[X] My Assistant

Enemies'.

Do "vampire" weapons take siphon your health or your enemies' health?

That proc transfers a portion of HP from the monster to you. If the monster has 10 HP left, but you are granted to receive 100, you just get 10 and the mob is defeated.
This proc can be considered not only a small heal, but also as a very slight DPS increase.

On the stats page that takes me down to "0.4" burden but evade only goes up to 35.1%

My first instinct is that the stats page doesn't accurately reflect the actual change (clearly not 4/3% per point like the wiki says) but I've tried it before and haven't noticed a difference to be honest.

Yep, the difference is quite marginal. I only bother with Featherweight when on GF when I'll be playing for a while, and even then I'm doubtful of its usefulness.

I am using a holy waki with 4+1 all unforged, now at 150 holy prof I feel like I am using estoc with shield. Pretty good (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

All right. The other day after a few small revelations, i decided to abandon the niten idea, but i would like some of the experience you guys have on this matter for future reference.
How did the entire situation started? Be prepared for a long and POINTLESS story.

I have already mentioned how i got this annoying loss in t/s due to hardware problems that i won't be solving till April (or never), so in order to manage and at least be able to clear some arenas even at lower difficulties to farm for tokens (need to fix some of my mistakes in this game and make some more monsters... by the way we need to talk about this as well, but later) i thought to go for 2H.

But... a few things modified this idea. To begin with...
You remember how we mentioned some time ago about DW/heavy. Well i did try that and yes THIS TIME i remembered to set abilities...
Axe/club+rapier with heavy armor... believe it or not it works, but don't try it. You have to heal a lot or you need to be casting Deprecating spells every round and with so much interference... very very very bad idea.
Shortsword+rapier & heavy armor or rapier+waki & heavy armor. Guys this thing works. Shortsword + rapier a lot better than rapier+waki as well since it comes yes with 2x parry but a lot more damage to add to the power armor set.
BUT... Since featherweights make evasion just bearable i was surprised to see that this works so well.
Well no need to hit around the brush. Point is that i had underestimated parry a lot.
(Now i won't be exactly advising you to try DW + heavy, but know that you can go for it. However know that my power armor is almost full "warding" and i have it of course IWed with only one piece having Jugernault. That means i have A LOT of elemental mitigation so a lot of magic defense. I don't know if the results will be as nice with a slaughter set). I still like DW/light better.
End of the first prelude that brings up that parry is not something to look down just cause it only stops physical attacks...

Second part.
Now 2H + light with no forging is... not a good idea with an estoc for high difficulties. Mace works very very nice though. However since i didn't have many Voidseeker Shards and my mace is not IWed i thought i would use Estoc + Dovahkiin.
Before I had 3 IWed estocs, but sold the other 2 and was left only with this one that has no SS, so combining it with my light armor i get 22% attack speed. That is not enough to fully lock the monsters, but if you build up some OP at the last 1-2 monsters every round, you can manage even a 90 rounds IW run with just a little struggle. Actually... a lot of struggle.
So here comes my katana that has SS3 and get's the attack speed up to 26%.
Still not enough for an 100% lock, however it's almost there. I tried it on a GF and went ahead till i got bored (round 500 something). No REAL sweat... but you must never let your guard down, specially when you let the last monster(s) alive just to finish them off without messing up the cdr or just to build OP and they demolish your spirit shield.
Naturally the next step was of course to boost my attack speed by going for Niten and...

When i had managed to build enough proficiency, and was about to try the 33%+ attack speed of niten/light... Well... since the shortsword/heavy clear worked so nicely, at that moment my t/s was looking good and i know many people play niten + heavy armor... yeah... i decided to try the niten/heavy and of course right off the bat at PF.

So i picked an arena and went for it.

The wakizashi was probably not the most defensive one, but i was pulling it off... Not easily... It was absolutely not as easy as i thought it would have been, but still an all right clear.
And then my t/s all of the sudden get's f**ked up and i can only do 1 move every second or so forcing me to start the imperil all monsters strategy to speed up the conclusion of the arena and then... Giant two shoted!!!!!!! (That monster named "hong meilin my wife" or something like that is a giant right? I'm 99,999% sure it is).
That was impressive for me and exactly what made me look towards the niten/heavy.



So i looked around the WTSs and picked the best katana i could afford and made the moves towards the style hoping to have as results something faster in clear speed than my 1H.

So here tragedy strikes.

Since in all my runs of a katana or niten i never had any "get parried/evaded" problems i might have overlooked the problem, but when i go with axe/rapier or even rapier/waki for the DW runs i get parried / evaded a lot.
My idea was that i have to get B5/F4 (or as close as possible to that) for the rapier and... whatever i can manage for the waki, but possible OP5/F4 or as close as possible to that. The katana i bought is fire element so ... HEY!!! Let's use the thunder spike protection shield that reduces parry/resist (or so i thought) to cover up for the OP lack.
My power armor is as mentioned above quite antimagic and as a heavy armor comes on it's own with high AD mitigation, so if i managed to pair the katana with a nimble waki i would be highly covered in terms of damage, i would be able to clear the monsters before they could start massing their damage and all would have been awesome. Tons of damage + Domino strike... All good no?

Well apparently no.
Due to the prize decrease in hath i was able to unlock IA3 and thought it would have been enough, but from what i hear, IA4 is almost mandatory (unless if you want to be using a lot of scrolls to compensate).
So we start with 7 featherweights + 8 infusions (per hour) and then we add scrolls to the mix... Doesn't seem to be very cost efficient... And that's only the small part of the problem. As Fap.Fap wisely mentioned to me yesterday, if my goal is to fasten the clear speed, increasing the casts ends up slowing you down (every little bit when accumulated counts for a big bit).

Also apparently by going for a slaughter katana and also sacrificing the balanced sufix on the waki, the accuracy drops quite a lot making me subject to getting parried/evaded a lot.
So it's either a balance waki for better accuracy and criticals but you are suffering more damage, or a nimble waki for better defense but you become subject to the enemy parry/evasion.

Also the evasion one get's from the featherweights bringing him under 40 burden is just hardly enough to be there. But if you add shadowveil and wind spike shield those small cogs add up to a full mechanism.
So redirecting the evasion one gets from wind shield to thunder shield is probably not the best idea. To begin with i think that those proks are not something to base one's strategy.
But exactly on that note... is an ethereal katana the only way to go?

Emm... I just realized i have written a lot and nobody is gonna read this... Err... let's make a break here and be back at it tomorrow... or not...

All right

rias-sun-to! rias-sun-to!

Emm... I just realized i have written a lot and nobody is gonna read this... Err... let's make a break here and be back at it tomorrow... or not...

You are underestimating the users of this forum (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/heh.gif)
Anyway, quite intersting, did you record the difference in number of turns you get from those setup (to check if for the same arena/IW you need more or less turns)?

or not...

I did it, I did it
to stabilize your hit chance you can also choose a balanced power thingy... and changing your Warding to protection/slaughter should be better, since warding has the lowest ADB of them most of the time.

You are underestimating the users of this forum (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/heh.gif)
Anyway, quite intersting, did you record the difference in number of turns you get from those setup (to check if for the same arena/IW you need more or less turns)?

ecco chi mi fa il riassunto! (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Well apparently no.
Due to the prize decrease in hath i was able to unlock IA3 and thought it would have been enough, but from what i hear, IA4 is almost mandatory (unless if you want to be using a lot of scrolls to compensate).
So we start with 7 featherweights + 8 infusions (per hour) and then we add scrolls to the mix... Doesn't seem to be very cost efficient... And that's only the small part of the problem. As Fap.Fap wisely mentioned to me yesterday, if my goal is to fasten the clear speed, increasing the casts ends up slowing you down (every little bit when accumulated counts for a big bit).

I don't think so. While IA2 is mandatory, IA3 is nice, IA4/5 is "for those with money to throw away". Sure, it makes things a tiny bit easier, but it's just for the rich and lazy, everyone can get by quite fine with just IA3. By the time someone has enough to even consider that much IA, mana costs are low enough that draughts alone should be enough, even with heavy armor... right?

I did it, I did it
to stabilize your hit chance you can also choose a balanced power thingy... and changing your Warding to protection/slaughter should be better, since warding has the lowest ADB of them most of the time.

ADB range/probability distribution is the same for all non-Slaughter.

This post has been edited by Superlatanium: Feb 11 2016, 00:21

I prefer a nimble/swiftness waki. And yeah you will need a ethereal katana because its too heavy. Feather the whole body if you feel its too hard or going GF.
I think niten is still playable just not very good (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I don't think so. While IA2 is mandatory, IA3 is nice, IA4/5 is "for those with money to throw away". Sure, it makes things a tiny bit easier, but it's just for the rich and lazy, everyone can get by quite fine with just IA3. By the time someone has enough to even consider that much IA, mana costs are low enough that draughts alone should be enough, even with heavy armor... right?

i'm only at IA3, but with Shade build i think it's already good enough. once you put SV, Haste and SS the only remaining spell is Protection, but can easily be casted manually.
as for 1H build, SS and Protection. SoL only on very dangerous situations, and still i prefer to cast it via scroll if possible. so most likely IA4 is mandatory only for mages

I don't think so. While IA2 is mandatory, IA3 is nice, IA4/5 is "for those with money to throw away". Sure, it makes things a tiny bit easier, but it's just for the rich and lazy, everyone can get by quite fine with just IA3. By the time someone has enough to even consider that much IA, mana costs are low enough that draughts alone should be enough, even with heavy armor... right?ADB range/probability distribution is the same for all non-Slaughter.

IA2 is too much for heavy, IA1 for spark is only thing you really need (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I am using a holy waki with 4+1 all unforged, now at 150 holy prof I feel like I am using estoc with shield. Pretty good (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Some updates on this battlemage style,
- No weapon to upgrade, bad damage potential.
- I am using mp potion and elixir almost on cooldown, very wasteful. But I am not using battlecaster.
- When playing with no imp, high quality mobs will drag the round pretty long.
- Feels good to hit everything at once (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Some updates on this battlemage style,
- No weapon to upgrade, bad damage potential.
- I am using mp potion and elixir almost on cooldown, very wasteful. But I am not using battlecaster.
- When playing with no imp, high quality mobs will drag the round pretty long.
- Feels good to hit everything at once (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

woo hoo ^^ I must say, I can not believe to have actually read a report on a niche Battle Mage with 1h shield and ern.. no battlacaster equip... I could help you out with a crappy 2 PAB Magnificent Rapier of the Battlecaster and maybe some1 has a Mag+ BC Buckler to push this build to a working OFC without a single melee attack exept the CAs of 1h shield... OFC should be a mean beast with those MDB and ADB paired *snicker*

Keep it up, Void Domain (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Hi, please check my stats:

(IMG:[i.imgur.com] http://i.imgur.com/UEVNSp7.jpg) (IMG:[i.imgur.com] http://i.imgur.com/260iwlg.jpg)

and here are my equips:
Exq Ethereal Mace of the Vampire
Mag Shade Helmet of the Fleet
Mag Shade Breastplate of the Fleet
Mag Shade Gauntlets of the Fleet
Mag Cobalt Shade Leggings of the Fleet
Mag Agile Shade Boots of the Shadowdancer


Ok I don't have any problems in most cases. Equips are not very good but it's still working quite well at Nintendo difficulty.
Well, in higher Arenas above TTaTT, it takes too long time... soooooo long. I usually spend more than 1.5h while passing Eternal Darkness, compared to TTaTT 30 minutes. At least I can cast Imperil to SchoolGirls but not so useful at the moment because of low Deprecating proficiency. Then tried Estoc which was epic fail, and realized that I'm relying most part of defensing on Mace's stun. (only 24.1% chance though.)

Now I'm thinking of either:
- buy better Mace
- buy power equips (already got some but those has little too high levels)
- ignore high Arenas, or lower the difficulty when challenging those

I consider buying second IA for SpritShield too, but it's so expensive.
What I can do with my credits? If you have any advice, please feel free to hear me. Thanks!

Some updates on this battlemage style,
- No weapon to upgrade, bad damage potential.
- I am using mp potion and elixir almost on cooldown, very wasteful. But I am not using battlecaster.
- When playing with no imp, high quality mobs will drag the round pretty long.
- Feels good to hit everything at once (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Maybe some Frugal prefixed armor would help too, and at least Battlecaster weapon and maybe Buckler too (Barrier if survivability is an issue). I guess it can become a little too expensive experiment to build optimal set though. Maybe some players can lend equipment, you can use any equipment without soulfusing too. Interesting results so far (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

Hi, please check my stats:

For melee, Dex is as useful as Str, or (as many think), even more so. So you might have Str = End = Dex. (Wis is all right, Agi is meh, and Intel is useless)

Well, in higher Arenas above TTaTT, it takes too long time... soooooo long. I usually spend more than 1.5h while passing Eternal Darkness, compared to TTaTT 30 minutes. At least I can cast Imperil to SchoolGirls but not so useful at the moment because of low Deprecating proficiency. Then tried Estoc which was epic fail, and realized that I'm relying most part of defensing on Mace's stun. (only 24.1% chance though.)

If you're trying to play SG arenas on any difficulty higher than Normal, that's the problem. Without amazing gear, they take forever and give very little profit in terms of both XP and credits. Best to play them just on Normal or so.

Your time is your most important resource - what do you value more, credits or XP? If you care about XP then continuing on ~Nintendo or higher arenas is fine. If you care about credits, then don't feel bad about lowering the difficulty to Hell or Nightmare or something, allowing you to get through many more arenas given the time that you have (and get that much more profit) - if you can't finish all of them in a day on your current desired difficulty.

Now I'm thinking of either:- buy better Mace
- buy power equips (already got some but those has little too high levels)
- ignore high Arenas, or lower the difficulty when challenging those

I consider buying second IA for SpritShield too, but it's so expensive.
What I can do with my credits? If you have any advice, please feel free to hear me. Thanks!

2h is generally considered to be one of the worst styles past level ~200, because monsters do a whole lot of damage. Most prefer 1h instead, because 1h is incredibly tanky, must Cure much less often, and has unlimited Spirit Stance. 1h also allows players to go with fully offensive armor (Power and Power Slaughter) rather than the more balanced Shade / Shadowdancer / Fleet.

If you haven't tried 1h yet, give it a shot, find a prefixed rapier with a useful suffix and a shield with OK block. Once your 1h proficiency rises close to your level you should be able to compare its effectiveness with your 2h style, and you'll almost certainly find that 1h is quicker and easier at least on higher difficulty.

IA2 is a better long-term investment than a better 2h weapon.

rias-sun-to! rias-sun-to!

Heavy + club/axe + rapier schifo
Heavy + rapier + shortsword buono
Heavy + rapier + wakizashi buono
Parry è sottovalutato
Heavy DW funziona bene con oggetti con suffisso Warding

Light + estoc schifo
Light + katana buono ma meglio niten
Light + niten buono ma noioso

Heavy + niten problema velocità di attacco
Provati mille tipi di armi, conclusione: serve un ethereal katana
Storm Spike > Thunder Spike

Eccoti il riassunto xD

Some updates on this battlemage style,
- No weapon to upgrade, bad damage potential.
- I am using mp potion and elixir almost on cooldown, very wasteful. But I am not using battlecaster.
- When playing with no imp, high quality mobs will drag the round pretty long.
- Feels good to hit everything at once (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Maybe some Frugal prefixed armor would help too, and at least Battlecaster weapon and maybe Buckler too (Barrier if survivability is an issue). I guess it can become a little too expensive experiment to build optimal set though. Maybe some players can lend equipment, you can use any equipment without soulfusing too. Interesting results so far (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

Maybe Shade of the Arcanist could be an idea. They have both melee and mage useful bonuses

This post has been edited by ppp82p: Feb 11 2016, 05:42

If you haven't tried 1h yet, give it a shot, find a prefixed rapier with a useful suffix and a shield with OK block. Once your 1h proficiency rises close to your level you should be able to compare its effectiveness with your 2h style, and you'll almost certainly find that 1h is quicker and easier at least on higher difficulty.

I didn't know how to find good 1H gear so I've left it, ok I'll give it a try. Also I'll quit for a while clicking Nagato eternally.
Thanks a lot for all the advice (IMG:[invalid] style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)