[X] My Assistant

I'm dumb, so saying "rise of new Focus staffs" means I have to go look at a Focus staff to see what it does best, and the patch notes for the details. :-) And of course I have no Focus staff right now to check...do they maximize MAB? As for using all the mana pots...well, I know when I am tempting running out, and when it's easy. I just don't know what stat increase improves the situation fastest...

I also know that asking for the single most important staff stat is not a black & white question, just looking for the angles.

Before this patch, the only good thing about focus staff is that they have high MAB for low-level players who don't have arcane focus yet. Starting with this patch they now drop with a new stat: mana conservation, which can reduce the mana cost for (all?) your spells, thus saving you some mana. Haven't tried it myself so I can't say much about this, but according to the feedback from those who used it, it can be very helpful.

Focus staff still sucks, for me at least.

I've been using destruction staff since level 100, and honestly it's much, much faster.

As for mana shortage, well you can always ET for mana. Although it's a bit risky since you don't have Spirit Shield to absorb their damage yet.

Ever since I got Arcane focus, I still miss quite a lot. Not as much as before, but enough to be annoying.

As for accuracy, I don't know. I mean, the difference between 90.5% and 92.5% is not really that huge, but you give up around 1/3 to 1/2 of your potential damage for it. Not a good trade-off IMO.

Focus staff still sucks, for me at least.

I've been using destruction staff since level 100, and honestly it's much, much faster.

As for mana shortage, well you can always ET for mana. Although it's a bit risky since you don't have Spirit Shield to absorb their damage yet.

Ever since I got Arcane focus, I still miss quite a lot. Not as much as before, but enough to be annoying.

As for accuracy, I don't know. I mean, the difference between 90.5% and 92.5% is not really that huge, but you give up around 1/3 to 1/2 of your potential damage for it. Not a good trade-off IMO.

I still use my good old destruction staff. But it won't hurt to try (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Quick question: the 2 arenas To Kill A God and Eve of Death, according to the wiki, have some special boss at the end. What can they be? Schoolgirls, or RL/IPU/FSM?

maybe focus staff can be good in low difficulties (easy-normal), less overkill damage with better accuracy and less mana cost.
need to test it first though.

I still use my good old destruction staff. But it won't hurt to try (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Quick question: the 2 arenas To Kill A God and Eve of Death, according to the wiki, have some special boss at the end. What can they be? Schoolgirls, or RL/IPU/FSM?

legendary are schoolgirls.

you can check http://ehwiki.org/wiki/Arena and http://ehwiki.org/wiki/HentaiVerse_Bestiary#Legendaries

This post has been edited by aiwotorimodose: Mar 6 2012, 07:15

maybe focus staff can be good in low difficulties (easy-normal), less overkill damage with better accuracy and less mana cost.
need to test it first though.
legendary are schoolgirls.

you can check http://ehwiki.org/wiki/Arena and http://ehwiki.org/wiki/HentaiVerse_Bestiary#Legendaries

I'm pretty sure you need a destruction staff or need to be extremely lucky to be able to finish everything off in 2 turns.

MDB still works better than EDB on staffs.

1. MDB is only available on staffs, while EDB is available on staffs and phases. If you look at the damage formula, you'll notice that it's better to scatter your bonus on all three of the available bonus (MDB, EDB, PROF.).

2. Most of the time you'll need 2-3 casts to clear a round with complement spells. While MDB increase both of your complement spell's power, EDB only increases one of them. If you use EDB staff, you'll get better output in one spell but worse output in the other.

3. It's more difficult to get high MDB on staffs, even for destruction suffix, probably because of the available range. On the other hand, it's easier to get max value on EDB.

That's why MDB staffs works better on most of the situations and sought after by players.

EDB staff still works though, especially when you use only one kind of spells to play through the rounds.

MDB still works better than EDB on staffs.

1. MDB is only available on staffs, while EDB is available on staffs and phases. If you look at the damage formula, you'll notice that it's better to scatter your bonus on all three of the available bonus (MDB, EDB, PROF.).

2. Most of the time you'll need 2-3 casts to clear a round with complement spells. While MDB increase both of your complement spell's power, EDB only increases one of them. If you use EDB staff, you'll get better output in one spell but worse output in the other.

3. It's more difficult to get high MDB on staffs, even for destruction suffix, probably because of the available range. On the other hand, it's easier to get max value on EDB.

That's why MDB staffs works better on most of the situations and sought after by players.

EDB staff still works though, especially when you use only one kind of spells to play through the rounds.

So should I, for example, wear 3pc niflheim and 2pc fenrir? Instead of 5pc niflheim like I do now?

So should I, for example, wear 3pc niflheim and 2pc fenrir? Instead of 5pc niflheim like I do now?

Can't have definite answer on that.
Last time I tried, the damage output only have some minimal increment when I mix holy/dark.
But that maybe because my fenrir/heimdall suits have similar EDB bonus.

If you have suits with better EDB on 2 complement types of spells, it may work better than than a full suit of EDB with the same type of spells but with worse overall EDB.

I myself am using a Proficiency staff, mainly because I can't find a staff that works better for me yet. I have a spreadsheet that gives me a printout of the theoretical bass damage I would do with a spell without any of the additional bonuses such as the spell data factor. It actually works spot on to find the average damage before mitigation and resistance. So pretty much it comes down to this. Usually MDB > EDB > Prof for staffs, but since staffs have all three you need to consider all three when you switch from one staff to another.

A few questions.

1. How do I get unassigned exp when I don't level?

2. If I use Shadow Veil with 8% evade, how much more evasion do I get out of it?

3. Is there any reason to have INT stat if I am melee?

A few questions.

1. How do I get unassigned exp when I don't level?

2. If I use Shadow Veil with 8% evade, how much more evasion do I get out of it?

3. Is there any reason to have INT stat if I am melee?

3. yes. it's not nearly as important as others so i don't keep it as high, but along with .25 base mp it gives slight magic accuracy which is still useful for melee. only half of what WIS gives but if it is underlevelled then so cheaper it's worth it (recommended 70-80% level?).

1+2. don't know. lost confidence to help with MDB vs EDB.

to varst/skillchip/someone who knows: is it the case that EDB is a percentage while MDB just like base damage? if so, then EDB can surely help alot for low-level mages with only one AoE type? or is that wrong too? i don't want to be a mage again but i think i might have to be soon with all the giants...

This post has been edited by queriel: Mar 6 2012, 09:04

3. yes. it's not nearly as important as others so i don't keep it as high, but along with .25 base mp it gives slight magic accuracy which is still useful for melee. only half of what WIS gives but if it is underlevelled then so cheaper it's worth it (recommended 70-80% level?).

1+2. don't know. lost confidence to help with MDB vs EDB.

to varst/skillchip/someone who knows: is it the case that EDB is a percentage while MDB just like base damage? if so, then EDB can surely help alot for low-level mages with only one AoE type? or is that wrong too? i don't want to be a mage again but i think i might have to be soon with all the giants...

Maging is not OP much anymore. Now with heavy shield + eth mace 22% I can go about the same number of rounds as a mage (normal mode, mind you). Just more boring.

However, for IWBTH play, I honestly don't know. I imagine it'd be a rape fest as mobs clobber you til you die every turn, and you not being able to do much about it.

Maging is not OP much anymore. Now with heavy shield + eth mace 22% I can go about the same number of rounds as a mage (normal mode, mind you). Just more boring.

However, for IWBTH play, I honestly don't know. I imagine it'd be a rape fest as mobs clobber you til you die every turn, and you not being able to do much about it.

is that good news? (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

i play IWBTH almost exclusive now (just for fast exp) and high proc mace works great (but i never had anything so sweet like ethereal mace or shield armour). i clear almost all hourly battles, usually a 7-10 mob, on IWBTH by just relying on stun for 25-45% exp needed for level-up (i recommend for levelling) but it's getting harder every level. plus... slow work like you say. i miss the AoE a little, and killing giants in less than 20 hits.

@skillchip

It also depends on what difficulty you're playing IMO.
My experience: heimdall staff works quite well with holy spells on normal, but on other difficulties you really need destruction staff to help with the damage.


@spizsam

1. You can get EXP from dawn event.
If you mean how you can get those EXP back, just decrease your primary stat.

2. The Formula is
Actual evade in battle = 1 - (1 - evade in character stat) (1 - 20%) = 0.8 * evade in character stat + 0.2


@queriel

Don't worry about helping. MDB vs EDB has always been a problem among mages. It's even more problematic in the past. We'll surely help if you make some mistakes (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Ass for EDB, it gives more benefits for high-level mages.
The reason is that it has a low base with a high growth rate, unlike those mitigation/block which has high base but a low growth rate.
And yes MDB adds to base damage while EDB gives a % bonus.

@ChosenUno

Maging is good just because they can do things much faster, not because they can play in more difficult things.

This post has been edited by varst: Mar 6 2012, 09:32

I though they works like a cuboid volume with MDB,EDB and prof as it's edges (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/duck.gif)

@ChosenUno

Maging is good just because they can do things much faster, not because they can play in more difficult things.

Yeah, but with IWBTH hourlies for example, isn't much faster much better? I mean, if it takes me 20 turns to kill 10 mobs with a scythe/eth mace, wouldn't I have to spam *lots* of potions? Maybe I'll try using melee in my next hourly to see if it's less heart-stopping.

Btw, what kind of armor is good for 2h play? I see some are using full shade for 2h play. Personally I feel shield heavy is a little better IMO, but when I switch to my light set to see 10% parry + 26% evade I'm not too sure anymore LOL.

This post has been edited by ChosenUno: Mar 6 2012, 09:50

Yeah, but with IWBTH hourlies for example, isn't much faster much better? I mean, if it takes me 20 turns to kill 10 mobs with a scythe/eth mace, wouldn't I have to spam *lots* of potions? Maybe I'll try using melee in my next hourly to see if it's less heart-stopping.

Btw, what kind of armor is good for 2h play? I see some are using full shade for 2h play. Personally I feel shield heavy is a little better IMO, but when I switch to my light set to see 10% parry + 26% evade I'm not too sure anymore LOL.

i've done a 10-mob only using one average health potion just in case and once only 7 monster made me use 1 superior mana, 2 greater, an average and a superior health so i guess it can vary. but you have more breathing space than with lower mitigation. if you don't have too many potions from arena clears like me then maybe not so good. i have nearly 300 of most kinds (up to godly) so i can send you a few if you really low.

varst sig has all the info i think. but for hourly IWBTH i'd go with heavy unless you have a very good shade set. evade is great, better than parry or resist in that it avoid magic+physical (http://ehwiki.org/wiki/Damage_Avoidance) but i don't like to rely on luck balancing it so i prefer %mitigation. the usual advice is heavy with scythe/bleed damage and either light or heavy with mace (high agility can take better advantage of stun).

what always works for me on hourly is heavy armour and protection spell (i also try to keep up regen and use some weaken). if you have spark of life, use it if channeling procs and use overcharge for shatterstrike. if your 2H prof above 100 and you have good stun proc you can stun up to 7 monster in one normal (lucky) hit. ..this is how i do it anyway, someone probably have at least one or two things to add/change for better advice. i started doing it at about your level and that very recently, GOOD exp. (also check battle record for strong mosters to kill first or even silence if they rape your spark of life with magic attacks)

i'm really not sure if fast levelling is good or better to keep up credits etc from arena and grind proficiency but i always want more abilities to choose. i can have time to learn to play the game better once i'm wrongly considered a full expert for my high level and spam even more here for exp bonuses (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

speaking of genuine experts, thanks for answering my question varst.

now that past the hour, game installed to hdd and time for an hourly..

mdb and edb... Not much to say about that. I'm pro mdb because I use complementing spells. Plus my current staff doesn't actually have edb >_>. Honestly though, edb could be better than mdb in certain weapons.

I would just compare the percentages I get to base damage and see if that is greater than the mdb lost. For instance 20% extra for 500 base damage would be 100 right? Well if the difference in mdb between the two staffs is less than that, go for the edb. Otherwise, go for mdb.

mdb and edb... Not much to say about that. I'm pro mdb because I use complementing spells. Plus my current staff doesn't actually have edb >_>. Honestly though, edb could be better than mdb in certain weapons.

I would just compare the percentages I get to base damage and see if that is greater than the mdb lost. For instance 20% extra for 500 base damage would be 100 right? Well if the difference in mdb between the two staffs is less than that, go for the edb. Otherwise, go for mdb.

Lolwut? The staff in your sig definitely has EDB.

(IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)
seppuku! (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)