SK = poor damage & survivability??

[therearenonames]

This cant be right.....based on my extremely low lvl experiences on newb island I came to the realization that my warlock and necro do more damage ( as expected) but were also more survivable......My SK died twice up top in the tree while fighting all the mobs up there with adds and my two casters did the same but lived.......I guess high damage output = survivablity and since SK damage is probably one of the lowest, it only makes sense.Unfortunately, I really want to play a SK and have my wife duo with me as either a Necro or Warlock but based on my low lvl experience I think the warlock/necro might be more viable.  I know this is only low lvl but I dont want to spend months to find out later that we have been suffering.  Please tell me SK do more damage and are much more survivable later on.Thanks!!!<div></div>

[Trop]

<div></div>I would wait until level 14 to pass off the Shadow Knight class.At level 11 you get your first CA life tap (Fetid Strike).At level 12 you get your reactive ward (Infernal Blessing). Then, once you hit level 14, you have the option to Master II Infernal Blessing.Shadow Knight are a bit slow T1, but by 14, your survivability will go way up.<div></div>

[G3IST]

I really wouldnt base anything off of what you can do on the isle, Ive always found that mages are much easier to play on the isle along with priests, and scouts and fighters tend to be more difficult.  You really dont get any class defining abilities while youre on the starting isle.

[Norrsken]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> therearenonames wrote:<BR>This cant be right.....based on my extremely low lvl experiences on newb island I came to the realization that my warlock and necro do more damage ( as expected) but were also more survivable......<BR><BR>My SK died twice up top in the tree while fighting all the mobs up there with adds and my two casters did the same but lived.......I guess high damage output = survivablity and since SK damage is probably one of the lowest, it only makes sense.<BR><BR>Unfortunately, I really want to play a SK and have my wife duo with me as either a Necro or Warlock but based on my low lvl experience I think the warlock/necro might be more viable.  <BR><BR>I know this is only low lvl but I dont want to spend months to find out later that we have been suffering.  Please tell me SK do more damage and are much more survivable later on.<BR><BR>Thanks!!!<BR><BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>The necro sk duo is awesome, so stick with it, by 24 you will have gotten a first feel for the class. HT and proc lifetaps and other nice goodies. <BR>A necro and a sk brings the same amount to a group as a guard, templar and wiz. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Beldin_]

<P>The low level skills are simply underpowered, especially the fighter skills. All fighter classes have that problem until they get replacements for all that [Removed for Content] skills.</P> <P>Like others said you will feel the first real boost at 12 with getting blessing, and at 14 when you take it as Master 2 <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Hamervelder]

<div><blockquote><hr>therearenonames wrote:This cant be right.....based on my extremely low lvl experiences on newb island I came to the realization that my warlock and necro do more damage ( as expected) but were also more survivable......My SK died twice up top in the tree while fighting all the mobs up there with adds and my two casters did the same but lived.......I guess high damage output = survivablity and since SK damage is probably one of the lowest, it only makes sense.Unfortunately, I really want to play a SK and have my wife duo with me as either a Necro or Warlock but based on my low lvl experience I think the warlock/necro might be more viable.  I know this is only low lvl but I dont want to spend months to find out later that we have been suffering.  Please tell me SK do more damage and are much more survivable later on.Thanks!!!<div></div><hr></blockquote>Fighter classes in general are <i>horridly</i> gimped starting out.  My low-level wizard has more hp and power than my best friend's low level bruiser.  I can one-shot her all day long.  It will even out.  Just that, for whatever reason, fighters at low level have less damage, less hp, and less power than everyone else.</div>

[therearenonames]

<P>Well, if SK do get better in survivability....are they more survivable than a beserker?  Also, can a SK do more damage than a Beserker with STR and STA AAs?  I know they can do some good numbers...</P> <P>Thanks for all the feedback too!!!</P> <P>Oh, my wife is still toying with either a Warlock or Necro...will a warlock work too or is it better with the necro?  (She likes assasin too....)</P>

[AziBam]

<DIV>If the question was full group or raid tanking them one MIGHT argue that zerkers can do a better job.  However, they have no ability to heal themselves (not including a boost to health regen as a heal).  Of the options you presented I'd definitely stick to the SK/Necro combination.  That duo rocks.  As an SK your survivability will already become pretty high with your own arsenal of lifetaps and add in that a necro can then unleash the pet to dps while having a heal or two of their own.  Think they get one as part of their normal spells and one from AAs.  Both can FD.  Necro can res and SK can evac.  Both do disease damage which SKs debuff with their group taunt.  It is just a great combo.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>No question that zerkers are great tanks overall and have some crazy AE dps.  SKs also excel at AE damage (although perhaps not quite as much as a zerker if they have their big hitter spells up) but have much higher survivability with lifetaps.  I've watched equal lvl guards and zerks get eaten by mobs that I had few problems with solo.  </DIV>

[Norrsken]

<div><blockquote><hr>therearenonames wrote:<div></div> <p>Well, if SK do get better in survivability....are they more survivable than a beserker?  Also, can a SK do more damage than a Beserker with STR and STA AAs?  I know they can do some good numbers...</p> <p>Thanks for all the feedback too!!!</p> <p>Oh, my wife is still toying with either a Warlock or Necro...will a warlock work too or is it better with the necro?  (She likes assasin too....)</p><hr></blockquote>Zerkers have a, disputably, slightly larger dps. SKs though, have survivability. And lots of it. Been in groups where I healed more than the healers. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> We also get several different rescues. (Well, skills that can be used as rescues.) And now we have siphon mit, which at the moment buffs me for 1k mit if I get enough targets. (Its app 1 <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> )</div>

[Eluzay]

poorly played Sk = teh suckwell played sk = amazingyou have to get into your 30's and even 40's before you get enough class defining abilities to REALLY shine... before that you will be a one hit wonder at 20 with HT<div></div>

[RaunII]

<P>well...all i will say is...lvl 18 SK with good gear and spells and master 2 of our ward...7 groups of lvl 13 heroic groups of gnolls...SK 7...Gnolls 0...my sk in a couple minutes had wiped out 28 gnolls. may have been 5 lvls below...but heroic groups none the less...and 28 solo con mobs...</P> <P> </P> <P>i dunno...my only complaint about SK's are the spells get resisted a bit too much for my taste since EoF...but other than that, if you play them right SK's rock.</P>

[Squigglle]

<DIV>ok i got a lvl 27 sk. its rly good. from lvl 1-15 its hard but about 16, 17+ its fun and u can solo alot. i can solo heroics that are like 3 or 4 lvls below me without even hitting the orange health lvl. you get a pet you can summon thats temp for fighting which increases your dps enough to make soloing even more enjoyable. umm id say with decent armor and weapons + items you can solo a mob of 3 even of your lvl decently. i can solo stuff thats yellow to me pretty well. orange not so good. but i have tested sk, ranger, fury, necro, and wizard at lvl 70 and out of them this is how it went soloing wise:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>sk>necro>wizard>ranger>fury</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>sk was awsome could solo a lvl 67^^^ easily. the necro did great also but if the pet dies or soemthing goes wrong your dead. he wizard didnt do good at all. he hit really really hard  but when root breaks your dead. the fury well just sucked becuase the lack of def made the healing not keep up with the dps on u. so id go sk all the way.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> for me i got a wizard, necro,  ranger (almost assasin in betrayel), and a sk. my favorite of the bunch are the ranger and sk. sks ups are the survivablity of soloing and plus a tank is always needed, and i like swords and plate so hehehe. the ranger is cool. love bows. love the archer look. but there survivabilty isnt as high if your skills are not as up, and if your roots dont work. i mean u dont have to have roots 24/7 but it helps to do your high melee output first. root kite and then melee agian. rangers take more skill but are really fun in raids and soloing. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now as i said i got a necro and he solos really good but you got to have alot of adepts and master skills. with the wizard well hes my highest lvled and my most hated. i only use him for money and to make me weapons and stuff. wizards are good for groups becuase the little power heal and output of damage. but they take agro alot if you dont know how to control your self. and like i said earlier. if the root breaks when soloing, your really screwed. also wizards may kill the fastest but they suck the life out of power.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hope this helps <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[ZhouYu]

<EM>For pvp I would still stick with a SK/Fury duo. Much better combo imo.</EM>

[Squigglle]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ZhouYu wrote:<BR> <EM>For pvp I would still stick with a SK/Fury duo. Much better combo imo.</EM><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>totally agree, youll have life syphon, and a nice tank with magic. and youll have a decent dps healer.

[GuardianKing]

Took me till 14 or 15 to really take off. <div></div>

[Squigglle]

<P>i would sugest the following profs:</P> <P>crusader</P> <P>summoner</P> <P>predator</P> <P>druid</P> <P>rogue</P> <P>warrior</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[ZhouYu]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Squigglle wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ZhouYu wrote:<BR> <EM>For pvp I would still stick with a SK/Fury duo. Much better combo imo.</EM><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>totally agree, youll have life syphon, and a nice tank with magic. and youll have a decent dps healer.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR><EM>Not only that the fury intel and resist buffs go hand in hand with SK's fighting style. I can't think of a better class to duo with. </EM>

[Norrsken]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ZhouYu wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Squigglle wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ZhouYu wrote:<BR> <EM>For pvp I would still stick with a SK/Fury duo. Much better combo imo.</EM><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>totally agree, youll have life syphon, and a nice tank with magic. and youll have a decent dps healer.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR><EM>Not only that the fury intel and resist buffs go hand in hand with SK's fighting style. I can't think of a better class to duo with. </EM><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Necro, for even more dps, and the little extra healing the sk need. And power. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Eluzay]

<div><blockquote><hr>roxer2b wrote:<div></div> <blockquote> <hr> ZhouYu wrote: <div></div> <blockquote> <hr> Squigglle wrote: <div></div> <blockquote> <hr> ZhouYu wrote: <div></div><em>For pvp I would still stick with a SK/Fury duo. Much better combo imo.</em> <hr> </blockquote>totally agree, youll have life syphon, and a nice tank with magic. and youll have a decent dps healer. <hr> </blockquote><em>Not only that the fury intel and resist buffs go hand in hand with SK's fighting style. I can't think of a better class to duo with. </em> <hr> </blockquote>Necro, for even more dps, and the little extra healing the sk need. And power. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><hr></blockquote>I agree with this, but different strokes for different folks... some people are all about survivability, I am about killing fast so I dont need it (with a little backup healing if needed)</div>

[Norrsken]

<div><blockquote><hr>Eluzay wrote:<div><blockquote><hr>roxer2b wrote:<div></div> <blockquote> <hr> ZhouYu wrote: <div></div> <blockquote> <hr> Squigglle wrote: <div></div> <blockquote> <hr> ZhouYu wrote: <div></div><em>For pvp I would still stick with a SK/Fury duo. Much better combo imo.</em> <hr> </blockquote>totally agree, youll have life syphon, and a nice tank with magic. and youll have a decent dps healer. <hr> </blockquote><em>Not only that the fury intel and resist buffs go hand in hand with SK's fighting style. I can't think of a better class to duo with. </em> <hr> </blockquote>Necro, for even more dps, and the little extra healing the sk need. And power. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><hr></blockquote>I agree with this, but different strokes for different folks... some people are all about survivability, I am about killing fast so I dont need it (with a little backup healing if needed)</div><hr></blockquote>Yeah, as longas you are not going for more than 3-4 people the sk/necro duo shoudl stand on its own, if youare goingf or more, throw in a warlock and a defiler. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Instant pwnage.</div>

[Galn]

I've been douing a SK/Fury pair up to 18 and am able to kill level 19 yellow con ^^^'s. The Fury is the only one left with power and has to finish the mobs off, but that was before the SK changed to int for power. Things may be different now. I also have a SK at 24 and soloing with her is sweet... only wish she had tracking and invis.. wait, then I'd have my swashy :smileytongue:

[Beldin_]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <P></P> <HR> roxer2b wrote: <P>Necro, for even more dps, and the little extra healing the sk need. And power. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>Depends on what you want to do, or maybe how ub0r your gear is .. did often Nest with a warden .. not the fastest way .. but it worked .. with a Necro everything was much faster .. but Xhaviz killed me in 30 seconds :smileysad:<BR>

[Norrsken]

<div><blockquote><hr>Beldin_ wrote:<div></div> <blockquote> <p></p> <hr> roxer2b wrote: <p>Necro, for even more dps, and the little extra healing the sk need. And power. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p> <hr> </blockquote>Depends on what you want to do, or maybe how ub0r your gear is .. did often Nest with a warden .. not the fastest way .. but it worked .. with a Necro everything was much faster .. but Xhaviz killed me in 30 seconds :smileysad:<hr></blockquote>True.My main is a sk, and I dress him up in mastercrafted and take my brig buddy, also in mastercrafted out to kill stuff. we can, not always though, take down yellow nameds, but... sometimes they get lucky. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Druid is a nice duo buddy though... Just like to get my mobs debuffed so they go down faster. Heh.</div>