Shield Use vs Runestaff

[wharfrat70]

I'm sure there's a million threads about this. I'm just trying to get a feel for what people generally accept as the better route. I came back to GSIV after not having played since GSIII. My wizard is 41 and uses Shield / OHE. I've migrated everything away from OHE as I don't swing the weapon, but still have 40 ranks of shield use. I use a 6x shield and I don't think I can make up for that +30 DS using a runestaff - from what I've seen defender runestaves only provide a few points of DS. Of course, the runestaff will be lower DS in offensive. Since I spend most of my life in guarded, I am wondering how much of a DS drop I would be seeing by going to a runestaff. I just hate seeing those TPs sitting in shield use when I could use them otherwise. Any advice, comments, flames, welcome.

Thanks

[Suppressed Poet]

As a wizard, I strongly suggest runestaff. The DS drop isn't that big of a deal because wizards can get an absurd ammount through their spells. With the TPs you get back, just add some ranks into the 900s if you are really concerned with DS. Recently implemented runestaff flares makes the choice even more weighted. When you cast a spell, the flares from the runestaff have a chance to go off.

If you were one of the other pure professions that can take advantage of channeling with open hand casts, the decision becomes a bit more blurred. Even still, I suggest runestaff. When you get into the later trains, you may want to invest some TPs into CMANs for disarm and cunning defense.

[Suppressed Poet]

Also, a 4X runestaff adds directly to your defense on the enchant. You don't need a defender.

[audioserf]

I'm considering going shield/brawl post-cap solely to never have to worry about being disarmed. If disarm didn't exist, I wouldn't consider it. A runestaff is free DS. Sometimes more DS is nice, but for normal, non-invasion situations, you'll have more than enough with your spells, a coin, a statue, and maybe a few easily acquirable spells (dims, look, blues, colors).

[Suppressed Poet]

It does seem to be a popular debate post camp. Being disarmed sucks. Personally, I think standard 4x runestaffs are cheap enough that I would add in some cmans and deal with it. Maybe if I had gobs and gobs of TPs to waste I would reconsider.

For someone in their 40s, you have such a wide variety of hunting options to get around it.

[wharfrat70]

Thank you so much for your take on this. I really appreciate the insight.

[caelric]

5 ranks in disarm and 5 ranks in cdef should be enough defense against most disarm attempts, except for the really high open rolls. Those few rare times are outweighed by the extra DS from the runestaff and now, even more so, from the runestaff flares. If you are worried about losing a valuable runestaff to disarm, just eblade a plain one.

[Drew]

5 ranks in disarm and 5 ranks in cdef should be enough defense against most disarm attempts, except for the really high open rolls. Those few rare times are outweighed by the extra DS from the runestaff and now, even more so, from the runestaff flares. If you are worried about losing a valuable runestaff to disarm, just eblade a plain one.

I disagree that it should be enough. Even with a that cman training you're still going to be disarmed by like level stuff on non-open rolls.

[DaCapn]

Shield/brawl always seemed silly to me unless you're way post-cap. Sometimes I do a good 2-3 hrs worth of hunting before I realize I've had my runestaff stowed the whole time without much consequence.

[Suppressed Poet]

Shield/brawl always seemed silly to me unless you're way post-cap. Sometimes I do a good 2-3 hrs worth of hunting before I realize I've had my runestaff stowed the whole time without much consequence.

I do that all the time!

Also, this is fairly obvious to most, but just in case...you can go to guarded stance immedietely after casting. You may not have been doing this before if you trained in edged. I use the simplest SF script and I macro it:

put target random
put stance off
put incant (whatever bolt spell you want)
put stance guard

With your spells and in guarded stance, most things at level and above won't be anywhere near able to touch you. Even prone (with your runestaff), most critters at level can't get to me.