Help me choose my only Adept3 upgrade!

[Jay]

<DIV><FONT size=2>So I found me a Rough Opal while harvesting in EL over the weekend. After I finished the backflips, I started looking into which 30-40 skills I could upgrade to Adept3. A guildie recommended Huntsman's Trap b/c it gives you increased levels of stealth, but honestly I don't feel I really need them. Will I eventually? I currently use both HT and Hagar's Camo (still) b/c Hagar's stealth is only one level lower and it doesn't slow you down, so I have my 'exploring' stealth and my 'combat' stealth. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I was thinking a newer bow attack, like Sniping Shot or even Flame Shot. I'm only 33 right now, so I should look into the skills that I'll be getting in the next few levels to see if there are any good candidates there. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Please help! I can't know what I might need in days and months to come, but I hope you folks in the 40-50 crowd can lend me some insight. What 30-40 skill would you choose, and why? And what else should I consider in making this decision?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>(Also have no idea how much this will cost me - we don't have any high-level jewelers in our guild, so I'll need to take this to someone and have it made. Not much clue what'll be involved there.) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Thanks for any and all recommendations and suggestions.</FONT></DIV>

[dubbs]

I'd get Sniping Shot Adept 3.  I got lucky and got a Master 1 at about level 33.  I'm currently 35 and regularly hit for 500-600, with my max being 626 with that skill, so really helps up my dps.  Of course ranged attacks are just as reliant on your bow as melee hits are on your weapons.  You won't hit for crap if you are running around with a grey bow like i see alot of rangers doing.

[ChaosUndivided]

<DIV>Dont get sniping shot, this skill is soon replaced by a higher lvl version Culling the Herd.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What I would recommedn is getting Adept III Crippling Blade, it is THE main high dmg Ranger Melee skill all the way up to lvl 50, I still use this as my big boom. Basicly the only tier 4 spell worth upgrading, as we do not get a replacement for it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>my Adept III does : abour 600-1150 Dmg. not playing right now, but thats close.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Have fun</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Cheers</DIV>

[Merkad]

I second Crippling Blade, one other one that I think would be nice is Honed Reflexes, I believe it was mentioned that adept 3 is 41ish % haste, app4 is 29 and app2 is 21, seeems to be worthwhile, though, due to timers, not as good as Crippling Blade, but it is one of the few 30-40 skills I use at 50. Merkades, 50th Ranger. <div></div>

[KetMali]

<DIV>I third crippling blade =P</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you get anything other then it at this point it would honestly be a waste. You may have to wait  abit to get it, I think its a lvl 35-36.</DIV>

[hieronym]

<DIV>id go for crippling blade too, i upgraded mine to adept 3 and already hit for over 900 :smileyhappy:</DIV>

[Neec]

<P>Get someoen to make you an adept Honed Reflexes at adept 3 it has a 41% haste effect (app 1 has 21%)</P> <P>Cripling blade as its a skill you will still be using at level 50.</P> <P>Both the above well worth upgrading.</P> <P> </P> <P>As for stealth dont bother at lev  40 you get a trait stealth that has has NO movement debuff on it, you will prolly just end up using that stealth at 50 2 as its jsut as good as your level 4X stealth.. </P>

[Randall-Rain]

<span><blockquote><hr>KetMalice wrote:<div>I third crippling blade =P</div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>If you get anything other then it at this point it would honestly be a waste. You may have to wait  abit to get it, I think its a lvl 35-36.</div><hr></blockquote> Definitly a good choice. At lvl 50 it's still there and deal some damages. I also have storm of arrows (lvl50), culling the herd, triple fire, debilitating arrow, tanglethorn, survivale of the fittest, veil of the forest and the new haste spell they released that are adept 3'ed atm. Gonna need a few more but they are less important imo so i'll wait to harvest some rubies/rhodium (which could take some time lol)</span><div></div>

[Randall-Rain]

<span><blockquote><hr>Neecha wrote: <p>As for stealth dont bother at lev  40 you get a trait stealth that has has NO movement debuff on it, you will prolly just end up using that stealth at 50 2 as its jsut as good as your level 4X stealth.. </p> <div></div><hr></blockquote> Sorry to correct u there, but if you talk about Holy's stalking trap that provide a lvl 52 stealth at lvl 50, it has been changed and now have a 35% speed redux.... I love how they deal with broken CA, they couldn't get it to not reduce the speed, so instead of fixing it, they changed the text.... Way to go SOE !</span><div></div>

[Neec]

<DIV>Hmm u sure i was using it today  still a hell of a lot faster than normal stealth  its also level 40 trait you dont get trait at level 50.. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And nothing sees thru it anyhow except the odd boss mob.. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I still stick with my adept 3 OPAL  recomendations.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Il check when server back up..</DIV><p>Message Edited by Neecha on <span class=date_text>04-12-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:05 PM</span>

[Randall-Rain]

<div></div><div></div>Well it's 35% speed redux when stalk prey is like 40+ speed redux. So yeah it's better, but not as good as it was supposed to be. EDIT : when i said lvl 52 stealth at lvl 50, i meant when you are lvl 50, it grants a lvl 52 stealth... You know, like when u examine an armor and it says "400 AC at lvl 50"... <div></div><p>Message Edited by Randall-Raines on <span class=date_text>04-12-2005</span> <span class=time_text>02:41 PM</span>

[Jay]

<P><FONT size=2>Thanks! Sounds like Crippling Blade and Honed Reflexes are the two contenders. Just curious - is there a reason no one recommended a bow attack? Is it just b/c these skills are available earlier in the 30-40 range and don't get replaced in the 40s-50s? (I'm trying to check the ranger skill list on EQ2Players, but - go figure - the site won't load.)</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>Also, as I'm providing the opal, what's a reasonable cost for the jeweler to make this upgrade? I'd like to avoid getting ripped off if possible. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>Thanks again for your help.</FONT></P>

[sjaste]

First you need to find a level 31+ alchemist then you need to find a jeweler at level 39 for crippling blade. Prices varie from server to server but personally would not pay more than 10 gold each on splitpaw server.

[Neec]

<P>Just to confirm there is no penalty with Hollys stalking trap</P> <P>You get no speed debuf from using it its the level 52 steath trait you get at level 40.</P> <P>The 35% i think the previous poster was talking about is the snare you cast on any mob that hits you while you have the stealth active</P> <P> </P>

[Fennir]

<div></div>Quick question: Is Snipe (lvl 50) the upgrade to Pick Off? I adept3'd Crippling Blade, and was thinking about Honed Reflexes, but if Pick Off doesn't get upgraded, the possibility of an extra point or two of defense debuff might be worth it. edit: nevermind, it appears that Snipe is the upgrade to Pick Off. <div></div><p>Message Edited by Fennir on <span class=date_text>04-12-2005</span> <span class=time_text>02:11 PM</span>

[Sembri]

<DIV>Yep, go with Crippling Blade.  It's a level 39 skill, iirc, so you have a while to go to sit on the opal.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Isn't Honed Reflexes 36% haste at app IV?  Not logged in atm, but adding 5% haste at the price of an adept 3, even t4, seems like a waste.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Holly's is THE best sneak we get.  There is no movement penalty.  While I was poking around under CT the other day I ran into a room with a level 54 epic mob, who didn't see me.  Can't beat that =)</DIV>

[ChaosUndivided]

<DIV>Honed Reflexes???? Am I the only one who hasnt heard of this skill?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Cause I swear it's not in my book.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[hieronym]

honed reflexes is from the expansion pack, you dont have to have it installed just need someone who has done the quests to buy it. You will find it on the broker

[ChaosUndivided]

Got it thanks, my guild is finishing up current stuff before we move on to expansion!

[Randall-Rain]

<span><blockquote><hr>Neecha wrote:<p>Just to confirm there is no penalty with Hollys stalking trap</p> <p>You get no speed debuf from using it its the level 52 steath trait you get at level 40.</p> <p>The 35% i think the previous poster was talking about is the snare you cast on any mob that hits you while you have the stealth active</p> <div></div><hr></blockquote> Indeed my bad. But it does reduce the speed if you use Jboots/pathfinding/veil of the forest. But maybe it just cancel all the speed buffs/effects and put you back to default run speed. So it does reduce speed in a way.</span><div></div>

[KetMali]

<DIV>Okay I should slap all of you that picked the sneak skill, it does nothing for us combat wise, the debilitating arrow type shot we get is much better. If you pick teh sneak skill respec =p</DIV>

[Merkad]

The level 40 training option for stealth is way cool. I did not think twice on the debuff arrow option. I abhore the slowness of regular stealths. Aside from that, I am curious what kinda stats does the debuff arrow have at 50th anyways? Is it really better than Debilitating arrow at adept 1-3? Not that I would respec for it (saving my respec for when level 50 training is added...someday), but I am curious to what it lists, now that we have descriptions. Merkades, 50th Ranger. iirc, Honed Reflexes is 28% at apprentice 4. I just checked in game as I was writing this. <div></div>

[z3oslo]

<DIV>seems like "any" medium damage/high damage spells are worth upgrading.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I was lucky to find triple shot as a master and at lvl 33 its deals 500-700 damage. not bad a t all.</DIV> <DIV>I just killed gurk strongarm (lvl34 named) solo with triple arrow, flaming arrow, and close up fight every timed my pgt proced. was quite fast too.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>After becoming a fan of kiting, and after obtaining pgt i can solo alot of these named mobs.</DIV> <DIV>I have every spells up to 33 up to adept1 as a minimum and outdamage even wizards in groups.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So bottom line, any damage spell will be worth upgrading, if you have the money to spend, upgrade as much as possible.</DIV> <DIV>If you dont have that much money, go for the high damage ones. such as triple fire, crippeling blade</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>