Problems with Soloing

[Collaud]

<DIV>Background:  I shelved my kerra SK at level 24 a while back due to the problems with GE, Tainted Caress, power consumption, etc.  Since I solo 99% of the time for real life reasons and have always enjoyed knight classes, I started a kerra Paladin who is now level 23.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Well, after the big change to Tainted Caress this week, I decided to log in my SK last night to do a little soloing against level 22-23 cackling cadavers in Nek forest (the level 21^^ mobs in FG tore me to pieces).  I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed when compared to the paladin, but I'm hoping you guys can point out things I'm doing wrong.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My SK uses skullcrusher/pristine longsword + pristine kite shield, full pristine carbonite vanguard armor, and yellow/orange jewelry (mostly pristine gold/agate).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>When soloing, I always buff myself with Knights Stance (App IV), Unholy Order (App III), Vigor of Trust (App I), and Blessed Weapon (App IV).  I pull with Tainted Caress (got a lot of essences in a short time last night) and then cast DoF (App IV) to absorb the initial hits.  I re-cast DoF during the fight as necessary.  My HOs consist of Righteous Anger (Adept I) and Faithful Swing (App III).  I have Raltur's Siphoning Strike and Grim Coil (App IV) available as backups, but they're both extreme power hogs and I try not to use them much.  I finish my HOs with Taunt (App I), or Decree of Decay (App IV) when it's available.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Basically, the SK has a lot more downtime due to power consumption and seems to take more damage.  The paladin uses nearly identical armor and jewelry, and I still use his quest 2h sword.  The paladin has the advantage of Arem's (basically Raltur's Siphoning Strike with 1/4 of the mana cost), DoF (Adept I), and better food/drink.  It seems to be much easier to find Paladin upgrades on Crushbone too (the FP broker is empty by comparison).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So, do you all see anything I'm doing wrong or need to upgrade?  Would better food/drink close the gap a little?  Am I using the right combat arts and spells at the right time?  Or are paladins just better at soloing?  Thanks for the replies!</DIV>

[vwlsskng]

<DIV>You gear is good. Your strategy is good and what you should be doing. The only thing I can say is that when you reach Level 26, the "pet" will prove a huge boost in DPS. Other than that, the problem lies within a flawed class design.</DIV>

[Templa]

<DIV>It could be the mobs you are picking.  From the sounds of things, I use pretty similar tactics and equipment as you (with the exception of DoF which I only cast at the beginning of the fight).  At 24 I fought some cackling cadavers with ease... other times I would run into one or two that would give me a good beat down.  Also at 24 and into 25 I started picking on some Forest Leapers which would turn into some pretty good xp... </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Baelzharon]

When I Solo I just chain HO's, and in between HO's I throw in a Charge stun the mob. I use Faithful Swing and the upgrade to Taunt picked in the teens. That taunt has a 6 second recycle time which basically means all you need to wait for is the HO button to refresh to start another one off. Using this tactic you'll destroy solo labeled mobs and even challenge group mobs if you feel gutsy.

[Collaud]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> vwlssknght wrote:<BR> <DIV>You gear is good. Your strategy is good and what you should be doing. The only thing I can say is that when you reach Level 26, the "pet" will prove a huge boost in DPS. Other than that, the problem lies within a flawed class design.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <P>The pet, lucan's pact, evac, and more damage-oriented spells are what drew me back to playing my SK.  Do you mean by "flawed design" that those advantages will never offset the healing that paladins have?</P>

[Collaud]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Templarz wrote:<BR> <DIV>It could be the mobs you are picking.  From the sounds of things, I use pretty similar tactics and equipment as you (with the exception of DoF which I only cast at the beginning of the fight).  At 24 I fought some cackling cadavers with ease... other times I would run into one or two that would give me a good beat down.  Also at 24 and into 25 I started picking on some Forest Leapers which would turn into some pretty good xp... </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <P>Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was close to death when fighting the cadavers.  I just meant that my 23 paladin solos them much more efficiently than my 24 SK.  Btw, I typically only cast DoF at the beginning of fights too.  But sometimes, I get impatient and don't let my health recharge before pulling another mob so I need another DoF or 2 <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Also, should I be using 1h + shield or 2h when soloing?</P>

[Aion]

<blockquote><hr>Collaudus wrote:<BR><BLOCKQUOTE><HR>vwlssknght wrote:<BR><DIV>You gear is good. Your strategy is good and what you should be doing. The only thing I can say is that when you reach Level 26, the "pet" will prove a huge boost in DPS. Other than that, the problem lies within a flawed class design.</DIV><BR><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><P>The pet, lucan's pact, evac, and more damage-oriented spells are what drew me back to playing my SK. Do you mean by "flawed design" that those advantages will never offset the healing that paladins have?</P><hr></blockquote>The shadowknight lifetaps are what should be the 'counterpart' to the paladin heals. But they do not do very much in terms of damage dealt and especially health gained back.I would say (my own opinion) that until the lifetaps are adjusted, that no, this will not 'offest the healing that paladins have'. When they are fixed, then I think we will be more on par.

[-AtPlay-]

<blockquote><hr>Collaudus wrote:>Also, should I be using 1h + shield or 2h when soloing?</P><hr></blockquote>I found that once the mob hits level 20 (and gets their damage upgrade) that I was no longer able to solo with a 2h weapon. I say 1h/shield all the way, but keep a good 2h weapon for groups (if youre not the MT that is).

[Collaud]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> -AtPlay- wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Collaudus wrote:<BR>>Also, should I be using 1h + shield or 2h when soloing? <P></P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I found that once the mob hits level 20 (and gets their damage upgrade) that I was no longer able to solo with a 2h weapon. I say 1h/shield all the way, but keep a good 2h weapon for groups (if youre not the MT that is).<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Thanks.  That's why I switched to 1h/shield when I hit 24.  Btw, will I ever be able to solo green ^^ mobs again?  When I hit 24, the lowest green ^^ mobs were level 20 and tore me to pieces.</P> <P><BR> </P></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Nadain]

<DIV>Use charge every time it pops up. Fair damage and knocks them down. Yes a knock down does slow a mobs attacks and on casters will interupt them. Pull with grim coil. Yes its a little power hungry but the damage is great. Heres a funny one for you. I dont HO at all. I pull with grim, DoF, rightious anger, charge, faithful swing and a trait attack that I cant recall the name of. After the first volley I keep grim on them, knock them down with charge, and faithful swing till there dead. All arts are app4 to adept 1 except DoF which is adept 3 (hey my guild buddy gave it to me for free). I eat and drink right now tier 2 but that is about to go to tier 3. Dont have any issue soloing. In fact yesterday I was in Nek killing the skells, rumble roots (city write<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />) and kodiaks. Got 20% at 23rd in less than 2 hours and spent part of that waiting around for the roots to spawn.</DIV>

[Soupnuts]

<DIV>I'm opposite of the above poster. I'm lvl 29 and the only time I use my 1h and shield is if im MT in a group due to the use of decrepid slam (I think it is), (shield attack that does decent damage and generates hate). Every other time I use my 2h. I tested it in Zek when I was 27 soloing orcs. The fact is I was ending the fight with more hps and power left over while using my 2h.</DIV>

[Sardunos]

same here. I never touch my shield unless I'm MT...and thats probably just in a pickup group. In my Guild groups, which I'm in most often, we really know how to work together and trade off aggro so I find the 2h is better since we are more concerned with getting the mob dead as quickly as possible.

[HenneseyofDe]

<DIV>I am a level 22 SK and I solo with ease. I too have to spend a lot of time solo'ing because of RL issues and don't know when I am going to group or not. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I go to TS quite a bit because it is the best place to farm as well as fight if you ask me. I normally go after the Skeletins that are near the Giants and I take them with ease. At level 22 I can solo a level 26 without a problem. Yeah I do use up a lot of power but it is fun. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>^^ and ^^^ mobs are heroics and should not be solo'd anyway regardless if they green or not. I think that was one of the changes as well. They made them harder. </DIV>

[Urg]

If you're soloing solo mobs at higher levels.. always use two hander, never use ward. It's most efficient to just damage the thing down, and you'll end up being much shorter on mana than HP. With tough double-ups that are really long fights it's sometimes best to ward occasionally, only use the most efficient damage spells as mana allows (dreadful wrath, baleful smite, sickening anger), and have the majority of your damage come from your 2hander and pet.