[X] My Assistant

@rawrpies
You forgot to use spirit stance for that extra damage.
And if you use SS (spirit stance), you will deplete your OC.

@Randommember
That page is SUPPOSED to be difficult to find; it's only a draft, and nowhere near the completed version.
And any effort to write advices is going to drain your time and energy for nothing.

As for soul stone, you can buy that from other players. That's not a problem.

@rawrpies
You forgot to use spirit stance for that extra damage.
And if you use SS (spirit stance), you will deplete your OC.

It was meant to illustrate that even without the extra drain from spirit stance I can't get OC quick enough to even use the whole skill chain.
And that also being the reason they probally need some OC tanks to even use the 3th skill.

The wiki has moderators? (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

The wiki has moderators? (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Yes, and he's called Tenboro (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Looking at how all the recent patches have been affecting melee players, I'm thinking of switching to mage.
I've attached my clean stats & current abilities, & some mage equipment drops along the way.
As you can see, I've mostly been a Light Armor Melee.
I need some recommendations on the following.

- What type of cloth armor should I outfit myself in, to get decently started. I only have these ATM.
[L85] Average Phase Pants of Mjolnir
[L78] Superior Gossamer Shoes of the Elementalist


- Do I need to get a better/different staff? I've these already, which one should I start with?
[L79] Average Oak Staff of the Earth-walker
[L75] Average Redwood Staff of Destruction
[L65] Fine Ethereal Katalox Staff of Heimdall
[L84] Fine Redwood Staff of the Fox
[L70] Fine Redwood Staff of the Fox
[L76] Fine Willow Staff of the Curse-weaver
[L70] Superior Oak Staff of the Priestess


- What stats do I need to refocus/rearrange on?
(IMG:[i1219.photobucket.com] http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/Aspire4740G/Stats.png)

- Which abilities/skills should I reset to?
(IMG:[i1219.photobucket.com] http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/Aspire4740G/Abilities.png)



I don't have much in the way of Credits ATM (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) , & I could really use all the "assistance" rendered, maybe even some low-levelled hand-me-downs. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Thanks in advance.

This post has been edited by Aspire4740: Jan 27 2012, 00:34

Looking at how all the recent patches have been affecting melee players, I'm thinking of switching to mage.

Are you sure it will get better by converting to mage?
Maybe mage's even worse?

How about you post your melee equipments to see if there's any room for improvement, and tell us what difficulties you've encountered?

Heck, it's difficult to update my work because of that burden/interference change and the addition of new skills.
Maybe up again if I can finish that hellish melee equipment advice part.

This post has been edited by varst: Jan 26 2012, 19:06

This is my current Light/Equip setup.
Main "problems" is that like all that has already been said,
- Mobs getting harder & longer to kill & they hit back even harder now
- Increased costs of spells/mana in-game
- .......

[L252] Fine Kevlar Helmet of Protection
[L120] Average Shade Breastplate of Negation
[L254] Average Kevlar Gauntlets of Protection
[L263] Average Kevlar Leggings of the Stone-skinned
[L261] Average Kevlar Boots of Protection
[L223] Superior Mace of Slaughter

Listed are my current LA stats

CODE

Physical attack         Magical attack
650 base damage         161.3 base damage
87.1 % hit chance       82.5 % hit chance
18.2 % crit chance      0.1 % crit chance
                        124.7 % mana cost
    
Physical defense        Magical defense
28.4 points absorbed    13.4 points absorbed
35.4 % mitigation       23.8 % mitigation
    
Avoidance               Compromise
5.6 % evade             49.4 interference
0 % block               43.5 burden
6.4 % parry    
23.9 % resist    

This post has been edited by Aspire4740: Jan 27 2012, 00:34

Just some suggestions, judging from the things you posted:

1. Pick some OC tanks. As a melee you can't do anything in the current patch without some OCs.
Since shatter strike requires 100 OC, you need to pick at least 2 tiers in order to activate that in SS.
You get 100% damage bonus in SS, so that would greatly boost shatter strike's power.
You can also get 25% reduction when casting spells in SS, though you may know that already.

2. Use more depreciating/supportive spells.
Your prof. clearly shows that you don't often use them.
By using them more, you can gain prof. and prolong your spell's duration.

3. Try to use one-handed and DW in different situations.
They're getting better, and you should try that out.

4. Try to find equipments with lower evade/interference.
I know it's difficult, but kevlar's much worse than shades now because of its B/I.
Some players even suggest picking up any ethereal weapon, which I don't think is a bad idea.
Ethereal weapons have no B/I, so even a normal ethereal longsword can greatly improve your evasion.

That's what I can think of right now.
I know monster's hitting harder, but mages' also facing this problem, so you won't get anywhere better if you want to reduce damage received.
Mages do have lower spell cost (no interference), but they also need mana to cast their spells.

Try to find equipments with lower evade/interference. I know it's difficult, but kevlar's much worse than shades now because of its B/I.

Ahem... (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Exquisite Kevlar Helmet of Protection
Exquisite Kevlar Breastplate of Deflection
Superior Kevlar Gauntlets of Protection
Magnificent Kevlar Leggings of the Stone-skinned
Exquisite Kevlar Boots of Deflection

Compromise
36.6 interference
18.5 burden

Burden is low, if you use good kevlar. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

Ahem... (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Exquisite Kevlar Helmet of Protection
Exquisite Kevlar Breastplate of Deflection
Superior Kevlar Gauntlets of Protection
Magnificent Kevlar Leggings of the Stone-skinned
Exquisite Kevlar Boots of Deflection

Compromise
36.6 interference
18.5 burden

Burden is low, if you use good kevlar. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

That's not low anymore. Low is Zero or less.

Not really. It you take away his mace, he would have 20.3 burden and 41.6 interference.
Even if you consider that he uses shade breastplate and make adjustments accordingly, it would only add 1-2 extra burden.

Which means his equipments have 3 more burden and 5 more interference than yours.
It's about 15% improvement.

Sounds good, but remember that kevlar also has low evade chance.
As I've said, it's not easy to find new shades as replacement.
But IMO shade's getting much better than kevlar; the gap has been widened in this patch.

It's how Tenb's trying to shape light melees: being evasive instead of being a tank.

[trolling]

I thought so, till I found that I need tons of time to make any amendments.
Which I don't have any motivation to do now, because of all those mage-melee arguments.

Seriously, I haven't trolled melees in the last patch, I even asked if the initial skill system is fair to melees.
Then when I'm talking about hp buff to lower-level players, SOME people treated it at mage whining.
Just because I'm a mage, so everything I said is mage whining?
Sorry, I admit I'm getting mean, but why this argument has to be so persistent?

[/trolling]

There's a few retards that'll never be content and are hostile to whoever their shitty minds can think of. Best just to ignore them. I'd strongly encourage you to consider attempting again. I'd help but I'm pretty darn wiki illiterate/never got into wiki. I only know how to search the wiki (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Not really. It you take away his mace, he would have 20.3 burden and 41.6 interference.
Even if you consider that he uses shade breastplate and make adjustments accordingly, it would only add 1-2 extra burden.

Which means his equipments have 3 more burden and 5 more interference than yours.
It's about 15% improvement.

Sounds good, but remember that kevlar also has low evade chance.
As I've said, it's not easy to find new shades as replacement.
But IMO shade's getting much better than kevlar; the gap has been widened in this patch.

It's how Tenb's trying to shape light melees: being evasive instead of being a tank.

I haven't updated my sig sense the patch, just did now. My DW set has 7.7 burden. I also don't remember saying I have good equipment.

Not really. It you take away his mace, he would have 20.3 burden and 41.6 interference.
Even if you consider that he uses shade breastplate and make adjustments accordingly, it would only add 1-2 extra burden.

Which means his equipments have 3 more burden and 5 more interference than yours.
It's about 15% improvement.

Sounds good, but remember that kevlar also has low evade chance.
As I've said, it's not easy to find new shades as replacement.
But IMO shade's getting much better than kevlar; the gap has been widened in this patch.

It's how Tenb's trying to shape light melees: being evasive instead of being a tank.

Just need to use ethereal weapon, like me. Also about evade: after this patch I have 20.4%. I think it's not too low. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

EDIT: also Shade doesn't have piercing mitigation. And that's a very big flaw...

That's not low anymore. Low is Zero or less.

Lolwut? (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

This post has been edited by Evil Scorpio: Jan 26 2012, 21:51

I haven't updated my sig sense the patch, just did now. My DW set has 7.7 burden. I also don't remember saying I have good equipment.

I'm replying to Evil Scorpio's post.

Just need to use ethereal weapon, like me. Also about evade: after this patch I have 20.4%. I think it's not too low. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

That's what I suggested.

Ethereal weapons have no B/I, so even a normal ethereal longsword can greatly improve your evasion.

And I've 33% with my old shades and ethereal weapons. Accounting for difference in levels, I guess you would get 10% more evade even with old shades on.
I can't really determine the appropriate level of evade, but I suppose evade is better than mitigation?
Also, you're playing in hard difficulty with Kevlar? Maybe those monsters don't hit you hard enough.

My thought: You still need kevlar when you don't have the credits to buy shades. But that's only something in-transition.

This post has been edited by varst: Jan 26 2012, 21:50

36.6 interference
18.5 burden

Burden is low, if you use good kevlar. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

18,5 burden is a 25% decrease of your evasion.
Not that bad perhaps, but still pretty significant.
And that's before adding on a weapon, since not all that many have decent ethereal ones.

18,5 burden is a 25% decrease of your evasion.
Not that bad perhaps, but still pretty significant.
And that's before adding on a weapon, since not all that many have decent ethereal ones.

Gladly I have some)) (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) And besides, kevlar possess some advantages, which is more significant for me than burden decrease. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Gladly I have some)) (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) And besides, kevlar possess some advantages, which is more significant for me than burden decrease. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

One advantage I love is that not everyone is scrabling to get it thus it isn't going to cost you both arms and three legs

Just some suggestions, judging from the things you posted:

1. Pick some OC tanks. As a melee you can't do anything in the current patch without some OCs.
Since shatter strike requires 100 OC, you need to pick at least 2 tiers in order to activate that in SS.
You get 100% damage bonus in SS, so that would greatly boost shatter strike's power.
You can also get 25% reduction when casting spells in SS, though you may know that already.

2. Use more depreciating/supportive spells.
Your prof. clearly shows that you don't often use them.
By using them more, you can gain prof. and prolong your spell's duration.

3. Try to use one-handed and DW in different situations.
They're getting better, and you should try that out.

4. Try to find equipments with lower evade/interference.
I know it's difficult, but kevlar's much worse than shades now because of its B/I.
Some players even suggest picking up any ethereal weapon, which I don't think is a bad idea.
Ethereal weapons have no B/I, so even a normal ethereal longsword can greatly improve your evasion.

That's what I can think of right now.
I know monster's hitting harder, but mages' also facing this problem, so you won't get anywhere better if you want to reduce damage received.
Mages do have lower spell cost (no interference), but they also need mana to cast their spells.

1. On re-tanking the OC, which should I draw from - EXP or Spirit? My adept learner is currently at 90/300.

2. With regards to the depreciating/supportive spells, I haven't use them much as most of my mana goes into curing, just to stay alive & for lasting longer into the arenas/grindfest.

3. I've on hand this Fine Ethereal Axe of Slaughter, along with this Superior Buckler of the Fleet for improving my 1H procs, but no other ethereals for DW or 2H.

4. I just got from sigo8 the shade leggings that he posted. Thanks again @sigo8.

From all the subsequent posts, it would seem that I should stick to using Light for the time being, while sourcing for better Shade armor. Is this correct?

Gladly I have some)) (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) And besides, kevlar possess some advantages, which is more significant for me than burden decrease. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

What are the advantages from Kevlar over Shade (post-patch 0.6.4)? Pardon me for my noobness.


I've re-posted my attributes/stats page (based on Light/Eth Axe/Buckler setup). What other recommendations are there on optimizing my attributes to better improve my stats?

(IMG:[i1219.photobucket.com] http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/Aspire4740G/LAStats.png)(IMG:[i1219.photobucket.com] http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/Aspire4740G/Equip.png)


Thanks again in advance for all assistance/advice rendered.

This post has been edited by Aspire4740: Jan 27 2012, 00:38

What are the advantages from Kevlar over Shade (post-patch 0.6.4)? Pardon me for my noobness.

1. Strenght bonus
2. Piercing mitigation
3. Significantly higher physical mitigation and absorbtion

(IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)