Dead horse and new bruiser .

[shogun007]

Hey all just started bruiser alt and have a question. I know that STR is best leveling spec . I know that only fabled weapons can replace Str line, its even better then MC with procs etc etc. However i have noticed that bruisers stance doesnt improve Fists skill that works with STR line ?We all know that orange and yellow mobs require us to have + Offensive skill which in bruisers case is slash/crush/pierce and ranged . No Fists skill improvement. Am i missing something here? Is our uber leveling spec misses half the time when fighting orange mobs? Is there a way to improve fist skill or should i get pair of imbued MC weapons?  Will be waiting on your reply's -)

[Novusod]

Spot on there. One of the down sides of going STR line is the loss of plus to hit. I picked up a pair of level 40 fabled weapons and never looked back. You will probably do alright until you hit level 80 unless you are on a PvP server. Life on a PvP server forced me to abandon the STR line early.

[shogun007]

I am on PVE server. I always wanted to roll a bruiser for its versatility and i did . I understand that many grps will look at me mostly as dps class so i care about my damage. Solowise and in grp fighting high yellow and orange mobs will result in mutlpile misses without any improvement to my offensive skills. Someone mentioned on boards i will get 30% more autoattack.  So i will miss same number of times lol. I see advantage to soloing lower level mobs , named and such since i can go in Def without losing any offense but with higher level mobs i am gonna suck . Maybe ill pass STR line sigh , i dont know..

[shogun007]

Anyone parsed/compared  hit chances with or without weapons?

[shogun007]

Strange thing- the second ability in STR tree debuffs crushing mitigation. If barehanded . So if barehanded is crushing what are fists skill for?

[shogun007]

Ok nm the question. It looks like Fists skill is simply an ability to wield fists , and crushing damage is the damage fists produce so stance does matter.

[Aragmar123]

In the same regard though, defensive stance doesn't lower fist skill.

[shogun007]

Ill try it out currently maxing INT, dont know about last ability and parry skill though. Bruiser under 30 % should FD to save his [Removed for Content], and small parry is really unnoticable. Altruism looks awesome , but line is crap.

[Solu]

<p>Unarmed is crushing, our balanced and offensive stances boosts it.</p><p>As for AA build for dps, its 4/4/8 in your trees of choice.  My current build is 4/4/8 in STR/AGI/INT.  Pretty much every tree has something going for it and disadvantages as well.</p><p>STR is of course a good money saver for those with no suger-daddy, good utility in the crushing mit debuff.  Downside is less overall stats and that deep pockets can match the AA investment.</p><p>AGI makes your attack more fluid, all skills get benefit, attacks or heal.  The tier 2 buff also has the advantage of carrying over to next target.  But also eats as much power as it increases your skills by.</p><p>STA I only know on paper.  The tier 2 attack knocks 7-12% of a MOBs total hp which is nice but only usable at the start of a fight so its use grouped gets tricky and fighting more than 1 MOB, limited.  The tier 3 skill is advertised as 24% chance at really terrible damage.</p><p>WIS gives you another AE knockdown and a 16% chance at average damage.  Problem is its AE damage, not encounter so it can get you into trouble and will knock things out of CC.</p><p>INT provides an easy way for our positional line, and a pause button for incoming damage but the sweetness is the crit bonus that effects everything you throw.  No downsides other than INT being fairly useless.</p><p>I still have charges on my respec card so might play with the STA/WIS trees just to fill in eq2i wiki and check the progression for myself.  Be hard pressed to talk me into walking away from dual wielding 2h staffs though <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[shogun007]

<cite>Solude wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Unarmed is crushing, our balanced and offensive stances boosts it.</p><p>As for AA build for dps, its 4/4/8 in your trees of choice.  My current build is 4/4/8 in STR/AGI/INT.  Pretty much every tree has something going for it and disadvantages as well.</p><p>STR is of course a good money saver for those with no suger-daddy, good utility in the crushing mit debuff.  Downside is less overall stats and that deep pockets can match the AA investment.</p><p>AGI makes your attack more fluid, all skills get benefit, attacks or heal.  The tier 2 buff also has the advantage of carrying over to next target.  But also eats as much power as it increases your skills by.</p><p>STA I only know on paper.  The tier 2 attack knocks 7-12% of a MOBs total hp which is nice but only usable at the start of a fight so its use grouped gets tricky and fighting more than 1 MOB, limited.  The tier 3 skill is advertised as 24% chance at really terrible damage.</p><p>WIS gives you another AE knockdown and a 16% chance at average damage.  Problem is its AE damage, not encounter so it can get you into trouble and will knock things out of CC.</p><p>INT provides an easy way for our positional line, and a pause button for incoming damage but the sweetness is the crit bonus that effects everything you throw.  No downsides other than INT being fairly useless.</p><p>I still have charges on my respec card so might play with the STA/WIS trees just to fill in eq2i wiki and check the progression for myself.  Be hard pressed to talk me into walking away from dual wielding 2h staffs though <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" /></p></blockquote>This is very good reply , thank you. One question remains how is str line comparable to MC imbued weapons. Money is not an issue here , spending 20 points certainly is. IF they have similar damage i rather buy MC weapons to spend points elsewhere . If STR line is much better , then i spec STR. Any thoughts?

[Nakasha]

I've been strength specced since level 15, 61 now, and I really really HATE it, but it has always out performed my MC imbued weapons or legendary weapons I have picked up while leveling. I am really hoping my Bo of Flowing Blood will finally allow me to stop using the line and take up something else, so bored of punching its unreal, I want some darn weapons!

[shogun007]

Well guess STR is the way to go for me . No evil knuckles with pointy edges lol. Sad , i wish SOE would make this line an alternative , not a must have . Way too many classes were forced to follow SOE specs for best damage . Wis for rogues, Sta for warriors and STR for Bruisers.  Anyway ty all for your replies looks like my mind is set on STR line . Be well-)

[Solu]

Just keep in mind that STR doesn't reach parity with weapons until 4/4/3.  Before that its below weapons so a lot of people like to go INT first then respec.