Which AAs first?

[Apruz]

I plan on soloing alot when I level and group a little bit, so I'm looking for advice along the lines of being able to solo well while still contributing to group play. Should I go down the brawler tree as shown in EQ2Flames or start on the bruiser tree or a little of both?

[Solu]

<p>I really should create a text file with this already typed but...</p><p>You are reaching for str 4/4/8, int 4/4/8, wis 4/4/8, heal 5, knockouts 5 along the way to 70.  70+ I like to fill in defense AA since RoK is a whee bit less kind.  Currently 4/4/8/4 sta, 4/4/8/6/2 wis, 4/4/8/4 at 73 with heal, full knockouts line, fd reuse and detaunt proc.</p><p>STR starts to shine at 4/4/3 so some suggest going INT until then and then respec into STR.  Honestly those first points come so fast its splitting hairs.  Unarmed will carry you for a long long time.  I'm currently 73 with a 72 legendary 2h bo and frankly its still a big dps drop to use it but my respec is too expensive right now to go back to unarmed.  Eventually you'll be swinging your epic so its not a bad idea to get used to the feel of weapons in around level 77.  I switched at 68 and that was too early.</p>

[Aull]

<p>I would like to give my opinion on this so bare with me. As a bruiser I would take the intel line all the way to max the crits first. The reason is crits will affect both your auto attack and combat art damage. My bruiser was very slow auto attack at the lower lvls due to not having the haste and did a better job using the combat arts. If I was a monk I would have taken the strgth line due to their massive haste buffs and they will outshine a bruiser at the lower lvls in dps hands down. Crits to me are a bruisers best choice and if you get in a good group that has some haste and other melee buffs you will be nice dps machine, but it will take a group to get that.</p><p>Once you start getting higher in the lvls 65+ and get knockout that will help you tremendously every 3 mins. Strgth line is good for lvling up and I would choose that second and go all the way down 4,4,8,8 & the end ability because it will make you tougher. It will boost your repostie and give you some better avoidance not just dps. I find that solo the strgth line is a great choice, but as it has been said many times that it should now offer the use of weapons since the epic has come but with a lessened double attack.</p><p>It is your bruiser not mine so experiment and find what works you think works best for you. Best of play to you!</p><p>Thanks</p>

[Apruz]

Thanks for the opinions guys. Furthest I've taken any character in EQ II is level 30, so it's easier to get some opinions here of what actually works and what doesn't work at all.

[Aull]

<p>Well one thing Apruz you have chosen a class that can definately lvl fast. Try and keep all your combat arts at the adept III or master lvl if you can since we are a strong combat art attack based class. I also gimped my toon with the highest agility and strength that I could get and it has worked very well for me. I do feel that a quick or fast weapon will/should allow the proc on the offensive stance and the roughousing line "taunt/damage proc" to proc often which seemed to be the case for me but others might disagee.</p><p>Also learn your combat arts...which ones refresh the fastest to the longest and use them appropriately....hence do not spam them...allow some auto attack damage in between the combat arts should help alot. Spamming is for the shorter fights but on long fights learn to control it and deal a constant damage through out the fight. Procs from master crafted weapon to me are better and more consistant than proc adornments so keep that in mind too.</p><p>Solo when you can but do not turn down any groups if possible. This helps to make friends and hopefully you can make/meet some peeps (that have higher lvl toons) playing alts that can help you out with armor, adept III's, jewlery, ect..</p><p>Also soloing and being the tank will help you increase your parry, dodge, and defense not to mention any other skill that can be worked up. Don't just settle for being a dps group sidekick. It is ok to do just that but again if you are not getting hit occasionally you will not be working up the skills.</p><p>You will love the class until you hit the higher lvls and raiding begins. Not that you will be not having fun in everyday norrath but will not be sought after first hand for raids and that is what I personally dislike. Hehe I hate it when my own guild asks me to step out of/sit out an instance or raid so that a more benefitical toon can come! Bruisers just do not have that benefitical group/raid buff that makes a difference is all. </p><p>Later</p><p>Thanks!</p>

[ganjookie]

<cite>Aull wrote:</cite><blockquote><p> Hehe I hate it when my own guild asks me to step out of/sit out an instance or raid so that a more benefitical toon can come! </p></blockquote>**Off topic interjection**If they don't want you in an group instance you should<ol><li>look at your guild again</li><li>look at your setup, and see why they don't want you in a group</li></ol>You should at least be wanted for stellar burst DPS.  All of the T8 instances are pretty easy and you should be getting around 1500-2000 DPS at least.

[Aull]

<p>My current aa set up would be 4,4,8,6 & 1 agil, 4,4,8,8 & 1 wis, and 4,4, & 8 intel. Solo I manage approx 1000-1500 dps and in a decent group I can be sitting 1500-2300 dps and that could possibly go higher if I can get into a great group that really buffs the melee attacks. My guild asking me to sit out isn't every time but does happen on occasion where a dirge for melee buffs and power regen or one of our monks for group feign death, heal, haste/spell casting haste are more beneficial according to the leader and the other officers. The other officers in the guild talk it over with me and enlighten me about the situation, but I just would like to have something that makes me a great group member to have. I know most say dps, but a swashy or brigand does that much better than me.</p><p>Thanks </p>

[ganjookie]

To me it sounds like they are blowing smoke up ya.  there should be no reason to have you for a GROUP, and then drop you for somebody/anybody else.Anywaysbest of luck to ya.

[Luyes]

Let me hijack this thread for one sec......Ganjookie, what's up with the number 42?  Darn things been bugging for a while now. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/ed515dbff23a0ee3241dcc0a601c9ed6.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Aull]

<p>Yeah what does the 42 mean?</p><p>Thanks again</p>

[Owa]

<span style="font-size: medium;font-family: times new roman,times;">It's the answer to the question of Life, the Universe and Everything.</span>

[Luyes]

Ohh, a Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy reference.  Yeesh, haven't read that book in years!Thanks Owain.

[Quicksilver74]

<cite>Aull wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>My current aa set up would be 4,4,8,6 & 1 agil, 4,4,8,8 & 1 wis, and 4,4, & 8 intel. Solo I manage approx 1000-1500 dps and in a decent group I can be sitting 1500-2300 dps and that could possibly go higher if I can get into a great group that really buffs the melee attacks. My guild asking me to sit out isn't every time but does happen on occasion where a dirge for melee buffs and power regen or one of our monks for group feign death, heal, haste/spell casting haste are more beneficial according to the leader and the other officers. The other officers in the guild talk it over with me and enlighten me about the situation, but I just would like to have something that makes me a great group member to have. I know most say dps, but a swashy or brigand does that much better than me.</p><p>Thanks </p></blockquote><p>If you want to increase yoru DPS further, one quick way is to change that spec of yours.  </p><p>AGI - You obviously want Altruism, and rightfully so, it's a very nice ability.  try 48821 instead of 44861.  The extra defense don't help you dps.   Baton flurry however, increases your overall damage output in a number of ways.   Use it as your 1st CA in your casting order.  </p><p>WIS - Again, same thing you don't need the parry for dps, so try 48821 instead.   The extra damage from the AoE is a slight boost, and you actually do get about 1 more second on the stun for heroic mobs.  </p><p> 448 Int - that is fine</p>

[Aull]

Thanks. Now that I have seen that it all makes sense. I will reset the aa's once I can. Thanks for watching my back!! Knock em out!!

[Snikey]

Would STR line be ok for first AA line on new server and very poor noob?

[Aull]

<cite>Snikey wrote:</cite><blockquote>Would STR line be ok for first AA line on new server and very poor noob?</blockquote>Yes it would if you are looking to save some coin for your toon. If you are looking to do some dps I feel that intel at the lower lvls would be a great choice too since crits affect both auto and combat art damage.

[ganjookie]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This is a good link</a> for info on the STR line strengths and weaknesses, and pretty much why you shouldn't :-/

[Snikey]

Rocking the App2's as per your sig makes me think you would disagree and go with STR first at low levels and respec out of it later.

[ganjookie]

Its an inside joke.  I boycott the STR line

[Rayche]

I've seen some Monks/Bruisers use the Str line with weapons... seemingly only for CHI.. are you able to use CHI with weapons equipped?I'm still using bare fists at 74, and will probably continue to do so until I get something amazing from an instance.I'll post my AA spec when I get home, but it looks pretty much like the ones in this thread pretty much. BAre hand spec with max points in Parry/Riposte/Defense for added soloability.Now that I can use a Mirror I'll split those into a tanking spec and a DPS spec.