Amazing what difference Blessed Aid makes..

[Kalvarin]

<DIV>I must admit before I got Blessed Aid my interest in Paladins was slowly decreasing; I really didn't feel like much but a weakened tank. I was used to the EQ1 style of stunning, backup healing, and being a real main-tank. All it took was Blessed Aid to make me realize how well they made us in EQ2. As much as I used to HATE being told I couldn't tank in EQ1, I really am not bothered by it in EQ2. I obviously like being in control of the battle pace and control as much as you are as MA/Puller, but secondary tank can be a blast too. I grouped last night with a Guardian a few levels higher, and I was so busy keeping him alive that I was having just as much fun. It's a lot less stressful not having to watch your HP bar and hope the Cleric will heal you. Now, I'll gladly sit there and Demosntration of Faith / Blessing of Armament / Ancient Prayer / Blessed Aid the other tank while I smash at the mob; the target's target healing system helps out with this too.</DIV>

[Jedd]

<DIV>It's nice and it has replaced the ward almost completely for me. Only have app3 so far (and that cost a fortune and took my several tries of checking the broker) but it was worth every penny. Now if I could only find an upgrade to it as I have read how good it is at adept3.</DIV>

[Edyil]

<DIV>It really is a blessing when mixed with the Cast-Thru ability.  If the mob turns for some reason, a few taunts and a quick heal to the new target gets the mob back on you real fast.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Edyil on <span class=date_text>12-07-2004</span> <span class=time_text>07:42 AM</span>

[JarredDarque]

<DIV>for those of you using with only app1 on blessed aid,  still use your ward,  they take the ssme power  and the ward prevents 225 damage roughly,  while the heal only heals 175 abouts.   I typically use both though,  as I am getting hit for 3-400 damage at times.</DIV>

[Tears_]

Managed to get a Demonstration of Faith adept this morning before work, pretty expensive but worth it im my view, in conjunction with an App3 or Adept1 Blessed Aid makes for a great paladin <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Talmi]

<DIV>In response to JarredDarque statement about using Demonstration of Faith over Blessed Aid when its apprentice one. This is not a good idea and I strongly recommoned you don't use Demonstration of Faith after getting Blessed Aid. Heres why, wards ignore your armor. that 225 damage will be taken away in one hit from a monster while if your decently armored that 175 hp will take 3-4 hits to get removed. Wards should only be cast on those with lower armor ratings, like mages. I only use my new ward now (Faithful Zeal) when I loose aggro on a target. It works wonders with the added hate you receive for casting it. </DIV>

[Grimme]

<DIV>I assume you would use the ward while you wait for the heal to repop, in the short but tough fights. In the more drawn out, enduro-fights, you wouldn't ward as much anyway (but I still throw some in).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>When I fight uber mobs, like the double up group reds I had yesterday (writs and feigns), ward is vital (I was 19, the rest of the group 24, and I was MT). I gave my healer just enough time to spam heal me, by alternating stun and ward (well, more like stun ward ward, repeat). Everyone else was a dps class, so the mobs dropped quick enough. We would basicaly go through three spam heal rounds before the fight was over.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Even with the numbers you provided, if you cast ward 6 times in a battle thats like 300 free hit points (175 / 3.5 = damage saved per cast, according to your estimate).</DIV>

[Kriterian]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Talmien wrote:<BR> <DIV>In response to JarredDarque statement about using Demonstration of Faith over Blessed Aid when its apprentice one. This is not a good idea and I strongly recommoned you don't use Demonstration of Faith after getting Blessed Aid. Heres why, wards ignore your armor. that 225 damage will be taken away in one hit from a monster while if your decently armored that 175 hp will take 3-4 hits to get removed. Wards should only be cast on those with lower armor ratings, like mages. I only use my new ward now (Faithful Zeal) when I loose aggro on a target. It works wonders with the added hate you receive for casting it. </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>They're not on the same timer, so why not use 'em both? At level 24 the ward prevents just under 250 points of damage and while that may only be one hit in some cases, it's still points that the healer doesn't have to heal. If you've got enough power to taunt, just use them both.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Warding yourself and healing yourself are little extra things that help make the mob hate you more.</DIV>

[Aenari]

<DIV>I've been trying to get adept 3 demonstration of faith, but it's difficult.  The bottleneck is finding the cursed recipe book for the special components.  I've managed to get 2 jasper and 2 palladium (as well as 1 steel, 1 fir) and all this time never, ever seen the required advanced scholar refining book for sale on the broker. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The upshot is I had my girlfriend make me adept 3 Blessed Aid.  I went and deliberately forge burned myself to test it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For those who don't know, Blessed Aid Adept 3 = 325 Heal.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I suppose I should just wait for faithful zeal and "Adeptorise" 3 that.</DIV>

[Bladezil]

<DIV>I used to use my adept 1 demo of faith ward all the time.. been using it sparingly and usually only once at beginning of fight for extra agro and to absorb initial hit. Blessed Aid is when Paladins start going.. holy [Removed for Content].. I'm a beast. UPDATE BLESSED AID asap!!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Paladins are the best tanks in the game for taking damage.. bar none. If any of you let a Guardian that is your level or lower tank over you, feel ashamed.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <HR> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ccffff size=4>- <FONT color=#333333>Blade</FONT><FONT color=#009900>zilla</FONT> <U>Killa</U> - The Absolute <EM>Sexiest</EM> <FONT color=#333366>Ogre</FONT> <FONT color=#ffffff>Paladin</FONT> Ever.. One to Walk the Lonely Path of Redemption.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ccffff size=4>- <FONT color=#ccffcc><U>Valcutio</U></FONT> <FONT color=#ff0033>Phoenix</FONT> <FONT color=#ccffcc>- The Absolute <EM>Sexiest</EM> </FONT><FONT color=#663300>Wood Elf</FONT> <FONT color=#9999ff>Troubador</FONT> <FONT color=#ccffcc>Ever.. One to Walk the Famed Path of Popularity, Grandeur.. and all that other happy go lucky spoony bard stuff.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <HR> </DIV></DIV>

[Talmi]

<DIV>GrimmeHF and Kriterian<BR><BR>You both are right, I do use ward when things get heated and Blessed Aid just isn't enough to keep my alive. But for me those times are few and far between. Typicalling in a fight Blessed Aid pops back up for me before I have any missing HP to heal. I prefer to not use it then so I can conserve the power for when things do go wrong that way I have enough to taunt and heal myself. Also we gotta give the healers something to do in battle so not warding myself makes them feel a little better :smileywink:. I don't seem to have a problem holding aggro while not warding myself either.</DIV>