Board Thread:Dark Souls II/@comment-86.23.69.128-20140323212456/@comment-24129583-20140508093302

You're torn between explorer and knight, barring the pharros lockstone the explorer (in my opinion) is practically thw worst class with a horrible weapon and most of the items you won't even use

Knight is a solid class with a good AR, and the shield problem is solved by picking up the crimson parma, then the blue wooden sield and finally the large leather shield. You will eventually get a drangleic shield as a primary light weight shield.

So....Go for knight