Hello all!
Day before yesterday, I asked a friend to run me through Cathedral to get the shield from Mograine. And I dinged from 39 to 40 during that run. I also completed the Into the Scarlet Monastery quest and got that nice little sword.
In summary, I'm prot since 32 to do some aoe grinding/questing. Make a change of pace from my other characters. But so far, I was using a 1h mace. Yesterday I upgraded my mail items to plate, put crusader on the sword, thorium spikes on the shield and off I am to Kargath. Aggroed 5 lesser rock elementals and first message I got when I began to swing: Your sword skill is now 50.
In the end.. I killed them without having to bandages (I threw one heal). Holy Shield + Plate is surprisingly a really big difference on damage taken/output I do!
I'm definitely hooked on my paly now:)