40 SK vs Sheila Everling -- advice please!

[Pyrrhon]

I'm trying to do the level 30 Nektropos quests while I can still get AA for them.So I'm working my way through, and prepare to fight the first sister, and she <i>wipes the floor with me</i>. She's hitting for 450s, a few times a round. I tried a few different strategies and I'm stumped. I'd appreciate some advice.Here's a breakdown: I'm level 40 with 41 AAs (4/4/8 INT, 3 STA, 21 Reaving). My gear is mostly mastercrafted feysteel/ruthenium/opal with a few legendaries. I've tried using defensive stance (which is Adept3) but no dice. My HT (M1) takes almost (but not quite) half her health away, but I don't last longer than another 4 or 5 rounds. My total HP is 3376.Should I upgrade my gear? It's served me well for the past eight levels, so maybe it's just past its prime? Unfortunately, I don't think I can get the next tier MC until level 42, right?I was also thinking that maybe I should try reseting my AAs and go for Divine Aura in the STA line -- maybe with that extra 10 seconds I'll be able to get in control of my own healing.What do you think?The last time I did these quests was with my brigand, who was probably 42-44 (can't recall exactly), but I don't remember him having ANY trouble with the sisters -- in fact, he cleaned up the whole castle. Is it possible that they were buffed in the meantime, or is my SK just not up to snuff?

[Beldin_]

<p>Yeah, next MC is available with 42, and the problem is that your actual mitigation gets worse with every level. At 32 you had maybe 50-52% and now with 40 its down to 42-43% i guess.</p><p>Best tip if they quests are grey with 42 .. seek somebody who helps you, or forget the quests, there are soooo many other quests out there.</p>

[Pyrrhon]

<cite>Shalla@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Yeah, next MC is available with 42, and the problem is that your actual mitigation gets worse with every level. At 32 you had maybe 50-52% and now with 40 its down to 42-43% i guess.</p><p>Best tip if they quests are grey with 42 .. seek somebody who helps you, or forget the quests, there are soooo many other quests out there.</p></blockquote>Thanks! Tell me, is it worthwhile to upgrade my imbued opal rings to imbued ruby? The upgrade seems pretty minor for the price, and there's no mitigation attached to the rings, so it shouldn't be hampering my combat effectiveness, right?

[Beldin_]

I've never worn opal .. i always use my jaspis until 42 and then went Ruby. Just look at the actual prices, if you get ruby cheap you can upgrade, else your fine with the old ones. Upgrade armor is much more important <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Pyrrhon]

<cite>Shalla@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote>I've never worn opal .. i always use my jaspis until 42 and then went Ruby. Just look at the actual prices, if you get ruby cheap you can upgrade, else your fine with the old ones. Upgrade armor is much more important <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" /></blockquote>Awesome, much appreciated!

[Nor]

<p>The above poster was very correct in the loss of mitigation for each level.  Doing a broker search for better armor is great.  With new zones up and tons of people making twinks, there seems to be a lot more armor out there to choose from.  From my experience, you can find armor that has better mitigation/stats than mastercrafted toward the end of each tier for pretty decent prices, usually around the last 2 levels of any tier.  I've found some good armor that was better than the mastercrafted for 10-12 gold for tiers, a lot cheaper - it's just that you have to wait a few more levels to get it.  It should tide you over until 42 or whatever your next mastercrafted tier is going to be.</p><p> Also, use potions - at 40?  You should be able to get potions that regen about 400 hitpoints, get +hp or +stat potions before the fight.</p><p> Get the cloak from Steamfont that adds the % to proc a ward (200 hp ward for 12 seconds).  I was able to solo the quest line (40 for the final quest that gives the cloak, and 42 for the final quest in the line - gives a weapon) at level 35 so it should be no problem for you at 40.  The cloak has a lvl 37 requirement on it.</p>

[SonnyA]

As with a lot of SK soloing, you need to use your shield bash and reactive lifetap (can't remember names at that level) as soon as they're up.You also want to use spells only, so your reaver will proc (it doesn't proc on CAs). Taunts counts as spells, so use them for small damage/debuff and reaving proc, even when soloing.And as has been said already. Upgrade your gear to T5.

[crookshan]

Don't forget the lvl 37 MC gear....You get the rares (Darkruned Blood Iron) from DFC.  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?eq2item=27545" target="_blank">http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/item.h...l?eq2item=27545</a> will show u the stats.  Of course thats a tough decision to spend so much money for 5 lvls.  GL

[Terron]

<cite>Shalla@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Yeah, next MC is available with 42, and the problem is that your actual mitigation gets worse with every level. At 32 you had maybe 50-52% and now with 40 its down to 42-43% i guess.</p></blockquote>It doesn't actually get worse. The %age is based on a mob of your level. The higher the level the mob the less effective mitigation is. So as your level goes up, the mob's level goes up and the %age goes down if the armour stays the same. Against a level 32 mob it would still be 50-52%. One thing that might be worth trying is pulling with a hex doll to get a debuff on her to start with. The fright one for a minus to attack speed might be a good choice.