Swapping from Twig-User to Shield-Bearer?

[Maerit]

I've been a runestaff wielder for a while now on my sorcerer. Playing around on the test server, it seems like going with a shield allows me to bump my DS about 40 points, though this could be due to my over-training in spells (2.5x at level 40).

I've decided that training in excess to get 130 is not necessary now that I have 740 and 730 for rescuing friends, but I'm wondering if there's any particular reason to not switch to a shield use, and what might be a good training plan.

I was thinking of a training path like this:

Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Shield Use.........................| 151 51
Brawling...........................| 93 21
Physical Fitness...................| 105 25
Arcane Symbols.....................| 140 40
Magic Item Use.....................| 120 30
Spell Aiming.......................| 181 81
Harness Power......................| 160 60
Spirit Mana Control................| 141 41
Sorcerous Lore - Demonology........| 105 25
Sorcerous Lore - Necromancy........| 74 16
Perception.........................| 90 20
Climbing...........................| 90 20
Swimming...........................| 90 20

Spell Lists
Minor Elemental....................| 30

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 20

Spell Lists
Sorcerer...........................| 40


While I realize that 1x in say OHE would be slightly more DS, even with only .5x in brawling and 1x in shield use, my DS is 35-40 points higher than when I was full runestaff trained.

For a shield user, is there a max amount of magic item use ranks that one should aim for? I'm still not certain I will make the swap, but its definitely something to consider.

[mgoddess]

I'd personally drop the brawling and up my MIU to 1x, or up Elemental Mana Control to 1x (to go with your Spirit Mana Control).

While my sorcerer is only 20... actually, none of my shield-wielding magic-users (sorcerer, wizard, empath) are above 25, which may make a difference... I don't believe having brawling would make a difference with defense. Hmmm. I may have to go play on the test server with my magic/shield-users now, to see.

[Maerit]

Having .5x brawling at level 40 equated to 20 DS in guarded stance with an open hand. Training in a weapon skill will = defense as long as you are wielding a weapon. Training in brawling means your free hand is equal to a weapon, and thus you gain a DS benefit from the training. This is well-known, and yes I tested it as well.

However, is there a reason for 1x magic item use? I mean, after so many ranks, you can use any magic item in the game. I was under the impression that MIU, beyond a certain point, was only useful to runestaff wielders.

[Fallen]

Continued training in MIU increases the duration of your activations. It is great for small statues, and thurfel's ward/strength imbeds.

I have been shield/brawl from day one and never regretted it. I personally am 1x/1x, but you could skimp on the brawling if you desired, but you should really have a strong reason for doing so. If anything, I would say get extra spell ranks.

[7Seconds]

Higher MIU also helps when encumbered.

[Maerit]

Higher MIU also helps when encumbered.

In general, or just with using magic items? Because if its in general, thats pretty nifty.

[bluefish]

Being encumbered basically makes it harder to use a wand or other magic item...you can watch the bonus you get go down as you get more encumbered. It can even end up negative I believe if you don't have the MIU to balance it. So, if you have more MIU you will be at less of a disadvantage when encumbered and using magic items...but no, not in general.

As a runestaffer thinking of going brawl/shield myself, and currently 1x+ in AS and MIU, I am thinking of dropping both to 25ish since I almost never use scrolls or anything but small statues which don't require MIU. That amount will still allow you to read and use pretty much any scroll, get into the broken lands, wave a wand with ease under reasonable encumbrance. Overtraining basically gets you more duration, but I don't want to have to use many outside spells in the first place so I put my points elsewhere.

However the main reason I see to go brawl/shield is offensive DS...the difference between runestaff is shocking to say the least :P

[Fallen]

It is a bit of a funny situation. Using a runestaff your DS suffers, but you have more ranks in skills that can get you more DS, such as MIU and Arcane Symbols. Brawl/weapon and shield gets you more DS, yet people usually cut down on the two magical skills.

People love passive DS, i guess. I've always prefered having both.

[Maerit]

I doubt I would go any less than 1x in AS though. I prefer to be able to infuse scrolls for myself and others effectively. However, dropping my MIU doesn't seem to impact me too intensely. Out of curiousity, does MIU impact scroll infusion?

[Fallen]

Yes. MIU comes into play during the unlocking of spells. Being .75x or 1x'd in it is quite enough to manage. I was .5x (50 ranks) for a while and had little difficulty with any but the hardest spells. Moving up to 1x eliminated that problem, and going up to 2x was absolute overkill.