AA advice

[Malad]

<DIV>So I started to play my brigand again amd he is now 47 with a few AA points.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I spend most my time in a very small group often duo where I end up being the tank.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>While I do OK in this role I decided to go down the Stamina line to help me do it even better.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I was also thinking of pairing it with the wisdom line since in both cases I would be using 1 handed weapons the difference would be just if I had a shield out or not and extra wis would help me tank against caster types.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But also the Strength line might be a good choice for extra defense.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So was sort of thinking going down the Wisdom line all the way, going to get the taunt in Con, and if possible to the defense in Str.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I was hoping somebody with expereince in these lins would tell me if this would work out or if it is a big waste.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Kills me to do this as I so desperately want FD back again like old days but with my play style I think this may be better for the small groups I am in.</DIV>

[verydanger]

Think it depends a bit what classes you usually find yourself grouped with. If you're usually tanking with AoE happy classes in group (warlocks..) for example, the AE taunt and reactive hate proc of stamina line seems like a mandatory choice. Maxing stamina line makes even more sense if you're usually in group with someone who can buff your melee skills (warden, dirge etc), so you can take advantage of the final STA ability without your def stance eating up your to-hit chance.If the mentioned types of classes usually arent found in your group, I'd suggest not going with STA line. For tanking purposes, both the WIS and STR line offer great options. A rogue with STR 4-4-8 and WIS 4-4-8-8-8 should have very nice avoidance while still being in offensive stance, and even more so in defensive. And the best part is still the maxed out double attack, which in its current state is too good to be true IMO.<div></div>

[Malad]

<P>Thank you for the input.</P> <P>I usually find myself with a Templar with him and I in a duo for most part.</P> <P>If I was to go like you suggested would you go down Wisdom first and all the way or go some other way?  I already have 2 points in stamina and can use my free respect to get out of it but until I get 3 more points it is rather moot any way so guessing to wait till then.</P>

[Crimson Dragon]

if you're doing stamina right now and plan to switch to wisdom, i would suggest waiting until you can put your first point into freehand reversal (i think that's the name - the one right after lunge reversal). by that point the wisdom line starts to become valid with the increased double attack. before then you're still missing quite a bit by fighting one-handed.<div></div>

[MaestroX]

The stamina and wisdom lines are almost mutually exclusive, you really have to pick one or the other.  Wis requires your off hand to be empty, sta requires it to have a shield.  Wisdom is very versitile and will work well with any of the others, fighting one handed with a sword for str, rapeir for agi, or a dagger for int.  Wisdom will look less attractive after the double attack nerf in TU23 goes live.

[Malad]

<P>My original thought and not suresticking with it was to use Stamina line while tanking and Wisdom Line while in dps mode.</P> <P>I thought this had couple benifits:</P> <P>1.  Extra Wisdom useful for when tanking caster types.</P> <P>2.  Both wisdom and stamina you end up using a 1 handed weapon.  Only difference being the shield when you want to tank</P> <P>3. Versitility of build.  Have ability to move between dps and tank mode depending on what you need.</P> <P>4.  While locked into 1h weapons for most part not locked into say 1h swords,  1h daggers, or just daggers.</P> <P>Of course you do not maximise anything doing this and I understant that.  As Sta/Str guy will tank better and should do a bit more dps then me in tanking mode just like a Str/Wis person should do a bit more damage than me when in DPS mode.</P> <P>Any was just my thought and not sure how it will work out.  As it is I am 4 points into stamina line and may respec but will wait till I get enough points to at least get something more than say 4 points into improved wisdom.</P>

[MaestroX]

<P>I still can't see those two, STA and WIS, working on the same charscter even with the concept of switching from DPS mode to mini-tank mode.  The general break down is like this:</P> <P>Skill 1; Stat bonus, always on</P> <P>Skill 2 Special attack, requires specific weapon choice</P> <P>Skills 3 and 4 in each line are "always on", no weapon restriction except for STA, WIS</P> <P>Skill 5 Uber skill, no restrictions</P> <P>By taking STA and WIS, you have a lot of AA points in skills 2, 3 and 4 that simply turn off when you change weapons.  This seems really unnecessary when there are so many combinations that let you use ALL your skills all the time, or maybe lose just one at a time.</P> <P>Wisdom with either Str (1H Sword) Agi (1H rapier) Int (1H Dagger) = using all your skills, all the time</P> <P>Stamina using shield with either Str (1H Sword) Agi (1H rapier) Int (1H Dagger) = using all your skills, all the time</P> <P>AGI/INT, STR/INT, AGI/STR you lose skill 2 for either, depending on which weapon you have in primary.  These are the three combos for dual weilding, so dual wielding rogues have a choice which skill they want to use, and which to lose.</P>

[Vicenzo]

<P>I can't speak for high end skills, but at 45 with 13 AA's I've just switched from 4-4-4 Str to 4-8 in Agility.   I was going to head down the Wis line, but the upcoming nerf has put paid to that idea I feel.  </P> <P>However, Walk the Plank seems to be a very underrated skill both in PvE and PvP.   At rank 8, as you probably know it spins your opponent 180 degrees for 3 seconds with a smallish DD.    I've macroed it with the Craven Delight line, following it up with all my rear/flanking positional attacks without moving an inch.  No more messages telling me 'I must be behind my target' because I'm 3 millimetres off.  Getting my big DoT's off early has certainly improved how quickly I kill my target, especially since I can now more or less keep the target perma-stunned.  (By the way, I'm mostly a soloer).</P> <P>I tried this method since my pc is showing its age somewhat and is running flat out to keep up with the game.   Big raids and group PvP can get pretty laggy for me, but this switch has certainly helped me out a lot.</P>

[Malad]

<P>I have little interest in the Agil line.</P> <P>I have no issues with getting my rear attacks off when solo.  I actually made a macro of 2 of back attacks on same timer and it is really easy to get 2 and even 3 attacks in on a noraml stun most time for me.</P> <P>I would actually go Int as I really miss FD from when we use to have it but not too sure on what 1h daggers out there are really worth using.</P> <P>Yes I know in my current idea I would have some skills I could not use at particular times and I would not be 'uber' at any one thing but thought that the flexability might make up for it.</P> <P>I might be wrong it may totaly stink and it will be a real long time till it is an issue with me since I am only 2 points into swear now but I may still give it a go.</P><p>Message Edited by Maladen on <span class=date_text>04-25-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:18 AM</span>

[Grim0]

You can't use Wisdom and Stamina together and get the full benefit of each. Wisdom requires an EMPTY offhand for the double-attacks, and Stamina requires a roundshield in the offhand.If you want to tank, go with Stamina then Strength. Skip Strength's final ability and get 8 points in both the Defense and Crit abilities.<div></div>

[Malad]

<P>Yes I know the requirments for both lines and I understand what you are saying.</P> <P>I was talking about using 1 or the other based on my role im the group.  If I am in a small group with my friends where I have to tank I would go round shield and tank but since I am in a guild and do go to raids and the like I did not want to be commited 100% to nothing but tanking thus my idea of 2 lines using the one that fits what I am doing at that time.</P> <P>Yes I understand that I will not be super at any one of the roles doing this.</P> <P>I aprreciate all the advice.</P> <P>Does Coule though require off hand empty to use?  At work right now so can not verify.</P>

[Dutka]

<P>Someone else posted that Walk the Plank... the AA  Lvl 2  AGI skill that turns the opponent around,</P> <P>did not work in PvP.   Is this wrong?  Is this bugged?  Will it effect other player characters in PvP? </P>