[X] My Assistant

so very heavy now! (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/anime_cry.gif)

There's a reason why SoL isn't recommended in IA slot. I'll leave it you to figure out why.

Hmm, actually, I'm pretty sure at some stage, the prevailing wisdom *was* to have SoL in IA for mages, the reasons being:

1. Mages are far more squishy than Melees, therefore SS is not as useful.

2. If SoL triggers on even a semi-frequent basis, you spend far less than you would if you manually cast it.

Given that on my crappy magic setup, SoL can last over 170 rounds, I assume SoL can last ages for you, and with the Gold Star and all the other auras, you could afford the upkeep.

Hmm, actually, I'm pretty sure at some stage, the prevailing wisdom *was* to have SoL in IA for mages, the reasons being:

1. Mages are far more squishy than Melees, therefore SS is not as useful.

2. If SoL triggers on even a semi-frequent basis, you spend far less than you would if you manually cast it.

Given that on my crappy magic setup, SoL can last over 170 rounds, I assume SoL can last ages for you, and with the Gold Star and all the other auras, you could afford the upkeep.

I think Spark used to trigger like once or twice per marathon for me. It wasn't really needed before this patch. I might have to consider doing that given the overall PMI decrease. (I think I had 58 PMI before the patch, now it's 49)

1. Mages are far more squishy than Melees.

Plus, much more comfortable (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I think Spark used to trigger like once or twice per marathon for me. It wasn't really needed before this patch.

How high are your evade and parry? Without spark of life, I always panic whenever there are 4 or more (or 2 of the really fast monsters that can double attack me) because even with weaken and x-nerf they hit me for enough damage to take off a quarter of my hp after spirit shield. Without SoL on IA I would be fucked.

This post has been edited by Mindflayer88: Jan 22 2013, 18:08

I did T&T on IWBTH using my current set, with infusion. No problems. Also did IW run on Magnificent Ethereal Estoc of the Banshee (195 rounds) on BT, same terms. Slightly harder than before (I were forced to use SV from round 120 or so instead of 150-160 as before), but tolerable. Spent 1 Godly Mana and 3 Godly Spirit in total.

Just out of curiosity, what were your important stats (PMI/evade/damage) when you did this? Were you using the estoc or a mace?

How high are your evade and parry? Without spark of life, I always panic whenever there are 4 or more (or 2 of the really fast monsters that can double attack me) because even with weaken and x-nerf they hit me for enough damage to take off a quarter of my hp after spirit shield. Without SoL on IA I would be fucked.

50 Evade, 26 Parry, 57-58 PMI. Before, SoL triggered only occasionally, not enough for me to warrant IA usage.

50 Evade, 26 Parry, 57-58 PMI. Before, SoL triggered only occasionally, not enough for me to warrant IA usage.

How about now (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I'll eventually have to do it. The day is nearing when monsters will all have maxed anti-evade and anti-parry. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'll eventually have to do it. The day is nearing when monsters will all have maxed anti-evade and anti-parry. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Not to mention maxed out holy resistance AND magic resistance (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

most of them, anyway (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Guess it's about time I tried to get a few IA slots. The 9% loss of PMI has made my mana cost go up considerably from having to use spirit shield and SV most of the time now.

Uh-oh, is HV's freemium rating going up!!!???

I think it's really cool that a lot of the reaction is embracing the challenge and adapting to meet it, as opposed to nonstop whining. Go go E-H community!

50 Evade, 26 Parry, 57-58 PMI.

You pretty much have the same Evade, Parry and PMI you'd have if you were a Shade user at level 313. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I don't know if that's good or bad though... (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I did T&T on IWBTH using my current set, with infusion. No problems. Also did IW run on Magnificent Ethereal Estoc of the Banshee (195 rounds) on BT, same terms. Slightly harder than before (I were forced to use SV from round 120 or so instead of 150-160 as before), but tolerable. Spent 1 Godly Mana and 3 Godly Spirit in total.

Well, you've got the Battlecaster Estoc on your side for mana consumption (maybe that's what you have to do now? I have one just like yours that I can level up) and I'm sure that helps at 20% savings. I primarily do Arenas I can clear quickly and IW to try to level up stuff with some exceptions.

So I disagree: Light was raped more than Heavy, but still can be used. But yeah, monsters hit harder (because of PMI assape) and more often than before (because of proc assrape). It'd be nice to get our PMI/MMI back tbh.

Well, Protection Kevlar should be much better than it is now...I have never messed much with Fleet Shade due to the interference (used Arcanist instead which really helped back when a former patch messed with B/I) so does the lead one to believe that the only important concetration to succeed now is Evade instead of mitigating dmg?

- JC

This post has been edited by jcullinane: Jan 22 2013, 19:54

Just out of curiosity, what were your important stats (PMI/evade/damage) when you did this? Were you using the estoc or a mace?

Weapon: Exquisite Ethereal Estoc of the Battlecaster + Infusion of Divinity + Aether Shard (for IW)

Physical Attack
4184.2 base damage
137.5 % hit chance
48.5 % crit chance

86 % mana cost (reduced from 96% by Aether Shard on weapon)

Damage Mitigation
69.5 % physical
57.2 % magical

Avoidance
32.5 % evade
0 % block
35.9 % parry
62.1 % resist

Were you using the estoc or a mace?

using a mace

(IMG:https://forums.e-hentai.org/uploads/post-329682-1358877692.gif)

-------
EDIT:

Well, you've got the Battlecaster Estoc on your side for mana consumption (maybe that's what you have to do now? I have one just like yours that I can level up) and I'm sure that helps at 20% savings. I primarily do Arenas I can clear quickly and IW to try to level up stuff with some exceptions.

Yeah, a good BC Eth Estoc can do miracles. Especially with Aether Shard on it, but tbh you won't even need it, except IW runs, and even then it's not strictly required.

Well, Protection Kevlar should be much better than it is now...I have never messed much with Fleet Shade due to the interference (used Arcanist instead which really helped back when a former patch messed with B/I) so does the lead one to believe that the only important concetration to succeed now is Evade instead of mitigating dmg?

I think one (good) piece of Fleet Shade in Protection Kevlar set is enough to get decent Evade without losing too much PMI and gaining too much Interference. Arcanist isn't good for that.

This post has been edited by Evil Scorpio: Jan 22 2013, 20:11

I've been maging for the last few days and it is now better than melee in every respect.

Mage was already better than melee for:
-Quantity of artefacts/equipment/item drops per minute
-EXP per minute
-Doing daily arenas in the shortest time possible

The only benefit melee had was survivability, which was useful for staying on the high crystal multiplier. That one benefit has now been lost following the changes to shards and physical mitigation, and melee is now worse for crystals per minute. Melee has no redeeming features whatsoever.

Tenboro knew that mage was better, and he's repeatedly posted how there are more mages than all other styles combined, so why he's decided to nerf melee so severely is beyond me. It makes absolutely no sense, but I suppose that's par for the course.

Anyway, I'm looking to rent a Heimdall set for 200K per day in the longer term.

I'll sell my melee equipment to pay the rental fee since it's now not much use. I just hope I can get at least half what I invested in it.

I've been maging for the last few days and it is now better than melee in every respect.

Mage was already better than melee for:
-Quantity of artefacts/equipment/item drops per minute
-EXP per minute
-Doing daily arenas in the shortest time possible

The only benefit melee had was survivability, which was useful for staying on the high crystal multiplier. That one benefit has now been lost following the changes to shards and physical mitigation, and melee is now worse for crystals per minute. Melee has no redeeming features whatsoever.

(IMG:[i.imm.io] http://i.imm.io/TJTg.gif)

Care to explain why you've highlighted random things in red and posted a picture of a robot?

I think Spark used to trigger like once or twice per marathon for me. It wasn't really needed before this patch. I might have to consider doing that given the overall PMI decrease. (I think I had 58 PMI before the patch, now it's 49)

It trigger for as long as you got 50% or more of your base Spirit available, making it a decent safety net for limited sticky situations. If you need to have it trigger more, you either need to recover the Spirit or invest 17 Ability Points into Spirit Tank for each extra trigger.

Thanks!
Looks like the evade&resist actually help quite a bit. I've got ~1k more damage and 1.5% more mit and found IWBTH arenas rather.. annoying. Guess some sharding wouldn't hurt, heh.
Wonder how well BC vs. illithid performs though, can't say I run into mana issues with mine, even with 151% mana cost.
e:

I've been maging for the last few days and it is now better than melee in every respect.

What difficulty was all that on? If IWBTH, how good was the gear you were using?

This post has been edited by Temchy: Jan 22 2013, 21:31