Kall

I don't have any of the set gear yet because it isn't worth more than min dkp, but I'm pretty sure I heard someone say the 2 set is bugged and the caster (you) get the mit not the person being healed.

Niber

I find myself in the same position; passing on most set gear.

Given, my guild is behind the curve when it comes to new raid content but the only item I covet is the Flesh Cord (3dbl, 4mcrit) off the ez-mode named in TMC. Probably ditch my Tunarian Might.

__________________

Xalir

This will be my setup in TSO:

KOS

AGI: 4-4-4-8
STA: 4-4-4-8
WIS: 4-4-6-8-2
INT: 4-1

EOF

Grim Strike 5
Shrieking Stab 5
Keen Tactics 5
Clara's Cacophony 5
Degrations 1

Siphon Blade 2
Howl of Dead 5
EaDD 5
EoA 5
SoS 5
Confront Fear 1

Shroud 5
Power Ballad 5
Chimes 5
Noxious 5
Dead Calm 5
LofD 1

Shadow

General
5-0-0-5

Scout
0-5-0-1-5-0-1

Bard
0-0-5-0-0-5-1

Dirge
5-5-5-0-3-5-2-2

canon9ball

I'm a MT group dirge. This is my full AA set up. I am duel wield. I'm mythical geared, and good mix of VP and TSO fabled gear.

BARD:
bard luck 1
agility 4-4-4-8
stam 4-4-4-8
wis 4-4-6-8-2
intel 4-1
total 70

DIRGE:
enhance grim strike 5
enhance shrieking stab 5
enhance keen tactics 5
enhance clara's 5
degredate 1
total 21

enhance siphon blade 2
enhance howl of death 3
enhance elegy at death's door 5
enhance elegy of awakening 5
enhance speach of sacrifice 5 ( yes I use it)
confront fear 1
total 21

enhance shroud 5
enhance power ballad 5
enhance noxious tempo 5
enhance chime of blades 5
enhance dead calm 5
luck of the dirge 1
total 26 = 68

SHADOWS:
general:
hearty constitution 5
swift strides 5
total in shadows =10

scout:
strengthen links 5
enhance quick strike 5
offensive prowess 5
total in scouts = 15

bard:
defensive ballad 5
shrieking cry 5
flanking chorus 5
intoxicating notes 5
dexterous sonata 1
total in bard = 21

dirge:
viral infection 5
skald's striking 5
disease mastery 2
battle cry 2
total 14
total in shadows = 60
grand total 196

Soulwound

tbh i wanna know why some other MT dirges go for the shield, i just dont see the point to it, i mean i have a Stam spec on my mirror for when im desperate enough to tank easy instances but come on

Pinski

Well, why wouldn't you want 10% DA when DWing, not to mention it helps the MT, and the Scout in the group, right?

Though, going INT line is just dumb for the MT group.

__________________
Calaglin, Former Illusionist/Guild Leader of Dissolution on Nektulos
Calaglin, Former Illusionist/Guild Leader of Confirmed on Unrest

Soulwound

no no no, thats not what im saying, i mean why use the shield, i love my 15% da buff, but wtf is the point of using the shield when fighting raid mobs as MT dirge, if your healers cant keep you up, time to move on tbh

Pinski

People using the shield are stupid, because the shield doesn't offer shit.

__________________
Calaglin, Former Illusionist/Guild Leader of Dissolution on Nektulos
Calaglin, Former Illusionist/Guild Leader of Confirmed on Unrest

Tutimin

except someone to laugh at when they say its just as good as dual wielding...

__________________

canon9ball

ok reason for the shield...
duel wield stats as I stand fully buffed with my buffs only. I have already posted my AA stats on a previous post.

dps 96 (auto attack 88% higher)
haste 3 (4% faster)
crit hit 56%
damage amount 380
double attack 24%
melee AE, accuracy, hate 0

sword and shield stats
dps 96
haste 3
crit hit 56%
damage amount 380
double attack 52%
melee AE, accuracy, hate 0

OK what did that do? It raised my chance to double attack by 28%. Granted I'm using one weapon. I have not done any detailed work on what one is better. I have done some generic parses. People say all the time >> when you duel wield you double attack 100% of the time.<< This statement is false. You double attack the amount your melee stats say you have a chance to double attack. So if you are duel wielding you, of course are using two weapons with two delays. Your best option is to have both delays as close as possible to one another. A three second delay is what is understood to be the ideal delay.
So what am I trying to say? It's this, in plain terms you duel wield you use two weapons essentially raising your damage by two for the sake of arguements. If you use one weapon you reduce your damage by half. So the raised double attack with the shield off sets the loss of the duel wield damage, which in turns essentially returns back to you the duel wield damage.

So what then does the shield offer? I use the Wheel of Nightmares, round shield.
Duel wield stats:

health 10655
power 8780
Mit 3767 (50.8 absorb, crush 50%, pierce 50%, slash 50%)
avoidance 7344 (45.2% chance to avoid, base 33.2, block 0, parry 18, deflection 0)

sword and shield stats

health 10686
power 8781
mit 3767 ( same as duel wield)
avoidance 8508 (49.9 chance to avoid, base 29, block 13.9, parry 18, deflection 0)

These numbers, of course, are subjective to the shield that the dirge uses, but as you can see there are some advantages to sword and shield simply for me with increased avoidance.
Sword and shield is good for extra avoidance and other stats if you are soloing something more challenging.
As a MT dirge to use sword and shield, it really does not offer anything of value. You are not going to live when everyone else around you are dead on the ground because you have a shield.

Finally to respond to the post concerning intel line and MT group being a waste of time. I disagree. Rhythm blade offers increases in combat and spell casting skills to the dirge. Minstrel's Aria increases combat skills, how well you and your group uses their weapons. This AA increases weapon boon. Then Minstrel's Melody increase dps for the song Riana's indignant sustain. So for a dirge in the MT group to not use these AA skills out of the intel line, you should reevaluate your AA's. I've discovered that the MT hold agro through two things...their DPS and their ability to push the taunt buttons.

I realize this is probably redundant and long winded to those that know this stuff, but to those that don't or disput it. This post might help you with your dirge's skills, abilities and AA choices.

So there it is. Send me a tell if you have questions.

cheers
Sandraa