PvP early AA

[Robert2005]

<p>For the first 20 AA -- where to put them?</p><p>I started with pts into STAM line ... but I'm doubting it's usefulness due to such long cooldowns on DPS and root abilities.</p><p>It seems that it may be better to put pts into the Warden tree specifically roots and CA before moving over to the generic Druid tree.</p><p>Others?  Lotsa AA discussion but I couldn't find any on PvP and early PvP AA.</p><p>btw: Lvl 17 now and combat exp locked out since 12.  Geez exp stacks on something fierce.  I think my exp locked char is leveling faster then my others...!!!  [Removed for Content]?  Is it a PvP exp mandatory uber gain or what?  I want my AA to pass my level but I'm leveling to damned fast just PvP'ing.</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>There has been so much complaint about level locking that changes they have made make it difficult.  I think they should either allow it or take it out, personally.    </p><p>Ideally, I'd take the STA line, but as you say you are missing out on a lot of good utility if you do that.   At your level, and if you are planning to stay there as long as possible, I'd go for the surviveablity utility things -  enhancing roots and get SoW maxed.   You would be doing yourself a service if you'd level to 24 and THEN lock because you will have your Protector of the Forest line at 20 and can get it in M2 at 24.   That is a class definining Warden buff that ups your surviveablity considerably.  It's a mitigation buff that ups your focus and lets you see Invis - a trait you can agree is useful.   With increased focus, in many cases you can cast even while being hit.</p><p>Leveling to there also provides you with better armor and bling choices, as well as decent weapons.   Below 20, technically you are not 'A Warden' because you are missing some spells that define us.   (Back in the Old Days (tm) you were a priest first, at level 10 a druid then at 20  you chose Warden or Fury and started getting those spells.  They didn't change the spell progression at all, just 'called' you a Warden from the start).</p><p>You can then lock at 24 and sit there really comfortably for a long time, IMO.  </p><p>Short answer:  Go for the Warden line stuff, but start socking away points in STA as soon as you can.  That one line is probably your most defensive bunch of abilities - short of a good offense.  But then, if you wanted to be an offense healer, you wouldn't have rolled a Warden, right? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Robert2005]

<p>It only takes about 12-15 pvp kills to level (thru the teens)... so it's really stupid right now.  You level slower grinding NPC mobs then you do PvP'ing.  I'll leave the combat exp off in a very feeble attempt to slow it down so my AA can catch up.</p><p>Right now I'm lvl 19 with 13 AA.  Re-spec'd to put all of them into Root/Snare/SOW and 1 pt for Druid starter animal forms.  Definitely working well.  One more pt into improved snare and that tree is essentially done until nearing 47 when it makes sense to improve the encounter based root that you get at 47.  I'm thinking in 2 pts I'll be going thru the INT tree then STA.</p><p>Playing Exiled so I get attacked by everyone.  So far the only player to kill me 1v1 was an Orange con'd Heroic SK.  His melee dmg output was insane then was going nuts with magic too.  It was like fighting a Mage with Bruiser abilities as well.  A-lot of deaths to levels 20+ over me... still managing to keep a nearly 3:1 Kill to Death ratio.  Keeping a Slayer ranking is tough at this low level as Exile!  Really a fun challenge.</p><p>- Slayer Stingr - 19 Warden on Nagafen in Exile</p>

[IcterusGalbula]

<p>I'm very interested in this thread.  My main is a level 46 warden, but I also have a mini-me level 9 warden (who is a lvl 40 crafter).</p><p>My main is only the second toon I've ever had and the first past lvl 23.  So I basically learned the game from scratch with him and hope to correct my mistakes when I start to level my mini-me warden.</p><p>With my main I started with the movement stuff and maxed out SOW and Warden of the Forest and got Nature Walk.  Then I did the strength line and have maxed out the Natural Boon ability.</p><p>Once I get Primordial Strike with 2 or 3 more AA I'm not sure where to go.</p><p>I never considered the STA line, but I did just look at it and can see how it could be very helpful.</p><p>One big mistake my main made was he ignored AA for the most part until he got to level 38!  LOL!</p><p>His Hunter title comes and goes, so I'm not an expert in PVP.  Although, soon he will have all his masters and has the ingredients for his tier 5 adornments.  Once he gets the adornments installed I suspect he will be able to hold on to his title for good.  Hope so anyway.  I just realized yesterday that he has NEVER had an adornment in his life!  LOL.</p>

[Robert2005]

<p>It's definitely worth "level locking" early no matter what (don't wait at all; lock early).  Figthing in the 20s with low teens AA against people with nearly 30 AA is really one-sided (learned that on another char).  I really like that char and don't want to re-roll but it's tempting.  So with this one I locked early.  Mainly I want my AA to be at about my char's level or slightly more -- then I'll "unlock" and let him level regularly -- and lock again if needed for AA to catch up -- etc.  I don't plan on camping him in T2 or T3 at all.  I only want my AA to keep up with my level.  SOE kinda messed that up with the excessive pvp exp gain imo.</p><p>I like the STA line but I'm thinking not until later on.  Since I can heal to regain my green bar the main thing I seem to need is crowd control to stop the runners and INT to kill people.  STR is a good option but I don't see how this char could ever by really good in Melee unless I spec heavy into CA which gives up too much other skills.  That's mainly play style though I'm sure a melee build can work but I'm more of a caster that only melee's if I really have to (that and I try to partner/group so no melee from me is needed).  If the CA were on seperate timers then the Nukes I'd be more likely to spec into it.</p><p>I have a 60 Templar made at game release then sat there 3 years after the great Templar screwing.  Now with no AA... really really close to "DELETE" on him.  He's worthless.</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>I recommend the STA line because of Serenity and Serene Symbol.  That line offers you 2 chances at heal crits and abilities that keep you from being stunned - of all the lines in the Druid tree, that one is the most PVP friendly, IMO.  One of the issues with putting a ton of points in the Warden tree is:  at your level if you aren't taking the melee line and don't need the combat arts there, many of the spells and abilities the Warden line enhances - you don't have yet.  And won't for some time.</p><p>Wardens have some of the best roots in the game, so enhancing those is really the way to go.  Nature Walk really is only useful for the PvP ruleset (it seems..)   You definitely want SoW maxed because you want to be able to chase or run as needed.   (Hopefully you are chasing more than you are running ::grin:</p><p>To Icterus:  I think not worrying about the title is the way to happiness in PvP (lol).  I view mine with pride because I know it was obtained honestly and in some really memorable, epic fights.   That said, I still don't want to lose it ::grin::    I'd say just play as fiercely as you can and have fun!  </p><p>Robert:  I had a similar issue with my PvE Warden, Swash and Templar.   I hadn't played them since KoS in favor of playing my Warden and Defiler on a PvP server.  When I went back to them...with no AA...I thought the same thing, but found that AA accrues REALLY fast.   Templar is a very strong class now, made even stronger with some pretty nice AA choices.   If it were me, I wouldn't delete a 60 anything, but especially not a 60 healer in a class that's difficult to level solo.   I'd just press on and quest with it, and I think you will see it's not that difficult.   I, too, remember being A Goddess - fondly - but find that it's definitely a very strong class.</p><p>In a casual group, if you say 'hey, I just started playing this class, and am working up the AA'  I think you'll find that no one really cares.  The only time it would be a serious issue to not have any is if you were hardcore raiding - and you probably wouldn't be doing that with a 60 of any class at this point in the game, anyway.      I have a 60 Guardian in the same situation.   No AA, no adornments, at this writing doesn't even have a 2nd earring or cloak...still, I juuuust caan't hit delete.   </p>

[Skivley101]

<cite>Arielle Nightshade wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I recommend the STA line because of Serenity and Serene Symbol.  That line offers you <span style="font-size: medium;color: #33cc00;">2</span> chances at heal crits and abilities that keep you from being stunned - of all the lines in the Druid tree, that one is the most PVP friendly, IMO.  One of the issues with putting a ton of points in the Warden tree is:  at your level if you aren't taking the melee line and don't need the combat arts there, many of the spells and abilities the Warden line enhances - you don't have yet.  And won't for some time.</p><p>In a casual group, if you say 'hey, I just started playing this class, and am working up the AA'  I think you'll find that no one really cares.  The only time it would be a serious issue to not have any is if you were hardcore raiding - and you probably wouldn't be doing that with a 60 of any class at this point in the game, anyway.      I have a 60 Guardian in the same situation.   No AA, no adornments, at this writing doesn't even have a 2nd earring or cloak...still, <span style="color: #cc3300;">I juuuust caan't hit delete. </span>  </p></blockquote><p>There is only 1 option for crits on the sta line ... but there are 2 options on the druid line ... The other is shapeshift for 3.sumthin with the Rumble root form. (sorry to be so ticky tacky)</p><p>Its easy to delete chars , Are you sure you have the name spelling correct <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/49869fe8223507d7223db3451e5321aa.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> </p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>/roll eyes.  Yes, you are right, 1 chance for crits on STA, and another in AGI....I was ahead of myself and writing fast <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />   The point I was trying to make is: Every 'bubble' of STA has something really good for a PvP Warden, IMO - it's argueably the best of the Druid tree lines - and I'm arguin' it <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Robert2005]

<p>STA and AGI are the 'best' trees for PvP Warden?  Seems to be the general concensus?  I'm maxing roots (well, 13 pts) since it hits a skill I won't even have until Lvl 47.  So next is the Druid line.  As mentioned before -- was leaning towards INT but I think the choice is which to do first -- STA or AGI?  I'm guessing STA for more survivability.</p><p>edit: A 'Slayer' atm.  haha.  Of-course; that moniker has come and gone a heck of a lot.  It makes you an immediate target and playing exiled that means a LOT of people come from everywhere to kill you for the Notoriety gain.  So trying to keep it is a nice challenge.</p>

[Darman81]

<p>Just my two cents!</p><p>8 points to max SOW! No brainer here!</p><p>If your going to solo much, the Melee warden is a blast and can put out some amazing spike damage!</p><p>The key is to keep your slashing and crushing maxed! I believe its 26 you get the buff for crushing,slashing, and piercing so things become better after that.</p><p>There is nothing more satisfying then rooting someone, hitting my ranged spells and having the root break and a melee class thinking they will own me up close!</p><p>With a 75% crit chance and all CA on a 1/2 second timer you are one tough puppy!</p><p>Is this build good for groups? Not really but it is fun as can be!</p><p>I have two sets of gear, strength/stamina and wisdom/stamina. When I solo its the strength gear, when I group its the Wisdom gear.</p><p>Arielle, gives good advice if thats your cup of tea! I actually have two wardens and one is specced per Arielle's advice and it has worked out very well!</p><p>But I have a lot more fun playing my Melee warden! He is great solo and with small groups!</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>Roberts, I used to kill Exiles at whatever level I could..gray or not..just cause I could. I'd think that label would give you the most pvp possible <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>I didn't mention in my posts: I'm a Dreadnaught Warden and Defiler on Venekor.</p>