[X] My Assistant

Arena is really the only way to get credits. You could grind for gear to sell to others, but that is really only an option for high levels in excellent gear. Just do your arenas and hourly fights on as high a difficulty as you possibly can do.

I feel like I've been playing really badly or doing something stupid so far. I've read the guides/advice on my DW build, but I'd like some extra recommendations. So, could anyone take a look at [i.imgur.com] my stats/current equipment and give out an opinion?
Pretty much all my equipment is from drops, I've had crap luck with the shrine.

Ahh I see (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) now it makes sense. Thank god I only trained 1 slot. Saved loads of credit imo (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

thanks for the quick reply ^^

Slots don't exist anymore, you can activate all 7 auras if you have 7 points. It's a positive change for everyone (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Will we ever get the money back that we already put in aura slots or karma????

This post has been edited by Bonebuster: Jan 23 2013, 13:02

Will we ever get the money back that we already put in aura slots or karma????

Yes. RTFTP (RTF Tenboro Posts).

He can be quoted as approximately "Everyone who doesn't get up in my face about it will get refunds." When he remembers, which might be a bit just like Spelunker. It is general policy that anything that is REMOVED COMPLETELY is refunded. Training does nothing? Refund once it's safe to do so. Hath perks gone? Refunded when they were pulled. Priestess gear turned to useless shit? Well, still better than Cotton, so no refund. What'll be interesting is what happens when he retires Soul fully (and what happens to millions of spent Quintessence Crystals and hundreds of extant weapons with Soul Strike).

If I sound a bit aggressive here, it's because the question has been asked, and answered, several times in several places. Which have of course fallen off the front of the discussion. . .

This post has been edited by PK678353: Jan 23 2013, 13:28

[i.imgur.com] my stats/current equipment

It's said "403 - Forbidden". maybe only me T^T

This post has been edited by unknownxz.: Jan 23 2013, 14:12

Are absorb or imperil worth the ability points? Dual Wield light armor

I feel like I've been playing really badly or doing something stupid so far. I've read the guides/advice on my DW build, but I'd like some extra recommendations. So, could anyone take a look at [i.imgur.com] my stats/current equipment and give out an opinion?
Pretty much all my equipment is from drops, I've had crap luck with the shrine.

Stats are fine (though I'd bring WIS up a bit tbh, MP is good), equipment prof is fine, magic prof may need work, post your abilities. You'll want to be abusing Supportive spells more than you are judging from your prof (Regen, Haste, Protection and Spark are all very good if you can pay for them), and some Deprecating spells are well worth it (Weaken and Silence being standouts, particularly Weaken with 5 AP invested to deal with problematic mobs). Some DW players make use of Sleep as well to deal with particularly nasty mobs while you deal with other problems, but you need Deprecating prof to make Sleep be more than just a catnap.

Gear is as you may surmise not the greatest (though it appears to have decent PABs). Try to get Protection armor for more PMI (or Barrier for Shield, though that's rather rare) and use a Balance or Nimble weapon offhand. Consider a Rapier, since PA is still good even now that it isn't silly good.

Are absorb or imperil worth the ability points? Dual Wield light armor

If you have a PA source, Imperil is only useful to melee for improving damage from Elemental Strikes from an Elemental Weapon or Infusion. Holy/Dark/Soul is not buffed. Absorb is useful, but only at higher levels when you are liable to be hit with several magic based attacks (from Elementals, Celestials, Sprites).

For now, the points would be better spent on HP/MP/SP Tanks or OC or something if you have a good source of PA. If you don't, Imperil may be useful (it's almost as good as a single stack of PA).

This post has been edited by PK678353: Jan 23 2013, 13:44

Try to get Protection armor for more PMI and use a Balance or Nimble weapon offhand.

I think balance is more important than ever now that bleed and PA stack. You want an off-hand weapon that will give you as many off-hand strikes as possible so you can get the higher stacks quickly. The extra crit on a balance weapon with help it proc more often too. At low levels nimble might be better as you still might be more concerned with defense than offense though.

Are absorb or imperil worth the ability points? Dual Wield light armor

I say wait on absorb until you are higher level, there are better things to spend your AP on. As for imperil, it's really only useful for DW if you have elemental strikes on your weapons that aren't holy/dark/soul (now that you can just add infusions it might come in more handy too). Although this is low priority too honestly, so it sort of depends on what the rest of your tree looks like.

I wonder if imperil stacks with PAx1 and PAx2 now?

This post has been edited by T_Starrk: Jan 23 2013, 13:46

I think balance is more important than ever now that bleed and PA stack. You want an off-hand weapon that will give you as many off-hand strikes as possible so you can get the higher stacks quickly. The extra crit on a balance weapon with help it proc more often too. At low levels nimble might be better as you still might be more concerned with defense than offense though.
I say wait on absorb until you are higher level, there are better things to spend your AP on. As for imperil, it's really only useful for DW if you have elemental strikes on your weapons that aren't holy/dark/soul (now that you can just add infusions it might come in more handy too). Although this is low priority too honestly, so it sort of depends on what the rest of your tree looks like.

I wonder if imperil stacks with PAx1 and PAx2 now?

Absorb is useless. It's never gonna proc.

Imperil is also useless for melees since you already have PA. Why waste mana when you can get it for free (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Imperil is also useless for melees since you already have PA. Why waste mana when you can get it for free (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I sometimes liked to throw imperil on FSM and schoolgirls when I had my club with cold strike. It would at least let the cold strike do semi-decent damage. But yeah, it's pretty useless. As for absorb, 4everlost seems to be a fan (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) .

I think balance is more important than ever now that bleed and PA stack. You want an off-hand weapon that will give you as many off-hand strikes as possible so you can get the higher stacks quickly. The extra crit on a balance weapon with help it proc more often too. At low levels nimble might be better as you still might be more concerned with defense than offense though.
I say wait on absorb until you are higher level, there are better things to spend your AP on. As for imperil, it's really only useful for DW if you have elemental strikes on your weapons that aren't holy/dark/soul (now that you can just add infusions it might come in more handy too). Although this is low priority too honestly, so it sort of depends on what the rest of your tree looks like.

I wonder if imperil stacks with PAx1 and PAx2 now?

i hope it stacks (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

btw , are infusion still add & boost elemental strike in this new patch (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

i lose around 8% PMI in this new patch (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)

Absorb is useless. It's never gonna proc.

Imperil is also useless for melees since you already have PA. Why waste mana when you can get it for free (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

imperil increase my elemental strike (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
usefull for hourlies (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


btw , are tenboro really want to get rid of karma ??

This post has been edited by ahenayau: Jan 23 2013, 14:08

Absorb is useless. It's never gonna proc.

The guy asking is DW. Makes it a little harder to kill everything before it can throw a spell. It'll proc on longer arenas like TT. But it's definitely far from a priority.

I think balance is more important than ever now that bleed and PA stack. You want an off-hand weapon that will give you as many off-hand strikes as possible so you can get the higher stacks quickly. The extra crit on a balance weapon with help it proc more often too. At low levels nimble might be better as you still might be more concerned with defense than offense though.

Yeah, having to make sure PA sticks and stacks is going to put a lot more emphasis on PA % (including Crit and offhand %) and turns.

Now for crazy theorycrafting talk. What do you think of Axe/Axe vs Axe/Rapier vs. Rapier/Rapier in this patch? I can almost see Slaughter Rapier/Balance Rapier being a faster kill due to stacking up PA faster, and two Rapiers would of course add a lot of combined Parry.

This post has been edited by PK678353: Jan 23 2013, 14:23

The guy asking is DW. Makes it a little harder to kill everything before it can throw a spell. It'll proc on longer arenas like TT. But it's definitely far from a priority.
Yeah, having to make sure PA sticks and stacks is going to put a lot more emphasis on PA % (including Crit and offhand %) and turns.

Now for crazy talk. What do you think of Axe/Axe vs Axe/Rapier vs. Rapier/Rapier in this patch? I can almost see Slaughter Rapier/Balance Rapier being a faster kill due to stacking up PA faster, and two Rapiers would of course add a lot of combined Parry.

Axe/Axe is still a joke, mainly for the fact that axe makes for a shit off-hand weapon (no parry and low accuracy). Axe/rapier with a heavy set is still the fastest way to kill for DW (especially with the bleed buff). Rapier/rapier has always been a viable build, but you need a badass slaughter rapier for the main-hand. I'd say rapier/rapier has definitely gained some ground for this patch because it would make it so you never have to worry about losing the 3x PA stack. Although it's not necessary really, with my standard club/rapier set-up I went over 300 turns twice against FSM with the PA never going below 3x (I used a 24%/7 turn rapier though and I have 58.1% crit). Also, I still say club/rapier is the only viable build for shade/dw (you have to have stun, imo). It even got a minor buff as stunned monsters can no longer evade.

This post has been edited by T_Starrk: Jan 23 2013, 14:26

The guy asking is DW. Makes it a little harder to kill everything before it can throw a spell. It'll proc on longer arenas like TT. But it's definitely far from a priority.
Yeah, having to make sure PA sticks and stacks is going to put a lot more emphasis on PA % (including Crit and offhand %) and turns.

Now for crazy theorycrafting talk. What do you think of Axe/Axe vs Axe/Rapier vs. Rapier/Rapier in this patch? I can almost see Slaughter Rapier/Balance Rapier being a faster kill due to stacking up PA faster, and two Rapiers would of course add a lot of combined Parry.

I used to melee DwD BT and IWBTH. Guess what? I cast absorb at the start of the arena, and it didn't proc until like 2/3 way through, when there are 3 schoolgirls (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

for estoc, which one is better suffix Battlecaster or Illithid ?

That depends on you.

for estoc, which one is better suffix Battlecaster or Illithid ?

Battlecaster, usually.

Stats are fine (though I'd bring WIS up a bit tbh, MP is good), equipment prof is fine, magic prof may need work, post your abilities. You'll want to be abusing Supportive spells more than you are judging from your prof (Regen, Haste, Protection and Spark are all very good if you can pay for them), and some Deprecating spells are well worth it (Weaken and Silence being standouts, particularly Weaken with 5 AP invested to deal with problematic mobs). Some DW players make use of Sleep as well to deal with particularly nasty mobs while you deal with other problems, but you need Deprecating prof to make Sleep be more than just a catnap.

Gear is as you may surmise not the greatest (though it appears to have decent PABs). Try to get Protection armor for more PMI (or Barrier for Shield, though that's rather rare) and use a Balance or Nimble weapon offhand. Consider a Rapier, since PA is still good even now that it isn't silly good.

Thanks a lot for all the advice. As far as abilities go, while I try to use them, I can't really do it often because I have MP problems. That 148% Mana cost is making healing really tough, or rather, I either heal or have enough to fire off a single round of support spells, because they're just so expensive. [i.imgur.com] Anyway, here's my ability selection right now.
I have 2 unspent points right now, wanted to put them into Silence but I'm kinda saving them up for the next tier right now...

I'll start working on some Protection plates, and see what I can do about Shield armor. As for weapons, well, I guess I'll work out a trade for a good rapier, but I feel I'll lose a ton of stats from the change in prefix (Exquisite>Superior). Also, should I keep that axe or work on finding something else? I think it's working rather well as far as damage goes.

Also, what should I do [i.imgur.com] with all this unused equipment? I feel like I've gotten some ok drops for other classes and can't bring myself to sell them, but I don't think I'll be changing classes at any point in time.

Thanks a lot for all the advice. As far as abilities go, while I try to use them, I can't really do it often because I have MP problems. That 148% Mana cost is making healing really tough, or rather, I either heal or have enough to fire off a single round of support spells, because they're just so expensive. [i.imgur.com] Anyway, here's my ability selection right now.
I have 2 unspent points right now, wanted to put them into Silence but I'm kinda saving them up for the next tier right now...

I'll start working on some Protection plates, and see what I can do about Shield armor. As for weapons, well, I guess I'll work out a trade for a good rapier, but I feel I'll lose a ton of stats from the change in prefix (Exquisite>Superior). Also, should I keep that axe or work on finding something else? I think it's working rather well as far as damage goes.

Also, what should I do [i.imgur.com] with all this unused equipment? I feel like I've gotten some ok drops for other classes and can't bring myself to sell them, but I don't think I'll be changing classes at any point in time.

OK...

1. Reset your ability tree NOW. Get rid of your EXP tanks and spend some credits on Adept Learning instead. At your level, if you ramp up the difficulty to where you can still reliably clear all your arenas every day, you will jump at least one level a day without the tanks.

2. With all the extra APs you will have from dumping EXP tanks, you need to pick up (in order of importance) Weaken, Shadow Veil, Spark of Life, Silence, SP tanks -> OC tanks. Here's why. Weaken reduces enemy damage by 50% AND prevents crits. Shadow Veil essentially gives you 20% Evade, which as a Heavy user you don't have much of. SoL lets you survive where you might otherwise die. Silence is the ONLY thing that is awesome enough to let you live through FSM on IWBTH (you don't have access to SS and SoL triggering means you would have died). SP tanks and Overcharge allow you to run in Spirit Stance (which doubles your damage) for longer.

3. Grind your Supportive and Deprecating, as others have already said. You really need to spend time getting them up; the reason you don't have enough MP to cast the spells is because the spells themselves don't last long enough to be of any use. Proficiencies increase the duration of the spells, so get them up to ~75% of your level (if you can spend the time grinding them to ~90%, they will keep pace as long as you keep casting them). Use a Crude IW.

4. At this stage, when you pick a new rapier, don't worry too much about its damage. Look instead at its PA proc chance and duration (anything with over 22% and, I guess, 4 rounds). If it's Ethereal or is Hallowed, great. If its parry (check the Equipment Ranges wiki) is reasonably close to max base, even better.

5. Sell everything below Superior. You will need credits. Anyway, unless you want to go through the wiki every time you get a drop, a general rule of thumb is that anything Fine and below isn't worth putting in a shop. There are exceptions; in every category of equipment, certain stats are of higher priority than others. Your Fine Hallowed Estoc of Slaughter, if it has high PA proc chance and duration, with a ridiculous ADB, might be worth setting up shop for, even if it only had 2 low PABs.

6. Spend money training Pack Rat. Melees need to bring a tonne of Godly Mana Potions into battle. Train some Scavenger as well as LotD, so that you can pick up those potions from your battles.

7. Without a link to your equips, I can't say if your axe is any good. Check the wiki for a good rule of thumb.

Generally, you want to look out for Ethereal weapons, and/or Battlecaster stuff. Ethereal gives you an extra 50% attack bonus, effectively, and brings down your mana consumption. Ethereal Battlecaster is a dream of mine; it will further lower mana consumption.