Kaylon

You should pick the category which is the most resistant to your damage. For an archer it's simple - vessels - they all have high pierce dr.

In theory, using the best items/buffs, a pale elf paladin can achieve by himself 150+defl/refl and 31dr against slash, pierce, burn and cold (without combat consumables/party buffs) which IMO is more than enough to tank him, however I'm not there yet...

I think the +5 Accuracy is applied only if you attack the same target as an ally - does a pet qualify as such?

Has someone checked using fraps if the modifiers stack additively for the reloading part of ranged weapons? I'm asking because when you look into Cheatengine they are multiplied (1.2x1.5x1.2 for a ranger with gunner, swift aim and chanter buff).