How squishy are TWC pallies?

[phalen33]

I was curious, how squishy are TWC or polearm pallies? Only 15 now, but trying to plan what I want to do. I am sword and board at the moment and feeling invincible with a shield. However, it's a little boring poking away at things until they die. Bonding to a claid or lance at 25 and exploding some heads sounds good to me, but worried I might explode as well. From the guides I have read they say you can be a glass cannon or a uber tank. Just wondering how fragile can you really be in chain hauberk or plate? Any troubles going two hander for like 20-50?

[time4fun]

TWC Pallies are VERY squishy. You need good armor at higher levels.

Polearm shouldn't be a big issue, though the profession grants big perks with shield use.

[Nosh]

I've noticed that as I've gotten higher level I'm able to hunt pretty reliably as OHB/Shield.

I got a perfect morning star, and between that, 1625, and focused mstrike I can destroy critters pretty quickly. I'm sure it doesn't crit as often as a 2 hander does, but I don't generally find myself killing things through attrition as often anymore. Starting to pick up ambush ranks now too, so I imagine it'll get even better shortly.

(edit: does probably help that I'm GOS and tend to hunt hated enemies as often as I can, though)

[phalen33]

Thanks for the input. I guess I will stick it out for now with a shield. I think part of the problem is at 15 I don't have enough ambush ranks to hit anything with a falchion. Get failed to find an opening entirely too much.

[Alerion]

I switched to THC at a low level to take advantage of a claidhmore, but ended up falling in love with it. You are definitely not as invincible as you are with a shield, but your damage output is much faster. I have been hunting with a warrior a lot and we are able to take things down fast enough to mitigate the defense pretty often. You will want to put some points into dodge until you can get good armor, and you want to get into chain+ ASAP, but I only really take tons of damage when we get swarmed, and that's due more to my low Multi-Opponent Combat than my armor.

Basically, I'm finding very fun and very viable, even though it might not be the best set up for Pally. One note, if you do go TWC, you probably want something without Crit Weighting to take advantage of the paladin's Consecrate flares (starting at lv 25) on your bonded weapon. It seems either a high damage 2H (Maul or 2H Sword), or one of the heavier polearms, are better than a Claid in this case. But that's just my opinion.

[Shaps]

Everyone above makes some great points. I can only speak to my Paladin around level 70.

I've found that my DS in Offensive is nearly identical whether I'm using a shield (full 2x trained) or my pole-arm (full 1x dodge trained). I hunt in offensive and most times with zealot running using a pole-arm and hardly ever have DS issues. That is on the physical side, when it comes to bolts the difference is quite large.

But pole-arms are viable all the way through. Shields are as well. Paladins start to feel better around 35 or so.. then 50+ really start to shine. So I would say enjoy the process and develop your character as you envision him :) .

Glad you're enjoying the class so far.

[kutter]

My paladin has been poles from day one and I never felt like he was squishy. I only ever had real problems in warcamps before I got my MOC up to around 25 ranks then things seemed to get a lot better, not perfect but better, warcamps are still death on a stick. Mine is 49 and he swings a naginata and he is in augmented breastplate, he occasionally has issues with heavy casters and bolting but that is rare enough so I cannot recall the last time he died. Get 1X in dodge and stay light all the time has seemed to work real well for me.

[Enuch]

You could always try pole and 1x in shield use and use a javelin or trident. Flexibility to switch grips when you want to use a shield or go two handed.

[phalen33]

Thanks for the advice. I have been going back and forth on this. Since i'm still under 20 I decided to give it a try last night. I found that the ice mule cleric shop sells a 4x sanct battle axe. So far so good. Killing pirates in 1-2 hits instead of 3-4. If I hit a limb or head then it's coming off. My DS is about the same, but I am sure I miss a lot from not blocking attacks. I'll have to be careful with what I hunt.

Is there a big difference between polearms and THC? Seems two handers have better DF then polearms with the exception of lances. Also THC is 1 tp point cheaper.

[Erous]

I have 2 paladins 1 that's been OHB/Shield since the beginning and one that has been a polearm user since the beginning. Level ranges are about 70 for the OHB/Shield and close to 60 for the polearm. OHB/Shield is a dwarf, Lance is an Elf. I've also tried a Naginata with the dwarf paladin to give it some flavor. I used to think the OHB/Shield route was very efficient based on my training and shield paths. I've also been told I'm efficient in group hunting scenarios. At 70, running with a capped bandit group is no problem. Solo hunting in some areas with high maneuvers is a pain because he's fat. You're basically a meat shield and contingent upon racial choice, you can have a high attack. Using MoC with an OHB also yields very quick and repeatable mstrikes with no real stamina loss. Also, as an OHB user, you have SHITLOADS of training points. I mean f'n dumptruck loads of training points. However you want to customize your character you can.

The Elf is a little bit more squishy when it comes to toe to toe attacks, but his maneuver defense is far and above the dwarf even with a polearm. The lance tears through critters like warm butter, but attacks are much slower. Especially starting out, you don't have the AGI/DEX bonus unless you're a smaller race until later on in life to swing a lance at 5 seconds. Also, multi strikes take for-god-ever to get off. One of the things he really misses is bolt defense. Defenses against bolt attacks are significantly reduced when you go pole or THW vs shield. You also lack oh shit shield maneuvers like prop if you go the tower shield route. Additionally, training points are slim to none. VERY limited customization. Even up until 60 you're on as strict TP diet to be effective.

While comparing the two, the elf polearmer is by far and above a faster hunter than the dwarf OHB. The sheer amount of damage being put out with a lance is pretty significant, but with obvious tradeoffs. I will eventually spec him to be a THW user because I picked up a nice maul, and for comparisons sake I looked at TP costs. Eventhough THC is 1 tp cheaper, the savings over time is MONUMENTAL, allowing more flexibility.

It will come down to whether or not you want flexibility with your character early on. OHB shield gives you all the flexibility in the world, and while a little slower, is still a good hunter.