Curse

Fenix Swiftblade · Apr 03, 2005, 09:32 PM // 21:32

I'm trying to make a Ranger/Warrior build based on the stances in Expertise and Tatics, but I'm having trouble rounding him out.

What I have so far:

Expertise: 10(+1,+2 mask/rune)
Tactics: 11
Swordsmanship: 10

Skills:
Gladiators Defense: 5-10 seconds,75% chance to "Block": block -> 5-29 damage. (10 engergy)(30 recharge)
Whirling Defense: 8-18 seconds, 75% chance to "Block" block -> adjacent foes take 5-17 damage. (10 energy)(60 recharge)
Lightening Reflexes: 5-10 seconds, 75% chance to "evade" attack 33% faster.
(10 energy)(60 recharge)
Bonetti's Defense: 5-10 seconds, 75% chance to block block-> 5 energy (ends if you use a skill.)(8 Adrenaline)
Dodge: 5 seconds, move 33% faster, 27-65% chance to "evade" arrows. ends if you attack. (5 energy)(30 recharge)

Room for 3 attack skills that I can't decide on, though for roleplaying the Riposte Attacks look fun (you can still attack while they're activated right?)

The basic strat here is get as many people as I can to attack me then going into the stances. Because Bonetti's is Adrenal based, and can be used every other stance, and because Galdiators Def has a recharge time of 30, the order wuld be something like Lightning Reflexes, Bonetti's Def, Gladiators Def, Bonetti's Def, Whirling Def, Bonetti's def, Gladiators Def, Bonetti's Def, Lightning Reflexes, repeat.
Expertise combined with the energy from Bonetti's def should mean that I can not only stay in stances indefinitly, but also use all three attack skills while in the non-bonetti stances and still have enough energy.

The only problem is I haven't done enough PvPing to be able to tell if stance defenses are worth it. A good unblockable/unavoidable attack skill would rip through me, but would the bonus of rarely being hit by all the other physical attacks make up for that?

Any ideas for how to improve this char would be great, as would reasons why it wont wont work (solutions to those reasons would be great too)

Kha · Apr 03, 2005, 09:54 PM // 21:54

The problem here: You're a ranger/warrior. You won't get attacked early on. You will be one of the last attacked. Sometimes teams do switch focus to a ranger or warrior to mix things up, or even aiming to kill them, but the fact is that monks are usually the first to get attacked, then casters and monk secondaries. The stances are just a waste of a build and without you doing a good amount of damage (you will have practically no damage since you have no points in a weapon attribute) or interrupting/shutting casters down (one thing rangers are good at) you won't be helpful to your team.

Stances are great, but the best defense is a great offense.

Fenix Swiftblade · Apr 03, 2005, 10:01 PM // 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kha

without you doing a good amount of damage (you will have practically no damage since you have no points in a weapon attribute)

I have 10 ranks in swordsmanship, and unless I missed something thats a weapon attribute... And with the three good attack skills I'm trying to decide on which to use I will have some attack power, if not as much I'd need.

However, I do see your point. I've only used this build in PvE as the groups primary tank, and since the AI isn't the smartest they come after me. I guess that wont happen in PvP or GvG because like you said they wont be coming after me unless I can somehow set myself up inbetween (still wont stop the rangers and casters tho.)

Kha · Apr 03, 2005, 10:15 PM // 22:15

Strange, I swear I never saw Swordsmanship. My fault. But still, it's definately too many stances. 1 is usually enough, 2 if you want to be cautious.

In PvE, it's a lot easier to use more defensive builds. The AI is very smart with who to attack (seems to aim at weakest characters and healers) but the fact is you can do "path blocking" on them so they are stuck fighting your tanks since they can't get to your casters.

Ranger/warriors are great for quick, interrupting builds. Aim at being a highly offensive PvPer with this character and you will do good.

Fenix Swiftblade · Apr 03, 2005, 10:27 PM // 22:27

Yeah, i think I'll keep it the way it is for PvE cause it is kind of a roleplaying build, but for PvP maybe something along the lines of Fourish, Savage slash, Pure Strike, Seeking Blade, etc, and perhaps keep Lightning reflexs for the higher attack speed? Or maybe defensive Skills that help allies like Watch yourself and Shields Up?

Kha · Apr 03, 2005, 10:38 PM // 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenix

Yeah, i think I'll keep it the way it is for PvE cause it is kind of a roleplaying build, but for PvP maybe something along the lines of Fourish, Savage slash, Pure Strike, Seeking Blade, etc, and perhaps keep Lightning reflexs for the higher attack speed? Or maybe defensive Skills that help allies like Watch yourself and Shields Up?

"Watch Yourself!" and Lightning Reflexes would be good, but the recharge of Lightning Reflexes makes it a lot more useful for a quick defense skill. I usually use Frenzy for attack speed and then when I get attacked I put on Lightning Reflexes, Dodge or something to A. cancel Frenzy, and B. help prevent more damage for the time being.

Darc.Syde · Apr 04, 2005, 12:34 AM // 00:34

bonnetti's and gladiator should be enough to hold it forever.

Fenix Swiftblade · Apr 04, 2005, 01:43 AM // 01:43

forever, but not continuously. At those levels the two last for only 9 seconds each, leaving about 5 seconds in between (tho maybe I could fill that with a riposte attack or two...) If theres a second stance that has a 30 second recharge time those three would work.

Darc.Syde · Apr 04, 2005, 02:34 AM // 02:34

well, at 9 secs, that maybe the problem. i had it at 10 on my war and only used bonneti's, that could've been kept up forever.

Fenix Swiftblade · Apr 04, 2005, 06:09 AM // 06:09

what level does your tactics have to be to have it last 10 seconds, cause with the rest of the build 11 is the max it can go. Also having bonettis up all the time isn't great, you can't do anything else.

Darc.Syde · Apr 04, 2005, 06:15 AM // 06:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenix

what level does your tactics have to be to have it last 10 seconds, cause with the rest of the build 11 is the max it can go. Also having bonettis up all the time isn't great, you can't do anything else.

12 tactics is 10 seconds.

ofcourse you wouldnt want bonnetti's up forever. i was just saying i could have, but i dont.

my point is, you have too much stances, taking up too much slots when 1-2 skills can cover 5.

Fenix Swiftblade · Apr 17, 2005, 07:22 PM // 19:22

Just want to say I've been using this build in PvP and it's doing very well. Each of the stances I picked has a great secondary effect (i'm getting shot with arrows quite often so even whirling defense is doing well)

I have the four stances that I listed there plus Pure Strike (i know it's weird in a stance def situation, but the extra damage is good anyway) Seeking Blade, Garlath Slash, and Savage Slash. I'm dealing out a lot of damage when not in a stance and if someone makes the mistake of attacking me they go down fast. (plus staying alive as long as I can really take the burden off the healers)

I would like to add that I haven't played this build against a real organized guild team, so I don't know how it'll fare in that situation, but against the teams I've played so far in HoH I've done great. There was even one battle where my archer friend and I where the last alive and we killed the remaining half of their team for the win. (I just won't die!!

)