New Assassin need soloing pointers

[nate1980]

<p>Hello Assassin Community,</p><p>I am a brand new Assassin, lvl 5, who is having a hard time soloing things of even con. I usually finish a fight with a quarter of life left. I dump my specials on the bad guy in a logical manner. When all specials are up, I can burn through them and win the fight with about half of my life left. If this is all normal, just let me know, but I am coming from a Swashbuckler, which I played until lvl 19. My Swashbuckler rarely got below 3/4 health, much less down to 1/4 health and I could solo things above my level. I almost wouldn't dream of soloing something 1 lvl above my Assassin, much less 2 levels like my Swashbuckler can. </p><p>I'm confused by the huge difference in their gameplay, because both wear chain armor, weild two weapons and can range. Their abilities are slightly different, but my Assassin is only killing slightly better than my Swashbuckler. </p><p>I really want to make my Assassin work, because the idea of playing one is bad [Removed for Content]. So if you all have any pointers on playing one and can explain why the huge difference in survivability between the assassin and swashbuckler, that would be helpful.</p><p>Thanks.</p>

[Aaramis]

<p>Well, to begin with let's just say you can't judge Assassin at level 5.  You can't even at level 20.  When you get to 50+ and start getting the signature combat arts of the class such as Assassinate, Concealment, etc., then you'll feel like a true Assassin.</p><p>So for what it's worth, and not to sound like I'm not willing to offer advice, but stick it out until 20+ to begin with.  Then you'll get a better feel for the class and how to solo, and you'll have a good chunk of your Combat Arts (CAs) by that point.  Then we can offer some proper soloing pointers.</p><p>But for now, the simplest way to explain solo from 1-20 would be to start with a stealthed attack (your highest damage one preferably), and then use Cheap shot, move to a flanking position and use your flanking attack that stealths you, and then fire off another stealthed attack.  When you're comfortable doing this, you can usually even make a Heroic Opportunity out of it.  And then while those are refreshing, be sure to do another HO using your other CAs.  You'll probably continue using this combat sequence for the rest of your career, but it's essentially the basic solo technique for a long, long while.</p><p>Also be sure to keep poisons on.  At early levels, it's pretty much either Hemotoxin or Caustic that you're limited to, so choose whichever you prefer (I went with Caustic, but that's just me).</p><p>That's about all there is to soloing from 1-20, really.  Do as many quests as you can to outfit yourself with equipment, and start saving up those AAs (see the various other AA posts on where to spend those).</p><p>Good luck, and happy hunting.</p>

[nate1980]

Okay, well I guess that's good to hear. I really want to play this class, so I'm willing to believe it gets a lot better later on.

[velania]

Thought I might throw my 2 copper in here since I recently started my assassin. Currently I'm a level 11 assassin and I'm having a blast. I have a 42 Necro as my main, so this is a big switch for me. As far as solo'ing goes, here is my typical setup: 1) start from stealth if possible 2) open with Ambush/Assail/Shadow Blade (you'll get SB in a couple of levels) 3) start a HO 4) Spikes followed by a Quick Strike (Fast Strike) at this point, your mob should be 3/4 dead 5) cheap shot, position yourself behind the target and do a shrouded attack which will put you back into stealth 6) Ambush/Assail (if possible) - this typically finishes off the target I've been able to use this method on yellow con mobs no problem. I've even taken down some Heroic evens using this method. As I understand things, from reading this forum, the big thing about assassins in positioning and timing. You should be able to completely annihilate things as you get better.

[Bando]

I'm currently playing an Assassin who just hit 30.This is actually my 2nd character in EQ2, but I consider this the 'first time' I've ever played EQ2.Coming from Wow originally I found the first few levels very similar to your example.  I had a hard time taking white mobs.  At first I thought this might just be the way EQ is.  I stayed away from white while soloing and just quested for green and blue quests.Then I hit 30, and decided to spend some coin in the 'Auction House'.  I bought a bunch of upgrades for armor, weapons, AND spells.   All of a sudden, I'm able to take on Yellow mobs like they were no big deal.This leads me to conclude a couple things about my class, the game, and my skills<ul><li>Assassin comes in to fruition after a certain point (not exactly sure which level)</li><li>My skills have greatly improved since playing the game.  (yeah I'm learning new things!)</li><li>Upgrades (as with any game) make a difference.</li></ul>I find that EQ has alot more subtle layers to the game that wow never had.  (I like wow, dont get me wrong) The learning curve in EQ seems a bit longer and I think I like that.  There is more depth.  I thought I was going to be able to jump right in, I was wrong.

[Jardon]

<p>The number one thing that will help you soloing as an assassian is to learn to use your HO starter, cheap shot, shroud, and stealthed back attack.</p><p>If you can open up on the mob with your stealth AoE dot (or ranged, if you cannot get close because the mob sees invis), and then use the cheap shot combo, the mob will be half dead before it even gets a shot at you.</p><p>If you are not already doing it, make sure you are using your poison. When you start an assassin, you have a 10 (I think) charge vial of poison. Get it up and keep it up. As you level up to the higher levels, you will eventually be able to use three types of poison at the same time.</p><p>For soloing poisons, check out vitality breach (does damage and heals you), and look for the debuff poisons that stun/slow the mob, so if you have to move away and range attack the mob you can.</p>

[nate1980]

<p>Thanks for the help all. I decided after 10 levels that the Assassin class isn't for me. I'm not sure if you all have tried a Swashbuckler, but the Assassin seems underpowered compared to it. I never had trouble taking on 2 levels higher than me and lower without losing much health and single arrowed mobs of the same level at anytime, PLUS I was able to kill quickly. Not as quickly as the Assassin, but the difference wasn't large enough to justify needing downtime between kills that my Assassin needed when fighting two of my own leveled mobs. In fact, I got creamed twice before I got lucky and barely beat a one arrow up mob that was one level below me. That is really sad, especially when my Swashbuckler was so much better than that. </p><p>I have heard great things about the Assassin class later in levels, but it is my belief that a class should be fun and rewarding from the start. A person said in game that if you are not enjoying a class, you shouldn't play it. I think these words, while state the obvious, is very wise. I really didn't like my survivability against multiple mobs, which you cannot help but get into sometimes, while my Swashbuckler fealt more like a tank class when it came to survivability. Funny thing is that the Assassin wasn't that much better DPS wise than my Swashbuckler. Maybe that changes at later levels, but I wouldn't know. I do know that a higher level Assassin told me that he had down time after he fought a couple mobs of equal level, just like I was as a lower level Assassin.</p><p>I was playing the Assassin the right way too. I opened up with a stealthed attack, followed with a physical mitigation decrease debuff, then started my HO, followed with my bleeding DoT attack, my direct damage attack, Cheap Shot, then the one that put me back into stealthed, followed by a stealthed attack. I usually dropped the mob before I even got Cheap Shot off. As I got closer to 10, mobs of equal level became easier. I barely got hurt from equal con mobs, but 2 equal cons left me with low health, having to take a break.</p>

[Tofflemire]

Level 10... lolYou are new to the game I assume.  If I based a class off level 10 (about 30 minutes of playtime), I would've never played the SK... which was a horribly fun class in the teens and beyond.Good luck to whatever you choose.

[Aaramis]

<p>^^ Agreed.  I don't want to criticize the OP, as everyone is entitled to play whatever they want, especially as they're paying to play this game.  We all want to have fun, and if a certain class isn't fun for you, then so be it.</p><p>However, level 10 isn't a fair assessment of Assassin (or any class) in my opinion.  There are numerous classes in this game that seem to come into their own at higher levels.  Troub, for example, was painful for me up until 27ish, but is getting much more fun now that he's past that point.  Similarly, a guildmate struggled with Inquisitor until 30+, but then fell in love with the class and went from 30 to 55+ in the span of 2 weeks after that point.</p><p>So essentially everyone's mileage will vary with each class, but truly 10 is too short to get a proper feel for a class.  Granted Swashy is great fun, and has more versatility than an Assassin, so if that's what you're looking for, then Swashy is definitely for you.  Where Predators have great damage, but no versatility, and Bards have low damage, but great versatility, the Rogues are at a happy medium, and appeal to a large number of the playerbase, so I can't exactly fault you with your choice.  It's just a shame you only took Assassin to 10.</p><p>*shrug*</p>

[nate1980]

<p>I've been playing MMORPGs for over 7 years and in that 7 years, I have played every Western MMORPG and several Asian MMORPGs, totallying over 14 MMORPG's played. I have experienced countless types of classes, so I consider myself an expert when it comes to knowing how a class will play. I used this experience combined with what other Assassins told me who loved their class, when I made this decision. So it wasn't some green behind the ears ex WoW player who is looking for the easy way out.</p><p>In my opinion, a game should give you the proper feel for a class in the early levels, because the more time you invest in a class, the more money down the drain on that class that you played. If SOE wants a subscriber to stay, they want that subscriber to have fun. I was have NO fun with the Assassin the entire 10 levels I played him. I did not like losing frequently, due to adds that I couldn't help getting. I didn't like that most of my best attacks were from stealth, when most of my attacks were out of stealth. I mostly didn't like the downtime I needed or the glass I had to walk on to not get killed in this game. </p><p>If one class is fun from the beginning for a player and another class isn't from the beginning, which class makes more sense to play?</p><p>You all are laughing at me for choosing a class that I had fun playing from the beginning (Swashbuckler). Wasting 2, 3, or more weeks leveling up my Assassin to what you all recommend is illogical, because it requires me to invest time into my character when I am not having fun. Another person here laughed at me nd said it takes 30 minutes to get to level 10. Well, I took my time and took a day and a half in Neriak. It is not my fault, but SOE's fault for not designing a class to be fun from the gate. Think about it. How many of you were having fun with the Assassin class from level 1? I bet most of you were having fun from the beginning. Well I wasn't. </p><p>Thanks</p>

[Erithorn]

<p>Obviously you have found the class for you... an a Swashie is a good, fun class.  Enjoy it, and the others should enjoy their classes as they chose.</p><p>I agree, if a class is not fun to play, then you are wasting your time in a game that is all about enjoying the experience of playing....   I believe way too many people try to fit into a mold based on what others think is the "best class".   The best class IS what you love being for hours at a time... alone, in groups, raiding... even in RP settings <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> </p><p>I guess that's why I have so many characters...  I love them all !</p><p> HAHHAAA </p><p>Erithorn</p>

[Sweett]

Having just started an assassin the other day, one thing I will admit is that you can not go toe to toe with a mob using just autoattack. You won't win. You need to use your combat arts and your heroic opportunities. Far as being underpowered, this is my third alt and WOW...I've been reborn in EQ2 with my assassin. Wish I started with that from the beginning.

[nate1980]

<cite>Erithorn@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Obviously you have found the class for you... an a Swashie is a good, fun class.  Enjoy it, and the others should enjoy their classes as they chose.</p><p>I agree, if a class is not fun to play, then you are wasting your time in a game that is all about enjoying the experience of playing....   I believe way too many people try to fit into a mold based on what others think is the "best class".   The best class IS what you love being for hours at a time... alone, in groups, raiding... even in RP settings <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> </p><p>I guess that's why I have so many characters...  I love them all !</p><p> HAHHAAA </p><p>Erithorn</p></blockquote><p>I plan to have a lot of characters too. I have a 21 Swashbuckler, 16 Wizard, and an 8 Ranger right now. I'm not sure if I am sticking with the Ranger yet. It has more survivability than my Assassin did at that level, but the class just seems off right now. </p>

[Aaramis]

<p>Ranger can be fun too, although the class certainly has it's share of issues currently (see the Ranger boards).  Although that seems to be mostly upper end problems.</p><p>The reason I, and others, suggest levelling past 20 to get a feel for the character is due to the way the classes mature.</p><p>You see, when EQ2 first went live, you didn't choose your final class until lvl 20ish.  From 1-10 you were just a base generic class (i.e. Fighter, Scout, Mage, Priest).   At level 10, you then chose what path you would go down next (i.e for Scouts, we had to choose whether to follow the path of the Bard, the Rogue, or the Predator).   It wasn't until level 20 that we chose (or were given in some cases, as certain classes are restricted to either good or evil) our final subclass.</p><p>So while things have changed somewhat, and you now start off as whatever final subclass you want, the end result is the same in that you're still acquiring your various combat arts, spells, etc. up until level 20.  From 20 - 50 you tend to have your set group of CAs/spells, and only earn upgrades (with a few exceptions).  And then at 50+ you get some class-specific new abilities (i.e. Wizards get Ice Comet;  Assassins get Decapitate and Concealment);  etc, etc.</p><p>So at level 8 or 10, you may only have 3 or 4 spells / combat arts, and how you play the class at that particular level may end up being VERY different from how you play the class at level 20+.  See what I'm saying?</p><p>So we don't mean to trash you or anything.  And I understand your point, that a class should be fun from the start.  But the way EQ2 was designed, you're meant to experience a progression.  And as a result, some classes start off slower out of the gate than others, but eventually catch up.</p><p>*shrug*</p><p>I'm with you on alts though.  I alternate between my Assassin, Conjuror, and Troubador <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[nate1980]

That's interesting. I guess EQ2 is different than other games when it comes to character progression, because of this. So maybe I should have gave it 10 more levels. However, Assassin's who love the class said I would never be able to solo more than a couple of mobs without dying and that 2 mobs would result in downtime, which is exactly what I was experiencing as a lvl 10.

[Norrsken]

<cite>nate1980 wrote:</cite><blockquote>That's interesting. I guess EQ2 is different than other games when it comes to character progression, because of this. So maybe I should have gave it 10 more levels. However, Assassin's who love the class said I would never be able to solo more than a couple of mobs without dying and that 2 mobs would result in downtime, which is exactly what I was experiencing as a lvl 10.</blockquote>Yeah, multimobs as an assassin is not very fun. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />And IMhO, the first time the assassin actually feel like it does int he higher end of the game is at lvl 24. Ten it actually stop feeling liek that and go rather bland for 25-30 levels, and then burst into a fun class again. So, if soloing multiple mobs is your thing, stay away from the assassin. The swashy is a far better class for you. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Anurra]

<cite>nate1980 wrote:</cite><blockquote>That's interesting. I guess EQ2 is different than other games when it comes to character progression, because of this. So maybe I should have gave it 10 more levels. However, Assassin's who love the class said I would never be able to solo more than a couple of mobs without dying and that 2 mobs would result in downtime, which is exactly what I was experiencing as a lvl 10.</blockquote>Some classes can fight multiple mobs at once well, while others cannot.For the ones that cannot, you must learn how to ensure to get 1 and only 1 mob. You can to choose your targets wisely and be mindful of pathing, respawn times, and social aggro.Social aggro is the big one. If you have 2 mobs standing next to each other, not in an encounter, and you attack one. The other one will come too, because they are social. However, you CAN get only 1 mob. How do you do this? You Body Pull. This means that the mob will aggro YOU, not the other way around. So you get close to the mob you want, and wait until he turns and attacks. Then you run to a safe distance and fight your single mob.The small problem with this is that you cannot start off with a stealth attack. I have a Brigand alt so in this case, I do the following: body pull mob, stun. Stealth. Stealth attack.

[velania]

When I first read this post, my character was around level 10.  I was having a good time playing my toon, able to easily kill mobs.  Now I'm level 37 and I've found that I can still easily kill mobs.  I've been able to quickly 2-shot even con social mobs and get positioned to slaughter the 2nd.  I can take down groups of 4-5 (3down) mobs...not a great feat there, I know.  <div></div><div>I have a 42 Necro....very very easy to solo...but I have a LOT more fun with my assassin.  Playing my assassin takes more skill, IMHO, and because of this, I enjoy it far more.  Perhaps you could revisit your assassin sometime in the future and get some more levels on him.  You'll love some of the Extreme damage stealth shots that we get....can you say 2000+ Assassin's Blade.  </div>