Avanaco Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Please discuss your experiences leveling as a Shield Specialist Vanguard. My "end goal" for my Vanguard is to tank, but so far I've been leveling DPS because typically tank leveling is slow and cumbersome. However, I don't like just sticking on Ion Cell, lieing to people telling that I'm a tank, and "tanking" in an Assault build. It pretty much disallows me from using what would be my greatest threat generator at this point: the ion pulse->high impact bolt combo. So I would like to go level in Shield spec, but I fear it would be awful. I'm wondering about others' experiences - ie. out of the norm spec choices to make leveling more comfortable while still making tanking realistic.... companion choices.... etc. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazraven Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Leveling as Shield Spec is fantastic. Especially when you get your healing/dps companion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avanaco Posted December 22, 2011 Author Share Posted December 22, 2011 (edited) Leveling as Shield Spec is fantastic. Especially when you get your healing/dps companion. I've got my dps companion (Aric), and I'm making headway now toward my healing companion (on Taris I believe?) Anyway, you don't find it terribly slow or anything? I notice that there's not a lot of DPS boosts... actually there's not even any significant defense boosts in the low end of the shield spec tree. Or do you spec a hybrid dps/tank spec for leveling? I imagine you run around with a DPS offhand while leveling, as well? Ps. \m/ the sig Edited December 22, 2011 by Avanaco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darguth Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Things got much more enjoyable once I got Elara Dorne. Once you get to Taris I fully recommend skipping all side content until you get her, then go back and do the other quests. You can, theoretically, use C2-N2 as a pocket healer until you get her but with the lack of any damaging abilities it's not very good. Elara actually puts out some OK damage while healing you. Overall, I really enjoy leveling as my Shield spec. My durability along with my pocket healer companion mean that I basically never have to stop between pulls and things still tend to die fairly fast. I've had no problems with it feeling overly slow. It actually felt slower when I was using Jorgan as DPS because I'd have to stop and heal every now and again. Now, I never have to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darguth Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Also, out of my first 10 talent points put into Shield spec 8 of them increase my DPS:3/3 Intimidation3/3 Steely Resolve2/2 Ion Overload I actually recommend going with Ion Overload first in your second tier. Being able to put out HIB on-demand against Elites-and-higher really increases your overall DPS rotation against them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquil Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I've been shield spec the whole time so far to 31. I tried out tactics at lv30 for all of about 20 minutes and hated it. Once you get Storm then shield spec definitely becomes awesome. Nothing like running at something and doing a flying jump rifle smash to their face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saridan Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 You'll have no problems leveling as shield, though I did it with focusing on the DPS talents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avanaco Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 Something I'm curious about: Do you guys level with a DPS or Blocking generator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veragon Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 I'm only 28 but levelling as full sheild specialist utilising the tnking talents in the skill tree and I have no problems at all , even taking on higher level groups of up to 3 'strong' NPCs. I am an armormech and usually keep equal level blues and purples equipped, and have loaded Elara with equal level blue with a high crit rating and I usually get pretty nice heals from her. So far it's definitely quite easy. I think I've only died a couple of times when I realised there was an elite a few levels higher than me mixed in with another couple of 'strong' guys. -Veragon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creshin Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 I have leveled as shield from 10 and it has been easy. I do not know if it is slower then other classes but with the healer companion I can kill anything I come across with out a problem. Regarding the question about generators around 30-35 you get a talent that when you shield and attack it has a chance to refresh SS and after that you can SS almost every 4 or 5 seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avanaco Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 Thanks for the advice so far. Just hit level 20 so I'm going to give it a try. For now skipping defense-only talents, going for dps/threat talents. Of course that won't be final spec quality, but for level that might be just the ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bliapis Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 Shield Spec is awesome for lvling up. I went to Tatooine at 26 (now 28) and i skipped Aric for the first time in favor of Elara. She is awesome and those little heals make night and difference everywhere. Also there is alot of pvp in that area so a healer always make the difference. And no, shield spec is far from slow. Applying the abilities rotation correctly and you dish out a **** load of damage! Ofcourse you use shield generator, you take less damage u proc more shields and also help proc your abilities too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBil Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 I'm at 35 now just polishing up Balmora. TBH fights have taken a bit longer than I'd like but it may be due to my overstacking Endurance. I'm trying to collect a fully modifiable suit but am running into issues with modifications as the market is still young. From 1- 35 I may have died fewer than once per level and after picking up Elara I have almost no downtime except when I blow all my ammo 'cause I'm not paying attention. Definitely a great spec to level with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capybaraman Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 I'm currently level 43 and have levelled the whole way with Shield Spec i have had no major issues the dps is a bit lacking but you never die especially with Elara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veragon Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 One more thing, I am stacking AIM then Endurance, and mixing in Crit & Defense rating after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaphir Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 Posted in the other thread as well, but yeah. I'm a level 44 shieldtech so far, and it's been pretty good. It works fine in pvp too, as long as you keep in mind that you're basically a melee class with a few ranged abilities. Cons of leveling as shield spec: - unless you want downtime and aggravation, you NEED to use Elara Dorne -- especially at 30+ - single 'hard targets' (strong, elite mobs) die slower than with a damage build Pros of leveling as shield spec: - everything else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevalon Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 At 40 I have had no issues as a Shield Spec (with Elara - without some class quests got a little hairy). I hate the fact that ya gotta bring Elara though, I cant stand her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saridan Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Something I'm curious about: Do you guys level with a DPS or Blocking generator? Definitely level with Shield generator. You're gimping yourself if you don't both in survivability and damage output. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchesq Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 You shouldnt die as Vanguard shield spec. But there r somethings u should know. 1) You can solo Hero +2, but it will take forever and requires a little micro managing, and mortar. 2) You cant really pull AOE pull until LVL 28/30+. Your AOEs suck, other than Mortar. 3) Jedi can tank better than u at the moment. 4) your damage is...really low. 5) dont bother specing your HIB until +30. 6) IonPulse and Surge are just as much your friend as StockStrike. 7) You have 2 or 3 more powers in your damage rotation than your Commando friends, making this a little harder to learn than other specs. 8) your method of tanking will change completely when you get your lunge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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