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18 levels of mana tanks still give 162% base mana, more than one and half godly mana potion. Their effect in long distance is nowhere near worthless, certainly better than exp tanks.

18 levels of mana tanks still give 162% base mana, more than one and half godly mana potion. Their effect in long distance is nowhere near worthless, certainly better than exp tanks.

if you go back an read my post again you will see that i didn't say they were worthless.
but for sure they are low priority compared to healt, spirit and OC.
i said that after maxing them, getting the spells he needs and a number of magic tanks to go by he can dump the remaining points into exp tanks if he feels the need to do so (i have zero points in exp tanks myself).

btw, i'm curious about something:
why are you searching for a supercrude 1H weapon in you WTB?

So I'm like level 68 and I was wondering how to increase one's chances of reaching round 100 on Grindfest? Also, I currently have kevlar armor set + axe + shield. Is there a particular playstyle that you recommend for grinding fast/efficiently? I feel that I have to blow through my potions before I get a chance of winning certain missions on "Heroic" lol.

if you go back an read my post again you will see that i didn't say they were worthless.
but for sure they are low priority compared to healt, spirit and OC.
i said that after maxing them, getting the spells he needs and a number of magic tanks to go by he can dump the remaining points into exp tanks if he feels the need to do so (i have zero points in exp tanks myself).

btw, i'm curious about something:
why are you searching for a supercrude 1H weapon in you WTB?

Malenk, you'll not find many people who agree with you on that.

Mana is of utmost priority, even to a melee. You may think that it's useless to take up full MP tanks, but let me tell you, sometimes you have seriously shitty occasions where all your buffs come due at once - and from a full MP gauge, it can deplete me to about 50%.

MP tanks also allow you to increase your buffer level between your casts and your mana refills (you're not constantly having to worry whether your using a pot will mean instant death from a special). It also means that in the event you have 3-4 mana gems pop up all at one, you can instantly use them, instead of waiting until your mana drops below the refill amount. Also, more mana = more turns before your IA fizzles out.

Also, from the looks of the requirements Lement has, he wants to use it to train/grind profs.

Ditto. I don't really need to train profs per se anymore but I'd still like to have good gear in that respect.

let me guess, is it before those recent patch that debuff many things? Or after it?

This patch, .76.

This patch, .76.

That is remarkable, grats! (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

Did you have max (or close to max) DW prof?

So I'm like level 68 and I was wondering how to increase one's chances of reaching round 100 on Grindfest? Also, I currently have kevlar armor set + axe + shield. Is there a particular playstyle that you recommend for grinding fast/efficiently? I feel that I have to blow through my potions before I get a chance of winning certain missions on "Heroic" lol.

Two-handed scytche or estoc with appropriate light or heavy armor - most prefer heavy with them, or kevlar of light armor variety while mace is relegated to shade - is considered best for grinding high difficulties(nintendo+) while mage of single element, most notably holy, is considered best for low(heroic-).

1h+shield is the slowest style in the game, should really use shielding plate of protection and even with that there's the problem that neither plate or kevlar give additional attack power.

Ditto. I don't really need to train profs per se anymore but I'd still like to have good gear in that respect.

so what you want is basically a crude 1H with the worst possible damage roll?

mana is very important for heavy DW like me (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

run out of mana is my main problem for IWBTH DwD & eternal darkness (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)

Malenk, you'll not find many people who agree with you on that.

Mana is of utmost priority, even to a melee. You may think that it's useless to take up full MP tanks, but let me tell you, sometimes you have seriously shitty occasions where all your buffs come due at once - and from a full MP gauge, it can deplete me to about 50%.

MP tanks also allow you to increase your buffer level between your casts and your mana refills (you're not constantly having to worry whether your using a pot will mean instant death from a special). It also means that in the event you have 3-4 mana gems pop up all at one, you can instantly use them, instead of waiting until your mana drops below the refill amount. Also, more mana = more turns before your IA fizzles out.

Also, from the looks of the requirements Lement has, he wants to use it to train/grind profs.

the point is that if he really wants to take exp tanks the thing with the lowest priority that he can take the ability points from is magic tanks, after he gets enough to go by.
i know that magic tanks are useful, but in my opinion it is ten times better to take points from them instead of spirit tanks and OC boosts.

i only have 9 levels in magic tanks because i'm using both maging and melee and i still need 13 AP in order to max OC.
if i were using melee only i would have maxed magic tanks already, but as it is my ability points are still limited (i have spent not a single point on exp tanks).

and since he wanted to speed up his leveling with exp tanks i said that it was better to do so at the expense of magic tanks instead of spirit and OC that in my opinion are the most important thing on a melee build.

This post has been edited by Malenk: Apr 23 2013, 15:15

the point is that if he really wants to take exp tanks the thing with the lowest priority that he can take the ability points from is magic tanks, after he gets enough to go by.
i know that magic tanks are useful, but in my opinion it is ten times better to take points from them instead of spirit tanks and OC boosts.

i only have 9 levels in magic tanks because i'm using both maging and melee and i still need 13 AP in order to max OC.
if i were using melee only i would have maxed magic tanks already, but as it is my ability points are still limited (i have spent not a single point on exp tanks).

Um. I think not. Of course, you are entitled to your opinion.

The reason is this: SP tanks increase 2 things - your time in Stance, and the number of times you can spark/Shield. If you're using an estoc/rapier, Stance is awesome - but only consumes 1 SP per turn. If you're using a non-estoc/rapier, you Stance after Rending Blow, and only for a few rounds at a time. SP isn't so crucial then. Sparking is important - but you will need to have almost 6 full tiers of SP Tank in order to get another spark. SS is under a lower constraint, so you can get away with fewer - and you cure after that.

As for OC, you only need as much OC as your chosen style's combined skill chain's OC consumption + 30% for Stance activation (205% OC for Dual-Wield). Now that the cooldown + chain time limit is using the screwy tick mechanic, it's arguable you don't even really need that much. Of course higher OC is better, but there is no *need* for it, not like MP tanks, believe me.

and since he wanted to speed up his leveling with exp tanks i said that it was better to do so at the expense of magic tanks instead of spirit and OC that in my opinion are the most important thing on a melee build.

Alas, that's not what you told Nightwishman. What you actually said was:

you don't need the exp tanks and so many magic tanks.
max health tanks, max spirit tanks, max OC boosts. 9-10 levels of magic tanks are more than enough to go by.

and

maybe because magic tanks only increase your maximum mana but all the restoring effects are based on the BASE mana, so mana potions, mana gems, riddle masters will still restore the same amount.

basically mana tanks only increase your starting mana pool and in the economy of a long arena/IW/GF it doesn't change much.
it's still good to have some in order to be able to take the full effect of a godly mana potion followed by a mana gem or a riddlemaster.
but maxing magic tanks is only good if you are running mana elixirs.

I'm just sayin', most people won't agree with you.

It is true that mana restoration only works off base MP, BUT spells do not. Spells work off LEVEL. You want MP tanks so that as you rise in level, the increased costs are offset initially by the starting pool. And having a huge mana pool to start out with makes a significant difference on how many buffs you can set up initially, as well as extends the number of rounds you can go before having to replenish, as well as gives you a deeper reservoir to refill.

For heavy melees that have a punishingly high mana cost, these are not minor considerations.

@Nightwishman: buy Ability Points and Adept Learner, and don't bother with EXP Tanks. MP Tanks are far more important.

Also, the HV Advice wiki says MP Tanks come right after Item slots, which come right after HP Tanks.

so what you want is basically a crude 1H with the worst possible damage roll?

A crude 1h with worst possible damage roll can be used to train DW - 1h can just wear shield and no weapon. But that's not quite what I want. I want crude 1h with the worst possible quality roll - the damage in item world is multiplied by equip's qualiy, thus this would save me from clicking on another tab in Battle-IW, as well as battlecaster 1h with 19% mana conversation - and this would save a bit of time when training supportive by casting spike spells(currently don't drop anymore but those weapons are still around). These two may be same but don't need be.

That said, all the profs I use are already above 90% level, so I don't need them per se, just for collection.

This post has been edited by Lement: Apr 23 2013, 16:54

A crude 1h with worst possible damage roll can be used to train DW - 1h can just wear shield and no weapon. But that's not quite what I want. I want crude 1h with the worst possible quality roll - the damage in item world is multiplied by equip's qualiy, thus this would save me from clicking on another tab in Battle-IW, as well as battlecaster 1h with 19% mana conversation - and this would save a bit of time when training supportive by casting spike spells(currently don't drop anymore but those weapons are still around). These two may be same but don't need be.

That said, all the profs I use are already above 90% level, so I don't need them per se, just for collection.

Heck, do you mean there are no more battlecaster 1H weps dropping? But shields were still dropping with 'em...

edit: Although now that you mention it... I haven't seen 'em drop for a couple of weeks now.

This post has been edited by xmagus: Apr 23 2013, 17:11

Haha. No, Battlecaster 1hs still drop iirc(and with IA, stance, etc. ways to decrease mana cost illthid is the better suffix anyway), they just don't drop with up to 21% mana conversation anymore.

Hey, I'm looking for general advice about my current build. I'm setup to be a 2 handed, heavy armor fighter.

Equipment:
Weapon: Superior Scythe of Slaughter
Helmet: Superior Plate Helmet of Protection
Body: Superior Plate Curiass of Warding
Hands: Superior Plate Gauntlets of Warding
Legs: Fine cobalt power leggings of protection
Feet: Superior Plate Sabatons of Stoneskin

I guess I just feel fairly weak, it almost seems as though monsters get stronger faster than I do when I level up. What am I doing wrong?



This post has been edited by pidey: Apr 23 2013, 19:22

Um. I think not. Of course, you are entitled to your opinion.

The reason is this: SP tanks increase 2 things - your time in Stance, and the number of times you can spark/Shield. If you're using an estoc/rapier, Stance is awesome - but only consumes 1 SP per turn. If you're using a non-estoc/rapier, you Stance after Rending Blow, and only for a few rounds at a time. SP isn't so crucial then. Sparking is important - but you will need to have almost 6 full tiers of SP Tank in order to get another spark. SS is under a lower constraint, so you can get away with fewer - and you cure after that.

As for OC, you only need as much OC as your chosen style's combined skill chain's OC consumption + 30% for Stance activation (205% OC for Dual-Wield). Now that the cooldown + chain time limit is using the screwy tick mechanic, it's arguable you don't even really need that much. Of course higher OC is better, but there is no *need* for it, not like MP tanks, believe me.
Alas, that's not what you told Nightwishman. What you actually said was:
and

I'm just sayin', most people won't agree with you.

It is true that mana restoration only works off base MP, BUT spells do not. Spells work off LEVEL. You want MP tanks so that as you rise in level, the increased costs are offset initially by the starting pool. And having a huge mana pool to start out with makes a significant difference on how many buffs you can set up initially, as well as extends the number of rounds you can go before having to replenish, as well as gives you a deeper reservoir to refill.

For heavy melees that have a punishingly high mana cost, these are not minor considerations.

@Nightwishman: buy Ability Points and Adept Learner, and don't bother with EXP Tanks. MP Tanks are far more important.

Also, the HV Advice wiki says MP Tanks come right after Item slots, which come right after HP Tanks.

agree to disagree then.
anyway, even if you don't need all that spirit, in order to get OC you have to fill the spirit tanks on that level.
and despite what you think, you never have enough overcharge.
are you aware that the damage of your skills is boosted by the amount of OC you had before paying the skill cost? i guess you don't or you would not have said the part i have highlighted.
basically if you use a skill with a cost of 50 OC when you have 100 OC you deal double the damage that you would have dealt had you used it when you had 50 OC. at 150 OC the damage is tripled, at 200 is quadrupled and i guess you get the rest.

here the formula if you don't trust me:
Base Skill Damage = Physical_Attack_Base_Damage * Skill_Multiplier * Overcharge * 0.02

long story short: you never have enough overcharge.

Haha. No, Battlecaster 1hs still drop iirc(and with IA, stance, etc. ways to decrease mana cost illthid is the better suffix anyway), they just don't drop with up to 21% mana conversation anymore.

thanks for satisfying my curiosity. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
i think 19 is the max mc you can get on 1h now, on a club. i cheched weeks ago so i may be wrong about that.

This post has been edited by Malenk: Apr 23 2013, 19:58

Hey, I'm looking for general advice about my current build. I'm setup to be a 2 handed, heavy armor fighter.

Equipment:
Weapon: Superior Scythe of Slaughter
Helmet: Superior Plate Helmet of Protection
Body: Superior Plate Curiass of Warding
Hands: Superior Plate Gauntlets of Warding
Legs: Fine cobalt power leggings of protection
Feet: Superior Plate Sabatons of Stoneskin

I guess I just feel fairly weak, it almost seems as though monsters get stronger faster than I do when I level up. What am I doing wrong?

Agility is not that important for heavy since burden eat all your evade points. STR, END and DEX should be your top priority. You also don't need to put ability points in experiences tank yet since you will level up fast without them for now anyway so better spend them in HP/MP/SP/OC etc

try to find better weapons and gears in WTS section. You should spend the bonus credit which you get in your gears since they are the key to play high levels.

(Just a tip) - Don't waste your time leveling up your current equipments instead do all your arenas for credits. I send you something let me know if it was useful ^^

This post has been edited by xcaliber9999: Apr 23 2013, 20:16

Hey, I'm looking for general advice about my current build. I'm setup to be a 2 handed, heavy armor fighter.

Equipment:
Weapon: Superior Scythe of Slaughter
Helmet: Superior Plate Helmet of Protection
Body: Superior Plate Curiass of Warding
Hands: Superior Plate Gauntlets of Warding
Legs: Fine cobalt power leggings of protection
Feet: Superior Plate Sabatons of Stoneskin

I guess I just feel fairly weak, it almost seems as though monsters get stronger faster than I do when I level up. What am I doing wrong?

stat

you don't need AGI that high now (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
since you are 2H heavy , STR > END > DEX > WIS


ability

remove that EXP tank & Shadow veil than invest it to HP , MP & SP tank ( regen too )


you need to train ability boost (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)




for equip , use protection sufix (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Hey, I'm looking for general advice about my current build. I'm setup to be a 2 handed, heavy armor fighter.

Equipment:
Weapon: Superior Scythe of Slaughter
Helmet: Superior Plate Helmet of Protection
Body: Superior Plate Curiass of Warding
Hands: Superior Plate Gauntlets of Warding
Legs: Fine cobalt power leggings of protection
Feet: Superior Plate Sabatons of Stoneskin

I guess I just feel fairly weak, it almost seems as though monsters get stronger faster than I do when I level up. What am I doing wrong?

I sent you two pieces of equipment that will help, if you plan on staying with Protection Plate armor.

This post has been edited by Nightwishman: Apr 23 2013, 20:17