Discussion on Runewarden v. Infernal

Quii

Hi there.
Returning player, but a lot has changed, so I get to bother you kind folks.

Bashing ease is my main concern. I won't have access to additional credits/lessons, so I won't have access to berkana or Runic Blades/armour, or Soulcage. Also, whichever I go, which specialisation would be best for a person like myself (creditless)? I intend to be investing in a month or so, assuming I stick around (hope I do). For that reason, I'm a bit biased towards two-handed, as an artefact warhammer or bastard sword is cheaper than an SoA + arte sword or 2 arte scimitar/maces.

tl;dr Runie v. Infernal. Ease of bashing with no monetary investment? Specialisation bashing ease v. cost?

Nazihk

Bashingwise? About the same, honestly. Infernal may be a bit tankier in PvE if you get runes with 100% reliability, but that's about the only difference. Runewarden does have the big advantage of being faction neutral, so that you're not bound to Mhaldor if you decide you want a switch, which makes it a good budget choice.

Specwise, 2h is the clear winner if all you care about is bashing on a budget. DWC is a bit faster, but 2h is very good and only requires one artifact weapon. As a perk, the PvP is pretty solid and you're very effective in groups. 

Farrah

Just an FYI, sword and shield doesn't need an SoA any more than 2h needs the absorption paragon (SoA effect put into armour for those who can't wield shield). SoA isn't better offensively than a buckler, and sword and shield isn't any worse defensively than the other specs without a shield/absorption paragon. So I wouldn't really think of it as an artie weapon, rather than as armour.

That being said, sword and shield is awful at bashing, so 2h is probably your best bet.

I have no idea how Infernal/Runie compare in bashing. I'd guess that they're fairly comparable.

Reyson

For the record, if you can actually get runes, as Nazihk said, Infernal blows it out of the water, since you have the same strength, and putrefaction + algiz ends up making you way, way tanky. I'd actually say the spec doesn't really matter (unless for some reason you're considering sword-and-shield; don't do it, it'll make you miserable), since a critical hit pendant is the best artefact you can pick up for hunting, over a weapon.