[X] My Assistant

Magnificent Shield Greaves of Protection
wonder how much these will end up going for at the auction. I doubt I'll be able to hang in it much longer (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Is Shade armour with High stun 2H the FOTM?

I'm noticing the trend that everything is becoming "One-shot monsters before they one-shot you".

At the moment I'm still using the fridge build from a looooooong time ago (Full heavy mit with ok resist) and 2H Bleed Katana.

On normal I can usually clear arena rounds in two to three swipes, but I also drop really fast.

I'm assembling a high damage bonus Shade set with a eth Mace. Any tips for what other stats I should go for? I assume high Str for damage, dex and agil for accuracy and more attacks per round.

Evade, Evade, Evade. If you can get some shadowdancer, pay attention to crit.

If you can get your evade high enough, eth mace is good. It's just generally easier for our level range to get +block than it is +evade. Also using a non-eth doesn't kill your +block.

This is of course not considering feather shards.

The 140s were hard because regen wasn't cutting it for me anymore. At 150 you get regen2, and you'll be much harder to kill.

I must be doing something wrong then (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Just got my ass handed to me in a normal IW, got to round 50/130.

[images.redial.net] My Stats

get some "of protection" plate first. (check my shop (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif), have shield armor too) dampening and others are not nearly as useful.

This post has been edited by etothex: Apr 5 2012, 00:46

I must be doing something wrong then (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Just got my ass handed to me in a normal IW, got to round 50/130.

[images.redial.net] My Stats

What the hell are Milton and Chausses? (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Heavy armor set should have average 40% physical mitigation

Did you filed all HP Tank? Mine got lower stat points in Endurance and I got more HP than yours

This post has been edited by Coma: Apr 5 2012, 00:48

I must be doing something wrong then (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Just got my ass handed to me in a normal IW, got to round 50/130.

[images.redial.net] My Stats

Sell away those old mitons n chausses they provide little defence when compared to the newer gears those are obsolete

Yeah these are really old. Like a couple of years old old (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

So just grab some better physical mitigation stuff with +block if possible?

Is resist chance still useful? The newer stuff doesn't have that stat anymore.

Did you filed all HP Tank? Mine got lower stat points in Endurance and I got more HP than yours

[images.redial.net] Aye.

This post has been edited by C411: Apr 5 2012, 00:52

Yeah these are really old. Like a couple of years old old (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

So just grab some better physical mitigation stuff with +block if possible?

Is resist chance still useful? The newer stuff doesn't have that stat anymore.

Yes, grab some better Shield armors if possible, or throw in Power Armor for damage output.

Resist chance are still good, but not as useful as Block (a successful block can negate both magical and physical attacks, while a successful Resist only counter magical attack)

U need to learn haste as well.

go to the wts forums n buy some better plates.u dun need premium ones as absorb is gone now take ur time to look thru lower leved high quaility heavy gear as those may provide just as good mitigation with lower burden n interference due to lower lvl its cheaper as well...

Yeah these are really old. Like a couple of years old old (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

So just grab some better physical mitigation stuff with +block if possible?

Is resist chance still useful? The newer stuff doesn't have that stat anymore.
[images.redial.net] Aye.

if you want to fight bosses and (lvl 100+ arenas) and higher difficulties, you need weaken and silence and probably spark of life (max em all). redistribute some of your sp tanks and OC boost. I only have 5 tiers of OC boost; useful, but not top priority to get 200+ OC.

Haste, and even shadow veil are good (I haven't used SV with regen2 though, but used it in later levels of IW previously)

Last get regen, cure2 is bad, too mana inefficient. Regen heals over time so heals for more overall versus cureI. If you need to get out of red immediately (don't let it happen too often (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)), use cure +regen or potions.

Thanks for the help guys (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I think I'm on the right track now, haste really helps and survivability is much better.

you should still get cure 2 btw... for those times when u get a random chann or if ur low and no health pots... it will still fill at least 50%? of your bar for a good while and itll prevent endless cure cycles

@GreyPanther - Yes, only 5 figurines were added. Someone was spreading around that 21 new figurines were added until 10 himself came in and said only 5 new figurines were added. Wiki was probably just updated today.

@Everything else - As for the choice of armor, if your playing melee, heavy armor is the way to go. Of "protection" with plate, and as you lvl up, you should switch to shield of "barrier" or "protection" or power armor of "slaughter" for the most melee damage in the game.

For shade, Shadowdancer > Fleet = Arcanist > Negation. But light armor is really just not worth the trouble right now. Evade stacks very poorly because of the low base values and poor scaling, and burden and interference don't really matter that much, especially with the new featherweight shards. At higher levels, (since I'm not at that point yet, this is more speculation and just looking at the scaling), around 250, you get get enough mitigation and evade to be effective, but power armor is still a lot better since you can probably keep the featherweight enchantment on as long as you need to.

For killing gods with melee, silence + nerf is the way to go, unless you use a lot of thrice blessed or spirit ward armor depending on the god. Weaken doesn't stack with silence, and your usually much more vulnerable to magic/spirit attacks since they do more damage anyways and your magic mitigation is usually a bit lower, so silence works better.

Cure 2 is ineffcient in terms of mana. You should try to use only Regen + Cure, unless your get random crited into the red. Regen 2 shouldn't be spammed either since it costs a TON of mana, just use when your taking damage at a higher rate than regen can keep up with, or when you have channeling.

SP tanks and OC tanks.

Should I get them evenly or focus on one more the other. I'm leaning more towards SP tanks since SoL triggers quite frequently.

I haven't been using my shield armor, I find shade or power works much better for me while using a high bleed 2hd weapon.

For me high action speed and the number of attacks I get in before stun from Shatter Strike ends is the most important thing. That takes 10-11 turns and the monsters are stunned for all that. So if I play on a difficulty that takes 11 turns to clear the monsters don't get a chance to hit me.

Hey! I've got a lot of questions about the game, trying to figure out a number of things.

First off, my char is a lvl 75 melee. I was playing Dual Wield up until about level 60-63, then discovered how much better I could do with a 2H Fine Mace of Vampire.

For equip, I've got a mix of items. -Shade Helmet, Cotton Robe, Leather Guantlets, Shield Greaves, Shade Boots. This was to keep Interference/Burden Down(Int=51, burden=35) while still having a decent mana casting ability. I found otherwise that heal was costing way too much. Mitigation is approx 27 for both mag and phys. Questions are as follows:

1) I change the difficulty frequently. Is there any problem with this? For example, I usually put it up to battletoads/nintendo/IWBH for the hourly battles. I usually buff out/debuff the enemies then smash, and don't worry about wasting mana. I then turn the difficulty to a medium setting if I am doing item worlds/grindfest.

2) What is the best spell to use after recieving the "channeling" status? I generally choose haste or regen, but rarely a debuff. Is this proper?

3) In non-boss battles, which enemies should I target first? I generally target the premade monsters LAST, since they always seem to be weaker than the user-created monsters. I will target the enemies closest to 50% MP first, to stop them from using their specials, unless a monster is just about dead(and coloured red) to get rid of it. Is this a smart move?

Lastly, anything else you'd suggest or strategies I may be missing?

Thanks!

Just to add, in case it makes a difference:

My stamina is almost always very high, since I don't play for long times at once. If I do play a long session it's usually where I do an hourly and play around a bit, then work for an hour, then back for another hourly, then back to other stuff, etc. I'm not able to do any long item worlds/grindfests/etc. Maybe at an absolute MOST I could do 50 rounds at a time.

For equip, I've got a mix of items. -Shade Helmet, Cotton Robe, Leather Guantlets, Shield Greaves, Shade Boots. This was to keep Interference/Burden Down(Int=51, burden=35) while still having a decent mana casting ability. I found otherwise that heal was costing way too much. Mitigation is approx 27 for both mag and phys.

Don't mix armor types. As a melee, either have all Light armour or all Heavy armour. All (new) Shade has 0 Burden, but fairly high interference. Kevlar has some of both. Heavy has quite a bit of both. New featherweight shards will temporarily remove these, but there's no permanent escape from Burden & Interference unless you intend to go mage.

1) I change the difficulty frequently. Is there any problem with this? For example, I usually put it up to battletoads/nintendo/IWBH for the hourly battles. I usually buff out/debuff the enemies then smash, and don't worry about wasting mana. I then turn the difficulty to a medium setting if I am doing item worlds/grindfest

Nope. No problem with switching difficulties.

2) What is the best spell to use after recieving the "channeling" status? I generally choose haste or regen, but rarely a debuff. Is this proper?

IIRC, channeling depends on base cost. Regen is probably your "best" Channeling receiving spell outside of buffs due to frequency of use, but I would say there's no best unless you intend on expending a ton mana casting high cost spells to get channeling to use for those same spells.

3) In non-boss battles, which enemies should I target first? I generally target the premade monsters LAST, since they always seem to be weaker than the user-created monsters. I will target the enemies closest to 50% MP first, to stop them from using their specials, unless a monster is just about dead(and coloured red) to get rid of it. Is this a smart move?

This is generally the way to go.

This post has been edited by HaliZorat: Apr 5 2012, 03:47

IIRC, channeling depends on base cost. Regen is probably your "best" Channeling receiving spell outside of buffs due to frequency of use, but I would say there's no best unless you intend on expending a ton mana casting high cost spells to get channeling to use for those same spells.
This is generally the way to go.

Do you mean the base cost of the spell after channeling, or the one beforehand? I.E. does Shadow Veil(cost 30 mp) have a better chance at triggering the channeling effect than weaken(8 mp)?

The other thing I consider is the cost of the spell, so that's why I will almost always channel haste, which is my most expensive spell. Plus, I get in extra hits before they can hit me, keeping my hp up.

Don't mix your armor. You interference and burden aren't low at all by doing that, and your mit isn't great either. Just find a good set of heavy or light armor of protection. Phys mit is more important since with few exceptions, monster attacks are physical. Vampire is ok, but slaughter is really just the best because of how much faster you can clear rounds (and hence take less damage). Taking less damage thanks to more mitigation and killing monsters faster will save you more mana with healing than a few points of interference.

No problem with switching difficulties. But if you power level through hourly encounters, then your proficiencies will be lower. Most of the time, it doesn't really matter, especially since you will level slower as you go, but it could be troublesome later if your proficiencies are too low.

Casting a buff with channeling is usually the way to go, especially for normal monsters. Buffs will help you over several rounds and against all the monsters, but weakening or poisoning or whatever a normal mob isn't gonna help much. Debuffs cost less mana anyways, so you save more by casting buffs. Regen is a good choice. Try out different ones and see which ones helps you to clear more rounds.

Your targeting method is sound. Killing agitated monsters and those with more than 50 percent MP is effective, but this matters less at lower difficulties at higher levels, and with the "splash" of a 2H weapon + the stun from your mace, you can make some choices, such as attacking a monster next to a monster you stunned or is red and use the splash to kill it.

EDIT - Spells with higher base cost will trigger channeling more yes. When your channeling, base cost is 0.

This post has been edited by Kaosumx: Apr 5 2012, 04:02

Don't mix your armor. You interference and burden aren't low at all by doing that, and your mit isn't great either. Just find a good set of heavy or light armor of protection. Phys mit is more important since with few exceptions, monster attacks are physical. Vampire is ok, but slaughter is really just the best because of how much faster you can clear rounds (and hence take less damage). Taking less damage thanks to more mitigation and killing monsters faster will save you more mana with healing than a few points of interference.

Okay, thanks for that! One of the reason I like the vampire is that even though I do less per hit, I also build up overcharge. As a result, especially when fighting 6+ monsters in a single round, I can use my special proc(shatter strike) almost every two rounds.
So I can stun a bunch with my regular attach(so only a few are attacking me), I can then drain a bunch, build up overcharge, and at the beginning of the next round can shatter strike everyone. They're all stunned, I can usually kill them all without taking any damage(because they're stunned), and also drain health at the same time. Sometimes I can even fill my overcharge by the next round. With this strategy, is it still worth trying to buy a mace of slaughter?

You'd also build up the same overcharge with slaughter (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)?

The amount from drain is rather low, it only works well in early rounds, when the number of monsters is low and their damage is low. You can get by with stun+drain without needing heal for the first few rounds yes. In later rounds, there's just too many monsters for drain to do anything meaningful, and they also hit hard enough that drain isn't very effective. Once again, killing monsters faster means you take less damage, take less hits (these two points are especially true as the hp of the monsters increase with difficulty and the number of them goes up), and you spend less time per round, which means you spend less time playing the game, or if you decide to use that extra time, more rounds, more loot, more exp.

Drain also only procs on your primary target (includes hp, mp, and sp drain), otherwise it would be much better.

You don't have to rush buying the mace of slaughter though, keep trying out stuff and see what works best with you. Don't give up on DW because it works wonders for bosses and against few enemies. You can go also go to el h's or Jarun's free equipment shop to test out different items too.

EDIT - included links to their shops. Buying from the WTS section of the forums is much cheaper than the Bazaar and you can find better peices.
https://forums.e-hentai.org/index.php?showt...=59425&st=0
https://forums.e-hentai.org/index.php?showt...=60669&st=0



This post has been edited by Kaosumx: Apr 5 2012, 04:25

Sorry to keep asking questions, and thanks to everyone who's answered so far(as soon as my karma refills, I'll dole it out again).

From looking at the wiki, I think I understand why I should stick with all one type of armor. Here's my reasoning. Am I wrong about this?
It has to do with Evade and Block. These two seem to both have an identical effect, from the wiki.

Heavy Armor(most of my stuff is shield) has block, while light armor has evade.

Given the mathematical formula used for chance to avoid attack, let's do a hypothetical situation where I've got 20 points of E or B, so I could choose to do 20% evade, or 20%block, or 10% of each. Ignoring parry and resist, the chance to avoid an attach is:

1-[(1-Evasion)*(1-Block)]

If I had 20% Evade
= 1 - [(1-.2) * (1)]
= 1 - [(0.8)]
= .2 (20 percent chance of avoiding damage)


If I had 20% Block
= 1 - [(1) * (1-.2)]
= 1 - [(0.8)]
= .2 (20 percent chance of avoiding damage)

If I have 10 percent of each
= 1 - [(1-.1) * (1-.1)]
= 1 - [(0.9 * (0.9))]
= 1 - [0.81]
= .19 (19 percent chance of avoiding damage)