Best SK strat?

[xenocide85]

My original philosophy for the best SK for PvP starting at 27 and moving upwards (slowly mind you) was to get fabled gear when possible, esp gear that procs stuns and heals (ESP HEALS).  I ranked my stats in the order of importance:(1) int  - most damage is in the form of spells but mainly having HT maxed is key.  i think this affects your life tap heal amounts as well(2) wis - RESISTS! key. and power is great(3) sta - HPs!(4) str - Melee damage(5) agi - avoidance and atk speedI realized later that str > sta bc of power gain and that power ended up being a limiting factor for me more so than HPs.  Typically so long as I had power I could leech myself afloat but once I was OOP I was useless.Anyways, I'm trying to think of the best way to roll btw lvls 35-42 and I can't quite decide.  My initial thought was to use Off Stance for +126 int, max int (so id basically always pvp in off stance), and then go for wis w/ +wis gear and AAs (i have 10 AAs).  I was then gonna get my equip such that I could substitute caster mastercrafted gear for melee IF I felt like +str was worth -wis.  Anyways, I'm still conflicted and I solo PvP some too, and it seemed to me that I found myself going to Def stance when fighting lots of lowbies where power and duration were key, and I typically rolled Off solo and even in groups when HT was up b/c its really helpful though I can see the benefits of going Def in a PvP group.Anyways, what are your thoughts? would you try to max INT and plan on staying in Def stance?  would you focus on str rather than wis?  would you try to have both wis and int maxed in both stances (bc that might be possible too).  Let me know thanks!<div></div>

[Norrsken]

Im trying to have balanced stats. That way I am fairly defensive when in defensive stance, and fairly offensive when on off stance.And you might want to swap between then depending on the situation. If a group rolls in on you, defensive stance might be the best to be in while you debuff their healer, and then a quick swap to off for the big nuke, and back to def again to just grind the rest of them down. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />1 vs 1 is kindof the same, you go up against someone with more dps and about the same survivability as you, you might wanna be in defensive to add the extra punch to your lifetaps.But, its situational. Try some stuff out and tell me how it went? <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[Nicholai24]

DMKB is the new catchphrase on PvP servers." Death March Kills Brigands. "That is all. <div></div>

[Norrsken]

<div><blockquote><hr>Nicholai24 wrote:DMKB is the new catchphrase on PvP servers." Death March Kills Brigands. "That is all. <div></div><hr></blockquote>Ah well, that is way out of the specified level range. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> However, its a juicy bit to look forward to. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[Nicholai24]

Indeed. Highly amusing to see their spammed stuns and stifles meet with 'Immune'.<div></div>

[Eluzay]

well if at all possible I try to get both int and wis on my gear, but in the end int wins.  I run int gear and the best craftable for my level until I can find better drops, another guy in my guild about the same level is workin on mit and str/wis and I only see about 5% reduction in his melee damage due to the mit when compairing.In pvp I have 3 main ways I fight.offensive 2 handed vs wussies and greensoffensive with shield vs equally skilled opponents unless they have magic as primary damagedefensive with shield vs magic wielders and oranges/redsseems to work well for me. Anytime I am going to use malific touch on someone I switch to offensive first, and it is important to be able to gage when you are going to kill someone outright with the 15 min skill.  If you are not going to kill him then why use it, save it for when you come back and are going to try to get your points back.  With healers this is CRITICAL.  A good healer will never let his bar go down far enough for MT to kill, but the more cocky ones wait to cast their big heal, and they wait to long. I see the long cast coming and I whack them with MT before it goes off killing them. This tactic has a 31.560894% chance of success if they let their health get below 62.46367% <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[Hamervelder]

<div><blockquote><hr>Nicholai24 wrote:DMKB is the new catchphrase on PvP servers." Death March Kills Brigands. "That is all. <div></div><hr></blockquote>It is indeed true.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Without the ability to stun and get behind, scouts are pretty easy fodder.  Of course, I say that, and tomorrow, I'll duel a brigand and get my butt handed to me.  </div>

[Nicholai24]

Oh man, and then they use Band of Thugs, and DM refreshes..<div></div>

[Ekelefer]

<DIV>I am a 46sk and my setup is something like this.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Stat Priorities:</DIV> <DIV>1. Sta</DIV> <DIV>2. Wis</DIV> <DIV>3. Str</DIV> <DIV>4. Int</DIV> <DIV>5. Agi</DIV> <DIV>My philosophy behind this is survivability. DPS is a moot point when yur dead. Dps is much better the longer you survive the duration of your dots. We are not fast kilers, so if I can get 2rounds of dots off,  dps is doubed rather than dieing before they all expire.</DIV> <DIV>I've gone like this with AAs, 11points so far, Sta- 4,1 Int- 4,1. This way I have the ae stun, more sta, but also have an extra nuke for fighting casters and catching runners. I've always thought of SKs as a creeper dps class. If we are in a group our dps doesn't seem much because our dots never run their full course, but in pvp, especialy 1v1 fights/good roup battles, or DoTs start to shine.</DIV> <DIV>FYI My pvp group is this, Me, Defiler, Warden,Fury,NEcro,Inq. You might think that is crappy dps, but that is really relative statement when yur enemy cannot scratch you or any of your groupmates. With this setup I've dropped a 69monk whom had a healer....was a very fun fight.</DIV> <DIV>All in all DPS is a very relative facet of your character whether recieving or dishing. I just believe the longer I survive, the better my dps wil be compared to the few extra points int adds. Just my 2cp.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Notorious_G]

<P>I've played an SK for 130 lvls.  60 on PvE before PvP was released then leveled another SK to 70 on PvP.  I would have to disagre w/ the above posters setup.  For leveling 1-70, Sta & Wis will give an SK better survivablity, but that will mean absolutely nothing when an SK can't hold aggro & a mob turns on your DPS or worse healers.  IMO our number one job is to hold the aggro.  Rely on your healer(s) to keep you up, not stamina & wisdom.  Once you cap 70 then decide about respec'ing your stamina & wisdom if you are in a guild that will allow you to raid tank.</P> <P>My personal pref for grp tanking from 1-70 is:</P> <P>1. Int</P> <P>2. Str</P> <P>3. Wisdom/Stamina</P> <P>4. Agi</P> <P>70-80%, depending on playstyle, of our damage is from casting which is why an SK should priortize Int.  Strength augments our power pool & is our secondary source for damage.  I value stamina a little more then wisdom since I can manage my power levels even w/ the rest of the grp & maintain aggro.  I would prob go wisdom over stamina if you find yourself consistently running out of power before the rest of your grp does.  Agility, it is what it is, I never focus on it at all as some of our hate generation is based off being hit.  When you start raiding as an SK especially as on off tank, you may focus on a secondary set of gear that buffs agility, parry & defense so you can drop Devious Evasion on the MT if the situation calls for it.</P><p>Message Edited by Notorious_GIB on <span class=date_text>09-19-2006</span> <span class=time_text>10:34 PM</span>

[Ekelefer]

I agree with you notorious, I believe it was a pvp exsclusive question though. As you have played 130vls, I'd like to hear your views on pvp. (Really, this is not a retort/sarcasm as I have yet to hit even t6 pvp I'd like to hear about it.)

[Notorious_G]

<DIV>I've totally spec'ed my SK for PvP.  My personal preference is 5/4/8 Int & 4/8/8/4/8 Sta.  All my arts are Masters w/ the exception of 6 of them which are at AD3.  With this build an SK is nearly invincible every 15 mins 1v1.  Even the alpha class brigands can't touch us.  Death March, Divine Aura and if need be Pestilent Touch FTW.  Even 2v1 (even con) is doable if all three of these are up.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I find SK's stronger in the lower levels & as an SK approaches mid T6 & definitely T7 we start running into the same problems as all casters.  The problem being resists.  Our Blessing line pre T6 is amazing for keeping an SK up, but does not seem to scale well w/ the high damage arts in T7.  I used to love scouts trying to gank me pre T6 - I knew roughly 90% of the time I would still win w/o harm touch from our Blessing Line alone.  T7, scouts worry me the most when I don't have DA or HT up.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Raid PvP we definitely own in that area as well.  W/ so many PBAOE's it's extremely rare for me to be outparsed in DPS unless a warlock is around & manages to survive as long as me.  DM is a godsend for our entire grp granting everyone immunity to most control effects including taunts & evades.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Notorious_GIB on <span class=date_text>09-22-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:30 AM</span>

[Ekelefer]

<P>Hey thanks Norotious.</P> <P>[expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] sorry butchered your name. lol Thanks Notorious. </P><p>Message Edited by Ekeleferal on <span class=date_text>09-22-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:10 PM</span>