Curse

TheSneakyBastage · Jul 22, 2008, 04:01 PM // 16:01

i've got a couple of (hopefully) simple questions on refining my build. i've spent a lot of time reading around on these forums looking for ways to tweak my build down to something useful, and have gotten pretty close. first, let me put up the build i'm currently using, and then i'll ask my questions:

[Sever Artery][Gash][Quivering Blade][Bull's Strike][Frenzy][Sprint][Mending Touch][Lion's Comfort]
Swordsmanship: 12+1+1
Strength: 12+1
Protection: 3

Okay, so my questions are as follows. First, is there any compelling argument as to why I should take a different elite attack? I'm only asking about sword here btw. QB is only 4 adren and AB is the only PvP i play (I'm more of an fps player). LC allows me to keep up adren somewhat, but not always, and it's easy to build 4a in a skirmish and use the skill repeatedly. It's side effect is completely irrelevant. It does a good amount of +damage for cheap, so if there is another elite that would be better, please do explain.

Second, I used to run W/R with the same build, using rush and antidote sig because of the W/Mo hate. I switched to this build because LC disabling my antidote sig got annoying sometimes. I switched out antidote sig for mending touch and rush for sprint because it is more reliable. Energy is generally not an issue, even with 4 energy-based skills now. My question is actually regarding bull's strike. I know there are some very strong proponents of bull's, but I am wondering if there is any other potentially more useful team utility skill that could be put there. I have enough utility for myself with LC and mending, but am just wondering if there is anything else from either profession that might help the team, even in tactics if i had to spec some there.

Thanks for any help

theonetheonlybruce · Jul 22, 2008, 04:23 PM // 16:23

you build is not that bad at all my suggestion would be go /n and bring [plague touch] cause if u get the daze from quiver you just trow it over to them and drop sprint for something like[rush] or [enraging charge] im more inclined to enrage for as u mention and its great charge in skill

Abedeus · Jul 22, 2008, 04:26 PM // 16:26

Sprint -> Rush. You don't need Enraging, as you will have enough adrenaline from Lion's Comfort.

theonetheonlybruce · Jul 22, 2008, 04:32 PM // 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abedeus

Sprint -> Rush. You don't need Enraging, as you will have enough adrenaline from Lion's Comfort.

yeah he said he like sprint over rush so enrage would be a good alternative and its not a bad adrenaline starter

Snow Bunny · Jul 22, 2008, 04:36 PM // 16:36

Your build looks fine for AB. Stick with it.

ALso - Bull's Strike is one of the most satisfying (if not amazing) skills to use in this game.
It should stay on your bar for sure.

TheSneakyBastage · Jul 22, 2008, 04:42 PM // 16:42

My questions are actually regarding the elite and any possible replacement for bull's strike....

As for [Plague Touch], i have used it before and found that it's nice unless i get burn or poison thrown on me while im retreating like a scared little girl. in which case obviously i can't use the skill to rid me of the conditions. on a side note though, is plague touch affected by the daze condition? i've never worried about getting daze off of myself, but your point of putting it on the enemy is interesting. however, if it casts slower and gets interupted, well, that's no bueno.

regarding [rush], [sprint], and [enraging charge]: I don't use rush anymore because once i use it, that's it until my next skirmish charges it again. also i have found sprint to be more accessible to cancel frenzy especially in those times where i forget to wait for rush to charge before hitting frenzy, then having to wack something 4 times before being able to cancel... enraging charge is cool for it's instadrenaline, but then u lose the speed boost. i usually use sprint to catch kiting targets and bull's them, after which they get up and continue to run if i havent killed them yet

sprint allows me to keep running them down.

again, my questions were on the elite and replacing bull's, but thanks for your suggestions. anything that makes me think is worth my time

edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by snow bunny

Bull's Strike is one of the most satisfying (if not amazing) skills to use in this game.

I believe you fall into the category of very strong proponents of bull's strike

theonetheonlybruce · Jul 22, 2008, 04:48 PM // 16:48

keep bull its great and your elite is fine only other elites is could suggest are crippling slash and maybe dragon slash but those change your whole build really and as for daze effecting plague it dosnt because its a skill not a spell

TheSneakyBastage · Jul 22, 2008, 04:55 PM // 16:55

ok now that's even more interesting. putting daze on a guardian'd monk would be useful. i'm going to have to test that when i get a chance.

Bobby2 · Jul 22, 2008, 09:27 PM // 21:27

That is fun. However, [plague touch] is painfully less versatile than [mending touch] and your bar lacks a snare to capitalize on the Daze (just Bull's won't cut it against a good Monk).

If I'd alter this it'd probably be the 1st three skills... to
[crippling slash][gash][sun and moon slash]... and stay /Mo if you're not leet enough for /E

EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSneakyBastage

edit: I believe you fall into the category of very strong proponents of bull's strike

Join us or GTFO.

Killed u man · Jul 22, 2008, 09:30 PM // 21:30

/R for [antidote signet] instead of mend touch

Snow Bunny · Jul 22, 2008, 09:31 PM // 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killed u man

/R for [antidote signet] instead of mend touch

Lion's Comfort

TheSneakyBastage · Jul 22, 2008, 09:46 PM // 21:46

Snow bunny beat me to it. As i said originally, i USED to run [antidote signet] and changed because [lion's comfort] disables it for 12 seconds, which makes me a saaad panda.

bobby, it looks like i very well may have to join you because the more i think about it, the more i clarify to myself that party support is best left to the monk. now, if i change the first three skills as you suggest, would u recommend taking [plague touch] or [mending touch] in that scenario? obviously i wouldn't be passing on daze anymore...

also, wtf @ [sun and moon slash]? i dislike that skill because it is 8a (i think) and does only base dmg x 2 (not much from a sword). why not take something like [silverwing slash] or perhaps something else i'm not thinking of that has +dmg and lower adren req? lastly, i suspect the conjure x replaces mending touch? that would help for the dmg, since conjure cripslash seems more like pressure and less like heavy hits (which is what i like about QB). just hypothesizing here, forgive me if i have made any grave errors -_- (i'm at work after all

)

Bobby2 · Jul 22, 2008, 10:00 PM // 22:00

Well, despite the charm of [plague touch], I'd say [mending touch] is vastly superior - you already stated why yourself

Quote:

unless i get burn or poison thrown on me while im retreating like a scared little girl

/E for Conjure X, [shock] if you're good at energy management.

S&M does a great job at
- spike damage
- not screwing your adren like [final thrust] does
- unblockability (!)
- striking twice, actually pumping your other adren skills

TheSneakyBastage · Jul 22, 2008, 10:23 PM // 22:23

hmm. does [shock] go in place of [bull's strike] or something else? this is mainly just curiousity, because tbh i think i'd rather stick with my QB build than be just another conjure cripslash in a sea full of them. but, i'll try running this version of cripslash and if i find it surprisingly effective then i may be convinced to switch over to that.

this is what i think it looks like atm:
[crippling slash][gash][sun and moon slash][shock][frenzy][sprint][conjure lightning][lion's comfort]
swordsmanship: 12+1+1
strength: 8+1
air magic: 10

although in this case, i think [rush] > [sprint] just for e-management purposes. am i close?

Bobby2 · Jul 23, 2008, 03:32 AM // 03:32

The thing with [bull's strike] and [shock] is that they combine so well together, basically ensuring a 6 sec KD lock once Bull's lands.

On [sprint] vs [rush] : It's hard to beat Rush as a cancel stance for Frenzy, but in AB you want your run skill to be energy based, not adrenaline (ty sassi)

Conjure is a great way to boost your damage but if it's going to be a toss up between Shock and Bull's on a War, Bull's anyday.

...ending with cookie cutter Cripslash build