05-27-2005, 11:52 PM
So I've been building a defensive warrior on Terenas and enjoying it alot. I pretty much never leave defensive stance (I don't even really know what most the abilities in the other stances do, thats how little attention I give them). I also only ever play with a 1 handed weapon and a shield. I'm building a very one sided kind of warrior. I enjoy it though and thats fine. My computer lags way too badly for me to do any PvP and so thats not a consideration at all for me.
I actually find it kind of interesting how many people seem to complain about playing a protection speced warrior using 1H/Shield while soloing. I've found it to be great fun and haven't noticed any slowness at all. I think some of this may be because I have a different frame of reference than most people. My other main character is a priest who is built much like the last to die build. So while she does have mind flay and some points in improved mind blast, she doesn't have the other shadow damage increasing talents. I think that playing this character (and enjoying it) has made me more used to what others would consider slow play. So then the transition from this to my warrior leaves me without the slow play feeling that others seem to have. I guess my point here is that the other characters you play will greatly influence your feel for things. So if you are used to playing a rogue or other higher damage class, you will notice the speed change of playing such a warrior alot more than if you are used to playing a holy priest.
Anyway, thats not why I'm posting this. I'm posting this to get some thoughts on some talents that I am debating. I'll throw up my build now and put question marks where points are needed that I am unsure of. So basically, if its not a question mark then I am 100% sure I want that ability.
Shield Specialization Rank 5
?? 5 points somewhere
Improved Shield Block Rank 1
Defiance Rank 5
Improved Revenge Rank 3
Improved Sunder Armor Rank 3
Improved Taunt Rank 2
Improved Shield Bash Rank 2
Concussion Blow Rank 1
Cruelty Rank 5
Improved Demoralizing Shout Rank 5
Piercing Howl Rank 1
Deflection Rank 5
?? 8 points somewhere
So basically, I have 5 points to spend in some variation of anticipation, toughness, or improved bloodrage so as to get to the next level of talents. Then I also have 8 points to spend in whatever I feel like. Skills that look tempting to me being anticipation, toughness, improved bloodrage, last stand, one handed specialization, and more in improved shield block. So basically I have 13 points to divide up between those skills.
Currently I'm thinking 5 in anticipation, 5 in toughness, and 3 in one handed specialization. I keep looking at last stand and one handed spec and wondering if they would be better to get/max though. I could take 5 out of either anticipation or toughness, max one handed spec, pick up improved bloodrage, and get last stand. I also keep finding myself debating if more points would be useful in improved shield block, though I am leaning towards just the 1 point. It seems to me that in instances I will either be fighting multiple mobs and so have a higher chance of getting both blocks in or I will be fighting one mob and the group can handle it anyway without needing to worry about saving the rage of recasting shield block or anything like that. So then, is solo the only time when more in shield block is useful? If so, then it seems unlikely to be worth taking points out of something else.
So basically what I am looking for is some thoughts/advice/analysis of those skills. In the end game, is toughness or anticipation more worthwhile? Is last stand worthwhile or would those points be better spend in toughness/anticipation/one handed spec. Is one handed spec more useful to max than toughness/anticipation? Are there enough times when more than one point in improved shield block would be helpful to make it worth the points?
Some of these things have been hit on throughout this thread somewhat already, but I still find myself debating which way to go so I figured I would bring it all back up and see what people say
I actually find it kind of interesting how many people seem to complain about playing a protection speced warrior using 1H/Shield while soloing. I've found it to be great fun and haven't noticed any slowness at all. I think some of this may be because I have a different frame of reference than most people. My other main character is a priest who is built much like the last to die build. So while she does have mind flay and some points in improved mind blast, she doesn't have the other shadow damage increasing talents. I think that playing this character (and enjoying it) has made me more used to what others would consider slow play. So then the transition from this to my warrior leaves me without the slow play feeling that others seem to have. I guess my point here is that the other characters you play will greatly influence your feel for things. So if you are used to playing a rogue or other higher damage class, you will notice the speed change of playing such a warrior alot more than if you are used to playing a holy priest.
Anyway, thats not why I'm posting this. I'm posting this to get some thoughts on some talents that I am debating. I'll throw up my build now and put question marks where points are needed that I am unsure of. So basically, if its not a question mark then I am 100% sure I want that ability.
Shield Specialization Rank 5
?? 5 points somewhere
Improved Shield Block Rank 1
Defiance Rank 5
Improved Revenge Rank 3
Improved Sunder Armor Rank 3
Improved Taunt Rank 2
Improved Shield Bash Rank 2
Concussion Blow Rank 1
Cruelty Rank 5
Improved Demoralizing Shout Rank 5
Piercing Howl Rank 1
Deflection Rank 5
?? 8 points somewhere
So basically, I have 5 points to spend in some variation of anticipation, toughness, or improved bloodrage so as to get to the next level of talents. Then I also have 8 points to spend in whatever I feel like. Skills that look tempting to me being anticipation, toughness, improved bloodrage, last stand, one handed specialization, and more in improved shield block. So basically I have 13 points to divide up between those skills.
Currently I'm thinking 5 in anticipation, 5 in toughness, and 3 in one handed specialization. I keep looking at last stand and one handed spec and wondering if they would be better to get/max though. I could take 5 out of either anticipation or toughness, max one handed spec, pick up improved bloodrage, and get last stand. I also keep finding myself debating if more points would be useful in improved shield block, though I am leaning towards just the 1 point. It seems to me that in instances I will either be fighting multiple mobs and so have a higher chance of getting both blocks in or I will be fighting one mob and the group can handle it anyway without needing to worry about saving the rage of recasting shield block or anything like that. So then, is solo the only time when more in shield block is useful? If so, then it seems unlikely to be worth taking points out of something else.
So basically what I am looking for is some thoughts/advice/analysis of those skills. In the end game, is toughness or anticipation more worthwhile? Is last stand worthwhile or would those points be better spend in toughness/anticipation/one handed spec. Is one handed spec more useful to max than toughness/anticipation? Are there enough times when more than one point in improved shield block would be helpful to make it worth the points?
Some of these things have been hit on throughout this thread somewhat already, but I still find myself debating which way to go so I figured I would bring it all back up and see what people say