OHE Vs Runestaff..

[Ramus]

OK then I was wondering something as it seems I cannot get my DS above 217 without other than self cast spells:

I am a runestaff wielding Sorceror and I was wondering the Pro's/Con's of going OHE and shield... my training can be found on the thread time's about up.

[Drew]

Your DS should be a wee bit higher with sword and shield than runestaff, but not by a whole lot.

Also, I tend to think that you get pushed down less on an ambush when you use OHE/sheild compared to runestaff, I haven't done a lot of testing, it's just my feeling.


When you are younger having a sword is a nice way to finish off something and save some mana, you can whack it a few times after you hit it with some spells.

As you get older it's more of a style choice I think. Do you imagine your sorcerer using a sword or is he the type of magician who would never touch an edged weapon?

[Izalude]

Runestaff Pros:
You can parry bolts, ranged and magical.
You can focus all your training points on magical skills.

Cons:
Your DS suffers, especially in offensive.
If you get disarmed, you're dead. You don't have a shield to fall back on.


Weapon/Shield:
Pros:
Higher overall defense, assuming you're .5 or .75x

Cons:
Unreasonably high training costs for shield.
No chance to parry a bolt, magical or ranged.
DS ranks from weapon/shield are pretty much insignifigant, past 25 ranks.

[Izalude]

I've got 2 pure casters that I play. The older one is a sword/shield user. I got his equipment altered rather nicely before GS4 was released, and couldn't bring myself to locker or sell them. He can stand in offensive blasting everything for the most part, and not worry about stance dancing and getting hit. His DS is high enough, so that creatures his training can't touch him.

The second is a more traditional halfling wizard, who uses a runestaff. This guy, on the other hand goes *SPLAT* if he's caught in offensive with his runestaff out.

What it all boils down to really is an RP choice. Which suits your character more?

[Drew]

On top of that, I forgot to mention that sword and shield will give you a higher bolt DS.

[Keller]

what base are runestaffs? Could you help out the magical bonuses by training in that base, even 40 ranks by cap would be an enormous help

[Praefection]

I'll chime in here. My main girl who is a pure goes with a staff and I love it. It suits her more RP wise and she quit using a weapon when she was around eleven trains. Generally she doesn't get hit by things she hunts her own age. With the help of scrolls and society powers I can hunt in stance guarded or at times higher, depending where she's at. Granted she's only level 33 so it might change as she gets older.

[AnticorRifling]

Go polearms.

[Gan]

I'd go runestaff for your sorcerer (IMO) due to open-handed casting strength just helps you that much more. Overall DS is not as good as with blade/shield but until you start facing opponents that ambush, your hunting should be survivable/managable as long as you know when to call it quits and dont mind walking away with some scratches.

Just be aware of opponents that disarm and give those a higher strike priority, and be prudent when more than one of that type is in the same room.

My sorcerer is a runestaff user and fares quite well hunting when I dont act stupid or push the envelope. He also wears robes (armor) that go with the runestaff to fit his RP.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

I use a runestaff and hunt in offensive all the time, I love it.

[Drew2]

Self-spelled, I can hunt in neutral (with runestaff) and nothing can touch me.

Then again I just pwn so I can't expect you to be that good.

[Edited on 11-10-2004 by Tayre]

I personally hate runestaves. Open handed casting for a sorcerer is so over rated that it makes me ill. I've never hunted open handed and I survive just fine and *ALWAYS* finish with mana in my head.

Also, hunting in guarded prevents stupid shit from killing me, such as getting knocked on my ass, cheap stacked RT, or being stunned in a bad position.

The DS is invaluable. Guarded with a sword and shield is the way to go, in my opinion. I 1x in both shield and sword and honestly, I don't miss anything. My spells work just fine, I can fry under a pulse, and I can activate any magic item I please.

- Arkans

[Ramus]

Arkans, wanna help me tweak so I can be more like you?