AA lines - what to choose?

[FelixDomesticus]

What would be good aa selections if plan is to max healing while minimizing pet usage (mainly because it dies way, way too easily)?<div></div>

[Banditman]

STR AA to final ability.  Pet now dies rarely.  Aura of Warding to L8.WIS AA for heal crits.<div></div>

[Terq]

<DIV>Well, the pet still dies a lot in a small group.  In a raid though, you will likely only be recasting the pet on a wipe.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you are really intent on getting away from the dog, the only line/skill that would help healing is the wis crit heal ability.  </DIV>

[Duethor]

<P>This is the path I went on my Defiler to maximize my healing.  Also helps my solo melee damage.  Gonna spend the last of my points in Ritual.</P> <P> </P> <P></P> <P><FONT color=#ffcc00><EM><STRONG>Summon Spirit Companion </STRONG></EM><EM><STRONG>1/1</STRONG></EM></FONT></P> <P><B>Blighter's Intelligence</B><B>0/8</B> </P> <P> Rabies0/8 </P> <P>Virulence0/8 </P> <DIV align=left> Immunities0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left><I> Scourge</I><I>0/1</I> </DIV> <DIV align=left><I></I> </DIV> <FONT color=#ffcc00><B>Chieftain's Agility</B><B>4/8</B> </FONT> <DIV align=left><FONT color=#ffcc00> Phalanx4/8 </FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT color=#ffcc00> Ancestral Authority8/8 </FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT color=#ffcc00> Ancestral Spirits8/8 </FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT color=#ffcc00><I>Tribal Rage</I><I>1/1</I> </FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left> </DIV> <DIV align=left> <B>Prophet's Strength</B><B>0/8</B> </DIV> <DIV align=left> Leg Bite0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left> Aura of Haste0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left> Aura of Warding0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left><I> Spiritual Foresight</I><I>0/1</I> </DIV> <DIV align=left><I></I> </DIV> <FONT color=#ffcc00><B>Ritualist's Wisdom</B><B>8/8</B> </FONT> <DIV align=left><B></B> </DIV><FONT color=#ffcc00> Ritual5/8</FONT> <DIV align=left> Ritualistic Aggression0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left> Ritual of Absolution0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left><I> Ritual of Alacrity</I><I>0/1</I> </DIV> <DIV align=left><I></I> </DIV> <B>Witchdoctor's Stamina</B><B>0/8</B> <DIV align=left><B></B> </DIV> Crippling Bash0/8 <DIV align=left> Infective Bites0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left> Herbal Expertise0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left><I> Coagulate</I><I>0/1</I> </DIV> <DIV align=left><I></I> </DIV> <P> </P> <P>Message Edited by Duethor on <SPAN class=date_text>10-04-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>08:52 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Duethor on <span class=date_text>10-04-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:00 AM</span>

[Banditman]

I still say the healing (or even the pet) isn't necessary in small groups.  The only time you really need extra healing is when you're raiding.<div></div>

[ecoskii]

<DIV>And as ever for raiding STR and INT are really hard to beat, particularly in MT grp</DIV>

[Triyton]

<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT></DIV> <P><FONT size=2>The 4th item in the Agility line (Ancestral Spirits) increases the chance of critical healing.  </FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>The 2nd item in the Wisdom line (Ritual) can increase heal amounts but requires equipping a Symbol. </FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>he 4th item in the Stamina line (Herbal expertise) improves curing.</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>I think that covers dogless healing.</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>Aura of Warding mentioned above ia entirely pet dependent and you have to get to the 4th rank in Strength just to get to it.</FONT></P>

[MilkToa]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Duethor wrote:<BR> <P>This is the path I went on my Defiler to maximize my healing.  Also helps my solo melee damage.  Gonna spend the last of my points in Ritual.</P> <P> </P> <P></P> <P><FONT color=#ffcc00><EM><STRONG>Summon Spirit Companion </STRONG></EM><EM><STRONG>1/1</STRONG></EM></FONT></P> <P><B>Blighter's Intelligence</B><B>0/8</B> </P> <P> Rabies0/8 </P> <P>Virulence0/8 </P> <DIV align=left> Immunities0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left><I> Scourge</I><I>0/1</I> </DIV> <DIV align=left><I></I> </DIV> <FONT color=#ffcc00><B>Chieftain's Agility</B><B>4/8</B> </FONT> <DIV align=left><FONT color=#ffcc00> Phalanx4/8 </FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT color=#ffcc00> Ancestral Authority8/8 </FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT color=#ffcc00> Ancestral Spirits8/8 </FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT color=#ffcc00><I>Tribal Rage</I><I>1/1</I> </FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left> </DIV> <DIV align=left> <B>Prophet's Strength</B><B>0/8</B> </DIV> <DIV align=left> Leg Bite0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left> Aura of Haste0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left> Aura of Warding0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left><I> Spiritual Foresight</I><I>0/1</I> </DIV> <DIV align=left><I></I> </DIV> <FONT color=#ffcc00><B>Ritualist's Wisdom</B><B>8/8</B> </FONT> <DIV align=left><B></B> </DIV><FONT color=#ffcc00> Ritual5/8</FONT> <DIV align=left> Ritualistic Aggression0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left> Ritual of Absolution0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left><I> Ritual of Alacrity</I><I>0/1</I> </DIV> <DIV align=left><I></I> </DIV> <B>Witchdoctor's Stamina</B><B>0/8</B> <DIV align=left><B></B> </DIV> Crippling Bash0/8 <DIV align=left> Infective Bites0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left> Herbal Expertise0/8 </DIV> <DIV align=left><I> Coagulate</I><I>0/1</I> </DIV> <DIV align=left><I></I> </DIV> <P> </P> <P>Message Edited by Duethor on <SPAN class=date_text>10-04-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>08:52 AM</SPAN></P> <P>Message Edited by Duethor on <SPAN class=date_text>10-04-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>09:00 AM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <P><BR>I tried this exact build when I was going through my, "I hate my pet" phase, but It didn't last long because it just didn't live up to my expectations.  My melee DPS (and I tried 3 or 4 different high end weapons) wasn't any better than I could do with spells, and my healing was definitely diminished.  I eventually settled on a strength (4, 4, 5, 8, 1) / agility (4, 4, 4, <img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> build, which I have been using happily for the last 3 months.</P> <P>The dog can be a real PITA, but he can also increase your healing power significantly.  Currently, I just don't see any good petless builds.</P> <P> </P><p>Message Edited by MilkToast on <span class=date_text>10-09-2006</span> <span class=time_text>08:15 AM</span>

[Mystiq]

<div></div>I've been thinking of respecing lately myself, since I'm still pretty much in a "I hate the pet" phase. I enjoyed not having to worry about using the stupid pet because I was sick of having to resummon it (on those occaisions it just keeps dying for no apparent reason), not to mention the 6+ buffs I had put on it every time. But I made some oversights in my pet-free spec that I'm not happy about. Here's what I have:<p><font color="#ffcc00"><em><strong>Summon Spirit Companion </strong></em><em><strong>1/1</strong></em></font></p><font color="#ffcc00"><b>Chieftain's Agility</b><b> 4/8</b> </font><div align="left"><font color="#ffcc00"> Phalanx 8/8 </font></div><div align="left"><font color="#ffcc00"> Ancestral Authority 8/8 </font></div><div align="left"><font color="#ffcc00"> Ancestral Spirits 8/8 </font></div><div align="left"><font color="#ffcc00"><i>Tribal Rage</i><i> 1/1</i></font><font color="#ffcc00"><b>Ritualist's Wisdom</b><b> 5/8</b> </font><div align="left"><font color="#ffcc00"> Ritual 8/8<font color="#ffffff">I was going for DPS and max healing basically, but I'm also not satisfied with the results, and this spec is no good for a few reasons:No matter how much damage your weapon says it does, and even with a 100% melee crit rate (plus a small chance to double attack), your DPS will NEVER be anything other than sub-par. Priest melee skills are literally at 50% net effectiveness compared to fighters or scouts.So knowing what I know now, maxing Phalanx was a waste because the damage is both lame (my <a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/item.vm?itemId=129215" target="_blank">Greatspear of the Outer Rim</a> crits for the same as this attack) and scales poorly, with no real gain beyond 6 points. I'm on the fence about maxing Ancestral Authority. It's not a bad place for another 4 points beyond the requirement for Ancestral Spirits, which I still believe is a good idea to max. Forget about Tribal Rage completely.Then I have Ritual maxed. I like this ability, and it's the only other AA ability we can use without the pet, but the problem here is Phalanx and Ritual are mutually exclusive. You can either put a 2h spear on and melee using Phalanx, of you can stay on the defensive and heal using Ritual with a symbol equipped, but you can't do both. It doesn't seem like very much forethought went into how a Shaman might use their AA without regards to the pet <span>:smileysad:</span>.</font></font></div></div>Anyways, don't make the same mistakes I did. Some combination of the abilities Triyton listed would be your best bet for a pet-free experience.<div></div>

[Thatdumbg]

<div></div><div></div>   Me and Mystique chatted a little bit tonight about this, and she got me thinking. I took a look after raids, and here is what I've come up with for a totally pet-free AA setup that purely focuses on healing...<b>Chieftain's Agility</b><b>4/8</b><span></span> Phalanx4/8Ancestral Authority4/8Ancestral Spirits8/8<i>Tribal Rage</i><i>0/1</i><b>Ritualist's Wisdom</b><b>4/8</b><div align="left">Ritual8/8</div><div align="left">Ritualistic Aggression0/8</div><div align="left">Ritual of Absolution0/8</div><div align="left"><i>Ritual of Alacrity</i>0/1</div><b>Witchdoctor's Stamina</b><b>4/8</b><div align="left">Crippling Bash4/8</div><div align="left">Infective Bites4/8</div><div align="left">Herbal Expertise6/8</div><div align="left"><i>Coagulate</i>0/1</div><span></span>Agility line for heal critsWisdom for ritualStamina for 1/2 second cures (and crippling bash aint half so bad, even if you have to switch the symbol in for ritual)Now for a more group/solo oriented dog-free setup and trying to get abit more DPS, I might drop the stamina line (which is argueable as it is) and instead go with:<b>Chieftain's Agility</b><b>4/8</b><div align="left">Phalanx4/8</div><div align="left">Ancestral Authority8/8</div><div align="left">Ancestral Spirits8/8</div><div align="left"><i>Tribal Rage</i>1/1</div><b>Ritualist's Wisdom</b><b>4/8</b><div align="left">Ritual8/8</div><div align="left">Ritualistic Aggression0/8</div><div align="left">Ritual of Absolution0/8</div><div align="left"><i>Ritual of Alacrity</i>0/1</div><i></i><div align="left"><i></i></div>Which leaves you 4 points to spare, which could be place in phalanx or to get 16 more points of wisdom...Not the best setups IMO, but my perspective is slightly different then most because of my playstyle (almost all raiding, in the MT group).Maybe someone has a better idea here.editted for screwy html<div></div><p>Message Edited by Thatdumbguy on <span class="date_text">10-08-2006</span><span class="time_text">07:31 PM</span></p><p>Message Edited by Thatdumbguy on <span class=date_text>10-08-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:31 PM</span>

[povarbeast]

<P>str 4 4 4 6 1</P> <P>agi 4 4 4 6 </P> <P>wis 4 1</P>

[Trathe]

I was wondering if there was a good way to put 25 AA to then respec to Str.Was planning on going STR and INT *shrug*<div></div>

[brandi7920]

<P>Hello! </P> <P>New Mystic here - lvl 61 and counting.  When I was looking at my AA's I initially thought that Str/Sta would be the way to go... with the Coagulate and the Pet immunity. I'm currently filling in the Sta line (1 pt away from getting Coagulate). I'm at work right now and I'm dying to log in and take a look at the Int line again and find out why you guys are saying that the Str/Int lines are the way to go for raiding. (which is what my mystic will be doing as soon as she hits 70)</P> <P>Can anyone explain for me? (pretty please! lol)</P>

[povarbeast]

Coagulate is a nice ability i have tested it. One big problem with it ..... you can explain this ability to all the priests in your raid and when your tank gets knocked out mysteriously all the priests stop healing and he dies anyway. The best part of the Int line is the 800 to all resists for your group good stuff for guilds just starting to raid who are weak in the resist department. Str line is a must have for raiding. I reccomend going with agi line for the heal ward crits. Also like the first part of wisdom line one point in ritual is 20% increase to your next heal not bad for one point.

[brandi7920]

<P>Thanks for the info! I've been digging around a bit more on the forums and I saw some other opinions regarding the Coagulate - seems the general opinion is that it is best if you are a mt mystic. Hmm. </P> <P>Well...I can totally see the use of that extra 800 group resist increase on the Int line. Our raid force is good with the resists, but I can see that being even more useful once they raise the caps on mit and stats. (I'm assuming that includes a cap raise on resists, can't remember for certain.)</P> <P>Gah..lots of good info and I'm not getting much work done today...sucha slacker. lol</P> <P>Thanks again, guys. :smileyhappy:</P>

[Thatdumbg]

    While I believe coagulate can be a nice ability to have, I think our other lines improve our healing capability and tanks survival much more. I tested coagulate myself for about a month... and in that time (20-25 raids), it saved my main tank... three times, maybe.<div></div>

[Expiate]

<div><blockquote><hr>Banditman wrote:STR AA to final ability.  Pet now dies rarely.  Aura of Warding to L8.<font color="#cc0000">WIS AA</font> for heal crits.<div></div><hr></blockquote>the wis aa line does not have any heal crits.agi line however does</div>

[Banditman]

Ritual I suppose isn't "technically" a crit, but it's a "controlled" crit so to speak.The numbers on the "lotto" style crits are not good for Shaman.<div></div>

[SirJohn]

As a mystic who used to spend half his time raiding and the other half 2 boxing instances with a monk toon ..My favoured set up was 4-4-4-5-1 in strength and 4-4-8-8 in int .. The extra haste..warding..resists and debuffs were pretty handy in a raid setting ..Having to follow the str line thru for Ae immunity for the pets a pain in the [Removed for Content] but pretty much essential if you raid ..I also found being able to swap weapons and cast legbite and rabies quite handy when grouped or 2 boxing to get mobs dead quicker ..I just wish there was a way to get buffed up quicker after a wipe .. Having to recast the pet .. do the normal buffs..then cast all the AA stuff each time you die is a nightmare <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div>

[gracjan-s]

what do you think for group mystic? never soloing?I think Wis line is good for Wis and ritual...STR for Aura of Haste and WardingSTA for Coagulate and Herbal expertiselast point for Aura of Warding or Ritual

[Banditman]

Wisdom is overrated.  Mine is only 450ish, but I never have power problems.  Manastone and Tribal Spiritists Hat 4tw.<div></div>

[Greggthegrmreapr]

<P>I made a decent dogless route for PvP</P> <P>maxxed AGI line (except the AFI itself and phalanx)</P> <P>4 in STA, and max Crippling bash.</P> <P>Was quite useful to have a shield bash with a 1000+ debuff effect then switch to the Blackscale Maul and melee for 2000+.</P> <P>switched over to the more raid friendly Spiritual foresight/immunities lines woth 1 point in crippling bash for PvP use.</P>

[Rayche]

<DIV>I just respecced this morning from the STR Tree. I'm still saving for AE immunity, but since I have 3 AA's to go to get there, and Dogdog dies every other fight to AE's in SoS I figured the points would be better spent on heal/melee crits until I can actually USE Dogdog in a group without him getting 1 shotted by an AE.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So the Heal crits work on Wards too?? NICE! When it crits, is it 150% of normal or does it actually double? (I haven't used the abilities yet.)</DIV>

[Terq]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Gojirax wrote: <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So the Heal crits work on Wards too?? NICE! When it crits, is it 150% of normal or does it actually double? (I haven't used the abilities yet.)</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>Neither.  It crits for a 1-30% boost.  <BR>

[Banditman]

Close but no cigar.All Wards crit for their listed value +15%.  Unlike most Heal crits, Wards are fixed.<div></div>

[Terq]

Ahh, ok.  I figured it worked the same way as the DPS crits.  Never bothered to look at it any more closely than that.

[Banditman]

Not just DPS crits, all other heal crits work exactly as you describe.  It is only Wards that have this +15% flat rate mechanic.Interestingly, the true Heal portion of Torpor functions under the +15% mechanic, likely because it's based in some part upon the Ward portion of the spell.<div></div>

[FelixDomesticus]

<div><blockquote><hr>Banditman wrote:Not just DPS crits, all other heal crits work exactly as you describe.  It is only Wards that have this +15% flat rate mechanic.Interestingly, the true Heal portion of Torpor functions under the +15% mechanic, likely because it's based in some part upon the Ward portion of the spell.<div></div><hr></blockquote>That explains why I have never seen good ward numbers although I get crit every now and then. Any idea why SOE nerfed ward crits so badly? And can reactives and regens crit freely?</div>

[Eepop]

Jeez, Relax Felix.  No need to throw around the N word.  Other crits get a 1 point to 30% improvement.  We get a constant 15%.  On average its the same. If anything, its more of a buff than a nerf.  Shaman healing is all about predictability, the fewer random factors, the better. <div></div>

[Banditman]

Exactly right.Shaman Wards are the only "fixed amount" of Healing in the game.  Everything else has a range of values.Let's say a Reactive trigger heals for 150 - 200 HP, and crits.The first roll comes up 150 HP, for base amount and the crit roll comes up to 30%, maximum crit.  The end result is 195 HP.  Less than the maximum amount with NO crit.  Had the crit roll come up 1%, you would get . . . 152.  Yay?We aren't nerfed, or anything close to it.  My initial reaction was the same, but honestly, I think 15% is fair.Over time, it all works out the same.  For Shaman however, we get the benefit of seeing the end result on every single crit, as opposed to looking over great lengths of time and data to see the end result.Note that it is ONLY Wards which function in this manner.  Our direct Heals work just like every other class.<div></div>

[Rayche]

<DIV>Got my 25th AA point yesterday and Re-Specced back to the STR line to the end. I'm sorry, but I love my Dogdog and had to keep him alive and well! (I found his survival rate was fairly reasonable at that point.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I really do enjoy the Haste he gives, and the ward/immunity proc.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I found myself falling in LOVE with the Melee/Heal crits though! I'll definitely be placing all my points down the AGI tree from here out to have the best of both worlds for me.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In a group run through Sanctum of the Scaleborn two nights ago we had a Guardian, Berserker, Troubador, Monk, Mystic (Me) and a Shadowknight. (Mostly guild group that we were floating members in and out of as people had to have dinner etc.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In an group with arguably ZERO true DPS classes we put mobs down pretty darn well. I think the AGI line helped in that case a lot. It at least gives more flexibility in group makeup.</DIV> <P>Message Edited by Gojirax on <SPAN class=date_text>11-13-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>10:04 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Gojirax on <span class=date_text>11-13-2006</span> <span class=time_text>10:04 AM</span>

[Banditman]

lol.Dude - a Zerker and a Monk against Heroic content is MORE than adequate DPS.  Those two classes do excellent DPS in raid situations.I had a Troubador tanking the Claymore updates in Sanctum for my Conjuror - the Conjuror was healing.<div></div>

[Rayche]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Banditman wrote:<BR>lol.<BR><BR>Dude - a Zerker and a Monk against Heroic content is MORE than adequate DPS.  Those two classes do excellent DPS in raid situations.<BR><BR>I had a Troubador tanking the Claymore updates in Sanctum for my Conjuror - the Conjuror was healing.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Oh, totally, I agree! Tha'ts why I said "Arguably"... those were the words of our fighters. Our Zerker has some kinda 3 min refresh "Heroic group begone" abilities that he uses to effectively wipe out anything in our forward arc lol...</P> <P>But there was a noticable slowdown in kill rate versus having a Warlock and Conjuror in the group a little earlier.</P> <P>Oh, and the Monk had a real hard time not pulling aggro. Dunno what it was, I'm pretty sure the Guardian has the Adept 3 of her taunt, but the second the Monk used a combat art he got smacked.</P>

[Banditman]

My guess is your Monk forgot to cancel Storm Advance.<div></div>