Hi there, i heard about Uthgard 2 weeks ago after a 8-year pause of DAoC.
I am levelling a skald at the moment (lvl37) and i'm already thinking about which Hammer I am going to use at lvl50.
My spec will be 44 hammer/46song/rest parry.
From what I have seen to the Item seller there are 2 hammers that seem interresting for skald but I can't make a choice about which one is the best.

1) Cloudburst
16.5dps - 5.4speed
6hammer
str:17
Quick:17
body re:5%
Proc: dext/qui debuff (56)


2) Brimstone Great Hammer of Oblivion
16.5dps - 5.5speed
Hammer: 2
str:18
qui:18
body res: 6%
heat res:6%
proc: 95dmg heat proc

What I REALLY like on the Cloudburst is the dext/quick (56) debuff (always interresting!) and the + 6 hammer stats but it has a slower attack speed of 5.4

What I like on the second one ist the lower attack speed of 5.5, the heat res and the decent dd proc but has only +2 hammer.

Which one would you choose? My first choice would go for the Cloudburst because the proc is really nice (I will do a lot of solo pvp) and usefull vs each opponent but I don't know if the loss of 0.1speed attack will affect my dmg that much. What do you think about it?

btw, could someone post a screenshot of both of them? xD This could also help me to make a choice because I really have no idea of what they look like. =o)

cloudburst is better

dq debuff when rupting supporters is nice. and if you fight against solos they are often specced thrust, piercing or other dex/str based damage types which is nice with the debuff.

keep in mind that when you run solo you will not have access to a full dex/qui buff (increasing quickness for swingspeed) and celerity (even more important) so with a 5.4 or 5.5 hammer you will hit like... very slowly, if you miss one hit, you're screwed for about an eternity

personally im a player who prefers faster swingspeed because it will even it out, you will miss more often but you also hit more often = more DD procs ( if you have got dd procs on the weapon )
so i don't know if i would recommend such a slow weapon for a solo skald

BUT
if you want one of those two i'd personally go for the brimstone hammer...

the d/q debuff on cloudburst may be nice, sure, but with the low swingspeed the chances that it will proc are pretty low and your enemy just loses a bit of its defense (or offense, depending on weapon type) with the debuff

a DD proc does some damage at least

In my opinion fist hammer, for debuff shades.

hmm

the one who use cloudburst, you see often the proc?

As others have said, not sure I would recommend a weapon that slow for solo RvR, especially since you don't have any means to stun your target to get in some clean hits. Otherwise, I guess both weapons have something going for them. But also be aware that it may be a while until you get your hands on either of them. That may actually be the limiting factor anyway.

solo skald is best on arcanium spiked hammer with energy proc. use haste and d/q charge and spec 50 songs and wildpower 3. you'll make sneaks rage quit

with any 2h you will be the one rage quitting if you attempt to melee to death. if all you use is 2h your only reliable chance vs sneaks is kite play and dd them to death. i have played esmes rr10 skald a bit solo with dragonstorm and it barely hits harder than her 99% fortified 1h hammer, if it ever hits that is... skald 2h damage is in the dumps. same is true for my skald as well. the damage is only speed modified, skalds get absolute zero 2h bonus as far as i can tell.

Hey just started here and making a Skald. So if I understand your last post, there is no 2H damage bonus on this shard? So really Skald might as well run around with a 1H and shield? If there is no bonus, is that messing with Archer bow damage?

Also you say 50 song, does that mean this server has the 50 DD implemented?

I was thinking of going 2H hammer until reading this. Now I'm wondering about going 1h sword and shield with a dex buff charge. i will have a shaman friend with me most of the time though...

I dont agree with Astealoth, even if you want make 1h, go make a minstrel its simply better !!!

Skald with 2h cloudburst or another craft weapon (type crush ) its a pain for all stealher enemi ! Simply buff d/q 63 value and haste 17% for get better swing !

Btw u will hit like 200 + damage every swing + dd ......

Try the spec 44 hammer 44 song rest parry ..... simply the best spec for solo .

I've done a lot more reading trying to figure out how this shard works. It seems like the 2H bonus is in the game it's just that weaponskill doesn't penetrade defensive stats as much as it should. It would seem that higher defensive stats become even better here then? So a Skald may way to pump more parry to fight DW classes.

You don't think the last DA is good needed for a Skald in PvP? Do most people run the body resist song when fighting Inf/NS?

This song is very usefull against viper (envenom = body )to infi / ns and minstrel dd for the way .

i think skald can be a good soloing class if u play it nice, and if u get the stuff with it because of hard temp.