Why Shadow Balance over DPS Sage?

[Superkav]

Hi there!

 

I have a mid/low lvl Shadow, currently specced into Infiltration but I am thinking about trying out the shared tree, Balance. However, after having looked more into it I have come to ask myself this question:

 

Aside from the obvious aesthetic reasons, why choose a Balance Shadow over a DPS Sage?

 

I know there are apparent differences, such as:

 

- Talent-wise options, as in dps/tank (Shadow) or dps/heal (Sage)

- Shadow is melee/ranged hybrid whereas Sage is all range.

- Shadow has stealth, Sage has bubble etc.

 

Other than the nice benefits of stealth, I am curious to hear from you experienced guys why I should choose the Balance Shadow from a play-wise efficiency point of view. In particular, what outweights the fact that the Balance Shadow has to go in or near melee range and thus suffer greater risk than the DPS/Balance Sage? Higher armor, better self healing, etc.?

 

This is not supposed to be a troll. I have not played any of the AC's yet to any higher level and have no experience with how they perform in game. I could obviously try out both AC's but I just don't have the luxury of time to do so on mid-higher levels.

 

Please take bot PvP and PvE into consideration.

 

Thank you in advance. Cheers.

[TheMickey]

Honestly I've wondered the same thing. The changes to the tree itself are slight and there are very few generic shadow abilities that are overwhelmingly impressive for balance. I enjoy balance a lot myself and whenever I feel like going DPS for a day that's where I go. But... I made this character to tank. If I made a character just to be dps balance from the start I can't see much of any reason that I'd take shadow over sage. Seems like they are both exact same thing except one has 3 times the range

[Ahrounmoon]

You can't switch between shadow and sage.

 

If you like the rest of the shadow package, that's why you go shadow. Shadow exclusive abilities, the other talent trees, the fact that you're up in melee. If you like the sage alternatives on those, you go sage.

 

I wouldn't look at it as choosing between balance sage and balance shadow, because it should really be simplified down to sage or shadow. That's a choice you made a while ago at level 10. Balance is just a tree that links the two types of consular together. It's meant to show how shadows and sages both came from the same base class of consular as opposed to, for example, the knights.

 

Does that help?

[Alesh]

Well the gameplay is different. The Sage version is more about Telekinetic Throw, the Shadow version uses Double Strike, Project and Mind Crush.

 

But perhaps more importantly, it's possible to use that spec with Combat Technique, which would make you quite a bit more resilient, plus you still get the survival cooldowns of the Shadow even if you don't do that.

 

Also i'm not sure how well it'd work but it'd be possible to be mostly balance with Particle Acceleration.

[Sogar]

Actually, it really depends on what you are looking for : leveling and enjoying the quest line? High end PvE? High end PvP?

 

The reasons are all different for theses questions. Generally speaking though, it is in the general AC abilities that you will get your answer (as for PvP for example, balance shadows have stealth, taunts, resiliance and a real hybrid feel).

 

Edit :

 

@Alesh : It won't be possible after next patch.

 

For PvE, pure balance shadows have one of the best sustain damage out there (well we miss damage meters and being a melee can be a burden but they are one of the 2 best melee DPS outthere with the watchmen).

Edited February 2, 2012 by Sogar

[Superkav]

Thanks for the replies, guys. It helped a bit though I am still unsure:-) Guess only way to find out for sure is to invest more time in leveling both...