Returning Templar needs AA help

[Brutus2]

<p>Hello fellow Templars!</p><p>I'm returning to the game after many months away and so much has changed I feel like a newbie again.  When I returned my AA points were reset so I need to spend them again but I thought it would be wise to get some advice first.  I have read many threads here and at EQ2Flame but a lot of what I am seeing seems outdated.  For example, I keep reading stuff about boosting INT to increase spell damage or Focused Intercession not being good because of the stun and I know these things have changed.</p><p>I'm a level 80 Barbarian Templar.  I have 119 AA points to spend.  I'm not in a guild so I don't expect to do any raiding (unless  there is a guild that wants a poorly equiped, out of practice Templar with limited play time).  I expect I will mostly spend my time soloing with some group / instances when I can find a group as I try to level up to 90.  My gear is not great.  I have the Fabled class hammer and a few fabled jewelry pieces but mostly treasured stuff from RoK.  I have not played anything in Shadow Oddysey or SF yet.  I *think* my self buffed Wisdom is around 800 without any AA points spent, that's not good enough right?  I have done the Mithanial Marr deity quests up to getting the deity pet but nothing past that.  I never really used the blessings / miracles.  I do have an AA mirror.</p><p>So, I would appreciate some AA pointers (or other advice) to help me get back up to speed.  I'm thinking I need STR line for Steadfast and I guess INT line for spell boosts?  Then do I want STA line or should I go AGI line for Shield Ally?  The Templar AA has changed since I last played and the Shadow AA is completly new to me.</p><p>Some other questions...</p><p>I see at the bottom of the cleric tree there is another ability like after Steadfast.  I don't understand this.  I thought Steadfast made you immune to interrupt as long as you are not moving so what would the increased duration on that last ability do?</p><p>"Stances" ... what are these and should I go for one of those first or stick with Cleric tree?</p><p>I appreciate any advice because most of what I am finding is old info.  Thanks!</p><p>This is my first build attempt: <a href="http://www.beetny.com/eq2aa/?j01114a8144412a5535213@25555@15@1551@11@11@11@35@ 15@11">http://www.beetny.com/eq2aa/?j01114...@11@11@35@15@11</a></p><p>This gives me Steadfast, Shield Ally, Blessings, Smite Wrath, Atonement, Holy Protector, Enhance Cure I & II and True Faith</p>

[Itsey]

<p>So soloing or group healing, you probably want a pretty good mix of heal and dps abilities.  I find that the Holy Smites line in the Templar tree is pretty useful for squeezing out some DPS, and the end-line ability Smite Wrath helps improve your DPS. In the Shadow Tree, get Peaceful Agression, Litany of Combat, and Overwhelming Arms. If you're doing a lot of soloing, life is a lot better with more dps.</p><p>Of course, if you do decide to group or raid, using the AA mirror allows you to keep an alternative spec that is more healer oriented. The STR, AGI, and INT lines are the most useful in the Cleric tree. Don't waste any AA's in Stamina or WIS because crit gear is relatively easy to find now and you won't encounter undead often enough to make the WIS line worth it.</p><p>Steadfast is good for both soloing and group/raid healing. It gives you some immunity to interrupts and stifles, but it's not perfect. There will be a percent chance that it will fail, which is why it's necessary to spend some further points in Steadfast Resolve to reduce that chance of failure.</p><p>The end-line ability in the Cleric Tree (Divine Guidance) is very nice, and I think it's something worth working towards.</p><p>In the Templar Tree, Blessings and Truth Faith are two very nice abilities you should aim for. Truth Faith is less useful in a dps / solo spec, but in a heal spec, it's a valuable tool. Blessings is always useful--and makes a noticeable difference in item proc rates. Involuntary Gift is a lot better than it used to be, so it's worth spending some points there if you have points to spare. Also, increasing the duration of Sanctuary is worth some AAs, in my opinion.</p><p>In the Shadow Tree, Sacrifice and Focused Prayers are must-haves for group or raid healing. Seal of Faith is also very good to have for healing because it improves Shield Ally (an important Cleric ability).Otherwise, feel free to mix and match for your specific AA spec or healing situation.</p>