05-07-2004, 06:23 PM
In defensive stance (have never used it), do one still use rage? My impression is that you do. So how do you get a demoralizing shout of before you engage an enemy?
You still use rage. It is possible to build up your rage a bit before combat by using a defensive stance skill called "bloodrage". This basically is a slow trade of life into rage for a few seconds. It recently occurred to me that I can use this skill between battles to generate enough rage to cast the shout that increases your power. As for demoralizing shout, I usually do use a few normal attacks at the very start of a battle to get enough rage for it.
What really IS the difference with defensive stance? Do one take less damage? Less often hit? I should perhaps start experimenting with it.
There are a lot of differences. It does increase your defense by 10, but this isn't a really big deal. The biggest defensive help is probably that you get a skill called shield block, which can block an attack with your shield more often when used. There isn't any big damage booster like strike. But revenge can be used to get an extra attack each time you dodge an attack.
Defensive stance is very popular for group play because you can use the taunt skill to keep the enemies attacking you instead of the mages or rogues. The rogues and mages can then do more than enough damage to make up for you not using rend or strike.
Are those skills such as hamstring and pummel really of any use?
Hamstring can have two uses. One is to set up your own retreat, if you need to run away. More often, you use it to keep the enemy from retreating quickly, which is really useful against enemies who run for help. It will wear off after a certain number of seconds, so you have to pick the right time to use it.
Pummel is mainly to interrupt spells. (Defensive stance has an identical skill called shield bash.) Timing this attack right is difficult. But it can be useful at times. Earlier this push, I was fighting some harpies who heal themselves once during the battle. If I could recognize the healing cast and interrupt it, I could kill them much more quickly.
You still use rage. It is possible to build up your rage a bit before combat by using a defensive stance skill called "bloodrage". This basically is a slow trade of life into rage for a few seconds. It recently occurred to me that I can use this skill between battles to generate enough rage to cast the shout that increases your power. As for demoralizing shout, I usually do use a few normal attacks at the very start of a battle to get enough rage for it.
What really IS the difference with defensive stance? Do one take less damage? Less often hit? I should perhaps start experimenting with it.
There are a lot of differences. It does increase your defense by 10, but this isn't a really big deal. The biggest defensive help is probably that you get a skill called shield block, which can block an attack with your shield more often when used. There isn't any big damage booster like strike. But revenge can be used to get an extra attack each time you dodge an attack.
Defensive stance is very popular for group play because you can use the taunt skill to keep the enemies attacking you instead of the mages or rogues. The rogues and mages can then do more than enough damage to make up for you not using rend or strike.
Are those skills such as hamstring and pummel really of any use?
Hamstring can have two uses. One is to set up your own retreat, if you need to run away. More often, you use it to keep the enemy from retreating quickly, which is really useful against enemies who run for help. It will wear off after a certain number of seconds, so you have to pick the right time to use it.
Pummel is mainly to interrupt spells. (Defensive stance has an identical skill called shield bash.) Timing this attack right is difficult. But it can be useful at times. Earlier this push, I was fighting some harpies who heal themselves once during the battle. If I could recognize the healing cast and interrupt it, I could kill them much more quickly.