Templar soloing tips

[Antryg Mistrose]

<div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>We all have to solo sometime, so here is what I've found is useful, basically in order of priority.  Please add/correct.  If a technique only works at some levels, please say so.  These are compiled from the perspective of a lvl 49 templar with average gear and spells (except heals of course). <ol> <li>Try not to solo - it will be slow (<font color="#ffff00">there, my entire whine done - please don't add more</font>) </li> <li>Keep the number of targets in the encounter down as far as possible. One is best - Fewer interrupts.</li> <li>Rare/Legendary player crafted imbued wand - these have more damage than any of our spells (except beams line if you look at multiple targets), and don't use ANY power to cast.   For really long tough fights they are VERY useful</li> <li>Debuff - Saving power for heals/spells by keeping all debuff lines up (essential for longer fights against single tough opponent, not so useful for multiple opponents) .  Pulling with a Hex doll helps too - Has a decent range, but takes a long time to cast.</li> <li>Cast all your buffs on yourself - self explanatory</li><li>During pull use Sign of XXXX before you start meleeing to give you time to cast all 3 debuffs. </li> <li>Try to stick to mobs that you have a Master strike for.  If they are undead too (2x damage on normal smite) even better </li> <li>Melee - We only have crush skills, so only need one weapon  (or 2 if you find a really nice stat 2 hander) - so make it a good one (personally I have a wand for soloing and Screaming Mace for groups)</li><li>Don't Melee - Turn off melee, and stop using DoT (combative faith line) so that you can use your Sign of line to 'mez' a single opponent.  This gives you a reprieve in hard fights for time to get heals off, or long casting time debuffs like renewing a Hex doll. </li> <li>Fight the opponent appropriately - e.g. Don't melee against mobs that have damage shields (or possibly reactive heals), and when fighting groups, go for the healers first <span><span>:smileywink:</span></span> </li> <li>Use a player crafted drink for power recovery between fights. </li><li>With HOs, ending in smite line gives a little less incoming damage, due to the stun it adds, vs ending with strike line.  You can't quite chain cast HOs due to timers, so fill in the gaps with DoT (faith line), Stun or Cure. </li> <li>Improve your INT stat - for improved spell damage.</li><li>Imbued reactive armour.  greaves and shield have a damage shield - chance to react rather than every time, so not as effective as a damage shield potion.  Breastplate has a chance to heal proc. </li> <li><span>Power regen gear - Obviously important, but hard to get. See other posts here for best Templar gear</span></li><li>With 2 targets, use your "Sign of" line to slightly reduce the damage the 2nd does to you, especially if its a separate encounter/add, as your Beams/Rays group attack won't be compromised </li> <li>With multiple targets (first see 2) , pre-cast your reactive heals and use Beams line and HO as fast as possible at start of fight, as until you reduce the number of targets you may have trouble getting heals off (Stun cast straight before slightly increases your chances as its one less mob that will be beating on you, as does Sign line on a 2nd mob)  Use atoning fate line as targets go down - half the power cost of the only comparable casting time heal spell, and seems to be interrupted less.  Group pacify may help if really desperate to get a heal off before the numbers are reduced. </li><li>Damage shield potions.  Especially useful against multiple targets - These damage them every time they hit you.  At level 30 there is 'Warding of the Forest Princess' (from rare loam so can be a bit tricky to optain), equipable at level 40 is  'Scintillation' potion from  common ingredients.  Both are made by alchemists.  With large numbers of individually weak targets, these are the ONLY option, as you will be hard put to get heals off, let alone any damage spells. </li> <li>Upgrade an attack spell or two passed Adept1 <span></span>- Only after all your heals of course <span>:smileyhappy:</span></li> <li>+WIS/INT player made foods </li> <li><span>Seperate higher mitigation and high INT armour for soloing (vs the usual hodgepodge of WIS stuff for groups)</span></li><li><span>Master 2 training options DO include damage spells, so if you are aren't worried about group/raid's so much, then they are an option.  But DO hold your last /respec in reserve. </span></li> </ol> <div></div><p>Message Edited to include sacrificing a master 2 heal/buff for a damage spell<span class="time_text"> </span></p><p>Message Edited by Antryg Mistrose on <span class=date_text>11-30-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:30 PM</span>

[Timaarit]

<span>Actually I'd stick with no. 1. And when you feel like soloing, make an alt. You will get a lot less grey hair. You will also save a lot of plat since you are not upgrading you gear nor nukes.</span><div></div>

[SnowKnight]

Nice tips, but its really not going to make it any quicker. And no other class needs to do all that just to be able to solo reasonably (except maybe inquisitors).

[OlaeviaTraisharan]

It's not *impossible* to solo, it's just SLOW as all heck. <div></div>

[Timaarit]

<span><blockquote><hr>OlaeviaTraisharan wrote:It's not *impossible* to solo, it's just SLOW as all heck. <hr></blockquote>True, though I though my templar was a good soloer when at lvl 51 I kille lvl 48^^ heroic in 3 minutes. Till yesterday when I killed lvl 52^^ with my lvl 51 monk with worse gear in 45 seconds. I also killed lvl 47^^^ spider in ss, though score are now 1:1 against those. But I killed that spider in a bit over a minute (I know this because of a skill that has 30s reuse timer and I got to use it 3 times). So I take back my comment about templars being able to fight higher mobs than average. It takes long to kill anything with a templar and we also cannot kill any tougher mobs that others on average. Anyway even with my monk, it is not worth killing those ^^^ heroics, </span><span>killing groups with down arrows is</span><span> best xp for my monk. And templars are one of the worst to kill group mobs.</span><div></div>

[SenorPhrog]

I think they've got some good advice in there.   Every one of us at some point will usually solo, whether its Harclave, or those quick (subjective) instances in Maj Dul for faction coins.   I've noticed a marked difference in soloing when I forget to switch over my 5 or 6 pieces or int gear or forget to use Mark of Kings to debuff divine.   Overall good post.

[Zapo]

<DIV>Very good post from the OP. Actually I do all mentioned there . Additionally I would recommend to</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- try to stick to undeads as much as possbile</DIV> <DIV>- get those masters against undeads (skeleton e.g.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> But there is one thing I would like too emphasize:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Stick to rule number 1 at all cost. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Because even if you do all that stuff, soloing is still no fun as templer.</DIV>

[SnowKnight]

You know what makes me really sad... was farming in RE and had a drop for a fury, Strike of Storms or something, which at master 1 did 700 - 1200 or so damage on a 15 second recast. This is a teir 4 spell, and yes it has a long recast, but it is just one of their nukes. Meanwhile my t6 nukes at ad 3 are lucky to do 350 dmg (for the smite) or 700 (for the strike, only if undead otherwise it too is just 350, on a 10 second recast timer, not really much shorter than the big fury nuke). Kinda sad isnt it, that a level 35 fury can nuke for more than my level 60 templar. <p>Message Edited by SnowKnight on <span class=date_text>11-23-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:27 AM</span>

[SenorPhrog]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> SnowKnight wrote:<BR> You know what makes me really sad... was farming in RE and had a drop for a fury, Strike of Storms or something, which at master 1 did 700 - 1200 or so damage on a 15 second recast. This is a teir 4 spell, and yes it has a long recast, but it is just one of their nukes. Meanwhile my t6 nukes at ad 3 are lucky to do 350 dmg (for the smite) or 700 (for the strike, only if undead otherwise it too is just 350, on a 10 second recast timer, not really much shorter than the big fury nuke). Kinda sad isnt it, that a level 35 fury can nuke for more than my level 60 templar. <P>Message Edited by SnowKnight on <SPAN class=date_text>11-23-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>01:27 AM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>What do Furies have to do with soloing tips again?

[Stjarna Kvar]

I'd like to thank you for posting something constructive. I was hoping for a bit more assistance, in making things go better, but I'll just have to deal with the fact that soloing with a templar is an experiment in massochism.

[cadrach]

<P>Great post.  </P> <P>And I agree with step 1 as well.  The others steps are great if you have to though.</P>

[bigmak20]

Rule/Step 1: Don't solo -- I agree Rule/Step 2: See Rule 1 Rule/Step 3: See Rule 2 Rule/Step 4: .... hehe good points

[BenEm]

Rule 1 is all you need to know <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Vylo]

<DIV>I dont know what you people are talking about!!! i solo my templar a LOT!!!  its called tradeskilling <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[dancemice]

<DIV>Suggest if you have mark of uh Princes line. Ya know the one that has a 20% chance to fire off a 25 point heal - Cast it on the mob. Let it fire off. Poof. Instand 500 or so <STRONG>Divine</STRONG> Mitigation removed from the Critter. Your spells should work so much better after that. About 20% better if you get it during the proc period.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Tbiggs.</DIV> <DIV>53 Templar. - Solo'd to 50.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[zorbdan]

Damage shield potions

[Timaarit]

<div></div><span><blockquote><hr>Radar-X wrote:What do Furies have to do with soloing tips again? <div></div><hr></blockquote>If you want a <i><b>healer </b></i>that can solo and is wanted in groups, pick a fury. That is a tip.</span><div></div><p>Message Edited by Timaarit on <span class=date_text>11-24-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:26 AM</span>

[Cowdenic]

<P>57 Templar here.</P> <P>When I want to solo. I log onto my 27 (in only 2 weeks) Fury. It sure helps to know that at 27 my Fury has a bigger damage spell than any 60 Templar. Tier 5 DPS for teh WIN.</P> <P>And FYI, Before I am called a liar I got the Fury spell at 24. SHHHHHHHHHH.</P>

[SenorPhrog]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Timaarit wrote:<BR><SPAN> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Radar-X wrote:<BR>What do Furies have to do with soloing tips again? <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>If you want a healer that can solo and is wanted in groups, pick a fury. That is a tip.<BR></SPAN> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>If you want to find plenty of "OMG FURIES ARE BETTER THAN US!1!!!1" threads you can use the search bar or look at the first 2 pages.  There is a forum tip.</P> <P>I've got my Fury up to level 23 and I still don't see what the big deal is.  I should have gone Wizard/Warlock.</P>

[Antryg Mistrose]

<div></div>Zorbdan wrote "<font color="#ffff00">Damage shield potions</font>" Okay, I've added the two that I know about (as I've made them) these are Tier 4 and Tier 5.  Is there a Tier6 or any lower tier damage shields? And really guys, there are a whole lot of omg we can't solo threads (and yes I have added my 2c to them too), can you just post what tips/techniques you do use here, when you actually do have to solo, and save the drama or fury envy for one of the dozens of other threads? <p>Message Edited by Antryg Mistrose on <span class=date_text>11-23-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:25 PM</span>

[Timaarit]

<span><blockquote><hr>Radar-X wrote: <blockquote> <hr> Timaarit wrote:<span> <blockquote> <hr> Radar-X wrote:What do Furies have to do with soloing tips again? <div></div> <hr> </blockquote>If you want a <font size="5"><i><b>healer</b></i></font> that can solo and is wanted in groups, pick a fury. That is a tip.</span> <div></div> <hr> </blockquote> <p>If you want to find plenty of "OMG FURIES ARE BETTER THAN US!1!!!1" threads you can use the search bar or look at the first 2 pages.  There is a forum tip.</p> <p>I've got my Fury up to level 23 and I still don't see what the big deal is.  I should have gone Wizard/Warlock.</p> <div></div><hr></blockquote>Message edited for better understanding.</span><div></div>

[Ember]

<P>I have been doing some soloing lately in pof for Service of the Order quests.  At first it really used to bug me but then I kind of got the hang of it.  Don't be in a hurry.  Do some harvesting between your solo kills.  It breaks up things and sometimes you will get a rare and get really happy!</P> <P>I found that if you are killing yellow casters it's best to let them run out of power on you, especially the group down arrow harpies.  Don't wait for the last minute to put up a reactive, as many of the scouts you fight will stun you.  These stuns can last 5 seconds or so.  They always wear off eventually and I have never died because I was stunned too many times.  If you feel you are getting too close, use one of your special heals as soon as stun wears off.  Those are instant and don't get interrupted (I think).  Pay attention to fizzles and interrupts.  Assume they will happen and always be ready to recast that last spell.</P> <P>Different mobs have different abilities.  If you are getting stunned a lot you are probably fighting a scout class.  You can start nuking right away on these classes because they can't heal themselves.  If you are getting stiffled, then wait to see if they can heal before going all out.  If it's a druid (you can usually tell with that green leaf regen spell they have) let them run out of power before you start using your nukes.  Druids actually run out of power pretty fast so it's just a small reactive and melee damage until they get tired out and you can then nuke away.</P> <P>You should be flexible.  Change your fighting style to suit the mob you're up against.  Watch for damage shields and stop melee if you see yourself taking damage from one.  Watch for reactives and don't melee if a reactive is up.  Well, that is all I can think of right now.  Good luck.</P>

[Antryg Mistrose]

Ember, I'm afraid I haven't used the techniques you add to know how to summarise them, or where to insert them in my top post. I'll update when I've got my head around them - specifically not meleeing against (single mob?) damage shield classes.  I can see that this would involve changing the HO order to end with the stun line, not using DoTs?, and would also mean removing your own damage shield items and potions?  Not meleeing when fighting a mob with a reactive heal?  I thought that fired off on any damage received. Anyway, I'm not ignoring what you posted, just don't want to put anything in that is arguable. <div></div>

[Nari]

I notice wierd behavior with reactive heals.  Sometimes they heal no matter what caused the damage, sometimes they only heal when physical damage is dealt.  It all seems pretty random sometimes. <div></div>

[Ember]

<P> </P> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Antryg Mistrose wrote:<BR>Ember, I'm afraid I haven't used the techniques you add to know how to summarise them, or where to insert them in my top post. I'll update when I've got my head around them - specifically not meleeing against (single mob?) damage shield classes.  I can see that this would involve changing the HO order to end with the stun line, not using DoTs?, and would also mean removing your own damage shield items and potions?  Not meleeing when fighting a mob with a reactive heal?  I thought that fired off on any damage received.<BR><BR>Anyway, I'm not ignoring what you posted, just don't want to put anything in that is arguable.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Yeah, your direct damage spells do more damage then a 50 point damage from a melee weapon so if you hit for 350 then it will be more then the the reactive so you end up actually damaging the mob instead of healing it.  I always use heroics when I nuke since it's like getting 3 nukes for the price of 2.  I also always use my divine debuff and can usually hit over 400 with consecrated strike.  I rarely get resists on any of my nukes or debuffs as long as the divine debuff is up.</P> <P>I added the part about cleric mobs because I don't like healing them back to full health from little 50 point damages I might make with my hammer.  I rarely see the little shield come up for cleric reactives anyway so it's not that big of a deal.  You can end the HO with the smite and can also use your other mez while you wait for the strike to refresh.  Reactives last for 5 hits and you can end with the dot since that has big upfront damage.  I don't really think of it so much while I am fighting something.  If I notice the reactive come up then I just switch to nukes because to me it makes more sense.  I am sure other damage sneaks in there at times.  I have soloed a lot more druid mobs then cleric mobs in pof and there is nothing you can do against regen except watch them heal themselves.  That is why I don't bother wasting power on nukes until they are out of power.  Maybe it's not as noticable if they are blue, but the ones that are yellow to me have some kick [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] regens and no matter have fast I nuke/dot/hit/mez/stun/tickle/ or whatever they will always be able to keep up with my damage until they run out of power.</P> <P>As for fighting mobs with damage shields, it can go both ways.  If you're low in health and want to use a reactive to heal then melee against a damage should could actually be to your benefit.  It's mostly just an option if you find you are taking more damage then it's worth by hitting something with a damage shield (like a wizard).  Wizard damage shields can hurt but do not last a long time.  I never actually analyzed it, I just added it to my comments since our melee isn't doing all that much damage anyway.</P> <P>I added my post because I thought it might be helpful to add something on how to react against different types of mobs instead of treating them all the same.  To me, fighting a scout is different then fighting a priest or even a mage.</P> <P>Do you ever change your strategies when fighting different mobs or do you find it easier to stick to one method?</P>

[OlaeviaTraisharan]

<DIV>Here's what I do when I solo... it's very routine, but it gets the job done (though very slowly LOL):</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <OL> <LI>Pull using Mark of XXXX (princes, kings, etc.)</LI> <LI>Cast Warring XXXX (our dot)</LI> <LI>Initiate HO, then smite, then divine smite</LI> <LI>Cast Warring XXXX again.</LI> <LI>Wash, rinse, repeat... <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></LI></OL> <P>It's bland... but that's what I personally do with the arsenal I have right now.</P>

[Antryg Mistrose]

Starting the fight I do a little differently: <ul> <li>Pull with hex doll</li> <li>Use sign of xxxx  (don't melee yet)</li> <li>Debuff - Mark of xxxx, Involuntary xxxx, Disgrace</li> <li>Start casting with wand</li> </ul> With no resists, or fizzes the mob won't wake up until the wand cast is halfway, then I start meleeing. With the result that the mob is fully debuffed before it starts beating on me Then pretty much your pattern - HO, waring xxxx, HO, stun, HO, cure?, HO waring xxxx, HO, stun+BoV, HO .....   Still takes a minute or so, it just seems longer, especially if you see someone else soloing the same mobs in 15sec <div></div>

[Bhee]

Thanks Antryg. I will try your strategy and pull using hex doll (why did I not think of that before).And you are right about pour soloing speed. It takes me about 1:30 to 2 minutes to kill one blue solo mob, while my mage can kill group ^^ blue mob in 30-45 seconds <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div>

[kenji]

<DIV>slowest way to pwn a mob</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1) get a RGF or Cobalt 2hander</DIV> <DIV>2) buff yourself GoC</DIV> <DIV>3) Reproach</DIV> <DIV>4) melee it to death</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>fastest way to pwn a mob</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1) get yourself M2 undead smite at T6</DIV> <DIV>2) pump your Int up to 300+, while drop your wis to 100 something also work</DIV> <DIV>3) Divine Debuff, Reproach, Warring Faith</DIV> <DIV>4) HO smite the things down with Pacify Smite => Undead Smite (so pacify will work for 2 sec, while u casting Undead Smite + HO dmg)</DIV> <DIV>5) cast Reverence when your hp dropping faster than mob, cast Fate before it down / u lower 50% hp.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>save your power from pacify pull, stun... i never seen solo mob hard to me...except oj+ <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Antryg Mistrose]

I'm guessing most Templars would NOT give up an upgrade to a Master 2 heal spell to get a damage spell upgraded instead, but as it WOULD help soloing I've put it in. As to not wasting time on stun, what do you cast between HO's then?  They cannot be chained due to recast timers, nor can waring faith line alone be cast between each HO. <div></div>

[OlaeviaTraisharan]

<DIV>Dang... you can use Debility (our mezz) and debuff and not have it break??? That's crazy! I'm going to give that a shot tonight... LOL!!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't have any hex dolls. I'm cheap and am holding onto the plat I have to get my husband's necromancer a horse. He complains far too much about me running ahead of him <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyhow, I did get a hold of a Master 1 version of Condemning Smite (the 45 smite I believe)... it doubled the damage from the Apprentice 1 that I originally had <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> It is VERRAH VERRAH NICE...</DIV>

[kenji]

<DIV>Antryg, depends on play style, if use Reactive to heal, Stun is not a good choice, it just slow down the proc</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>if use Reverence, Stun is ok, because the power cost from Stun will exchange to HP.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>but in fact, if u followed the list i say, the power better not wasted to do something no dmg. cos the Wis really low, but dmg from each spell is higher. drinks will bring u back to 100% faster than u fight slower.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>and keep AC while raising int...or power will used on heal more than smite =)</DIV>