A quick study in Pistol/Shield vs. Rifles and Gloves from an Engineers Perspective.

[Glasher]

Support is a tricky word. In a team everyone is responsible for something, usually divided into what they excel at. However, everyone can typically perform any other teammates job to a lesser extent but good enough to do it when needed. With the exception of being able to heal others.

With that said regardless of how little or much damage any build engineer brings to the group is another dimension of the support he or she can offer. The goal is to kill stuff and stay alive. Any effort to increase the speed in which that happens, regardless of primary role is supporting the overall goal.

I use the Incinerator because my stats with a 50 armor implant and my buff brings me to 662 armor 411hp and 437 mana. I could increase these numbers by switching to custom, but with the potential for new content soon I don't see the point of wasting the money. I can still dish out some damage to assist in the goal while managing to keep everyone, including myself alive.

[Deathpunch]

Final update to OP.

[Hullukko]

You can check here how well your assumptions about the stat page dps and damage range effect on skill damage fair in practice:

http://www.spacetimestudios.com/show...l=1#post424602

Notice that the empathy tick difference is due to weapon damage range and that damage difference is carried out to other damage (and healing) spells, too. So while the incinerator indeed did yield 3 points more non-crit dps (*) than the widow in practice, the same 3 point loss in empathy ticks means 3 point loss in each spell amounting to a greatly reduced overall performance.

(*) The incinerator didn't do well with its crits compared to the widow, but in that regard the data was rather limited and a further study would be necessary to make a better claim about that. Same goes for the crushers.

Another thing I'd like to say it that I wouldn't put much emphasis on minor manapool size changes. Because as a 30/31, there is sufficiently anyway, and it's really the m/s that makes or breaks your mana. (assuming no blue potting, because if one does pot blue the mana pool size even more irrelevant) Health pool is a different matter, because that one is so easily pumped back to full with healing spells and it has a tendency to run out from time to time, so with that the buffer size is really more relevant issue.

[Deathpunch]

You can check here how well your assumptions about the stat page dps and damage range effect on skill damage fair in practice:

http://www.spacetimestudios.com/show...l=1#post424602

Notice that the empathy tick difference is due to weapon damage range and that damage difference is carried out to other damage (and healing) spells, too. So while the incinerator indeed did yield 3 points more non-crit dps (*) than the widow in practice, the same 3 point loss in empathy ticks means 3 point loss in each spell amounting to a greatly reduced overall performance.

(*) The incinerator didn't do well with its crits compared to the widow, but in that regard the data was rather limited and a further study would be necessary to make a better claim about that. Same goes for the crushers.

Another thing I'd like to say it that I wouldn't put much emphasis on minor manapool size changes. Because as a 30/31, there is sufficiently anyway, and it's really the m/s that makes or breaks your mana. (assuming no blue potting, because if one does pot blue the mana pool size even more irrelevant) Health pool is a different matter, because that one is so easily pumped back to full with healing spells and it has a tendency to run out from time to time, so with that the buffer size is really more relevant issue.

Now I'm doubly glad I didn't do the testing as it was already done. Your link is in the op now, with thanks!

[Meii]

Insightful, now rockin a shield n incinerator

[Meii]

Edit::..

I actually am not using a shield + pistol anymore; I noticed that for some reason I am getting more damage out of my attacks with the gloves. Perhaps because of higher Int??

On average on slouchO runs I will hit 3-5 points higher, consistently.

[Deathpunch]

Edit::..

I actually am not using a shield + pistol anymore; I noticed that for some reason I am getting more damage out of my attacks with the gloves. Perhaps because of higher Int??

On average on slouchO runs I will hit 3-5 points higher, consistently.

That's about right, as you gain 0-5 dmg and +5 dps, depending on gear, when switching from incinerator to crushers.

-----
Sent from my HTC Evo 3D.

[Hullukko]

That's about right, as you gain 0-5 dmg and +5 dps, depending on gear, when switching from incinerator to crushers.

...and on the same you lose more than that on reduced spell efficiency, both in terms of damage and healing, compared to shield and widow.

[Lazaras]

Can we get an update for the 40 gear?

[LelouchX]

Can we get an update for the 40 gear?

you are still going to want to stay pistol/shield IMO. you may even want to go with the legendary/plat shield for level 35 instead of a level 40 pistol/shield combo. all the points still stand about damage output (green and red) as they affect the base damage of your skills. sorry to pre-ninja u DP (if that makes sense at all). I can go into details after work and post screenies if i'm not ninja'd

EDIT1/10/12: ummmm ok, today after work then, got carried away with other posts and PvP.....