Question about lvling

[Evoroth]

I am new to EQ2 played wow and EQ1 for a long while as well as other games. Anyways quite simply, when is the best time to switch from like a STR set up for bare fisted combat to usuing something else for weapons. Primarily me and my gf and another friend will be lvling together and ill be playing my bruiser as a dps for the time being, and it seems that i do more damage when i have bare fists and dumping all my points into str atm. Theoretically wraps should work too but it seemed low lvl wraps made me hit for a lot less damage then when i straight up had nothing equipped at all. Also later on once i do get to a lvl where weapons will do more damage, whats the next best line to pursue in the bruiser talents? Wis or stam at that point?

[Siatfallen]

This is a monk's perspective, so I hope you will forgive any inaccuracies. The two classes are close, but noth quite identical.STR line is the best until such a time as you can afford legendary weapons at your own level. In other words, until you hit the level cap, it's going to be the alternative to constantly upgrading weapons to keep up your damage. Mastercrafted will be better at levels ending with a 2 (12, 22 etc) but worse the further away you get from the appropriate level for the weapons.As for AA, DPSwise as a bruiser, I'd go for agi/wis/int 448 once you get high enough to dump str line. Most likely, you will want to maintain str up until the cap on AA goes up to 70 anyway (which is at level 70) - if so, then str 448 instead of the wis line here will probably be a good choice.Once you get to level 70 and the AA cap goes up, I'd get my hands on some decent weapons, drop the now useless str line (and never touch it again), and go for agi/int 448, wis 44862 and the rest of the points... Whereever, really.

[Solu]

<p>Depends a little on role but as dps make a run to the top as STR 4/4/8, INT 4/4/8, WIS 4/4/8 in the other tree... heal 5, then left side of right side column down to knockout all 5s and grab drag.  Also shoot sideways for improved FD and detaunt proc.  Finish off with the right side of the column.</p><p>If you can try not to respec too often to see if STR is still your best path.  I've spent way too much plat having a look see at weapons spec aa along the way and always drop in dps.  Currently 68 and going 4/4/8 INT/WIS/STA with Strifewing Bone Bo dropped my dps by 100 or put another way my auto dps is down to 66% of what unarmed was.  But it'll be a while before I can respec since the cost is ug and I'm all out of free ones on my card.  So like Siat said STR to or near the cap.  The STA lines 3rd tier proc is terrible for added dps but its 2nd tier debuff is technically a 9-12% dps buff since it drops total hp it takes that much less time to kill it.</p>

[Siatfallen]

Again, not playing a bruiser myself, I would advise against not taking the agi line. +12% reuse time is a huge boost for a class that derives the majority of its damage from combat arts. As a monk, with smaller combat arts and more damage (percentwise) from autoattack, the agility line is still a huge asset. - and Baton flurry can be used to help autoattacks.As for the sta line, I never gave much for the debuff. Anyway, try changing your equipment to reflect the lowered stamina on yourself though. It does make a difference, but not a huge one; at least, that's what I found. Admittedly, though, I've not given it too much thought.

[Solu]

<p>In PvP its probably not a huge deal, but PvE it doesn't seem to be a true STA debuff in the constant hp sense.  But if I fight the same MOB type debuffed and then not its a pretty constant ~11% hp drop, last time I tested it was 66 and was about a 2k hp difference.  That's huge for 5 AA no matter how you slice it.  Other have stated on epic targets we're talking 10k+ hp drop again huge chunk off for measly 5 AA.</p><p>I used to run STR 4/4/8 INT 4/4/8 AGI 4/4/8 but the tier two is pretty poor utility and the reuse really didn't increase dps since it only mattered for fights where I got to cycle my big guns.  Assuming perfect, and I'm not, timing it makes my big guns come back in 26.8s instead of 30s.  Over very long fights it should make a difference dps wise but I think it helps off-tanks more who want their specials and taunts up more often to mesh with the bruiser tree reuse bonuses.</p><p>No real bad way to spend your AA though, without trying anyway <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" width="15" height="15" /></p>