What am I doing wrong at level 23?

[Ny]

<DIV>Need some help guys, as I am stinking up Norrath with my crappy play<BR>style.  I am a 23 Assassin/HalfElf Evil.  I go to N. Forest, to attempt<BR>to solo and kill the skeletons, and have the hardest time even killing a<BR>solo blue skeleton with no up arrow on it.  I must be doing something<BR>wrong, so will leave it up to you guru's to figure out what it is.  Here<BR>is the run down:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1) Equipment - On par I think with this.  All yellow medium armor, and<BR>yellow to grey jewelry.  Health is at 750 something and AC is at 780<BR>something.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2) Weapons - I might be messed up here.  I am using the stiletto or<BR>rapier from the level 20 sub class quest, and a spear.  The spear has a<BR>2.2 second delay.  Should I be using only stiletto's / rapiers as an<BR>assassin?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3) HO's - I thought I was able to control the output of an HO?  Seems<BR>like every time I do my HO that stupid buff always goes off instead of<BR>the damage.  If I could ensure it would be the damage HO, I think I<BR>could solo a lot better.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4) Styles - I of course start off with the Backstab stealth move, then<BR>move to the debuffs skills (sorry at work don't remember the names), and<BR>then, cross fingers, kiss the cross, and pray that the HO damages starts<BR>going off.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>About 50% of the time I end up running from a blue A FREAKING BLUE.  I<BR>know I am sucking it up somewhere so welcome all criticism from all. <BR>Hopefully it will be constructive criticism.<BR></DIV> <DIV>Thanks</DIV>

[Mack]

<DIV>I would say your not doing anything wrong, we are a dps class and for us to do dps while soloing we need to stare at mobs **mods 4 teh win!!1!**. We are not tanks so were not suppose to tank, so tanking a mob and hitting on front side of it is a bad combo for us. But im able to solo oranges in el so no idea whats wrong, maybe need better gear?</DIV>

[Micbat]

Sorry I am the original poster.So have you guys figured out how to control the outcome of the HO to damage instead of 5 of those stupid HO buffs?Are you guys using rapiers/stilettos?What is your max crit for with your back stealth move?Any help would be great!

[khalysta]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Nyxs wrote:<BR> <DIV>Need some help guys, as I am stinking up Norrath with my crappy play<BR>style.  I am a 23 Assassin/HalfElf Evil.  I go to N. Forest, to attempt<BR>to solo and kill the skeletons, and have the hardest time even killing a<BR>solo blue skeleton with no up arrow on it.  I must be doing something<BR>wrong, so will leave it up to you guru's to figure out what it is.  Here<BR>is the run down:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1) Equipment - On par I think with this.  All yellow medium armor, and<BR>yellow to grey jewelry.  Health is at 750 something and AC is at 780<BR>something.<BR><FONT color=#6633ff>Hps seems a bit low for that level. Do you have all your quest armor through legs?  Those will be mainly yellow/orange at that level and help out a ton.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2) Weapons - I might be messed up here.  I am using the stiletto or<BR>rapier from the level 20 sub class quest, and a spear.  The spear has a<BR>2.2 second delay.  Should I be using only stiletto's / rapiers as an<BR>assassin?<BR><FONT color=#6633ff>I prefer lower delays myself and I also prefer to keep the delays the same so both weapons always fire together.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3) HO's - I thought I was able to control the output of an HO?  Seems<BR>like every time I do my HO that stupid buff always goes off instead of<BR>the damage.  If I could ensure it would be the damage HO, I think I<BR>could solo a lot better.<BR><FONT color=#6633ff>Never bank on the random number generator.  Anything you get of HO's is exta but don't count on it like so many do.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4) Styles - I of course start off with the Backstab stealth move, then<BR>move to the debuffs skills (sorry at work don't remember the names), and<BR>then, cross fingers, kiss the cross, and pray that the HO damages starts<BR>going off.<BR><FONT color=#6633ff>Can you clarify "backstab" move?  Shadow blade should inflict some good initial damage here from stealth while shrouded strike tends to be far lower.  Also do you have your app3 or adpets for your arts because as a soloer you rely heavily on bleed, impale and pierce so having adepts of those increases your frontal damage output.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>About 50% of the time I end up running from a blue A FREAKING BLUE.  I<BR>know I am sucking it up somewhere so welcome all criticism from all. <BR>Hopefully it will be constructive criticism.<BR></DIV> <DIV>Thanks</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>

[Quai]

<DIV>Micbator,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have the same problem, but with oranges, not blues. We must be doing something different, although your opening moves are the same as mine.</DIV> <DIV>For offensive equipment I carry an Assassin's Quick Blade of Silence and a Badlands Stiletto, poisoned.  I keep Blade Flurry up all the time and occasionally put Hunter's Instinct up for a boost.  With that setup I can start the fight with a Shadowblade (Adept I) hit of close to 200 pretty consistently, use Impale and Bleed to debuff, then use the HO's until I can call up another decent ability.  My HO's are usually Ringing Blows, with a few unflippable Swindler's Lucks and the rare Bravo's Dance.  Sometimes I can't flip from S. Luck to R. Blow no matter how hard I try.  My best backstab has been 247, to date.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>That's the offensive side. If you have similar capabilities and use them as I do, then I'd look at upgrading your defense. My defense is up over 600 now, and it's made a big difference in how long I can go toe-to-toe with critters.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hope this helped.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Quaich on <span class=date_text>12-06-2004</span> <span class=time_text>12:46 PM</span>

[Dormam]

<DIV>Ok, after reading your post here are my thoughts:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1.  Equipment.  Have as much of the cold forged armor as you can.  Its very good armor for your current level.  Dont be afraid to spend some cash on decent jewelry.  I am constantly amazed at players who have decent armor but crap jewelry.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2.  Weapons.  Spear + quickblade is fine.  Like most, I prefer the quicker weapons vs the spear but I see plenty of assassins using the 2.2 speed spear.  I prefer anything 1.4 or lower.  Also, realize that skeletons have a higher pierce resistance than usual so your piercing weapons will do less damge.  If you can get one try a whip.  It does slashing damage which will do better on average vs skeletons once you get your skill up to par.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3.  Skills.  Make sure you self buff your AGI prior to each fight.  Make sure you have pathfinding up.  Make sure you are using the level 100 poisons.  Make sure you have blade flurry up and its running.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4.  HOs.  You need to realize you can "flip" your HO in order to try and get ringing blow up when you need it.  I usually keep the buff HOs if its the first one of the fight, but flip to ringing blow if I can once the fight is going a bit.  Keep at least 2 coin abilities in your bar so that you can flip your own HO and get the one you want.  Also, dont waste HOs on abilities that do less damage.  I usually save my ringing blow HO to combine it with my Impale in order to do maximum damage.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>5.  Open with your best backstab from steath.  Then go for a Ringing Blow HO.  If you hit the ringing blow, then do an Assassins Mark or Survival Tactics.  Survival Tactics makes a HUGE difference when soloing..you will get hit a LOT less.  After that I just HO as often as I can and use it with a decent attack.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>6.  One thing you forgot to mention is the status of your skills.  Are all your skills app 1?  Make sure you have at the very least app 3 in all your skills and get as many adept 1s as you can..especially for your attack skills.  I check the broker twice a sessions - once upon log in and when I log out.  I also check the black market broker out in East Freeport bay for Adept 1s dropping over in Antonica.  As a result almost all my skills are at least Adept 1.  That makes a huge difference as well.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you do the things I have mentioned above you should never have to run from a blue.  Realize that sometimes the odds just go in the mobs favor and you might be pretty chewed up..but you should beat a straight blue con mob.  Our class is not a strong solo class as most of our attacks are either positional or from stealth.  Realize that and pick your targets carefully.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Dormammu on <span class=date_text>12-06-2004</span> <span class=time_text>01:03 PM</span>

[AstralDrea]

<DIV>I'm not level 23, but I have some points to mention.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>1. "Spear + quickblade is fine.  Like most, I prefer the quicker weapons vs the spear but I see plenty of assassins using the 2.2 speed spear. "</DIV> <DIV>-- I don't agree, a 2.2 weapon with a 1.2 or 1.4 weapon makes you effectively 57% less damage on your second weapon. Use two of the same weapons, same delay.</DIV> <DIV>2. How to open the fight:</DIV> <DIV>---- 1. Use your Backshot with carbonite arrows to open.</DIV> <DIV>---- 2. buff yourself</DIV> <DIV>---- 3. Do your first HOs (swindlers), then second HO (ringing blow)</DIV> <DIV>---- 4. stop attacking, cheap shot, stalk, rotate around mob, shadow blade.</DIV> <DIV>---- 5. Melee, HO (ringingblow), till dead.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, like others have said, upgrade your abilities. I have adept I on almost all key skills at lvl 18, makes a huge diff.</DIV></DIV>

[Dormam]

<DIV> <DIV>"2. How to open the fight:</DIV> <DIV>---- 1. Use your Backshot with carbonite arrows to open."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I dont agree with this.  Backshot, while very nice, does not do as much damage as a stealthed backstab.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"---- 4. stop attacking, cheap shot, stalk, rotate around mob, shadow blade."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have stopped using this tactic for several reasons.  1.  You have to execute this flawlessly in order to pull it off.  2.  Using Impale, Bleed, etc is more economical on power/time usage than doing this.  3.  And I usually like to keep cheap shot as a quick stun to give me a lead if I have to run off.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV>

[Mjk_cz]

I have no problem at all with blue skellies in forest, curerntly lvl 24 assassin.0. Surv. inst. vital for tought enemies <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />))1. Hunt/shadow blade as open.2. impale, bleed3. HO with vex4. Pierce5. cheap shot/Shrouded strikeI agree impale/bleed/pierce are best to use over cheapshot/hunt/shadowblade.Opening move is best assassin blade/shadow blade.Killing blue solo skelies is bad for exp, get group and kill giants <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Phro]

<DIV>Heres what i do (at 23) when i do cackling skeletons (blue/white) or Crabs (blue but bites harder <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />) for guildwrits atm.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>stats and equipment:</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/pplayer.vm?characterId=106235102" target=_blank>http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/pplayer.vm?characterId=106235102</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>i have Huntersinstinct(app3). , Blade Flurry (adept1) and poisons running all the time, </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Open with a Shadowblade (Adept1) Quickly a Lucky break --Vex (adept1) -- Impale (Adept1) (flip it for swindlers if need be) Then Bleed (Adept 1)as the LB/Vex recycles. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As soon as LB/VEX recycles i spam that with Pierce (adept 1) (flipping in Ringing Blow if need be) Til the Mob is dead. Bleed/impale when they recycle as well to keep him ticking <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> .</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I used to do the Cheap Shot/auto off/sneak etc routine before, but it was to timconsuming (serverlag have spoled the setup sooo many times, the anim/particle goes off but the sys msg says i have to be flanking <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) so i just cleared the keys, and went toe to toe <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>With some food and water i practically never have to stop for regen at all. If something adds i just add Survival Instinct (Adept 1) to the mix and backpeddle so i have both of them infront of me so i get full defence (or i want to thin kthat you cant parry/evade/etc attackers from bvehind.. or is it just my old daoc reflexes? <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Check the fencer/broker regularly for Adepts and get them asap, and NEVER sell stuff to the merchants outside the city, youll loose a "ton" of money <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Ichiba]

<DIV>While you can get good dmg going the Shadowblade backstab route for openers, if you can afford alot of carbonite arrows, opening with Backshot then OpenShot  can really put down some serious dmg right off, especially if poison procs on top of it. If all goes well I can take a orange bear in Nek down to half health from that opening salvo.  I have nowhere near that kind of success with Shadowblade or even the next line of backstab.  The only down side is the arrows are expensive to buy.   OpenShot will also save your hide if your getting real low on health, and you need to run, just start running and hit OpenSalvo and it'll often take them out if they're low on health as well.  It's saved me MANY times!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I feel your pain with the skellies in Nek, they can be a major pain!  They parry and block shots alot so sometimes the fights are cake and others it's a near death situation.  Good equipment of course will help alot, and right now I need major upgrades, especially to the jewelry.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Takatta -24 Assassin<BR>Terrax -20 Berserker</DIV>

[AstralDrea]

<DIV>I agree with opening with bows. You can get off a backshot + double shot if you start at max range.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't agree with always opening with hunt/shadow blade. For one it takes longer to sneak up to the mob and attack than it does to pull with a bow, so over time you get more kills. True SB gives you a bigger hit, but then you ONLY get one big hit. If you get off backshot+double shot+SB, that's three big hits in a round when you solo. Also, if you pull with a bow, you can isolate mobs alot better, just my preference. And I don't have to wait for them to move away from other aggro mobs.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Although it is tricky to do the cheap shot/stalk/SB combo, and against some mobs it dont work (like dervishs), overall it is a great combo if you can pull it off.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I just got a very nice new bow last nite, i will try it out with carbonite to see my damage on backshot. With rat hunters bow, i regularly do 100-120 with backshot. I suspect I'll do more with the new bow.</DIV>

[Dormam]

<DIV> <DIV>"I don't agree with always opening with hunt/shadow blade. For one it takes longer to sneak up to the mob and attack than it does to pull with a bow, so over time you get more kills."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I dont agree with this statement.  The time gained just by shooting a bow at a target as opposed to sneaking up for a big backstab doesnt really outweigh the damage difference.  I dont think there is any big advantage either way.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"True SB gives you a bigger hit, but then you ONLY get one big hit. If you get off backshot+double shot+SB, that's three big hits in a round when you solo."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Actually, it would just be backshot+double shot as your in front of an aggro mob and you are not stealthed.  I have done over 700 points of damage using Assassins Blade Adept 1 and I have hit for over 200+ using backshot adept 1.  I dont think double shot is going to do anywhere near the 500 points of damage between the two.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"Also, if you pull with a bow, you can isolate mobs alot better, just my preference. And I don't have to wait for them to move away from other aggro mobs."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Very true.  I think bows are very important to the assassin as a supplemental attack.  But they in no way can replace the main attacks via assassination that we get.</DIV></DIV>

[Aneast]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Dormammu wrote: <DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"Also, if you pull with a bow, you can isolate mobs alot better, just my preference. And I don't have to wait for them to move away from other aggro mobs."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Very true.  I think bows are very important to the assassin as a supplemental attack.  But they in no way can replace the main attacks via assassination that we get.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#3300ff>The point is that using you Backshot-->Openshot combo to open leaves your Shadowblade Attack available for later in the attack.  Opening with Shadowblade means that you won't be using Backshot on that mob.  Once, I started using this technique my fight times with solo's dropped dramatically.</FONT></DIV></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>

[Mjk_cz]

The point is that using you Backshot-->Openshot combo to open leaves your Shadowblade Attack available for later in the attack./b Uh when soling? You usualy have only once chance for opening strike, that stun + stalk +shadowblade is pretty inneffective because it works only like 30% of time because of server lags/client lags.

[Dormam]

<DIV>Exactly.  Its not an easy thing to pull off by any means.  I can do it, but the timing on it has to be perfect with no lag on the server.  Here lately though I have all adept 1s for my non-stealth attacks and so I generally just blow through white con mobs or lower while solo.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But I try not to solo very much..:smileytongue:</DIV>

[Micbat]

Thank you everyone for your input, I am no longer gimped. Here were the most valuable advices that I was not doing and made me UBER [Removed for Content]!Equipment - This is very very important to my AC from 550 to over 950, by getting Cold whatever quests done (still have 3 to go). In freeport on my server there was not a lot of jewelry for sale so I ran to Merchant Fence (Black Market) in East Freeport and got some really good jewelry from [Removed for Content]. I can't tell you how much this alone effected my ability to solo! This by far is MOST IMPORTANT. Also of course increasing to Adepts, but most of mine were already adept 1.HO's - Although not as important. I STRONGLY recommend you figure out how to flip your HO's if you have not already figured out how to do this. Take the time solo some grey mobs and figure this out. Once I figured this out it took half the time to kill the mob and had much more hp and pow at the end of the fight.Thanks Again,Micbator