Shields...

[biostem]

Hey gang!  So I'm considering creating a shield user, and was looking for some input regarding what attack set to take with it, and whether I should go scrapper, tanker, or brute, (do stalkers get shields)?  I was considering elec for the double tp/rush abilities, but some of the other melee sets look enticing, too.  What are your thoughts?  Thanks!

[MunkiLord]

I have an Elec/SD and it's amazing, mobs just melt. Bosses aren't as fast as other sets, but they aren't a problem at all either.

 

And the answer to the AT is Scrapper, it's always Scrapper.

[biostem]

I have an Elec/SD and it's amazing, mobs just melt. Bosses aren't as fast as other sets, but they aren't a problem at all either.

 

And the answer to the AT is Scrapper, it's always Scrapper.

 

LOL!  Thanks!

[Hopeling]

Scrappers arguably get the most out of Shield Defense due to their higher damage scale and damage buff modifier, and it doesn't have enough resistance that the lower resist cap is especially relevant. So yes, it works at least as well for a scrapper as it does for a brute.

 

Elec/SD is a classic for the double telenuke. DM/SD is a strong combo with great synergy; DM has a heal and endurance recovery which shield lacks, and /SD has a strong AoE attack that DM lacaks. War Mace works thematically and offers excellent ST and AoE. Almost anything else pairs well with /SD too, honestly.

[Sir Myshkin]

I've been running around on a Rad/DA that has been a happy little ball of destructive force, and last night an Ice/SD Stalker gave me a run for my Influence. I will say, we were both heavily IO'd, our set bonuses were a mile long (I had to look). I was impressed enough that I've gotten an itch to maybe roll an Ice/SD myself as a replacement Shield character in my catalogue. I had a DM/SD on Live, very single-target focused, and this (Ice/SD) looks to be an option with some variance and decent speed.

 

 

[Murcielago]

Can't go wrong with Elec or DM/Shield but I'm a little biased.

[Shinobu]

Stalkers get shield.

 

On the one hand, I really like shield on a stalker, because they benefit a lot from an extra AoE.

 

On the other hand, shield is really best on a scrapper as has been pointed out.  (But nothing's stopping you from doing both!)

 

I don't have a strong preference on a primary.  I have an elec/shield and I like it a lot, but I also like other */shield combos such as fire/shield, MA/shield, etc.  Thematically broad sword/shield and mace/shield work very well of course.

 

 

[MunkiLord]

Can't go wrong with Elec or DM/Shield but I'm a little biased.

 

This

[Murcielago]

Can't go wrong with Elec or DM/Shield but I'm a little biased.

 

This

Are you agreeing that they're good picks or that I'm biased?  ;D :P

[justicebeliever]

Can't go wrong with Elec or DM/Shield but I'm a little biased.

 

This

Are you agreeing that they're good picks or that I'm biased?  ;D :P

 

Can’t it be a little of column A and a little of column B?

[MunkiLord]

Can't go wrong with Elec or DM/Shield but I'm a little biased.

 

This

Are you agreeing that they're good picks or that I'm biased?  ;D :P

 

Can’t it be a little of column A and a little of column B?

 

Also this. But I'm biased too. I love my Elec/SD, and using DM/SD for the 2 Scrapper STF made me love that one too.

[FUBARczar]

I'd take the following sets because they are solid all the way through:

 

StJ/SD

Rad/SD (have at 50)

War Mace/SD (have at 50)

Fire/SD

 

Lightning Rod is awesome, the rest of the set kinda sucks

Soul Drain is awesome, and set does well on ST, but on big teams/mobs the ST focus feels like tunnel vision - But great for AVs

[Eva Destruction]

Can attest to the awesomeness of DM/SD, although holy crapsnacks is it slow going at the earlier levels.

[biostem]

I ended up rolling an elec/sd stalker, but I may also roll a dm/sd scrapper.  Now my only issue is finding enough time to play them all...

[FUBARczar]

I ended up rolling an elec/sd stalker, but I may also roll a dm/sd scrapper.  Now my only issue is finding enough time to play them all...

 

Elec/SD is a better choice on a stalker, the AS (in and out of hide) covers up the poor ST dmg, and you still get Lightning Strike!!!

[Murcielago]

Can't go wrong with Elec or DM/Shield but I'm a little biased.

 

This

Are you agreeing that they're good picks or that I'm biased?  ;D :P

 

Can’t it be a little of column A and a little of column B?

[cprice]

I've been wondering about FM/SD myself. How viable is it late game? Does it take incarnate abilities to be "pretty good?"

[Murcielago]

I've been wondering about FM/SD myself. How viable is it late game? Does it take incarnate abilities to be "pretty good?"

It does well overall, it's a good mix of single target and aoe attacks.

[Gahzirra]

My favorite both on live and recreated is WM/SD.  It's a perfect combination of single target and AOE capabilities with amazing DPS.  The crunching sounds of war mace are so satisfying.

 

[Kruunch]

My favorite both on live and recreated is WM/SD.  It's a perfect combination of single target and AOE capabilities with amazing DPS.  The crunching sounds of war mace are so satisfying.

 

VERY end thirsty though  :(

[BeornOTNS]

What about a concept scrapper of BroadSword/BattleAxe/WarMace & Shield?

 

I have looked for a good build in Pines' and am at a loss for a scrapper/brute/tanker with a weapon and shield.

 

Anyone?

 

~Beorn

[Rockfall]

What about a concept scrapper of BroadSword/BattleAxe/WarMace & Shield?

 

I have looked for a good build in Pines' and am at a loss for a scrapper/brute/tanker with a weapon and shield.

 

Anyone?

 

~Beorn

 

Here's a WM/SD I've been playing up from the noob levels. It is very fun and super crunchy when applied to enemies. Mine is 17, so this is aspirational. I've kicked hasten in and out of the build. All the plain "knockback" IOs should be the FF chance for +rech (or kb to kd in shatter if you find that a bother). The reason hasten is out is because you have solid ST chain without it in pulverize/jawbreaker/clobber (optionally: shatter, but its slow animation) and a solid AoE chain in WM/CC/Shatter. Neither of those needs hasten, so I opted for other powers instead. You could probably reslot whirling mace with a set with more recharge focus and AoE on just WM/CC alone, turning Shatter redundant.

 

It does suck the blue bar though. The recovery temp power from pay2win makes it suck less, as does slotting (full) scrapper sets early. I figure unslotters are cheap on the market, I can pull a slot eventually when that's relevant.

 

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[Pyatra]

 

 

Here's a WM/SD I've been playing up from the noob levels. It is very fun and super crunchy when applied to enemies. Mine is 17, so this is aspirational. I've kicked hasten in and out of the build. All the plain "knockback" IOs should be the FF chance for +rech (or kb to kd in shatter if you find that a bother). The reason hasten is out is because you have solid ST chain without it in pulverize/jawbreaker/clobber (optionally: shatter, but its slow animation) and a solid AoE chain in WM/CC/Shatter. Neither of those needs hasten, so I opted for other powers instead. You could probably reslot whirling mace with a set with more recharge focus and AoE on just WM/CC alone, turning Shatter redundant.

 

It does suck the blue bar though. The recovery temp power from pay2win makes it suck less, as does slotting (full) scrapper sets early. I figure unslotters are cheap on the market, I can pull a slot eventually when that's relevant.

 

 

 

 

Which pay2win temp power are you using?  If its the pet... how the heck do you keep it alive?  I have never ran pets so I don't know if there is a keyboard command to tell the thing to stay way back and not aggro stuff but mine dies instantly in almost every encounter.

[Hopeling]

I'll second WM/SD. I liked it better than BS/SD, and I've played both to 50.

 

Which pay2win temp power are you using?  If its the pet... how the heck do you keep it alive?  I have never ran pets so I don't know if there is a keyboard command to tell the thing to stay way back and not aggro stuff but mine dies instantly in almost every encounter.

He's talking about Recovery Serum.

 

Most pets cannot be given orders at all. Mastermind pets and Lore pets are (I think?) the sole exceptions. Summon Backup will indeed die pretty quickly if you call him into a hairy situation.