Low Level Woes

IrishWonder · 11-20-2006, 11:18 AM

Me and a friend wanted to make a Fae duo when the expansion came out, so we went Berserker/Swashbuckler. I have always played casters, and my main is a raiding conjuror, so I have little to no experience with tank classes. At level 18, though, the class seems pretty straightforward. However, I'm having some MAJOR problems, and I'm not sure what is causing them.

Problem 1: Everything conning white or higher hits me like a mack truck. We were trio'ing with a fury and pulling some yellow heroics... and the fury was barely (if even) keeping me alive. For the most part, we've duo'ed yellow solo mobs (either no arrows or one up arrow), and they just tear me apart. It doesn't seem right that a berserker and a swashbuckler should barely be able to kill yellow conning solo mobs.

Problem 2: What's up with resists? I've literally watched a fight where 2 or 3 of my combat arts stuck... including taunts. Holding aggro from a swashbuckler should be tough, but it shouldn't be impossible. I hit very few of my combat arts and it kills the duo dps. I'm running with full adept IIIs, and yet I still have this problem.

Are these problems that just plague berserkers at lower levels? Or is this something I can look forward to for a long time to come? Or is it something new that popped up with the gigantic mess that SOE called game update #29? Please tell me I haven't chosen the wrong class for the job!

GreenHillZo · 11-20-2006, 01:06 PM

Fae have terrible starting attributes. 10 str/sta is really painfull for new tanks. im about the same level what I did was A)full set of blackened iron armour at lvl12,(lol at prices though) but mit is everything with such little HP. also as much str/sta gear as i could get B)run every quest I could even if it ment disabling XP for a bit for the AA (got lvl9 AA). Buckler reversal is [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] essential. and the +20pts of stamina As for resists i have no idea been soloing so far.

fbi · 11-20-2006, 07:22 PM

Some may be due to the level and the tools you have available, but my guess is most of this is due to the game update ... you really shouldn't be having that kind of trouble with no arrow yellow cons (or one up arrow for that matter.) The update I think has hit tanks the hardest, both in terms of resists (namely taunt) and mitigation. Taunt has always been resisted now and again; it's much worse now though. The problem with mitigation is hard to pin down, but it seems like many heroic mobs -- even with just one ^ -- now hit extremely hard, regardless of their con. Personally I'm really hoping some kind of tweak is in the works, because as it stands the game update has sapped a lot of fun from the game. Since I primarily duo, here are some tips I've found useful: 1) Defensive stance is a must. You simply take too much damage otherwise. AD3 pretty much required. 2) Stamina line to generate offense. IMO it's the best line for a duo/small group tank. 3) Cast your mitigation buff every fight. 4) Debuffs are crucial. The swashbuckler can use poisons; against a single difficult foe, try pulling with a hex doll. Carry potions -- you're going to need them. We have duo'd a swashie/paladin, and the pally heals were necessary to take out the named in Stormhold. We were able -- barely -- to take them on at +2 level (this prior to the update. Also, our alts are generally not twinked; in this case the pally is, but not the swashie except for a few masters and mastercrafted poisons.)

EQSasori · 11-20-2006, 10:16 PM

I have a little fae zerker, level 15 right now but I've not run into any of the problems you are. I've only 1 piece of Blackened Iron plate (the BP), but most of my combat arts are adept 3s (loam was on special when I was out harvesting I got 6 of them and 3 blackened iron ores). I dual wield blackened iron axes, so my DPS is very nice. Are the mobs you are killing in crushbone? Those are winged heroics and I would expect them to hurt a lot. Try butcherblock, I believe they are just heroic, not winged heroics.

/edit: I forgot to mention. Resists can happen alot with App 1-4. With adept 3 taunt, I rarely get a resist, but my app4 single target taunt gets resisted every 3rd cast.

Message Edited by EQSasori on 11-20-2006 09:20 AM

RaunII · 11-21-2006, 01:37 AM

well, i think your problem is gear and spell related. i have a baby SK that has all adept 3s or master 1s and legendary or blacked iron armour and legendary or mastercrafted jewelry.

he has no problem soloing orange no arrows, and he can barely solo a single arrow up orange mobs, its tough but possible.

so, i would say you need better gear...

P.S. regarding spell and taunt resists, no kidding, my SK and lvl 70 zerker are having major problems...adept 3 taunts resisting like mad...my zerker can no longer hold aggro even with a swashing in the group giving me hate. i think SOE nerfed it too much and with enough whining they will tone it down a bit hopefully.

11-20-2006, 11:18 AM	#1
IrishWonder Loremaster Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Alabama, USA Posts: 458	Me and a friend wanted to make a Fae duo when the expansion came out, so we went Berserker/Swashbuckler. I have always played casters, and my main is a raiding conjuror, so I have little to no experience with tank classes. At level 18, though, the class seems pretty straightforward. However, I'm having some MAJOR problems, and I'm not sure what is causing them. Problem 1: Everything conning white or higher hits me like a mack truck. We were trio'ing with a fury and pulling some yellow heroics... and the fury was barely (if even) keeping me alive. For the most part, we've duo'ed yellow solo mobs (either no arrows or one up arrow), and they just tear me apart. It doesn't seem right that a berserker and a swashbuckler should barely be able to kill yellow conning solo mobs. Problem 2: What's up with resists? I've literally watched a fight where 2 or 3 of my combat arts stuck... including taunts. Holding aggro from a swashbuckler should be tough, but it shouldn't be impossible. I hit very few of my combat arts and it kills the duo dps. I'm running with full adept IIIs, and yet I still have this problem. Are these problems that just plague berserkers at lower levels? Or is this something I can look forward to for a long time to come? Or is it something new that popped up with the gigantic mess that SOE called game update #29? Please tell me I haven't chosen the wrong class for the job! __________________ The only Light you'll see from me, is that which burns the soul to see. Shadowreap Deathbane, The First Dark Elf Conjuror on Guk troopsofdoom.com - VIDEOS OF RAID MOBS!!! Nexona, Trakanon, Wuoshi, and more!

11-20-2006, 10:16 PM	#4
EQSasori Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 8	I have a little fae zerker, level 15 right now but I've not run into any of the problems you are. I've only 1 piece of Blackened Iron plate (the BP), but most of my combat arts are adept 3s (loam was on special when I was out harvesting I got 6 of them and 3 blackened iron ores). I dual wield blackened iron axes, so my DPS is very nice. Are the mobs you are killing in crushbone? Those are winged heroics and I would expect them to hurt a lot. Try butcherblock, I believe they are just heroic, not winged heroics. /edit: I forgot to mention. Resists can happen alot with App 1-4. With adept 3 taunt, I rarely get a resist, but my app4 single target taunt gets resisted every 3rd cast. Message Edited by EQSasori on 11-20-2006 09:20 AM __________________

11-20-2006, 01:06 PM	#2
GreenHillZo General Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13	Fae have terrible starting attributes. 10 str/sta is really painfull for new tanks. im about the same level what I did was A)full set of blackened iron armour at lvl12,(lol at prices though) but mit is everything with such little HP. also as much str/sta gear as i could get B)run every quest I could even if it ment disabling XP for a bit for the AA (got lvl9 AA). Buckler reversal is [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] essential. and the +20pts of stamina As for resists i have no idea been soloing so far.

11-20-2006, 07:22 PM	#3
fbi General Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 173	Some may be due to the level and the tools you have available, but my guess is most of this is due to the game update ... you really shouldn't be having that kind of trouble with no arrow yellow cons (or one up arrow for that matter.) The update I think has hit tanks the hardest, both in terms of resists (namely taunt) and mitigation. Taunt has always been resisted now and again; it's much worse now though. The problem with mitigation is hard to pin down, but it seems like many heroic mobs -- even with just one ^ -- now hit extremely hard, regardless of their con. Personally I'm really hoping some kind of tweak is in the works, because as it stands the game update has sapped a lot of fun from the game. Since I primarily duo, here are some tips I've found useful: 1) Defensive stance is a must. You simply take too much damage otherwise. AD3 pretty much required. 2) Stamina line to generate offense. IMO it's the best line for a duo/small group tank. 3) Cast your mitigation buff every fight. 4) Debuffs are crucial. The swashbuckler can use poisons; against a single difficult foe, try pulling with a hex doll. Carry potions -- you're going to need them. We have duo'd a swashie/paladin, and the pally heals were necessary to take out the named in Stormhold. We were able -- barely -- to take them on at +2 level (this prior to the update. Also, our alts are generally not twinked; in this case the pally is, but not the swashie except for a few masters and mastercrafted poisons.)

11-21-2006, 01:37 AM	#5
RaunII Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 391	well, i think your problem is gear and spell related. i have a baby SK that has all adept 3s or master 1s and legendary or blacked iron armour and legendary or mastercrafted jewelry. he has no problem soloing orange no arrows, and he can barely solo a single arrow up orange mobs, its tough but possible. so, i would say you need better gear... P.S. regarding spell and taunt resists, no kidding, my SK and lvl 70 zerker are having major problems...adept 3 taunts resisting like mad...my zerker can no longer hold aggro even with a swashing in the group giving me hate. i think SOE nerfed it too much and with enough whining they will tone it down a bit hopefully.