Originally Posted by
Darcthundar
I have done the leg work and now you can make an informed decision:
First, the DS numbers are for a 100 trained sorcerer self-cast spells (no 140) with max dodge/cm, 20+ magical trains/level and 7x shield and runestaff. No brawling weapon.
STANCE OFFENSIVE:
shield/runestave
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +516 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +90 = -41
A clean miss.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
runestave only
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +556 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +88 = -83
A clean miss.
shield/brawling
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +537 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +9 = -143
A clean miss.
STANCE GUARDED:
shield/runestaff
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +607 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +44 = -178
A clean miss.
runestave
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +742 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +23 = -334
A clean miss.
shield/brawling
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +673 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +27 = -261
A clean miss.
BRAWLING/TWC
guarded +1 twc
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +598 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +80 = -133
A clean miss.
guarded +95 twc
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +700 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +86 = -263
A clean miss.
offensive +95 twc
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +501 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +30 = -120
A clean miss.
NO NOTHING (disarmed)
guarded
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +515 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +81 = -83
A clean miss.
offensive
You swing a closed fist at xxxxxxxxxx!
AS: +368 vs DS: +452 with AvD: +17 + d100 roll: +39 = -62
A clean miss.
As you can see, post-capped runestaff DS is the highest. However, it should be noted I have 20+ trains of magical ranks/level. If I remember correctly, shield/brawling has a higher DS until you get between 12-15 magical ranks/level (it has been years and things may have changed). If one was to add a 7x brawling weapon to the mix, your DS would be over 700 in guarded.
I tend to agree. The pros of shield/brawling outweigh runestaff. You can still get brawling weapons with flares, acuity and/or enhanced. Whether you have 700 DS or 742 DS you still are not going to be hit. Add in the fact you can have added enhancive slots and in my opinion this is the better option. And I even have a runestaff that returns when disarmed. If you get disarmed with a runestaff chances are you will die. Not so with shield/brawling
I hope this helps.