[X] My Assistant

Ok got it. I'm low on credits atm so just want to prioritize a bit. Could you tell me how long it'll take to get all the perks and training? Do you all have obtained most of the valuable ones? Some seems way too expensive I just probably never gonna get it in my life time (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/anime_cry.gif)

Who? Me? Nope. Atm i am still around 4k hath away from Tokenizer III. Okay i mean i have finished all income increasing trainings a while ago. Yeah, that was sort of a priority to me. And after that it really took me a while to get crys V. I did even take a hath loan just to get it a bit faster. And after that i was a bit lazy and did sell my hath. When i finaly did again go after the at least for me important perks it took me forever to get Extra Strength Formula, That's Good Eatin', Coupon Clipper and Dark Descent. Now that i think about it i really should have gone after tokenizer before those. Yeah, i guess i didnt made those in the most optimal order. And while some other people show off that they allready got DD XXIII i just have DD I. Well, after tokenizer. So i know the feeling that all that stuff never will be finished. But look at it that way. More or less they all help you to play faster, or increase your income, or at least decrease your outgoings. So it is all just a matter of time. Just be patient. Uncle believes in you. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

Nearly forgot but in the meantime i did also not only by a tristar but also a quintstar. Yeah, there did go a hundert million credits.

This post has been edited by Uncle Stu: Jan 10 2019, 04:43

I might be talking to myself at this point but I often do that anyway, so I'll raise some new important points on the IA vs hardcasting debate. First some data:

MP potion gives me 572 MP as it's supposed to (817 base MP * 70%)
MP draught gives me 12 * 50 = 600 MP (it's supposed to be the same as potion but I guess rounding)
MP gem or pony gives me 409 MP (817 base MP * 50%) like potion without upgrades

This data is irrelevant except to suggest that on the first round, if possible it is desired to spend at least 500 MP, perhaps even if some is spent less efficiently (hardcasting). If you don't spend this amount then you might blow your pony or waste your first mana gem.

A) We never got around to considering that my MP numbers are without Spirit Stance. When Spirit Stance is turned on all MP usage is reduced to 75%. This should reduce both IA and hardcasting costs equally, however presuming Channeling chance is reduced, this harms the hardcasting method.

B) Furthermore, the IA method will start saving mana from the moment Spirit Stance is switched on, not long after the beginning of the arena. While the hardcasting method has blown his load without Spirit Stance. This also harms the hardcasting method.

At least, A) and B) cannot apply simultaneously. Most likely B) will apply at the beginning of the arena, and A) will apply for the rest of the arena. Just to make sure I verified that with Spirit Stance off, Protection+Spark+Haste on IA4 drains my mana very slowly, while Protection+Spark+Haste on IA4 recovers mana very slowly with Spirit Stance on.

Although I am puzzled why I am drained without Spirit Stance. The Settings menu lists my upkeep at 1.55 MP/round (Interference is incorporated in this figure). I have +27 Magic Regen per tick (this includes the Resplendent Regeneration perk bonus) which the wiki formula MP gained per turn = Magic Regen * perk_bonus / 15 says is equivalent to 1.8 MP/turn. Can anyone explain my mistake? If not, this could be huge rounding error or problems with the formulas themselves.

When it comes to heavy power armour for a 1H build, is it better to get an "of slaughter" or "of protection" suffix? Do you need the extra physical damage mitigation, or is the damage better?

Nearly forgot but in the meantime i did also not only by a tristar but also a quintstar. Yeah, there did go a hundert million credits.

Why do you want to go beyond GS and obtain a quintstar as opposed to perhaps unlock perks?

Is it because you have too many credits (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I wish I can just dump in $1000 without any hesitation (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif)


and

What's the best way to increase your forge level? Keep forging fair equipments and keep them in the inventory? (sell it will take away forge exp right?)
I know I can ask people to forge for me but I need to forge the soul-fused ones :|

When it comes to heavy power armour for a 1H build, is it better to get an "of slaughter" or "of protection" suffix? Do you need the extra physical damage mitigation, or is the damage better?

I think defensive suffix is better for low-level players like us and sometimes equipments with these suffixes are also cheaper. Survive first, then consider trading off your defense for offense probably.

When it comes to heavy power armour for a 1H build, is it better to get an "of slaughter" or "of protection" suffix? Do you need the extra physical damage mitigation, or is the damage better?

And your level i would suggest a mix mad of two warding and three protection. When you have reached a point no arena is dangerous any longer you can slowly switch for a slaughter set.

Why do you want to go beyond GS and obtain a quintstar as opposed to perhaps unlock perks?

Longtherm investion. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

Is it because you have too many credits (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

If you want credits, you have to spend credits first. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)
But i would not suggest to follow my example.

What's the best way to increase your forge level? Keep forging fair equipments and keep them in the inventory? (sell it will take away forge exp right?)
I know I can ask people to forge for me but I need to forge the soul-fused ones :|

Well, a good method is imo just to forge the first five level of low quality gear. Fair you allready ask about would, i made it with average stuff, but i guess the outcome will be the same. And no you should not just keep them in your inventory. Why do you even think that? Salavage them after you did forge them and use the materials for the next equipment. But i wouldnt suggest to use that method too much. I mean you have at least a whole set you can upgrade and get right away something out of it. I mean a few more level in PM and MM can never be wrong at your level. And imo a few Dex upgrades are also allways good no matter what level you have.

When it comes to heavy power armour for a 1H build, is it better to get an "of slaughter" or "of protection" suffix? Do you need the extra physical damage mitigation, or is the damage better?

Some players say that it's preferable to use a mix of Protection and Warding below Lvl400, Slaughter above Lvl400.
While I do understand where it comes from, this is not an absolute truth at all.

So let's say that if you're at Lvl300 you definitely need to buff up your PMit and MMit as much as possible to do something as basic as PFUDOR arenas and IW100. But then after Lvl350, things depend on your actual, real objective: what do you want to do next? Do you want to play 1H for quite long, possibly up to Lvl450 or even forever, or do you want to play something else, like going full-mage, give a try at 2H? Do you consider casting Imperil in your playstyle or not?

This kind of question is exactly why I agree with Noni when it comes to stop saying what players should do.
Because... do what you damn feel like you want to do. If you're planning on playing 1H for quite a loooong time, yes maybe buying a very expensive rapier and very expensive power of slaughter can be a good thing. Even then, that's not your only option. You can very well say "fuck the meta" just like I did and build yourself some identity while still remaining very efficient. AT least one thing is sure: if you want to switch to something else more or less quickly (like maging, typically), then just forget about the ludicrous expense that the rapier and the slaughter power armor are, and gear yourself with something that "will do" just long enough before you switch to the thing you really want to do.

For example, I myself always refused the rapier+slaughter meta because I just don't like the feel of a rapier (yes I do have tried them, ladies) and because I don't want to invest credits big time in equipment that can't possibly be fit to what I really want to do next. So I've geared myself with Peerless of Protection/Warding as 1H before ultimately switching to 2H, and I got a cheap cold mage setup to clear stuff before being more serious and using a dark mage setup. Because yes I've also said "fuck the holy mage meta, I want to be dark". (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The most important thing is: do what you feel like doing, don't do stuff blindly just because some (biased and not necessarily knowledged) players told you to do.

TL;DR
Buy a Legendary Arctic Rapier of Slaughter with exactly 80% ADB, 60% Parry, a Legendary Ruby Force Shield of Protection with 76% Block, a Legendary Amber Power Helmet of Slaughter with 55% ADB, Legendary Zircon Power Armor of Slaughter with 72% ADB, Legendary Cobalt Power Gaungtlets of SLaughter with 42% ADB, Legendary Ruby Power Leggings of Slaughter with 53% ADB, Legendary Onyx Power Boots of Slaughter with 43% ADB. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/heh.gif)

Do you want to play 1H for quite long, possibly up to Lvl450 or even forever, or do you want to play something else, like going full-mage, give a try at 2H?

I've played as a mage a few times in the past (using the wind element in particular) and it was fun, but whenever I did it I wasn't able to go above Nightmare difficulty. I just take way too much damage from everything. At what level does magic get good? Also, do you have any tips?
I also enjoy 2H (I just like AoE) but I can only comfortably go up to IWBTH with that, due to lacking defense. Maybe I could try doing 2H with shielding plate armour, though. Do you think that would work?

This post has been edited by NoliCAIKS: Jan 10 2019, 09:48

I've played as a mage a few times in the past (using the wind element in particular), but whenever I did it I wasn't able to go above Nightmare difficulty. I just take way too much damage from everything. At what level does magic get good? Also, do you have any tips?

mages are way more equipment dependent compared to 1h, so, I believe the right question is not "at what level does magic get good?", but "how much wealth you need to make magic good?"
the answer is probably "tens of millions" (fully forging only the EDB bonus of one phase equipment cost near if not more than 10 million, cloth prof is cheaper but it's still on 3~4 millions mark).

I mean you could level as high as you wants but the underlying problem that mage have way lower damage avoidance mechanic (no block, no counter stun, only evade and about half of 1h parry) wouldn't fix itself.
to compensate that you need to have a gun that big enough to kill enemies before they pose threat to your defense, and the only way to obtain that is through equipments. but simple equipment wouldn't work, you need them to be strong enough naturally then push them far enough with forging, only then you could say that you're a glass cannon, not a mere glass.

if you wants a real case example.
I got 2 running set.
First one is 1h, 3 Legendaries, 1 peerless shield, 3 magnificent, one of the legendary is balanced, the rest of the equipment (except shield of course) are slaughter, weapon and shield are heavily if not fully forged, the rest are lightly to no forge.
The second one is mage, 3 Legendaries 3 Peerless, 1 charged, staff fully forged, cloth fully forged (0.95 prof factor), phase upgraded to more or less like this one.

the first one could clear PF GF without problem
the second one (last time I bother to try) still have problem clearing GF on IWBTH.
and I don't even have to count, but the mage set clearly had cost me way more than what I invest on the 1h. (just that one I linked should be enough to buy all 3 of my 1h magnificent gears twice).

so I mainly use mage for RE, arena, and low difficulty IW, you know, the easy stuff, as it's blazing fast.
then switch to 1h when doing GF or PF IW, as it's reliably safe.

but at what level, people might answer at the very least 310, and you'll need the imperil at first. maybe some answer 350, 400, 450.
for me... mmhh in the end it depends on your equipment.

I also enjoy 2H (I just like AoE) but I can only comfortably go up to IWBTH with that, due to lacking defense. Maybe I could try doing 2H with shielding plate armour, though. Do you think that would work?

full shielding plate only brings you to around, Idk 20~30% block as that's what I remember when trying them before... 40-45% if you fully forging them? and those block didn't give counter-stun like 1h, so while it boost defense it wouldn't be equal to the same amount of block when playing 1h.

the philosophy of mage is a glass canoon, the best defence is offense (though it's not like that they dismiss defense entirely, they still boost their evade using forging, parry using high dex, and boosting their max HP with jug and vit)
niten and 2h sometimes called a "poorman's mage". So I guess, if you ended up prioritizing defense over attack in this playstyle (shielding over power), I think you better off with 1h as you could still occasionally do an AoE nuke using OFC anyway.

oh btw, by no means I say that poor people shouldn't do mage
it's just that people need to fully understand and be prepared that -compared to playing 1h- they're going to enter a different dimension of hurt if they think they could play mage using halfassed mage equip, and I experience that first hand.
but yeah, it's not my place to judge if you enjoy being a masochist.

This post has been edited by Fudo Masamune: Jan 10 2019, 11:06

I've played as a mage a few times in the past (using the wind element in particular) and it was fun, but whenever I did it I wasn't able to go above Nightmare difficulty. I just take way too much damage from everything. At what level does magic get good? Also, do you have any tips?
I also enjoy 2H (I just like AoE) but I can only comfortably go up to IWBTH with that, due to lacking defense. Maybe I could try doing 2H with shielding plate armour, though. Do you think that would work?

try estoc + fus ro dah when you reach level 300, is cheap and you don't need expensive armors, just invest in the weapon. Otherwise, just pick 1H and don't look back. You can't make 2h + godslayer work easily... Nor niten, dw or maging =3

I'm interested trying mage, just for arena especially SG arena...
except holy, what is the best element for that???
dark I presume???
do I need to find the staff first before try to find the rest???
and what phase+cotton combination needed???

Ehm, it is not even possible to come near 100%. I guess the absolute max is somewhere around 80% or so. And imo you should more care about that parry cant do anything about magical attacks.

With 2 fully forged peerless Wakizashi of the Nimble and maximized Dex it should be possible to reach over 96%

I'm interested trying mage, just for arena especially SG arena...
except holy, what is the best element for that???
dark I presume???
do I need to find the staff first before try to find the rest???
and what phase+cotton combination needed???

Assuming imperil style, dark is the best for SG arenas, but for non SG arenas and GF/IW Elementals are better.
You need 4phase+1cotton(Pants of Robe) for 0.8 Prof factor.

Assuming imperil style, dark is the best for SG arenas, but for non SG arenas and GF/IW Elementals are better.
You need 4phase+1cotton(Pants of Robe) for 0.8 Prof factor.

hmm...
so I should find the staff first, then cotton robe/pants, and finally phase of the rest, right???
for the staff, can this Legendary Demonic Katalox Staff of the Demon-fiend works???
I tried to search in wts, but it's hard to find demonic willow of destruction...
only find 6, and only 2 of them are legs...
is it that rare???

hmm...
so I should find the staff first, then cotton robe/pants, and finally phase of the rest, right???
for the staff, can this Legendary Demonic Katalox Staff of the Demon-fiend works???
I tried to search in wts, but it's hard to find demonic willow of destruction...
only find 6, and only 2 of them are legs...
is it that rare???

You can get armor pieces first and waiting a wanted staff pops imo.
LDWD is the best but your staff with 5phase is capable for arenas I think.
Well...equipment with preferable prefix+suffix is rare.

I want to ask,
double Elemental Strike is better than one.right?
So triple Elemental Strike is better than double?

I want to ask,
double Elemental Strike is better than one.right?
So triple Elemental Strike is better than double?

You can have only 2 Elemental Strike + Void strike for you weapon.

You can have only 2 Elemental Strike + Void strike for you weapon.

I think Void strike is Elemental Strike. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

I think Void strike is Elemental Strike. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

No, Void is Void and elemental strike are elemental strike. It would only be the same when void would work on the exact same way as the elemental strikes. But there is no Void Mitigation. No monster is strong or weak against it.

hmm...
so I should find the staff first, then cotton robe/pants, and finally phase of the rest, right???
for the staff, can this Legendary Demonic Katalox Staff of the Demon-fiend works???
I tried to search in wts, but it's hard to find demonic willow of destruction...
only find 6, and only 2 of them are legs...
is it that rare???

If I'm not mistaken the main problem with katalox is it have no Counter-Resist unlike willow - which is also I guess the main reason why redwood isn't as desirable for the elemental mage (particularly wind and elec mage) eventhough it generally have better EDB and elemental proficiency bonus.
It will work better if you already have innate CR from high prof factor and IW the staff with penetrator potency, else it works but will makes your run took longer than it should (due to more enemy resist).

This post has been edited by Fudo Masamune: Jan 10 2019, 19:46