STR/Unarmed: How Much Better?

[fr1ggy]

First and foremost, let me clear the air about one thing.  Within the confines of any given character, I am a min-maxer.  I may not be a min-maxer in regards to which characters I choose, but when it comes to specs and stuff I very much am. I'm leveling a bruiser, and having a blast.  I did my research, which said that 4/4/8 in the STR tree is the "best" for soloing... so currently thats what I am. My question is this.  How much better is 4/4/8 STR than any of the other AA lines for solo/duo play (my best friend plays a Fury, and when he's online we duo)?  I am intrigued by both the AGI and INT lines.  I have always enjoyed crits, and the prospect of hitting things with sticks is funny to me.  I know the weapon requirements are being removed from everything but the STR trees (at least, thats how I understand it...). With the coming changes, is it that much better to go 4/4/8 STR, and then INT?  Or will I do just fine with AGI and INT?  I'm intrigued by the reuse timer shenannigans in AGI, as well as the increased Defense... but like I said, I'm a min-maxer.  If its going to be that big of a difference then I will stick to unarmed. Thanks for any feedback.

[tt66]

<cite>fr1ggy wrote:</cite><blockquote>First and foremost, let me clear the air about one thing.  Within the confines of any given character, I am a min-maxer.  I may not be a min-maxer in regards to which characters I choose, but when it comes to specs and stuff I very much am. </blockquote> Cool. I'm much the same way. I remember putting a massive amount of research in working out which Master 2 lines should be taken while levelling etc. etc. (Str/Agi selfbuff wherever possible, 100 hand punch otherwise, if i remember correctly). <b>Currently</b>,<b> </b>448 Str followed by 44862 Int is (in my opinion) the best way to start assigning AAs when levelling. Nothing beats 448 Str for damage (unless you're planning on buying new legendary weapons every couple of levels). The additional crit from 448 Int is a big damage boost. And both you (while solo) and your friend (while duo) will love Eagle Shriek. Furies are the worst healers for Avoidance tanks like a bruiser, so automatically spiking up your mitigation when you take a couple of big hits is a huge boost for the fury. Gives them time to get the heals off and the added crit bonus you get will help you keep aggro. The Agi line is currently a bit rubbish, to be honest. I can't really say too much about the coming changes, as they're still being tested and messed around with. However, if they leave the Str line alone, then I would continue to recommend 4/4/8 Str and then 4/4/8/6/2 Int.

[morningmists]

<cite>tt66 wrote:</cite><blockquote> Furies are the worst healers for Avoidance tanks like a bruiser </blockquote><p>That's silly, furies have THE fastest casting straight heals, which are great for countering spike damage. And the regen squares away the rest. I have only ever used a fury healer for my bruiser from 1-52 and it's great, after this they get another anti-spike heal, bitf, heals double under half</p>

[tt66]

<cite>morningmists wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>tt66 wrote:</cite><blockquote> Furies are the worst healers for Avoidance tanks like a bruiser </blockquote><p>That's silly, furies have THE fastest casting straight heals, which are great for countering spike damage. And the regen squares away the rest. I have only ever used a fury healer for my bruiser from 1-52 and it's great, after this they get another anti-spike heal, bitf, heals double under half</p></blockquote>Sorry, not quite following you here. Sure, fury single heals might be the fastest, but with the brawler-propensity for getting spike damage, wouldn't a ward-based or reactive heal-based healer be better than a regen based?

[FrontenStuermer]

<cite>tt66 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>morningmists wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>tt66 wrote:</cite><blockquote> Furies are the worst healers for Avoidance tanks like a bruiser </blockquote><p>That's silly, furies have THE fastest casting straight heals, which are great for countering spike damage. And the regen squares away the rest. I have only ever used a fury healer for my bruiser from 1-52 and it's great, after this they get another anti-spike heal, bitf, heals double under half</p></blockquote>Sorry, not quite following you here. Sure, fury single heals might be the fastest, but with the brawler-propensity for getting spike damage, wouldn't a ward-based or reactive heal-based healer be better than a regen based? </blockquote><p>No i dont think so.</p><p>I think the druids, in this case the fury, is a very good healer for a bruiser/monk.</p><p>Fast heals and with AA skills more healamount in a shorter time(timeheal single normal 412 every 2 seconds, with aa skills every 1.5 seconds)</p><p>you can heal the hits he gains very good.</p><p>Think reactive or wards better for tanks who will be damaged often.</p><p>I played very well with monks oder bruisers in the past.</p><p>Further the fury makes very good damage, so my favourite duo is fury/bruiser(the same with nekro/fury)</p>

[Ranja]

<cite>tt66 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>morningmists wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>tt66 wrote:</cite><blockquote> Furies are the worst healers for Avoidance tanks like a bruiser </blockquote><p>That's silly, furies have THE fastest casting straight heals, which are great for countering spike damage. And the regen squares away the rest. I have only ever used a fury healer for my bruiser from 1-52 and it's great, after this they get another anti-spike heal, bitf, heals double under half</p></blockquote>Sorry, not quite following you here. Sure, fury single heals might be the fastest, but with the brawler-propensity for getting spike damage, wouldn't a ward-based or reactive heal-based healer be better than a regen based? </blockquote>For brawlers, it goes Wards, HoT, reactives. Reactives are the worst because they allow you to take the damage and then heal. Not good for a bruiser. Consider this scenario. Reactive for 500 hps. Tank takes 600. Dead Tank. Ward for 500. Tank takes 600. Tank takes 100. Tank Alive.

[inhumanus1986]

Well back on topic, i currently have a 41 bruiser and am curious w/ the drop of required weapons (coming GU 36), will the STR line work with weapons, giving an extra boost? Xcrucio Painbringer Nektulous Server

[Heebyj]

<p>I'm a 43 Bruiser duoing with my buddy 43 Defiler. I have 448 STR and 44862 INT and it is completely awesome. I get to and stay under 30% every fight we are in with wards. If I take a huge spike that busts through wards I'll use my self heal until my buddy gets control. The constant crits and mitigation boost is amazing and it's really easy to do if you know what you are doing. There is no way this would be possible with non ward heals. On top of being amazingly effective it's a ton of fun to do <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Agaxiq]

<cite>inhumanus1986 wrote:</cite><blockquote>Well back on topic, i currently have a 41 bruiser and am curious w/ the drop of required weapons (coming GU 36), will the STR line work with weapons, giving an extra boost? Xcrucio Painbringer Nektulous Server </blockquote> They reverted back to the way it is now.  Only time will tell if they will change it to something else. If you can get a legendary staff like the bo of flowing blood or the flapping staff of the wing, or at least a pair of ancient velium claws, both with some damage procs, these are the best ways to go once you hit 70, in my opinion.  Otherwise, do STR 4/4/8 with INT at the very least.  I prefer WIS to STA because my biggest problem is with AOE agro control when tanking, which WIS helps better with. Best Tank/DPS combo: WIS 4/4/8/6/2 INT 4/4/8/7/2 Best DPS setup: STA 4/4/8 WIS 4/6/8 INT 4/4/8 agressiv