Do you still use Zarn's Deadly Aura at 35+ levels? and other Defense-related questions...

[Pheeb]

I use Lucan's Pact because it does not affect slashing A I MOSTLY use swords with 1H. I have the Adept I level and I'm a lvl 32 SK.I also have Knight Stance Adept I which I use when I'm mounted on the horse or tired of being a skelly.I have not /respect yet but I'm wondering if I should do it and get Zarn's Deadly Aura or wait and get some Adept III for Knight Stance...Will knight stance adept III be better than Zarn's? (spell avoidance I guess is out of the question)I don't like the skelly form from Lucan's so I would prefer using something equivalent to Lucan's Pact without the skelly form...Since Knight Stance and Zarn's decrease slashing, I need to compensate or change 1H (which I don't want) - Am using Unholy Order to try and compensate the loss...Since we get Cicle at 44.4, am wondering if it is worthwhile for me to /respect and get Zarn's now or just upgrade Knight Stance at Adept III till I get Circle later on...Thanks in advance for any recommendation(s)...I searched and read all the threads on the subject btw...Lvl 32 SK(sounds like the pally Lucan's counterpart (shiny beacon) increases Hate (+1%) as well as Defense skills (I think more than Lucan's)<p>Message Edited by Pheebau on <span class=date_text>03-14-2005</span> <span class=time_text>02:51 PM</span>

[Hysteric]

<DIV>I use Zarn's for one reason only.... No spam!  YOU CANNOT DO THIS WHILE IN THAT FORM</DIV> <DIV>Try watching that on your screen for hours on end......</DIV>

[Pheeb]

<blockquote><hr>Hysteric wrote:<DIV>I use Zarn's for one reason only.... No spam! YOU CANNOT DO THIS WHILE IN THAT FORM</DIV><DIV>Try watching that on your screen for hours on end......</DIV><hr></blockquote>I took care of that - I create a separate tab for "status text" and it's not bothering me that much anymore...

[-AtPlay-]

Zarn's Deadly Aura also has spell mitigation (and Im sure Lucan's/Knight's Stance do not), so its a pretty good skill to pick up at 20.

[Yeev]

Yes I'm glad I picked it up, no hunting for adepts for hours on end for knights stance. Only level 21 at the moment though so I'll see how it goes hehe.

[Fistantantilus]

I am using zarn's still although i have lucan's as app IV. I am mainly using it for the spell mitigation. at 30 the AC was also better for zarns, at 32 it is exactly the same (with appIV in lucan's). I expect lucan's will improve later since it is still orange at 32 but since casters do the most damage on me with their spells (even if they are marginally green) I think I will keep using zarn's.

[Ransomv]

<DIV>Just so you know, Malevolent Circle rox0rs at lvl 44. With Adept 1 it kills Lucan's right away so keep that in mind. No chat spam either.</DIV> <DIV> I would go with whatever you want to spec in at your 20s and 30s then respect in your early 40s when you replace most of those skills with upgrades.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>:smileyhappy:</DIV>

[Baelzharon]

I have Zarns and been using it religiously throughout the 20's with a Berik and I have not noticed any lack of DPS using a sword. It would take parsing and calculations to figure out how much Zarns inpacts DPS, but suffice to say I haven't suffered one bit killing mobs with it on. Considering I duo 99.9% of the time with a defiler I think we'd notice a lack of DPS. Lucan's really needs to add in spell avoidance so it's a true upgrade to the 20's. Otherwise there is really no reason I would ever justify using Lucan's over Zarns even if it eventually gave more Def upgrade.

[Aion]

If you are using a sheild, Zarns is superior, as the added 5 points (one whole level) to you sheild ability does a lot more for you than upping your defence skill. Higher blocking and higher defence bonus. If i was using a 2-handed slash weapon, I would choose Lucan's.Oh... I am level 39 and still use Zarn's.<p>Message Edited by Aion on <span class=date_text>03-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>09:51 AM</span>

[Pheeb]

Thanks Guys for all the feedback - keep it coming <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><p>Message Edited by Pheebau on <span class=date_text>03-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:01 PM</span>

[Toogel]

<DIV>At 35 for me, Lucan's Adept 1 gives +7 defense, same as Zarn's.  I use Zarn's always, only 1 time have I felt the need to use Lucan's instead and that was when I was fighting a mob that used a lot of poison attacks, and even then I still got poisoned very attack it used.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Zarn's is far superior to Lucan's, it gives shield bonuses, it gives spell avoidance... the whole reason you even use that line is for the defense and Zarn's gives it all.  If there is any difference between the 5 points of slashing still available in Lucan's, you wont notice it at all as 70% of the time you are tanking for a group and your dps should pale in comparison to the actaul damage dealers in the group, while solo the difference of a little more damage from slashing wont make a signifigant amount of difference from all the special attacks you will be using in a short solo fight.  I will likely continue using Zarns's until I hit 44 and get Cricle.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Pheeb]

Now, am also thinking of going Knight Stance Adept3 until I hit 44 for circle - this way I don't have to be a skelly...tired of that formKnight Stance Adept3 should be pretty good am thinking...Anyone has it?<p>Message Edited by Pheebau on <span class=date_text>03-16-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:50 PM</span>