[X] My Assistant

How valuable is an exmax edb phase? I saw one I'd like very much to buy at Vriska's auction, it has nice prefix. I really wonder why it's still affordable range to me at 100k.

Is that right? It takes ~56m to get plvl 2250, buying from item shop?

some math expert said that HTTP spend around 300~400m to max kodou yuki in the past (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
( when crystal pack still around 100k )
Kinda forget since it been long time (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

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

Just beat IPU and have over 100K in credits. What would be the best use of the money:

1) Adept Learner? (103/300)

2) The four drop-related skills? (20,7,4 and 1 respectively. I can do at most 2 of these right now)

3) Better gear? (I currently have an Exquisite Mace of Slaughter with +Strength, and a full set of Exquisite Light Armor. Don't even see better stuff in the equipment shop.)

Are there distinct differences among types of mage (e.g. Cold, Holy) or just preference?

Are there distinct differences among types of mage (e.g. Cold, Holy) or just preference?

Monsters have different resistance profile (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Besides the resist, Holy and dark generally give higher damage output. They also have earlier 4 turn cooldown of their T3 spell (@ level 400, elemantal need level 450). Holy also give cure bonus. Their drawback is the much higher mana cost and longer cast time.

This post has been edited by Colman: Apr 25 2015, 05:26

Are there distinct differences among types of mage (e.g. Cold, Holy) or just preference?

Dark & Holy can access special drain.
Holy improves heal.
Dark, at the moment, is the least resisted by mobs.

Elemental is cheaper, mana-wise.
Elemental has faster cast-time. My experience with dark, you have to endure multiple hits after casting tier3 spell since it has quite long cast time. With lower cast-time, you won't need to risk sparking as much.
Between four elemental, it's more of a taste. The prof/level requirement to unlock next tier spell varied, but not by much.

Just beat IPU and have over 100K in credits. What would be the best use of the money:

If you more effective gear so you can clear faster/more safely/on higher difficulty, consider switching to 1h. Negating 40% or more of incoming damage via block and frequently having more than half of spawned monsters stunned is extremely useful. Eventually, 1h works best with Power Slaughter (and maybe a couple Plate of Protection), but leather armor is fine for a while, especially before Spirit Shield gets leveled up.

I'd leave drop training as is for now - it gets quite expensive and is only worthwhile for those who play quite a lot, which you don't (yet). Maybe think about more training after level ~300 when you have PF-capable gear, but not before. (Get equipment from other players, not the bazaar - the bazaar is where everyone trashes their gear that isn't even worth attempting to sell)

Are there distinct differences among types of mage (e.g. Cold, Holy) or just preference?

The elemental mages have different types of abilities compared to holy/dark. One of the most important factors in clearing speed, T3 cooldown, requires level 450 to be maxed for elemental (4 turns), but only level 400 to be maxed for holy/dark (4 turns). They're both pretty important thresholds. (as well as being very far apart)

Elemental also has lower cast time, lower mana cost, and slightly lower damage for each tier of spell. Monsters typically have pretty high elemental mitigation, but significantly less holy/dark mitigation. I'm pretty sure this makes full Phase + Imperil slightly more useful for elemental than holy/dark (compared to some proficiency cotton mixed in), since there is more elemental mitigation to be cut.

For long GF, I think elemental has the edge, due to much reduced mana costs (if you're intent on lasting as long as possible, compared to quick clear/die). Redwood staff (Elemental only) also has 50% max ether tap chance, compared to 40% max with holy/dark staves.

The status effects of each element are a factor also.

http://ehwiki.org/wiki/Spells#Status_Effects

The 10% might not seem like a whole lot, but it's not completely insignificant. Wind might have the edge on the others in GF due to increased miss chance, while Elec might be slightly better for arenas due to decreased monster resist. Both wind and elec are strong against giants, which is a significant factor in clearing speed. Holy can Full-cure with Cure, obviously. Holy also goes with Ether Theft, and dark with Spirit Theft, though using them also requires not killing monsters for a few turns, which is both dangerous for mage and makes clearing take significantly longer.

I think most of this is right but I'm not 100% sure.

Are there distinct differences among types of mage (e.g. Cold, Holy) or just preference?

A lot of it is preference, but there are differences.

Holy/Dark: Weaker Imperil. Spells cost more MP and have a slower cast-time, but they deal more damage. Holy EDB also increases the amount of HP restored by Cure. Forbidden and Divine trees require fewer AP to max-out (last time I counted) and require lower levels for the last key ability upgrades. Dark spells can proc Ripened Soul, which you can turn into Spirit Theft; Holy can proc Soul Fire, which you can turn into Ether Theft.

Elemental: Stronger Imperil. Spells cost less MP and have a faster-cast time, but they deal less damage. The ability tree requires more AP to max-out and the last upgrades become unlocked at higher levels. If you want to take advantage of Spirit or Ether Theft, you must also invest some AP into the Divine or Forbidden trees.

Then there are the procs to consider. Fire and Dark: Reduce incoming damage from monsters; Holy: Lowers Magical Mitigation of monsters; Wind: Monsters are less likely to hit you; Cold: Slows down monsters; and Lightning: Lowers resist chance of monsters. All of these effects are pretty marginal.

You also have specific mitigations of monsters to consider. I don't really know what the specific mitigation landscape is like off-hand, but I think most monsters are weak to Holy, Dark, and Wind.

Finally, certain damage types are more popular than others, meaning that their equipment is also more desirable and therefore more expensive.

If you more effective gear so you can clear faster/more safely/on higher difficulty, consider switching to 1h. Negating 40% or more of incoming damage via block and frequently having more than half of spawned monsters stunned is extremely useful. Eventually, 1h works best with Power Slaughter (and maybe a couple Plate of Protection), but leather armor is fine for a while, especially before Spirit Shield gets leveled up.

I'd leave drop training as is for now - it gets quite expensive and is only worthwhile for those who play quite a lot, which you don't (yet). Maybe think about more training after level ~300 when you have PF-capable gear, but not before. (Get equipment from other players, not the bazaar - the bazaar is where everyone trashes their gear that isn't even worth attempting to sell)

Thanks. I am training up 1H + heavy armor now, but it's pretty slow. Lots more grinding to do there.

It would be nice to get this into the monsterlab wiki page.

Done

Thanks a lot. I've been playing 1H since the beginning and it's getting a bit rote. For now, I'll test Elemental since it's cheaper and faster.

Is that right? It takes ~56m to get plvl 2250, buying from item shop?

Nope, 56m is just to max one stat.

The wiki has this elaborate drop chart. But a disclaimer saying the numbers are speculative.

Is even the chart order confirmed? Or is that supposition as well?

The wiki has this elaborate drop chart. But a disclaimer saying the numbers are speculative.

Is even the chart order confirmed? Or is that supposition as well?

I doubt something that complicated would have been invented out of nowhere. More likely is that the drop chance order was described in patch notes somewhere, years ago, and the chart was made, but who knows if the boss has made changes to the numbers since then (and forgot to add it to patch notes, or no one added it to the wiki, etc).

Nope, 56m is just to max one stat.

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

Didn't Frith grind to max-out e1la way back then? (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif) ...I don't remember.

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

can you imagine how much HTTP spend to max kodou yuki lvl (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I remember as soon new patch release , HTTP max it surpass frith eila (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Didn't Frith grind to max-out e1la way back then? (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif) ...I don't remember.

I think one of the reasons his rage quit because HTTP suddenly surpass his eila lvl (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/heh.gif)

can you imagine how much HTTP spend to max kodou yuki lvl (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I remember as soon new patch release , HTTP max it surpass frith eila (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

it's said that it cost much less crystal when yuki reached 2250. (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

10 18 Deroo dropped [Legendary Fiery Shortsword of Swiftness]