Solo/group AA's?

[Centri]

What is the best AA spec for solo (named farming etc..) and grouping? I'd like to be able to tank if needed and dps if needed. I need specs on both KoS and EoF AA's <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Right now I'm Sta/Int 4-4-8-6-2 *Edit* I'll most likely never raid with this toon except for possibly some pickups

[delbranson]

<p>Firstly, you should perform fine in any capacity regardless of your AA build.  That said though, KoS AA Intelligence line, EoF Ignore Wounds heal bonus,  and EoF Knockouts AA line are always part of my builds.  The Int line end ability is great no matter what if you have incoming damage on yourself.  A lot of difficult named will only be beaten by the skin of your teeth if you really take on challenging solo fights, so that super mitigation buff and melee crits below 30% health are vital.</p><p><b>KoS:</b> Int line + Str or Sta line</p><p><b>EoF:</b> Full knockouts with max duration mezz, full heal bonus, and I guess the rest of the defensive branch leading to stoneskin procs but those are so rarely proc'd without parry bonuses from group buffs that its really not an issue.  Those bruisers who also use the Str line from KoS AA's will at least see an improvement on the proc rate as they'll have more ripostes occur to trigger it, around 5 times more.</p><p>The only downside to this build is holding aoe aggro when tanking for aoe heavy groups against multiple body encounters.</p><p>You can get by without the entire Knockouts line, but I like to at least extend the duration of my mezz, buying some precious few seconds when stalling a tough boss, and the full line is about the best thing you can do to improve your damage.  Focusing on single target damage is perfect.  Stamina line will provide the greatest sustained single target damage increase with its damage procs, while Strength line end ability while unarmed will allow you to really boost your occasional spike damage by allowing you to pump out more combat arts in a shorter time (great for getting the most out of knockout combo).  </p><p>If you have multiple bodies in your enemy encounter, you can burn one enemy down, feign, regenerate, stand up and commence again on the next target.  When doing this, taking down the first enemy of the group will be the most difficult, as you'll have the most enemies hitting you on that first phase.  The challenge in these cases is to limit the incoming damage from the off target enemies while putting as much spike damage on your first target enemy.  Mezz/fear helps in reducing the incoming damage of the off targets, and unarmed bruisers using strength line end ability will have the advantage in taking down that first enemy with strong spike damage.</p><p>A bruiser's ability to solo named is not dependent on AA, instead being more in their combat arts and the timing of their execution, changing stances throughout as necessary and timing your stuns, mezzing and fearing to buy yourself time as needed.  AA can improve some of the utility beneficial to the process, but an extra 3 seconds to mezz or a damage proc here or there just aren't going to break your game if you don't have them.  The number one factor in any case, in my opinion, for all situations except for solely dealing damage when there is someone else tanking, is mitigation, stamina, and health on your equipment.  The best mitigating armor you can get and any jewelry/belt with mitigation are all key when tanking or soloing difficult content, worth more than any AA build.</p>

[Centri]

Thanx for the advice on the AA's they helped alot <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> The CA timing I have tried and they raised my survivability and dps significantly <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Are there any decent armors and weapons that can be traded? The toughest raid I'll most likely see on this toon will be labs as I'm one of my guilds MT healers with my defiler. I know of the twin Calamities in labs and the Fist of Pain that is tradeable from HoS. Are there any other valid choices for a non raiding bruiser? I've been looking at a blood something something bostaff on broker that seems fairly nice. For armor I know relic and the legendary from labs are fairly easy obtainable with a pickup raid and Wu armor from EoF instances, are those anything to go for or should I look elsewhere?

[Bobbette]

Marr's Fist is a great one, if you can work through the claymore line and get the final updates.  It has alot of nice procs for solo'ing imo.  Otherwise, Fists of Bashing and Fists of Pain are tradable so you can probably buy them. Closing Time from Unrest is a great fist, almost on par with some of the lower end no-trade fableds.  Probably one of the best nonfableds you can get. Bo of Flowing Blood is a nice brawler staff, the deflection on it is very nice and if you're willing to spend on adornments, 2h crushing weapons have a fabled +10 defense adornment available which would make it very nice for 'tanking'. As for equipment ... get the legendary Wu's set.  I believe 6 pieces give you the chance to proc stoneskin which is nice.  3 pieces give you chance at double attack.  Dark Chitin Rings for mit. or mastered crafted dps/haste proc'ing rings (I'd have both so I can swap out depending upon the fight).  Rallos Zek cloak for dps proc.  Claymore belt for sta and mit (and put the 2% haste on it, it does stack with another item haste -- like it stacks with my DT bracelet).  The Ivy Shrouded Earring of Tunare for the 8% dps mod.  Pouch of Broken Cogs (Bag? Sack? something like that).  There's a nice mit ring from Unrest whose name escapes me at the moment, drops off Garanel.  The necklace of shadowy strikes from OoB is close to the MoA necklace.  I know there's some haste items out there that are non-raid drops but I just can't think of them at the moment.  I'm sure someone else will chime in on those. As for builds, if you're going weapons then the strength line is probably wasted.  I'd suggest Int to the bottom for the melee crits (get those maxed) and the bottom line ability is sweet.  Then I'd probably do the wisdom line for Crane Flock ... that 16s of double attack would definitely help in soloing nameds.  The aoe skills above it would be useful for tanking and holding multiple aggros. EoF line -- I'd go the knockout line to drag ... ymmv but I love drag for tanking.  I'd then do the conditioning line to the bottom for the stoneskin proc.  I'd definitely max my heal and try to put as many points as possible into our mitigation buff AA (make it last as long as possible).  I'd also be looking at trying to get as much parry as possible (items, int AA, adornments, etc) so that proc goes off as much as possible. Those are my ideas on builds.  Oh and I'd also make sure I had miracles and blessings on my hotbar for those OMG! moments.

[Raidi Sovin'faile]

<p>Honestly, the bit of avoidance you get from the Stamina line won't make or break your tanking ability with regards to solo or group play. You should already have quite the bonus between defensive stance and gear that the deflection from the AA's won't be quite as effective when tanking. At best you are looking at a couple % in avoidance.. and we have that in abundance already.</p><p>What will really help is AoE control and DPS. Getting an extra AE (with a staff), an AE proc, and a rescue-like 16s of double/4 mob attack ability can really help hold aggro in group play.</p><p>It's also very nice for fighting groups of mobs. You can really burn down some stuff quick when you use Crane Flock against a group of mobs. Heroic encounters with a bunch of single arrow ups will no longer be a "kill two and FD, then kill the rest" endeavour... you'll just anihilate them all in 15s.</p><p>As for equipment, the only thing I'd add to Bobbette's list (other than Unrest gave us a ton of nice things), is to go do the short quests in Steamfont that gets you the Security Cloak. It will proc a 200 damage Ward when you attack... which is very nice in solo play to keep you alive. The Rallos Zek cloak is great for doing more damage... and I have it in my DPS setup. But proc'ing that ward like 5-6 times a fight means I've effectively healed myself an extra 1-1.2k hp (a ward that doesn't get used up heals you when the timer is up.. no waste). That's hard to pass up for the soloing department.</p><p>I've seen a vampiric proc Cloak drop off Garanel as well.. which I would probably swap out the Security cloak for once I get it. Comes with actual stats (str/sta as I recall) and does damage as well as healing. However, that one is tough to get (seen it drop only once and someone else won it), and you can get the Steamfont cloak in your mid 30s.</p><p>One other nice one is the Planar Orbs collection quest reward. If you pick the self heal proc on attack one, there's another avenue of healing in solo play.</p><p>Between those, your self heal, and a vampiric proc adornment, you should be able to solo some fairly tough encounters. Even better if you get your 6 Legendary pieces. I have all but the leggings at the moment, and I've found that Stoneskin proc goes off quite a bit in combat. Soloing PoA Claymore quests got even easier.</p>

[Centri]

For some reason I can't remember where Wu pants drop, anyone know?

[Bobbette]

Elwdryn@Runnyeye wrote: <blockquote>For some reason I can't remember where Wu pants drop, anyone know?</blockquote>Mistmoore Castle.  But I don't remember the name of the mob.

[Centri]

Right, ty <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />