[Raidi Sovin'faile]

Here's a rundown of the new Bruiser AA's coming in EoF.How the new AA's workYour AA points are all in one big pool (up to 100). You can spend them in either AA tree, but only up to 50 each. Nothing has really changed on the Brawler AAs.The Bruiser AA's are mostly capped at 5 ranks each. End abilities are also capped at 5 ranks, or require 5 points spent to get the ability. The requirements are a bit more lax compared to the Brawler ones, as you can criss cross from one "line" to another to qualify for abilities. End abilities just have a "requires X points in" the line it's based on to qualify.So basically, the only real strict rule for "line" requirements is to get the end ability. If you don't need it, you can go all over the place.

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Bruiser TreeAbility SpecificsThe following are the specifics on each ability in the above tree. Color coded for each section, most abilities are pretty obvious which are which (go by the icons). If confuse at all, I start from the top down, and go left to right, and stay within each line. I've listed the requirements for each ability as well, basically it's 3 points in any ability that has a line coming down to it.I've added screenshots of the abilities that aren't just modifications of ones we already have.Also, it appears that the "Enhance" names change along with the latest version of the line you have. So at 70, Enhance Impose will actually be Enhance Oppress. Nice since it'll lower confusiong as to what ability it's enhancing. The names below are based on a level 1 character viewing them.Information listed in red are recent changes.Latest update: 11-27 (sorry, been a while before I noticed these changes)ConditioningEnhance: Ignore AgonyEach rank increase heal amount by 2%. (Max 10%)Requirements: NoneEnhance: Tenacious WillImproves reuse by 6 seconds per rank. (Max 30 seconds)Requirements: 3 points in Enhance: Ignore AgonyEnhance: Vigorous SpiritIncreases duration by 10 seconds per rank. (Max 50 seconds)Requirements: 3 points in either Enhance: Ignore Agony, or Enhance: InterveneEnhance: Hardened SkinIncreases the mitigation by 5% per rank. (Max 25%)Requirements: 3 points in Enhance: Tenacious WillEnhance: Stone DeafImproves reuse by 3 seconds per rank. (Max 15 seconds)Requirements: 3 points in either Enhance: Vigorous Spirit, or Enhance: InterceptEnhance: Close MindImproves reuse by 5 seconds per rank. (Max 25 seconds)Requirements: 3 points in either Enhance: Hardened Skin, or Enhance: Stone DeafRetribution of StoneRequirements: 20 points spent in any of the Conditioning abilities. Costs 1 point.SacrificeEnhance: InterveneImprove reuse by 5 seconds per rank. (Max 15 seconds)Max 3 ranks.Requirements: NoneEnhance: InterceptImprove reuse by 5 seconds per rank. (Max 15 seconds)Max 3 ranks.Requirements: 2 points in Enhance: Intervene

Enhance: IntercedeImprove reuse by 5 seconds per rank. (Max 15 seconds)Max 3 ranks.Requirements: 2 points in Enhance: Intercept

Soak HitRequirements: 9 points in Sacrifice abilities. Costs 1 point.Attention

Enhance: ImposeImproves reuse by 1 second per rank. (Max 5 seconds)Requirements: None

Enhance: TauntImproves reuse by 0.7 seconds per rank. (Max 3.5 seconds)Requirements: 3 points in either Enhance: Intervene, or Enhance: Impose

Enhance: Feign DeathImproves reuse by 0.5 seconds per rank. (Max 2.5 seconds)Requirements: 3 points in Enhance: Taunt, or Enhance: Shoulder Charge

Alternate: ShiftinessEach point increases de-threat amount. (Max 490).Requirements: 3 points in either Enhance: Intercept, or Enhance: Feign Death

Enhance: RescueIncreases threat position by 1 per rank. (Max 3 positions)This ability costs 2 points per rank (6 total to max).Requirements: 3 points in either Alternate: Shiftiness, or Enhance: Haymaker

EvadeRequirements: 20 points spent in any of the Attention abilities. Costs 1 point.

Knockouts

Enhance: StampImproves damage by 5% per rank. (Max 25%)Requirements: None

Enhance: Shoulder ChargeImproves damage by 5% per rank. (Max 25%)Requirements: 3 points in either Enhance: Impose, or Enhance: StampEnhance: IntimidateImproves duration by 1 second per rank. (Max 5 seconds)Requirements: 3 points in Enhance: StampEnhance: HaymakerImproves damage by 5% per rank. (Max 25%)Requirements: 3 points in either Enhance: Feign Death, or Enhance: Shoulder ChargeEnhance: Sucker PunchImproves damage by 5% per rank. (Max 25%)Requirements: 3 points in Enhance: IntimidateEnhance: Knockout CombinationImproves damage by 5% per rank. (Max 25%)Requirements: 3 poitns in either Enhance: Haymaker, or Enhance: Sucker PunchDragRequirements: 20 points spent in any of the Knockouts abilities. Costs 1 point.

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There's some neat options, nothing too spectacular. I was at first taken aback by the detaunts, but honestly... every other tank got at best 2-3 abilities that could help directly with aggro, so we aren't being dumped on here compared to the rest. And now it'll be nice to have the DPS option available... I guess. Seems kinda like they gave up on us being real tanks.Anyways, here's a few build ideas I've been thinking on:Going by latest Info (11/27).DPS Build Knockouts: Stamp (5), Shoulder Charge (5), Intimidate (3), Haymaker (5), Sucker Punch (5), Knockout Combination (5), Drag (1)Attention: Impose (5), Taunt (5), Feign Death (5), Shiftiness (5), Evade (1) Unfortunately you must put points into the two Taunts to get the final evade ability. This will help with normal group play if you need to double as offtank or even full tank, while still maintaining full DPS build for raids. Brawler AA's: Either Str/Sta/Int 4, 4, 8, or Sta/Wis/Int 4, 4, 8.Tank Build Conditioning: Ignore Agony (5), Tenacious Will (3), Vigorous Spirit (5), Hardened Skin (5), Stone Deaf (4), Retribution of Stone (1)Attention: Impose (5), Taunt (5), Rescue (6)Knockouts: Shoulder Charge (3), Haymaker (3), Knockout Combination (5) This would give you the biggest increase to the mitigation abilities, as well as the "stoneskin on riposte". The three taunt increases are obvious enough, and the extra damage would help with aggro too, especially KC. Brawler AA's: In this case, having a higher riposte helps proc that stoneskin. So Strength 4, 4, 8, 8 and Intelligence 4, 4, 4, 5, 8 would emphasize the parrying and riposte bonuses, as well as Intelligence's mitigation boost.Oh... and it's been stated that 20% of parries are ripostes... so increasing parry is key here too.Offtanking Build Sacrifice: Intervene (3), Intercept (3), Intercede (3), Soak Hit (1)Attention: Taunt (4), Shiftiness (5), Rescue (6), Feign Death (5), Evade (1)Knockouts: Stamp (3), Shoulder Charge (3), Haymaker (3), Knockout Combination (5)Conditioning: Ignore Agony (5) This would give you Soak Hit's bonus, and the detaunts (cuz you aren't normally tanking). Rescue for when playing the tank or part of a memwipe situation, Feign Death and Taunt just to get Evade really, although they may help in keeping you versatile. Ignore Agony so you heal a bit better when you take that hit. Damage abilities because that's what you'll be doing mostly, when not taking the hit.Timers just aren't as important if you are only offtank, so Vigorous Spirit increases aren't exactly necessary, and the reuse benefit on Stone Deaf/Close Mind won't help enough. Brawler AA's: Really, not a bit deal what AA's are chosen here, as you aren't really being the tank. Since you'll have detaunts, a full DPS build would be fine.VersatileConditioning: Ignore Agony (4)Sacrifice: Intervene (3), Intercept (3), Intercede (3), Soak Hit (1)Attention: Impose (5), Taunt (5), Shiftiness (5)Knockouts: Stamp (3), Shoulder Charge (3), Intimidate (3), Haymaker (3), Sucker Punch (3), Knockout Combination (5), Drag (1)This build will give you a nice mix of all aspects, so you'll get a benefit no matter what role you are trying to fill. Taunts will greatly help group tanking, along with the increased self heal. The entire offtanking line is available (which, if used right, can help tanking). Then you have DPS and Shiftiness for when you want to full out DPS (raid viable).Brawler AA's: Most any will fit in this instance. Probably best to have a mix of DPS and tanking, so going down the Int line for crits/parry, and then either Wisdom or Strength (depending on if you use weapons or not) to get the bonus damage and either ripostes or health.That's all. There you go folks.

*EDIT*- Updated the requirements for the Sacrifice line. Each one requires 3 points in the previous one. It is by far, the most restrictive line... basically if you want any of the abilities down that line you have to go for the whole dang thing. It doesn't allow cross catching like the others do.

- Added that names change based on your level.

- Updated Evade info, was going by old info.

- 11/04, Updated info in red. Basically a general increase in values for damage increase, reduction in reuse, and some durations increases. Also, mitigation and heal %s are increased. I guess they are basically ramping it up to be more worthwhile.

- 11/10, Updated info in red. Change in point requirements for final abilities. Now require 20 points in the line, but only costs 1 for max benefit. This means you spend 1 extra point than before, but 4 of them are in the actual line.Also, Sacrifice line requirements were reduced DRASTICALLY, basically going from 20 points cost for the whole line, to 10 point cost. This line can now be tacked on to most builds that aren't completely focused in two lines. Now if only they would make the first two abilities something worthewhile... at least it's only a loss of 6 points.

- 11/12, Very minor update. They tweaked the Sacrifice line again, now it requires spending points in the whole line (can't proceed from cross lines), but only requires 2 points in the previous ability. So you only need to spend 4 points to get the 3rd ability, and putting 5 points into it will get you the final.They seem to be trying to be as nice as possible with that line without giving us actual 3 seperate increases to all three abilities. Honestly, I can't see it being overpowered if it were that way, and I can definately see people NOT going down that line ever, even WITH changing it. Oh well...

- 11/12, Another minor update done midday. Tweaked Sacrifice line once more, max 3 ranks in each ability. So big fat 15s reduction in reuse. Soooo you will have to max out the entire line, although it still only costs 10 points in total.Also, the AA tree now has a better look, indicating more clearly which abilities open which.

Oh, and it now says 20% chance to proc for Retribution of Stone. I dunno...

- 11/27, Late update, sorry. Not sure when this was changed, maybe during the flurry of updates after the expansion came out? Anyways, the reduction on reuse for Taunt was increased to 0.7s per rank... so in the end you can have a Taunt every 4.5s.Also, Evade and Drag were changed slightly. Evade had it's range of dethreat made smaller... lower max, but higher minimum. Drag was simplified greatly.. basically it supposedly lets you pull the mob with you, and forces it to target you for 5s. At a recast of 1m30s it's not the be-all, but it'll be nice for offtanking that's for sure.

Message Edited by Raidi Sovin'faile on 11-27-2006 09:26 PM