Old warlock....few AA's

[Jeyanna]

I originally started playing EQ2 when it was released and had created my Warlock Ashianna then. I left the game for awhile and when I returned I did get the current expansions. What this has left me with is a level 34 Warlock and 16 AA's. I tend to Solo 50% of the time, with the other 50% of the time split between duoing with a 54 necromancer (he mentors down to my level, obviously) or with a full guild group. I've read through all the topics that are post on AA's, and all it's done is make me more confused. *laughs* In the end, it's what I think works best for me, but any suggestions on what you have specced in the mid 30's? I know that survivability is key when soloing, but then in group situations, I wonder if it would be better to have threat reducing abilities on hand. So many choices!! Any advice? I know there is alot of differing opinions out there, and I'd love to hear them all so I can make an educated decision.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />~AshiannaWitch with an attitude

[Tyrion]

<p>Well, so much depends on so many things unfortunately.</p><p>If you solo mainly, it's all about something dying as fast as it can, through enormous amounts of damage. You could spec for Manashield, but I don't really see that as terribly useful in PvE. As always, your best defense are your roots. Try your best to get them adept 3, or even mastered. Keep the enemy at arm's length or the strategem is lost, and if the stratagem is lost, then the battle is lost.</p><p>With 16 AAs, I would simply work your way down the Str line in the KoS Achievement tree. You'd have one or two points left over for the bonus to crit %, but that AA is by far one of the most important in the entire KoS tree. Critical hits are a power-free way of maximizing the large damage ranges sorcerors innately have in their spells. Criticals always do at least the max damage, and then up to 30% more (or it's Auto-attack that applies to, I can never remember exactly, but you'll always at least do the the maximum damage as stated on the spell's damage range), so you're basically maximizing the efficiency of your spells, and in turn, your power consumption.</p><p>Aggro management is always a concern, but that is relative to your circumstances. If you group 50% of the time, you need to think about who you're grouping with. Is it always the same people, and if so, the same tank? Is that tank really good, or questionable? Is he a Monk or a Paladin? All these questions and more, if answered by you, would allow me and others to more readily give advice.</p>

[Jeyanna]

When I do tend to group with the guild I am in, we are more often then not with Zerker and Inquistor as well as an assassin. It is a rarity we are hunting with a shadow knight. Thus far, on a rare occasion that I have grabbed agro from him, I've cast my hate reduction spells. Those along with his taunts as gotten me out trouble. I don't know how that will change as we get higher in level though.Is there an effective we way to make up for my lack of aa's at my level? Would turning off exp for a bit to work on aa's be a good bed? I love playing my warlock, and she is quickly becoming my main character. the root-nuke tactic is what I have been using all along, and it was definitely the first spell I got to adept quality. I thought the Str line might be a way to go with the bonus to crit. As you said, kill em fast! I was simply worried about setting myself up for one direction entirely (solo) and it not being a good arrangement for those rarer times when I do group.I hope that is a bit more helpful. *smiles*~AshiannaWitch with an attitude

[Domiuk]

<p>With 16 AA you dont have a huge number of choices anyway.</p><p>If you like soloing do the eq2.wikia.com solo timelines these will easily get all the AA you need while lvling.  (your not far behind what you should be and could still easily make 100 AA before hitting 70.</p><p>I rarely group these days and mostly 2 box.</p><p>Notably I use the warlock as a Tank (2nd character is an illy) and no longer root and nuke anything but the absolute toughest of mobs.</p><p>I get in close and dirty and mellee, this works very well for me as I have quite good gear including many heal and power procs that simply are not available at low lvls.  Even so it shows not everybody plays the root and nuke solo game. Oh and I promise you I am killing stuff cosiderably faster than the root and nukers.</p>