Power conservation

[Whizbang]

<DIV>Hello there.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have a 16 Defiler alt on Venekor that i play around with alongside a friend.  My main is a 56 Templar so i know the basics in regards to buffs/debuffs/heals/etc.  The thing i noticed is that my Defiler eats through his power rather quickly.  I am trying to get as much WIS gear as possible to him to help increase the power pool, but until then and until i can get more levels under his belt, what is the best way to get the most out of his limited power pool?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My group ward was my M2 choice, and my single-person ward is at App IV.  Heals vary in the App range, same as attacks spells and debuffs.  Any help is appreciated.</DIV>

[NimSul]

<P>Hmm, generally from what i understand in how templars heal is they use direct heals alot. You dont want to do that as a defiler, mainly you want to focus on the wards and throw in debuffs if your wards cant keep up. </P> <P>A basic tactic i think works well is cast your group ward either pre pull or start casting it so it lands just after pull and then throw in some debuffs on the heavy hitting mobs, when you got the debuffs in the tank should take less damage so your wards alone should be enough.</P> <P>Since you dont have any wis buffs as a defiler its usually nice to cast your power/hp buff on yourself as well as the tank. It used to be called foreteelling or something at low lvls. And you want to get all the wis/power gear you can get your hands on untill you can hit the wis cap.</P> <P>Of cause this is mostly from a pve view.</P>

[Anolis]

<P>I found the lower levels of Defiler to be power problematic, if I remember correctly, at about lvl 13 I had enough of a power pool to cast about 4 wards per fight..  and then was oop.  </P> <P>I don't think that changed that much until I hit my 20's</P> <P>but yep to going wis, that will give you more of a power pool, and get as much into in combat power regen as you can too, and if you want, via the green crosses when they pop up, take in combat power regen <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />, I always took power regen from those things, usually about the most usefull option, health regen isn't an issue, you get self buffs later on to cope with that.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Eileithia]

<P>Also.. to add to this.. part of our efficiency comes from Debuffing the mob.. Debuffs cost very little power, and are fairly fast casting.. Make sure you get the all stat debuff, as well as the slow/DPS reducer Debuff on the mob/player as soon as possible.. also make sure you always have the tendrils line on your tank, as it is an inate debuff to DPS/Attack and proc's quite frequently. The less the tank is getting hit, and the slower the tank is getting hit the less healing you have to do, and the longer your wards will last.. Debuffs are one of our biggest strengths, and I think a lot of people who come to the defiler class from other priests seem to miss that point.</P> <P>Usually what I will do on pull with a good tank.. Preward him with both single and group.. (unless they're body pulling).. as the mob is incomming, hit them with the All Stat Debuff, and the slow/DPS debuff.. then refresh wards and use small heal as needed.. Make sure you keep the debuffs up at all times, as it WILL make your healing life a LOT easier..</P> <P>Also.. don't be afraid to nuke / dot once in a while.. our Fuliginous line has a DPS reducer, our 1sec Dot has a Wiz Debuff (So everyone else will hit harder), and our single nuke has a Nox mit debuff.. so other casters, and your self will do more damage, and be resisted less often...</P> <P>Another usefull tool that a lot of people either don't cast, or forget to cast (more in raid settings, or PVP) is the Bane line.. it's a debuff that will cast a ward on whoever the mob/player is hitting.. think of it as free healing.. You can't rely on it, but when it does go off, that's extra healing that you don't need to do.</P>

[Whizbang]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> NimSul wrote:<BR> <P>Hmm, generally from what i understand in how templars heal is they use direct heals alot. You dont want to do that as a defiler, mainly you want to focus on the wards and throw in debuffs if your wards cant keep up. </P> <P>A basic tactic i think works well is cast your group ward either pre pull or start casting it so it lands just after pull and then throw in some debuffs on the heavy hitting mobs, when you got the debuffs in the tank should take less damage so your wards alone should be enough.</P> <P>Since you dont have any wis buffs as a defiler its usually nice to cast your power/hp buff on yourself as well as the tank. It used to be called foreteelling or something at low lvls. And you want to get all the wis/power gear you can get your hands on untill you can hit the wis cap.</P> <P>Of cause this is mostly from a pve view.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>When playing my Templar, i use my reactives to cover the majority of my heals in normal situations, allowing me to use my utility spells to buff/debuff the group/enemy and occasionally tossing out a damage spells here or there to help add a bit of DPS along the way when power allows.  Only in circumstances where the reactives only cover the damage coming in against the tank and not providing any extra heals will i switch over to my direct heals.</P> <P>Thanks to everyone for their advice on the defiler class.  I am enjoying this healer because it's not the same routine as my Templar and requires an entirely different mindset in regards to keeping people standing.  That and the fact that i'm not walking metal cage with a gooey center makes me have to adjust to taking damage.  I like the debuffs and the fact that i play a more offensive healing roll now.</P>

[Sokolov]

<div></div>As a price for being the most useful special heal type, for each point of power used, Wards do not potentially heal for as much as the other special heals.  So yes, if you use them the way as the others you will have less power (also factor in the consquence of having no WIS buffs as a Defiler).  As you level up you get more tricks up your sleeve which increase your efficiency (plus one ability that nets you power outright), but it can be a bit to get used to at lower levels.  One thing to keep in mind that the goal is to win the encounter, and it is NOT to have everyone complete the fight with full health.<div></div><p>Message Edited by Sokolov on <span class=date_text>06-22-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:02 AM</span>

[Xa]

To save power use your group ward EVERY time if you can.Its incredibly effective in comparison to every other heal that exists.And it uses much less power than the solo-ward.(Solo ward is more effective if you are taking small amounts of damage)<div></div>

[Karihi]

<p>I would also like to add that in later levels you do get two mana taps. =)  So later on, you will be the only one with power left if you do it right =)  haha</p>

[Azial]

<div></div><a href="../view_profile?user.id=29218" target="top"><span>Sokolov</span></a>: As a price for being the most useful special heal type, for each point of power used, Wards do not potentially heal for as much as the other special heals.  So yes, if you use them the way as the others you will have less power (also factor in the consquence of having no WIS buffs as a Defiler).<hr size="2" width="100%">I don't agree with this at all if I read it correctly. Wards are by far more effcient for a Defiler then a heal. Typically, with a good ward, I am twice as effcient using my wards then heals, my heals are widely ineffcient. I typically, will start with a small ward, followed by the main Dps/AttackSpeed Slow, followed by Group heal if needed.Later levels you will get Force Cannabalize which I still use all the time at 70, and Flowing Though gear is not terribly hard to get, I currently have 41 Flowing thought and I am not in a high end raiding guild.<div></div>

[Sokolov]

By "special heals," I refer to Regens and Reactives held by the Druids and Clerics, and do not refer to our Direct Heals.<div></div>

[sostrows]

<div></div>if you pre-ward with single then group, you have enough time for your out-of-combat tick to bring you back to full mana on pull.  its like 2 free wards though you have to deal with initial agro issues.  tank has to taunt otherwise mobs will beeline to you on a body/bow pull.actually the grp ward agro on a pull can be a very usefull tactic.  you can grp ward then another grp member or your pet (at 20) can attack far away and mobs will head to you as your grp ward will generate more agro than the pet attack or body pull.  tank taunts mobs inbound.  you should be able to take a good number of hits which allows even a mediocre tank enough time to get mobs off you.i think i used drinks up to about lvl 52.  after 50s, i dont think ive ever used a drink.  i choose the +power over time options both times and only have about 1/3 the maximum amount of Flowing Thought gear.hang in their, the class really starts to get good about mid-30s then 50s really starts to stand out.<div></div><p>Message Edited by sostrows on <span class=date_text>06-30-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:49 AM</span>

[Sokolov]

Aggro is a powerful tool!  It's not as fun as it was on EQ1 tho... I remember aggro kiting mobs by sitting and standing as my mage =DAnd yea, I haven't used drink in a long, long time... it feels like a dirty secret tho when everyone else is complaining about how much drink costs...<div></div>

[VizP]

<div></div>Well I generally seem to have a lot of power but I have a prismatic and Im using masters although the general method remains the same.. here is the casting routine:- Single target ward- Group ward (stacking)- Fulg Line ( Heavy DoT + SLOW = lower needed to heal)- Forced Cannabalise <== (I only have this at Adept 1 and need to upgrade but it helps)- Loathsome Seal = Str/agi/wis reduction = lower outgoing dam + higher incoming dam- Degenerate = DPS reduce/slow- Abhorrence = heavy stat reduction- Bane of Shieldling lineNow the reason for that list is that you have to heal less if there is less damage incoming anyway. And our debuffs stacked make the world of difference - seal/degen/abh/fulg lines! The proc shield (bane line) is great for extra ward absorbtion and canabalise is your only mana drain. Just refresh your main ward in between and stack with group if its heavy incoming and you'll never use a main heal anyway!I think wards + debuffs is your best power conservation because the fight should be over faster than any other route. Throw in Spiritual circle and infestation/ruinous alongside an HO for more debuff/smalll dam for next to no power cost. Simply Ive noticed, when I dont have time to stack the wards, I use a lot more power healing then when I get a window to stack them and the enemy crumbles easily.Dont forget btw tendrils reactive as well which should be on your tank as yet another proc reactive debuff...<div></div><p>Message Edited by VizP on <span class=date_text>07-01-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:33 AM</span>

[Karihi]

<DIV>I like to go single ward, group ward (fight now starts) then I get bane of protection off and forced cannibilize, get the wolf attacking for his wards, and spiritual circle. (of course it varies by fight, sometimes you hardly have to ward)   that means they are procing the wards on the tank, and they are feeding me power right off the bat, giving me time to debuff the mobs.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>also too, if you get the tribal spiritist hat, and doomseer pants, they have mana procs on them, follow that with your manastone, your solo power feed, you have no problems at all. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>same theory =)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>one more thing - i have a macro for the fear with the hate reducer, it has a pretty fast recast and works well in a life or death of the defiler situation.      *** BE READY -- I AM DECREASING MY HATE ***       is mine.  No one has ever had a problem with me using that to save myself.    Just becareful because of the new socials.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Karihi on <span class=date_text>07-02-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:48 AM</span>

[sostrows]

<div></div>Doomseer pantsManastoneVessel of F'yr (manastone 2) after defeating Godking also.Conjurer shardNecromancer heartPrismatic/Godking weaponfew Flowing Thought items (FT) but I don't even need thesei really like Bane as it is a 72 sec duration, you can throw it on multiple mobs and it procs even if you stun/stifle/mez/fear.<div></div><p>Message Edited by sostrows on <span class=date_text>07-02-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:02 PM</span>

[Kobal2]

<P>I agree that we do tend to eat through our manabar rather quickly. It eases up in the higher tiers because by then you get lots of flowing thought items, the manastone, Forced Cannibalize etc... but in the mid-levels it can be a drag. The solution is not to heal. Or rather, not to have to heal <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Debuffs are the key here. If your group is facing a lot of smaller mobs, then cast the often overlooked Curse of Shielding line on each of them. When everyone of them has 10% chance to ward your tank, you end up twiddling your thumbs. It all adds up.</P> <P> If your group is facing one tough mob, then debuff him for all you're worth - we have very, very powerful debuffs that work well together, and even a +++ named will hardly put a dent in your tincan once its stats are down 30/40% and he hits at 1/3rd of his speed to boot.</P> <P>Also, try to keep your single ward as high in quality as possible - some tiers you can get it Master II, which is great, some tiers you have to settle for adept III, but the point here is to have a strong opening ward that can give you time enough to dish out the debuffs. If things go your way, you probably won't have to cast another ward after that first one.</P> <P>Personally, I don't put much stock in the group ward - sure, it's tougher, but it's slow as molasses to cast, and it costs lots and lots of power, much more than the single one on a hits warded/mana basis, for a measly overall gain usually. If somebody else than the tank gets the odd aggro, a single heal/ward or an insta always has my preference, or even better, a feign death from the neighbourhood SK. Ironically, I tend to only use it solo, to ward myself before a tough fight - then I can wait for the mana to come back, with the tougher ward still on.</P>

[Kimage]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kobal2fr wrote:<BR> <P>I agree that we do tend to eat through our manabar rather quickly. It eases up in the higher tiers because by then you get lots of flowing thought items, the manastone, Forced Cannibalize etc... but in the mid-levels it can be a drag. The solution is not to heal. Or rather, not to have to heal <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Debuffs are the key here. If your group is facing a lot of smaller mobs, then cast the often overlooked Curse of Shielding line on each of them. When everyone of them has 10% chance to ward your tank, you end up twiddling your thumbs. It all adds up.</P> <P> If your group is facing one tough mob, then debuff him for all you're worth - we have very, very powerful debuffs that work well together, and even a +++ named will hardly put a dent in your tincan once its stats are down 30/40% and he hits at 1/3rd of his speed to boot.</P> <P>Also, try to keep your single ward as high in quality as possible - some tiers you can get it Master II, which is great, some tiers you have to settle for adept III, but the point here is to have a strong opening ward that can give you time enough to dish out the debuffs. If things go your way, you probably won't have to cast another ward after that first one.</P> <P><FONT color=#6633ff>Personally, I don't put much stock in the group ward - sure, it's tougher, but it's slow as molasses to cast, and it costs lots and lots of power, </FONT>much more than the single one on a hits warded/mana basis, for a measly overall gain usually. If somebody else than the tank gets the odd aggro, a single heal/ward or an insta always has my preference, or even better, a feign death from the neighbourhood SK. Ironically, I tend to only use it solo, to ward myself before a tough fight - then I can wait for the mana to come back, with the tougher ward still on.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>I have to somewhat agree with that statement and much of what you said there - and the group ward thing is true for those middle range lvls - now that I am lvl 70 I don't think twice about casting it - but through the middle lvls as long as you can upgrade the single ward then that is a better bet - faster cast and less power cost also</P> <P><BR> </P>

[DrozZett]

I'm only a little lvl 20 defiler... maybe I'm wrong.When I had to choose the lvl 14 master II I did a little calculation and compared the single and group ward.Single ward was 6.11 damage protected for 1 managroup ward 6.22So the group ward (at least at that level) is more mana efficent.Can I pick the group ward as master II in later tiers? I really like it.

[sostrows]

grp is an option at 44single is an option at 54no option at 64<a href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=20&message.id=5907" target=_blank>Defiler Tips #13</a><div></div>

[Kimage]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> sostrows wrote:<BR>grp is an option at 44<BR>single is an option at 54<BR>no option at 64<BR><BR><A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=20&message.id=5907" target=_blank>Defiler Tips #13</A><BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>at 64 you can pick your lvl 60 big single heal. Which is what I opted to do. So no your ward isn't but your single big heal is at 64. 

[Sokolov]

M2 Deliverance /w Critical + Ritual <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>