balance or pure agility?

[adrian]

Hey all - long time reader, first time contributor... just wanted to thank y'all for all the pages and pages of info here. As I've got into the low to mid 20s with my Ranger, I've realised how much you need to rely on other players experience to get the most out of your character, and reading up on stuff here has been a god send. I'm not that experienced with RPGs, so alot of the things that are second nature to you guys isn't always as obvious for others.. poisons are a great example. Up until the last day or two, I really hadn't been using them effectively, and it was starting to show. Now, my path through the gruesome early 20s is just that little bit easier <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Anyway, enough [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot] kissing, to my question. I am a Kerra Ranger at level 24. My Strength is 71 with my Agility being at 70. Now being a snoop, I've checked the stats of alot of other wandering Preds and Rangers, and have noticed that Agility is normally 5-6 points ahead of strength, in some cases it's 10-15 ahead. I've tried to keep the two balanced as much as possible, selecting armor and weapons that buff both - although that means my agi is not as high as it could be if I focused on it, I use Hunter's Instincts to prop it up in a fight. Should I be concentrating more on agility, or stick to the compromise of keep both stats level?

[CyberE]

<DIV>Agility increases your overall power and defense (AC).</DIV> <DIV>Strength increases carrying weight (for boxes) and damage. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Your damage increase by strength items would not be enough to make a difference, especially after the new patch. So keeping your strength at max is definitely not worth it, especially past lvl 38 because you will run out of power very fast with low agility. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Your power seems to regen at a certain % of your overall power, so having more power means you regen more points over time. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>What you should do with your equipment is increase your overall power to do XP runs in dungeons. </DIV></DIV> <DIV>The best way to increase your stats, i.e. damage,  is to pick your groups well. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Below is a list of group members based on importance for maximizing damage:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1) Templars and Inquisitors have AC debuffs that increase your damage by 100% or so. They are also prime healers, so they are a must in any group. Inquisitors > Templars. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2) Dirges have resistance debuffs that increase your damage by another 70% or so. If you have a dirge and an inquisitor in your group, be prepared to break your damage record.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3) Troubadours increase all your stats by 50% or so. </DIV> <DIV>4) Shamans increase all your stats by 50% or so. Both of these are good to increase your strength, i.e. your overall damage. Troubs can do dps, while shamans can heal. Depending on where you fight, make your pick. Grouping at lvl 45-50, you only need one cleric healer so usually troubs would be your choice. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>At level 50 in a good group, your buffed stats can reach:</DIV> <DIV>str 180+</DIV> <DIV>agi 330+</DIV> <DIV>sta 150+</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Unbuffed, I am at:</DIV> <DIV>str 81</DIV> <DIV>agi 155 (191 self buff)</DIV> <DIV>sta 92</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Your damage will be increased by 200%-250% with Cleric/Dirge combo, and up to 300% with troub or Shaman, and up to 350% with Inquisitor/Dirge/Troub/Mystic (best buffs, best debuffs)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you are still leveling, the power would be necessary, hence go agility. If you are no longer leveling, switch to strength mode to maximize your damage and try breaking your record. But all-in-all, I'd say agility > strength for the ranger due to inefficient power consumption as a class trait. </DIV><p>Message Edited by CyberEva on <span class=date_text>02-14-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:41 PM</span>

[adrian]

Fantastic response - thanks so much for the info <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[CyberE]

<DIV>You are welcome. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In addition I would like to add that, player-crafted poisons proc more and do more damage. There are many types of poisons, IMO, the best is the one that deals very little front damage, but does massive dot damage, since either way the front damage and dot damage proc when the poison goes off the first time. For a list of poisons effects... =p search the forum or wait for my ranger guide to come out. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Arrows make a huge difference to the damage you could do with your bow. Iron arrows do nearly the same damage as summoned arrows. Summoned arrows (you will need an adept version of this) will last until you get rip, which gives you T4 arrows. Before 36+, stock up on those ripped arrows (using sparingly), and unleash them after you reach 38. Player-crafted arrows do more damage, but are quite expensive. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The armor quest armor are good enough to last until you reach 30 and go Runnyeye to do your Breastplate and leggings quests. The rest, you can just get from drops or buy playercrafted items from players. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>At lvl 20s, just get steel stilleto drops from giants in Thundering steppes or buy player crafted items from players. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>From lvl 30+, one item you might want to get soon is the PGT, and the new dungeon that gives you the coated spear that procs poison. When PGT procs, it gives you extra power and when the coated spear procs it does extra damage. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Jewelry and Lvl 40? =p Well I'll tell you in 1 or 2 months time. </DIV></DIV> <P>Message Edited by CyberEva on <SPAN class=date_text>02-15-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>04:33 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by CyberEva on <span class=date_text>02-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>04:34 AM</span>

[Mastera]

Does agility help archery skills in some way too?

[CyberE]

<DIV>No, I do not think so. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The chance to hit is dependent on your skill lvl. </DIV> <DIV>Damage depends on strength and skill lvl. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anything else....... well... no. Not that I can think of. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Agility does not change attack rating. </DIV>

[KetMali]

<DIV>Strength 107</DIV> <DIV>Agility 199 (self buffed) with squiggly pants or 185 with my ebon legs</DIV> <DIV>Stamina 97</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>6942 ac</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have full ebon chain (besides feet jboots are still better), 2x ebon leafblades, 2x rhodium rings. Glowing shards bracelets are better then rhodium/ruby, the farunner amulet for neck, and the fishbone earring is best so far.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This is pre-patch stats I have no been able to log on for a couple of days, the stats on my name are ALOT lower then when I last logged out im hoping it hasnt been lowered that much.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I love having high str because I hit for alot more. Agi is nice for ac/power but not sure which way to go after patch. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Kett</DIV> <DIV>Permafrost</DIV>