Advice

[Xeno]

Not flames.

I have just picked up TQ and despite the many performance issues I am enjoying the game enough to continue playing.

anyway...

I have played every line from 1-10 in levels (yes, not a lot) and decided that Defense is really the primary I like. It seems to offer the most. Warfare would possibly be my second... I guess I just don't like the caster options to this game (I play a mesmer in Guild Wars) so maybe I just like the under appreciated.

I have what, after reading these forums appear, to be some off ideas...

Such as using Battle Awareness with wolves (they will get the benefit from it)...

I am leaning towards a Juggernaut though... but it will have to wait until after the patch fixes the stat increases for the Earth line...

I like the idea of Ring of Flame.

The other option would be nature... but that seems to be a last and last option not a good defense and good offense...

are there any options I am missing?

[Mad_Bombardier]

First off Thank You for posting in the defense mastery forum! Welcome to the forums.

Warden is just plain fun! The combo of great defense (plus great shield attacks) and great offense from hunt is too cool for school. Also, nothing beats a Greece mythos based game than a guy (or gal) with a spear and shield.

"Come home with your shield, or laying on it" - A Spartan Mother equips her son.

[Felexitus]

Originally Posted by Mad_Bombardier

First off Thank You for posting in the defense mastery forum! Welcome to the forums.

so true all those class and skill threads in the gameplay forum annoy the hell out of me i just decided never to post in them from now on

juggernauts are said to be very easy on the first levels with their flame ring thats pretty cool imo. wardens, though they are extremely good and a very diverse class are more late bloomers. if you want an easy decision let this be an advice to you

defense has a load of skills youre going to want. if you dont want to spend half your time optimising a build get a secondary mastery that offers just a few extra skills you might want!

btw battle awareness + wolves is really not special at all O.o

on the missing out part: of course youre missing out as long as you are sure you dont want to play any other defense combo than guardian or juggernaut, and who can? but if i was you id be ok with it ;-)

just make sure you have no interest in:

-the stuns and retaliations a paladin offers,
-the straightforward play a conqueror offers
-the vast array of defensive skills the corsair offers
-the summons and cripples a spellbinder offers
-the immense consistent dps a warden offers

[Xeno]

Well...

It sounds as though Nature does not offer that much other than mucho health and healing... which I think defense can handle already. So that would lead me to the Warden... I do like the additional DPS of the piercing attacks.

I am suspicious of the corsair -- in my experience degen damage is usually worthless in these types of games.

[Felexitus]

corsair isnt about poison or bleed damage its about piercing spears, aoe poison debuffs and maybe traps

nature offers health via heart of oak and damage vial heart of oak and strength of the pack. also it offers a permanent collossus /rally / quick recovery via refresh

[Xeno]

Would not warden be better for piercing spears than corsair?

[Kaithor]

I'd think so. I've started up a Warden after shelfing my Soothsayer (no ternion at all. Go me!), he's hovering at around 35 right about now, and damage wise, its pretty incredible.

What I like about it, though, is the vast array of stuff he can do. All the cool sorts of attacks he can pull off, its just really fun to see my guy charge into a group of enemies, slam them to the ground, only to have my next attack occur with the shield and smack the next few to the ground, and then bat the rest to the ground.

[Ion Silverbolt]

Spears do insane damage but I still use a sword on my Corsair. Reason being is I can get off a swing(s), slow a group of monsters, and then get out of the way before I get scewered by a fat spear.
Most of your damage on a Corsair is from the shield also. Quicker weapon = more shield strikes.

I still use a spear on switch though. Lethal Strike loves spear damage. And hopefully I can find one with a fast enough attack speed for constant use.

As for poison, I think it's still nice as a supplemental damage type provided you have a good source of it like a Deathweaver's Legtip or something similiar. Just have a backup weapon for undead and constructs.

Speaking of which, they should have made disarm traps do bonus damage vs. constructs. I might actually put a point in it then.

[Felexitus]

Originally Posted by Ion Silverbolt

Speaking of which, they should have made disarm traps do bonus damage vs. constructs. I might actually put a point in it then.

aye!

of course wardens are better dps wise and deal more pierce damage(maybe not with perfect equipment though) but wardens never even close to reach the defense a corsair has, corsairs are probably the most defensive class around

[Xeno]

Hmm...

Well I have leveled on Defender up to 15 and another to 11... when is it right to choose a secondary...

Given my experience so far I think I want to add DPS to the mix more than more defense... despite liking the corsair name.

What skills would a melee paladin take?

What skills would I take with champion?

Is there a good combo with Spellbinder (melee)?