gear ever does as it’s the most asinine boring thing you can do short of playing a shaman. Solitaire is more engaging than these shit ways to play eq.

Lack of excitement doesn’t justify killing stuff inefficiently.

Even with BiS fear kiting stuff is extremely fast, mana efficient, and results in less damage taken. I understand if you don’t have the right zone/mobs for that and have to stand toe-to-toe but both rangers and SK’s have garage HP recovery systems, ie no jasper powered heal toy.

Outside levels 1-45 with a Fungi or stunt videos at 60 there is a huge range of levels and xp where as annoying as it is, you are better attacking a slowly fleeing mob than taking hits. If you can avoid it that is.

As for who has a Tunare sword at level 46 and can’t fear kite? Who cares? The real play is a Dawncall spear and destroying Karnors. If you have a Tunare sword you probably have one of these too. Grats on having quite a fun alt.