SK PvP Low LVL Question: Which is better, 27 or 34?

[xenocide85]

<div></div>Hi, currently I have stopped exp at level 27 on my Shadowknight and twinked him out.  I mainly PvP with him but I also do some HQ's on the side and try to killed named I haven't, whenever possible, for additional AA.  I had exp stopped at 26 for a long time and I found my character to be extremely strong for his lvl and beat anyone my tier, 1v1, hands down.  A select few, twinked, lvl 30+ healers, casters, and paladins gave me trouble.  Anyways,  I've already Aquired all the Masters for spells between lvl 27 and 34 in case I decide to make the move (I'm waiting to get my faction high enough so I can buy any and all PvP gear I need at 34 before I even consider making the move). Ok, so my question is, should I stay at 27 or should I go to 34.  I want to make a point and say that I am not a PvP SK that relies on HT and so I don't want to weaken my overall ability to PvP just to gain a glorified, upgraded Master II version of Harmtouch. I had exp stopped at 26 for long time because thats when SK's get their first ward, Infernal Blessing.  However this ward doesn't get an upgrade until level 40.  Therefore, I'm worried that if i go to 34 and stop exp, overall, my SK will be weaker at PvP for it.  Any comments and suggestions are much appreciated!(I moved from 26 to 27 to get the uber PvP shield)Oh also, is Doom Judgement worth going to 35 for and can it be Master I'd?  Is t4 gear >> t3 gear?  I want all your thoughts! =)Quick Overview:(2<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Consume Vitae                  --- replaces  ---      Fetid Grasp(2<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Cruel Intent                         --- replaces   ---     Cruel Aura(29) Painbringer                        --- replaces   ---     Painful Strike(29) Sorrow                               --- replaces   ---     Cleave Flesh(30) Draw Strength                    --- replaces   ---    **new**(30) Stance: Lucan's Pact        --- replaces   ---     Stance: Defensive Circle(31) Disease Cloud                   --- replaces   ---      Diseased Threat(31) Grant of Armament            --- replaces   ---     Gift of Armament(32) Evasive Maneuvers             --- replaces   ---       Evasive Tactics(32) Stance: Grim Sword           --- replaces   ---      Stance: Dark Sword(33) Contract of Shadows         --- replaces   ---       Contract from Below(33) Spiked Boot                         --- replaces   ---      Boot(34) Intercede                              --- replaces   ---      Intervene(34)* Malefic Touch (master II)    --- replaces   ---      Harm Touch(35)* Doom Judgement               --- replaces   ---  *New* and *Unique*<div></div><p>Message Edited by xenocide85 on <span class=date_text>07-28-2006</span> <span class=time_text>06:50 PM</span>

[Gorgon]

               Id go 34 the ht at master2 at that level is very good, either 1 shots them are gets very close to it. The doom judgment is also a very good spell debuffs the hell out of them and a aoe. Havent saw a master of this spell not sure if it exists but any alchmist can make  the adapt3. <div></div>

[Tarkin-Wretch]

<P>consume vitae does not replace fetid grasp.  its your first real lifetap spell since fetid grasp, even though it does disease dmg, is actually a melee swing.  it can miss.  at any rate, this will give you 2 life tap abilities plus your blessing.  draw str. is a nice addition as well.  it helps keep the mage runners from getting very far.  i didnt master it but i suspect if mastered it would be enough to keep priests from fleeing as well.  as stated above, doom judgment has a very nice buff dispel on it as well as good dmg.  the 5 min timer kinda stinks considering the necro one from bloodlines has no such restriction and its equally nice imo.  there is no master for this or any other bloodlines spells/CA to my knowledge, only the ability to adept 3 them.  lucan's pact has some serious dis. resist on it making it useful although im not sure which stance is better in the long run.  ive used def stance mostly in pvp.  usually because im in that stance when i get jumped anyways from tanking all the time.</P> <P>most of the battles i see take place in the commons and its usually either lvl 22-26 or 32-35, typically in groups of 4 on average.  at 34 twinked you would broaden your scope of killable players i think.</P>

[xenocide85]

Ah, my mistake. you're right, Consume Vitae doesn't replace Fetid Grasp.  As far as stances go, about 90% of the time i'm PvPing i'm in offensive stance.  I have all masters and 84 int (vs 54 or so wisdom) allows me to almost max my int (for my level) while sitll wearing my pvp and resist gear.  Thus, every single spelled based proc and... er spell haha, does more damage.  There are only a few exceptions of when I use def stance.  This is when i'm running from a group (def gives me higher res and better chance to not be hit etc) though I'm pretty sure switching stances while being hit pulls you into combat so you have to watch out.  I mess up sometimes too, but its always a waste of HT to be in def stance unless, some how you've maxed int while in def stance; Max int for HT is a must.  Additionally vs. good casters, 1v1, i'll slip into def stance just to get my resists a little higher (though ill switch back to cast HT mid battle).Still I'm concerned about my ability to life tap at 35 b/c my ward will not have upgraded and so its:Fetid GraspGrim Harbinger (self buff proc) or its upgradelvl 26 infernal pactConsume Vitae<div></div>

[Norrsken]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>xenocide85 wrote:Ah, my mistake. you're right, Consume Vitae doesn't replace Fetid Grasp.  As far as stances go, about 90% of the time i'm PvPing i'm in offensive stance.  I have all masters and 84 int (vs 54 or so wisdom) allows me to almost max my int (for my level) while sitll wearing my pvp and resist gear.  Thus, every single spelled based proc and... er spell haha, does more damage.  There are only a few exceptions of when I use def stance.  This is when i'm running from a group (def gives me higher res and better chance to not be hit etc) though I'm pretty sure switching stances while being hit pulls you into combat so you have to watch out.  I mess up sometimes too, but its always a waste of HT to be in def stance unless, some how you've maxed int while in def stance; Max int for HT is a must.  Additionally vs. good casters, 1v1, i'll slip into def stance just to get my resists a little higher (though ill switch back to cast HT mid battle).Still I'm concerned about my ability to life tap at 35 b/c my ward will not have upgraded and so its:Fetid GraspGrim Harbinger (self buff proc) or its upgradelvl 26 infernal pactConsume Vitae<div></div><hr></blockquote>35/36 is about the last levels that your blessing will still be worth its salt. It will still save your life both pvp and pve. At the 39ish level you'll not get much worth out of it though. But that wont matter since you are stopping at 34/35. I still ate orange con scouts and mages at that level without a problem. the proc lifetap was still the doom of scouts, and mages just didnt have enough health for the MT M2. Fighters went down pretty easy as well. Healers took time but were doable. Rather nice level actually. And the resists hadnt kicked in properly yet so that MT was a nasty bub.<div></div><p>Message Edited by roxer2b on <span class=date_text>08-06-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:59 PM</span>

[xenocide85]

<DIV>yeah im just sad bc the ward was godly at 26/27 and completely made my class a super power for his lvl.  oh well =(. im 30 now forum (as you should know since we're in the same guild =P) and ill eventually hit 35 once i have enough collections, discoveries, L&L, etc.  Thanks for your thoughts.</DIV>

[Norrsken]

<blockquote><hr>xenocide85 wrote:<div>yeah im just sad bc the ward was godly at 26/27 and completely made my class a super power for his lvl.  oh well =(. im 30 now forum (as you should know since we're in the same guild =P) and ill eventually hit 35 once i have enough collections, discoveries, L&L, etc.  Thanks for your thoughts.</div><hr></blockquote>Yeah, your power will have shifted slightly from that skill line to the HT skill line, that is true. Now it will be more for keeping you alive instead of putting it up and letting people kill themselves by attacking you. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>