Curse

Snow Bunny · Jul 25, 2008, 10:37 PM // 22:37

Hi, this'll be short and sweet because well, there's really not that much to it.

You've finally gotten your ele that sweet 15k armor, and you've loaded up that MindBlast bar from PvX that everyone wants.

Now you need some weapons.

In times past, Rago's Staff was in vogue because getting perfect equipment was difficult and the stats on it weren't that bad. Now we're in the 21st century and you can get pretty much anything.
There's a couple sets you can have - let's for the sake of ease assume you're a fire Ele.

A lot of people have this very odd misconception that more energy = better. Screw that, it's wrong. When the idiot in your pug pings "My Energy is 140/140" you should probably leave the pug. Most elementalist bars use an Attunement skill, and a lot use Glyph of Lesser Energy and/or some type of other Energy-management skill like Glowing Ice.

Unless every skill on your bar costs 25, you shouldn't have problems, but you still need weapons!

#1 you're a 60AL squishy that gets ripped to shreds. Every bit of defense counts, so have a shield set. That means a martial weapon and a shield. The weapon has +30 HP on it, and should either have 10%HSR or +5energy. The shield, while you're not speccing into Tactics, Command, Motivation, or Strength (please don't) should give you 8 armor.

That 8 armor, combined with a +30 mod and another +10vs. [insert damage type here] will make you 78 AL against the damage type you specced against, and 68 vs. everything else.

It helps, trust me.

#2 You're casting constantly, or you should be unless you're one of those people with a bar full of 30second recharge spells (which you shouldn't do).

Because you're casting all the time, and some of those casts add up over time (5 second Meteor Shower + 2 second Fireball + 1 second liquid flame + 3 second Rodgort's Invocation = 11 seconds of casting, as an example) you want to try your best to minimize that. Take a wand with 20%HSR and 20%HCT and a focus with the same stuff.

This is your '40/40' set, and you should be in it most of the time. What this means is you have a 32% chance for a 1/2 cast, and a 4% chance for a 1/4 cast. When Meteor Shower casts in about 1 second you'll thank me. If you've ever monked, trying getting a 1/16 cast RoF - you don't even move. Sit in this set all the time.

#3 Your staff. Ugh, Take this if you want, but it's fairly unnecessary. The staff has close stats to your offhand, except it has a 20% enchanting mod as well. Use this if you feel you need it for attunements.

#4 Whatever you want really. Some people are weird and take High Sets (+30 additional energy than normal, -2 energy regen. I'd eat my hat before I did this on an ele). When I ele, I commonly spec into another attribute line for more utility.

If it's /Mo, it's probably Aegis so I actually might have a prot staff. If it's /Rt it's for splinter weapon and I have a 40/40 channeling set there, or if I'm speccing into water magic for snares so I can pew pew the crap out of people, it's a 40/40 water set. Slot 4 is situational - it can be unnecessary, but if you want to be the most efficient ele you can, embrace the situational.

Occasionally, you may want a bow for pulling - consider this as well.

Tyla · Jul 25, 2008, 10:42 PM // 22:42

Didn't Divine do something similar to this?

Or wasn't that the "40/40 FTW!!!" thread?

Oh, nice summary too Snow. /Votesticky.

zelgadissan · Jul 25, 2008, 11:36 PM // 23:36

Very well summarized. I noticed there's really nothing like this in the elementalist guide sticky at the top, at least in the actual teaching posts.

Honestly with some slight generalization this is something that pretty much every caster class could use a good looksee at, even if Divine went ahead and put it in his. /sticky here too.

BFG · Jul 26, 2008, 12:07 AM // 00:07

Nice post and I agree that it could be a plus to have it stickied. Many casters don't realize how useful those spare weapon slots are when there's a shield in one of them. That, with a longbow, 40/40 set, and secondary class/situational set, you can't go wrong.

Personally, I'm quite fond of Rago's Flame Wand and The Kinderlock as a set for a fire ele, if just for nostalgic reasons.

Tyla · Jul 26, 2008, 12:23 AM // 00:23

^
To be honest, alot of people usually just camp a single weaponset not aware you can switch them mid-battle. Either that or they're just lazy. There's no reason not to purchase some sets now, especially considering how dirt cheap they are.

Murmel · Jul 26, 2008, 12:40 AM // 00:40

Yeah nice thread. /votesticky

Perhaps we'll get rid of these "Ele with a sword WTFNub?" threads..

Ghostcell · Jul 26, 2008, 02:17 AM // 02:17

eh, almost agree.

agree with the martial weapon and shield, and then 40/40 set.
but other then that i take a +15energy -1 regen set (both wand and offhand).
and a longbow (for pulling) for when i'm h/hing

Chthon · Jul 26, 2008, 03:49 AM // 03:49

You forgot the bow. Every PvE char should have a longbow/flatbow for pulling. (Especially in a PUG where it's a safe bet no one else has one.)

Shyft the Pyro · Jul 26, 2008, 06:30 AM // 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chthon

You forgot the bow. Every PvE char should have a longbow/flatbow for pulling. (Especially in a PUG where it's a safe bet no one else has one.)

I've amazed many a PuG with spell-based pulling: hit it, run back to the party while it tries to hit back, let tank(s) block it off and blast it once it gets snared. Shuts up ineffective tank pullers who defend themselves with "I want to see you do better!" pretty well, in my experience - enough to have them be quiet for the whole FoW/UW run, for example

The only thing I have to add to the above is this:

4. "Farming utensils." If you're going to farm with an elementalist, you will most likely rely on Earth-based enchantments and/or point-blank range spells. To enhance both at the same time, use a 20% ench and a 10% cast (or +5 energy, though you should not be desperate for it as an ele) axe or sword with a +12 energy, +10AL v. Earth, and +45HP while enchanted (or 10% cast or 20% cast Earth) Earth focus. An enchanting spear would work too, but the sword or axe will make you auto-approach enemies to get them into range of [sliver armor] or [teinai's crystals], and the focus item's +10AL and +45HP should always apply when you're running [Stone striker] and [mantra of earth], combining with Geomancer insignia for an incredible damage reduction even before [stoneflesh aura].

Mouse at Large · Jul 26, 2008, 09:59 AM // 09:59

I agree with the general concensus here, however, and I stress that this is only from my perspective, I've found that I can pretty much use a single set for the vast majority of NM/HM including vanquishing.

I tend to run a MB/MoR/twin heats with TNTF as utility. Maybe not "optimal", but it works for me. For this my set of choice includes a 15/-1 offhand giving me a base 104 energy.

I would also say that the majority of vanquishing has been done with a single other human player, generally running some form of slightly modified Sabs. I've come to the conclusion that in terms of general HM gameplay, fire damage+burning>fire damage alone.

However, that's just my experience

Chthon · Jul 26, 2008, 07:34 PM // 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shyft the Pyro

I've amazed many a PuG with spell-based pulling

I'm not a big fan of spell pulling.

If you've got another mob to worry about, you want the longbow/flatbow to maximize the distance you can keep from the other mob. Sometimes that extra .15 arrgo radii is the difference between a clean pull and an over-aggro.

If the mob has spells that worry you (massive damage, snares, etc.), you want the longbow/flatbow so that you can stay out of spell range. (Remember: Targeted spells only check their range at the start of casting. If you're close enough for them to start their cast, running away won't help you. Also, remember that your spells have an aftercast, so spell pulling is going to give the monsters on the far side of the mob .75 sec to get into spell range and start their casts.)

If you don't have either of those concerns, you might as well do the pull with your aggro bubble. Spell pulling doesn't give you a sustained distance advantage over bubble pulling because, although spell pulling starts with a .2 aggro radii advantage, the monsters are liable to close that gap during your aftercast. Also, body pulling allows you to "dance" to ball up a mob better for AoE, while much of the time for "dancing" is consumed by the aftercast with a spell pull.

All that said, a well performed spell pull is infinitely preferable to a poorly done pull of any sort. But it's still no substitute for having a bow on hand when you need it.

Valaric · Aug 01, 2008, 10:42 AM // 10:42

Thanks for this guide! I enjoyed reading it, although i already knew most of this, i could of done with a guide like this a while ago!

Tyla · Aug 01, 2008, 03:54 PM // 15:54

^
I HEARD WEAPON SWITCHING WAS GOOD!

Faster casting is better, and Assassin's Promise builds don't impact the usage of a 40/40 set. Meteor Shower can't kill a mob on it's own. Don't just say it's obselete because you've got a HCT skill slot.

Oh, and again:

Quote:

Every little helps!

Snow Bunny · Aug 01, 2008, 04:18 PM // 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterT69

40/40 is a crappy ass mod if you're running an [assassin's promise] build because who cares if u glyph sacced MS and are now hoping for 45 sec recharge? AP will recharge it the second the hexed foe dies. And as for faster casting, [mindbender] makes the casting time obsolete.

Except that it involves you running a subpar build with 3 skills that can be replaced by weapon switching.

But, whatever.

MisterT69 · Aug 01, 2008, 04:56 PM // 16:56

Welll...imo, considering the hundreds of variations of AP builds for every caster, not just ele, i've just found that the superb emanagement of AP packed on w/some nice aoe, [meteor shower][teinai's heat][searing heat] or just some pure ele dmg like [liquid flame]. And being able to spam liquid flame every time an enemy dies not to mention the aoe damage it gets if the condition is met, is pretty fun. The only time its a nuisance is if the hex gets stripped but other than that, it's just pure instarecharge + perma HCT (if you go mindbender).

But of course there's np with going w/other builds. I myself switch to w/e element when the situation calls for. And for those, 40/40's or most other sets work just fine. I'm just saying that running a versatile AP build which doesn't rely on what weapon sets you have can prove to be quite beneficial.

And when I don't go AP, to go SH or SF or w/e other build I'm running, if I do have an optional slot open, [air of superiority] also fills in as a non-elite version of AP. And it does have its perks compared to some weapon sets. But again, it's mostly situational. I usually only use air when I know there gonna be a massive mob that I'm going to have to nuke and there's a greater chance of getting "Is there anything I can't do!" Other than that, you have to use your weapons wisely

Tyla · Aug 01, 2008, 05:04 PM // 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister

I'm just saying that running a versatile AP build which doesn't rely on what weapon sets you have can prove to be quite beneficial.

Why did you say they suck in this scenario then?

There is no build that relies on what weaponsets you have, except for a few farming builds. However, not running a weaponset is bad. You should also be utilising every possible thing you can use.

Snow Bunny · Aug 01, 2008, 05:09 PM // 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterT69

snip

The skill combinations you mentioned don't give you any utility and thus are bad. TH+SH in HM will plink for tiny numbers, and MS won't hit for much either, thus you have to rely on your utility. Not to mention that throwing around so much AoE will cause monster scatter.

Stop trolling my thread with bad advice. This was designed to help people, not make them mediocre idiots.

This thread was for newer players who post threads in Guru requesting weapon advice - it's to help make them better, not make them lazier.

MisterT69 · Aug 01, 2008, 06:17 PM // 18:17

@ OP: Again, I'm not downplaying your weapon sets one bit. I'm also not saying massive fire aoe=omgub3rwtfl0lh4x dmg. I'm just trying to say how 30-60 sec recharging spells which aren't hit w/the 40/40 cast and recharge now have that downtime that many eles just hate. What I was trying to say was that w/AP, 30-60 sec cast times are now 5-10 secs depending on how fast you kill a foe. Your weapon set ideas are great and most eles should b using at least 2 of those. It's just some ele builds don't rely on the mods of the weapon sets, AP as an example. Other builds...yes

That's just my opinion tho :/

Edit: Sorry if any of my posts offended you. This is what happens when you make random posts while pissed >< I do on the other hand like the idea of your original post, only I would like to add one thing to it. Since your thread is targeting beginning ele's, they probably won't have the money to afford true 40/40 sets, especially considering how expensive some can get (tormented, destroyer, etc...) So maybe if you could, include weapon collectors who craft 20/20 wands and offhands so all these guys have to do is farm 5 collector items and trade em in for a perfect 40/40 set

This method can prove to be a lot more cost effective, at least until they become better ele's and have more money to afford more expensive skins.

Tyla · Aug 01, 2008, 06:21 PM // 18:21

The chance of extra cast time or recharge time is always good regardless of build.

Rick Thene · Aug 02, 2008, 04:42 AM // 04:42

Nice thread. /gogosticky

Just one question. Why do you recommend an enchanting mod on the staff? It just seems a waste if it's only going to be for an attune. Surely a Staff Wrapping of Devotion or Fortitude would be better?