New Warden: What order should I spend AA's in?

[Simeon]

<p>Hello, I am new to EQII and having a blast but also having a hard time finding good information about the Warden class.  I have read the sticky on Warden AA's several times and have a good feel for how a level 80 Warden with 140+ AA points should distribute them but nowhere have I found any recommendations on the order to spend them in as you level.  Assuming I will be using a melee dps/healing hybrid build in the long run is it better to start by putting points in the Druid Strength line or in the Warden CA's?  Or should I first put some points in Warden Root for better survivability?  Or put them in the Intelligence line since I will be depending upon spells for most of my dps for a long time?</p><p>So what I am looking for are some recommendations of where to put your points if you only have 5 or 10 or 15, etc.  Do you max one tree before starting on another or do you build two or more simultaneously?  Should you follow one schema until you have a certain number of AA's and then respec?</p><p>I am not in a hurry to get to 80 and intend to enjoy the journey so it will be a long time before I max out any tree.</p><p>Thanks!   <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Kkolbe]

<p><cite>Simeon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Hello, I am new to EQII and having a blast but also having a hard time finding good information about the Warden class.  I have read the sticky on Warden AA's several times and have a good feel for how a level 80 Warden with 140+ AA points should distribute them but nowhere have I found any recommendations on the order to spend them in as you level.  Assuming I will be using a melee dps/healing hybrid build in the long run is it better to start by putting points in the Druid Strength line or in the Warden CA's?  Or should I first put some points in Warden Root for better survivability?  Or put them in the Intelligence line since I will be depending upon spells for most of my dps for a long time?</p><p>So what I am looking for are some recommendations of where to put your points if you only have 5 or 10 or 15, etc.  Do you max one tree before starting on another or do you build two or more simultaneously?  Should you follow one schema until you have a certain number of AA's and then respec?</p><p>I am not in a hurry to get to 80 and intend to enjoy the journey so it will be a long time before I max out any tree.</p><p>Thanks!   <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>First, I would max my <strong>sow</strong>, 45% runspeed(warden tree) will help you throughout your entire journey. Second, I would prab max the wardens line in the warden aa tree(this will start your journey as a <strong>melee warden</strong>). It is a tough choice though between doing your str line on your druid tree. I would probably get your str line maxed next.</p><p>After that i would work on your <strong>heals</strong>, get +8 points in Serene Focus(sta line). then get +8 in your Wild regeneration(agi line). You can do those in either order, unless someone knows better. After that its personal preference on how you want to spend the rest of your aas. Hope this helps..</p><p>Also.. if your going to be a melee warden, you need to get gear that has +str on it for sure.. +int doesnt matter since you don't want be a nuking warden.</p>

[StaticLex]

<p>Don't try to do a "hybrid" imo or you'll just end up sucking at both.  Go about it the right way and get an AA mirror first thing, with a spec for melee and a spec for healing.</p>

[Wclarry]

<p><cite>StaticLex wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Don't try to do a "hybrid" imo or you'll just end up sucking at both.  Go about it the right way and get an AA mirror first thing, with a spec for melee and a spec for healing.</p></blockquote><p>Dont listen to this poster because he / she / it has never said anything remotely correct or useful in this forum ever.</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p><cite>Simeon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Hello, I am new to EQII and having a blast but also having a hard time finding good information about the Warden class.  I have read the sticky on Warden AA's several times and have a good feel for how a level 80 Warden with 140+ AA points should distribute them but nowhere have I found any recommendations on the order to spend them in as you level.  Assuming I will be using a melee dps/healing hybrid build in the long run is it better to start by putting points in the Druid Strength line or in the Warden CA's?  Or should I first put some points in Warden Root for better survivability?  Or put them in the Intelligence line since I will be depending upon spells for most of my dps for a long time?</p><p>So what I am looking for are some recommendations of where to put your points if you only have 5 or 10 or 15, etc.  Do you max one tree before starting on another or do you build two or more simultaneously?  Should you follow one schema until you have a certain number of AA's and then respec?</p><p>I am not in a hurry to get to 80 and intend to enjoy the journey so it will be a long time before I max out any tree.</p><p>Thanks!   <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I'd start with at least a few points in STR before getting the Combat Arts simply because STR is what makes you dps better with that setup.   </p><p>Lex's idea (post above) isn't accurate.   What you don't want to do is make a <strong>melee/nuke</strong> hybrid..that means you don't want some points in STR, some in INT, some nukes, some combat arts.  Choose one style at a time and stick with it or you will suck at both.  </p><p>Your healing will go along with whichever damaging style you choose.  Since you have indicated that you want to melee I just have to correct the notion that a melee Warden is a hybrid healer.  You are not.  Nothing about what you choose in order to melee better affects your ability to heal.   What I pick as a nuking Warden for healing is the exact same thing ..say...Larry (a melee warden) has chosen for heal crits and whatnot.  Where we differ is how we do damage and how we gear ourselves.</p><p>So the basic bottom line advice (and it has been posted repeatedly here lol):   Put a few points in STR, start getting your Combat arts, Start down the Movement line.  Max out STR, Max out the combat arts line and then start in on Agility for heal crits.</p><p>Part of the STR line has some healy things when you melee damage...best advice is to just sit and read them and see what they do.  If you do that, it kind of guides you which way you want to go next.</p><p>Unlike WoW (and probably some other games around), there's no magic cookie cutter AA setup for this game.   You have some wiggle room to experiment and find out what helps you best. </p><p>What we CAN offer is a few people that have probably tried every single possible AA setup in every possible situation you can get yourself in...and might be able to save you a few plat by not reinventing the wheel so to speak.</p>

[StaticLex]

<p><cite>Wclarry@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>StaticLex wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Don't try to do a "hybrid" imo or you'll just end up sucking at both.  Go about it the right way and get an AA mirror first thing, with a spec for melee and a spec for healing.</p></blockquote><p>Dont listen to this poster because he / she / it has never said anything remotely correct or useful in this forum ever.</p></blockquote><p>You're right, listen to this guy and then <em>you too</em> can come into the forum and try to pass off your l2p fail as class deficiency.  lol  My bad!</p><p>To the OP, look, the best info your going to get is the kind that comes from your very own experience.  Just try out the various AAs as you level and respec them as you see fit.</p>

[Huntress Jellica]

<p><cite>Wclarry@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>StaticLex wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Don't try to do a "hybrid" imo or you'll just end up sucking at both.  Go about it the right way and get an AA mirror first thing, with a spec for melee and a spec for healing.</p></blockquote><p>Dont listen to this poster because he / she / it has never said anything remotely correct or useful in this forum ever.</p></blockquote><p>Or any other forum for that matter... <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e78feac27fa924c4d0ad6cf5819f3554.gif" border="0" /></p>

[StaticLex]

<p><cite>Huntress Jellica wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Wclarry@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>StaticLex wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Don't try to do a "hybrid" imo or you'll just end up sucking at both.  Go about it the right way and get an AA mirror first thing, with a spec for melee and a spec for healing.</p></blockquote><p>Dont listen to this poster because he / she / it has never said anything remotely correct or useful in this forum ever.</p></blockquote><p>Or any other forum for that matter... <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e78feac27fa924c4d0ad6cf5819f3554.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>lol  [Removed for Content] ranger ftw.</p>

[Huntress Jellica]

<p><cite>StaticLex wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>lol  [Removed for Content] ranger ftw.</p></blockquote><p>[Removed for Content]? About what? And what does being a ranger have to do with anything? Your wit is so amazing... Please, teach me your ways!</p><p><img src="/eq2/images/smilies/2786c5c8e1a8be796fb2f726cca5a0fe.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Kkolbe]

<p><cite>StaticLex wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Wclarry@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>StaticLex wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Don't try to do a "hybrid" imo or you'll just end up sucking at both.  Go about it the right way and get an AA mirror first thing, with a spec for melee and a spec for healing.</p></blockquote><p>Dont listen to this poster because he / she / it has never said anything remotely correct or useful in this forum ever.</p></blockquote><p>You're right, listen to this guy and then <em>you too</em> can come into the forum and try to pass off your l2p fail as class deficiency.  lol  My bad!</p><p>To the OP, look, the best info your going to get is the kind that comes from your very own experience.  Just try out the various AAs as you level and respec them as you see fit.</p></blockquote><p>I've played this game since launch and Wclarry has been one of the best contributors for wardens there is.. He knows his stuff HANDS DOWNCOLD..</p>

[Duf]

<p><cite>Arielle Nightshade wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Simeon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Hello, I am new to EQII and having a blast but also having a hard time finding good information about the Warden class.  I have read the sticky on Warden AA's several times and have a good feel for how a level 80 Warden with 140+ AA points should distribute them but nowhere have I found any recommendations on the order to spend them in as you level.  Assuming I will be using a melee dps/healing hybrid build in the long run is it better to start by putting points in the Druid Strength line or in the Warden CA's?  Or should I first put some points in Warden Root for better survivability?  Or put them in the Intelligence line since I will be depending upon spells for most of my dps for a long time?</p><p>So what I am looking for are some recommendations of where to put your points if you only have 5 or 10 or 15, etc.  Do you max one tree before starting on another or do you build two or more simultaneously?  Should you follow one schema until you have a certain number of AA's and then respec?</p><p>I am not in a hurry to get to 80 and intend to enjoy the journey so it will be a long time before I max out any tree.</p><p>Thanks!   <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I'd start with at least a few points in STR before getting the Combat Arts simply because STR is what makes you dps better with that setup.   </p><p>Lex's idea (post above) isn't accurate.   What you don't want to do is make a <strong>melee/nuke</strong> hybrid..that means you don't want some points in STR, some in INT, some nukes, some combat arts.  Choose one style at a time and stick with it or you will suck at both.  </p><p>Your healing will go along with whichever damaging style you choose.  Since you have indicated that you want to melee I just have to correct the notion that a melee Warden is a hybrid healer.  You are not.  Nothing about what you choose in order to melee better affects your ability to heal.   What I pick as a nuking Warden for healing is the exact same thing ..say...Larry (a melee warden) has chosen for heal crits and whatnot.  Where we differ is how we do damage and how we gear ourselves.</p><p>So the basic bottom line advice (and it has been posted repeatedly here lol):   Put a few points in STR, start getting your Combat arts, Start down the Movement line.  Max out STR, Max out the combat arts line and then start in on Agility for heal crits.</p><p>Part of the STR line has some healy things when you melee damage...best advice is to just sit and read them and see what they do.  If you do that, it kind of guides you which way you want to go next.</p><p>Unlike WoW (and probably some other games around), there's no magic cookie cutter AA setup for this game.   You have some wiggle room to experiment and find out what helps you best. </p><p>What we CAN offer is a few people that have probably tried every single possible AA setup in every possible situation you can get yourself in...and might be able to save you a few plat by not reinventing the wheel so to speak.</p></blockquote><p>It's not the same when your nukes take 2 seconds to cast and Larry's CA's cast in .5 seconds, making it much easier for him to get heals off when needed and not either cancel dps casts or wait to long to toss the heal.</p><p>If you go melee, the 75% crit bonus from the Warden tree is your first priority, then maxing out double attack from the Druid tree.  After that it doesn't matter nearly so much.</p>

[Wclarry]

<p>In the earliest stages of the game I find the Movement line to be the best bang for your buck. Enhanced roots are awesome for the root / nuke approach, enhanced SOW is great for all the menial running around for quests you have to do, and Naturewalk is leet because most every solo mob in game can pin you (which includes a root component).</p><p>The melee route only becomes viable for solo once you have 25-30 AA or so. You dont want to mess with any melee AAs until you can at least max out your Force of Nature line. Its absolutely key to get the 75% melee crit and unlock all the CAs and max them out. Also the Warden of the Forest enhancement compliments the line well because you go from not taking damage by rooting them to straight up tanking which requires a bit more physical mitigation.</p><p>Its best to stick to the Movement line in the earliest parts of the game and once you get to 25 or 30 AA then consider respeccing your AAs to go the melee route to make killing quicker. Once you do that respec and move your points over from Movement line to Force of Nature line you start spending the AAs you gain after the respec to refill out the Movement line again because it still kicks butt for soloing and leveling.</p><p>After Naturewalk / Force of Nature your best bet would be to finish the melee route by going down the Str line until at least maxing out the double attack block.</p><p>By the time you have enough AA to max Force of Nature line, Movement line, and max double attack on STR line most of the stuff discussed in the AA post becomes relevant and you should have a better grasp on the game after spending a bit of time leveling in it so making your own AA choices should be much easier.</p>

[Simeon]

<p>Thank you!  That helps a lot.</p>