cRPG

cRPG => Beginner's Help and Guides => Topic started by: Aztek on September 03, 2012, 06:55:44 pm

Title: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Aztek on September 03, 2012, 06:55:44 pm
Just wanting some advice on which you guys think is better, My build is almost done but I have 1 point that im not sure where to stick (*Insert joke here*) I'm a polearm/cav hybrid with some 1handed. And my question is would it be better to go from 4 in shield to 5, or from 4 ath to 5? I dont think ath really helps all that much with that extra point but not 100% on that either.. any advice?
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: TurmoilTom on September 03, 2012, 07:05:45 pm
The difference between 4 and 5 athletics is pretty substantial, whereas 5 shield will only get you a little bit extra hits on your shield and unlock the Huscarl's Round Shield.

Personally, it would be best overall to get both up to 5 if you're going for 15 agility, but if you had to choose between them I think athletics would be more worthwhile.
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Vodner on September 03, 2012, 07:38:41 pm
I've never tried 4 ath 1h, but it would probably be very painful to play 1v1 vs a balanced 2h or polearm build (which isn't an unlikely scenario if you get dehorsed).
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Macropus on September 03, 2012, 08:03:42 pm
Athletics is obviously better, making you not too slow in case of you got dehorsed or just playing on foot. As cav you mostly use your shield against ranged, so 4 shield skill is pretty fine.
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Huey Newton on September 03, 2012, 09:36:33 pm
best shield skill levels are 3,4,6
You unlock the elite cav shield, heavy round shield, and steel shield.
The 3 best in each's category
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Aztek on September 03, 2012, 09:45:15 pm
Thanks for the input guys, 5 ath it is =)
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: dreadnok on September 04, 2012, 09:30:19 am
If your carrying shiekd your ath is shot anyway. Steel shield is awful cause of the weight. And it goes down easy against an axe. The huscarl lasts longer. Heavy board shield lasts the longest but too heavy
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: isatis on September 04, 2012, 02:49:45 pm
best shield skill levels are 3,4,6
You unlock the elite cav shield, heavy round shield, and steel shield.
The 3 best in each's category

I mean... steel shield is the only shield at 6 shield skill

...

maybe we ain't talkin about same category!!

(5 ath ftw btw)
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Smoothrich on September 04, 2012, 03:23:04 pm
I've never gone over 4 shield skill even on 24 agility 1handers.  Elite Cavalry Shield will be what you use as a cav and it won't get much better at 5 skill, so leave it at that.  If spawning as infantry, a Heavy Round Shield is usually the best as its basically a baby huscarl.  Plated Round is popular too, but I never used it.

5 athletics makes you way deadlier in combat than a few more auto blocks, and anything above 4 shield skill is a crutch anyways.  Do you really want to be some elite scimi huscarl strength build scrub like all the bads?
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Zanze on September 04, 2012, 03:35:33 pm
The difference between 4 and 5 shield is negligible. Maybe one or two hits. You either get 4, or jump to 6. 5 Ath man, 5 ath.
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on September 04, 2012, 04:45:38 pm
Agreed with the consensus here.  Going from 4-5 athletics is a lot more important than 4 to 5 shield.  4 skill shields are my favorite ones anyways. 
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Huey Newton on September 04, 2012, 06:47:16 pm
I mean... steel shield is the only shield at 6 shield skill

...

maybe we ain't talkin about same category!!

(5 ath ftw btw)

Sorry,
By best in each category I meant,

Elite cav: Best usable-on-horse
Heavy round: Best value for infantry (1 slot coverage close to huscarl)
Steel shield: best metal shield

Shoulda been more specific
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: CrazyCracka420 on September 04, 2012, 06:49:45 pm
Elite cav is good, but knightly heater is better for horsemen IMO.  I'd rather have the knightly heater on foot or horse, but elite cav is good on foot too.  But I play in first person on horse, so the round shields cover up too much of my screen.  Besides that, the knightly heater has better resistance, which is what you want (HP isn't that important compared to resistance).

For coverage, the regular heater shield (at level 3 difficulty) is also good bang for your buck.  Not nearly as good as the 4 difficulty Elite Cav Shield, or Knightly Heater shield.
Title: Re: 4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?
Post by: Smoothrich on September 04, 2012, 07:17:37 pm
The knightly heater has better stats for durability sure, and I often take it as infantry.  Cav shield just gives a bigger shield, which means more of that bubble forcefield that makes people rage at cav so much.  Also more protection from ranged, the primary source of damage.

Personally I just don't use shield skill at all anymore, cav or no cav.  Time spent leveling up to put skill points in shield is time better spent demanding nerfs on ranged instead.