I used to pick up mace as quickly as possible, but quickly found it a bit tedious. Sword is faster and doesn't eat as much stamina. (Although I mainly use atgier now up until silver sword and mistwalker. I like not having things touch me at all. And it's my "poor man's parry.") At this point I only make a mace for bonemass. Of course stagbreaker's usefulness in crypts is only topped by other ground pounders.