Curse

Pulcino Bagnato · Feb 09, 2006, 10:46 AM // 10:46

Dear friends,
I have a lvl20 Axe War/Monk (see below for details) which, after completing the game, has spent some time refining two builds in order to make some money:

1) Solo Griffon farming
2) Stance tank for Sorrow's Furnace farming (Oro and FA)

These two are well polished and work well.

I now have the desire to do new things and was thinking of three different evolutions of this char:

a) specializing in some quick but profitable runs (would like the volutneer donations technique)
b) being able to work in PUG in the new Underworld (without changing the secondary profession to Me)
c) finding a build similar to my Griffon farming but that can solo kill sand wurms (my current griffon build never dies but would probably take hours killing a sand wurm).

So I am here asking for three different things:

A) Can you think of other directions in which I could keep on having fun with this char ?
B) Do you have any tested builds for any of the a,b,c ideas I have told you about ?
C) Equipment wise what would you deem an intelligent upgrade/change

Thank you in advance for any ideas/suggestions,
Bob

Here is my current Griffon's build:

ARMOR
////////
* Furious Summit Axe of Enchanting (max dmg req 8, dmg +14% when health > 50%, double adr on hit (chance 10%), enchant last +17% longer customized +20% damage)
* Crimson Carapace Shield - armor 16 req 9 tactics, health +45 while in stance, receive dmg -2 while in stance
Droknar's Ascalon Cap
Droknar's Gladiator's armor

RUNES
///////
Superior Vigor
Major Absorption
Major Vigor
Minor Tactics
Minor Axe Mastery

SKILLS
///////
Sprint
Cyclone Axe
Bonetti's Defense
Wild Blow
Executioner's Strike
Gladiator's Defense (elite)
Live vicariously
Mending

ATTRIBUTES (including runes / from a total of 200 attr points)
//////////////
Healing Prayers / 11
Axe Mastery / 12 /(of which 1 from equipment)
Tactics / 10 /(of which 2 from equipment)
the remaining go to Strength for a value of 3 with 3 wasted points

Weeping Wind · Feb 09, 2006, 11:50 AM // 11:50

Hi Bob.

Well,

Quote:

specializing in some quick but profitable runs (would like the volutneer donations technique)

This is fairly simple to do and doesnt really matter if you have an axe hammer or sword. For a quick run that will earn you a little you can try...

Ascalon to Piken > Pretty easy to do. Could earn you a little.
Piken to Grendich > Another easy run, once again could earn you something.
Grendich to Yaks Bend > This is a little longer then the above two and is a little harder. But is still easy when you know how. Can earn upto 500g a run.

I like to run from Beacons to Kryta for about 500g a run. You can do this the donations way aswell which also earns but not as much.

There are plenty of others but these are just the main ones people do.

Quote:

being able to work in PUG in the new Underworld (without changing the secondary profession to Me)

I have never tryed this, so I cant give much help here.

Quote:

finding a build similar to my Griffon farming but that can solo kill sand wurms (my current griffon build never dies but would probably take hours killing a sand wurm).

Once again I have never tryed this but. If you know how to use your build then you can adapt it to kill/farm pretty much anywhere. If you where to take out WIld Blow and Executioner's Strike you could put in a couple of healing skills or a couple of stances that would help. I use the build you are talking about but with a couple of different skills. I use this to farm undead outside gates of krta mission and trolls outside of Forge which works aswell.

I hope this helps. And try these things. You never know it might work

See ya around
Weeping

SaucE · Feb 09, 2006, 12:45 PM // 12:45

I thought Vigor's didn't stack. Why do you have a Sup and Major?

dont feel no pain · Feb 09, 2006, 05:50 PM // 17:50

they dont stack >_<

striderkaaru · Feb 09, 2006, 06:09 PM // 18:09

A) try tanking for uw (the old one) or fow (without using the book). learning to tank properly in those high level areas will take your game to a new level.

B) a - desert runs are fairly fast and easy. you can probably get 300-500g per destination.
b - /mo isn't a good idea if you have any prot monks on the team. switch to /me to help the team out.
c - switch to swords and use glad's defense, riposte, and deadly riposte.

C) vigor runes don't stack. replace the major vigor with a minor strength.

exodite · Feb 10, 2006, 11:30 AM // 11:30

On the note of running another profitable one thats quite easy to do is lions arch to sanctum cay it can be done by most thing and is quite fun to do you can get between 5-8k a run providing no one skips the payment and it take about 20-25 mins and its a good run if you cant do droknars!

Pulcino Bagnato · Feb 10, 2006, 01:32 PM // 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaucE

I thought Vigor's didn't stack. Why do you have a Sup and Major?

You are correct, of course ! :-)

This is just what I expected from my more experienced friends !!! Spotting errors or suggesting anhancements !

Thank you
Bob

Pulcino Bagnato · Feb 10, 2006, 01:38 PM // 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by striderkaaru

A) try tanking for uw (the old one) or fow (without using the book). learning to tank properly in those high level areas will take your game to a new level.

B) a - desert runs are fairly fast and easy. you can probably get 300-500g per destination.
b - /mo isn't a good idea if you have any prot monks on the team. switch to /me to help the team out.
c - switch to swords and use glad's defense, riposte, and deadly riposte.

C) vigor runes don't stack. replace the major vigor with a minor strength.

Thank you a ton for your observations.

A few questions:

A) I'd love to but can't seem to find PUG which fit me. Either you are already skilled or after 10 seconds most pprobably you will have some mildly mentally disturbed player calling you a noob and otherwise trying to make you feel like a Griffon's furuncle :-)

B/b) In this case I would lose the Mending and Live Vicariously skills ? What are the Me equivalents ?

B/c) So you feel the sword is so much better that the axe ? OMG ... it will take me a lot of time and money to replace my trustworthy axe and the related Elites :-(

C) Can you explain the reason for which you specifically suggest replacing the non-stacking rune with a minor strength (as I still do not seem to understand the importance of that attribute given my usage of skills).

Thank you very much
Bob

Pulcino Bagnato · Feb 10, 2006, 01:38 PM // 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by exodite

On the note of running another profitable one thats quite easy to do is lions arch to sanctum cay it can be done by most thing and is quite fun to do you can get between 5-8k a run providing no one skips the payment and it take about 20-25 mins and its a good run if you cant do droknars!

thank you very much.
Bob

Pulcino Bagnato · Feb 10, 2006, 01:41 PM // 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weeping Wind

Ascalon to Piken > Pretty easy to do. Could earn you a little.
Piken to Grendich > Another easy run, once again could earn you something.
Grendich to Yaks Bend > This is a little longer then the above two and is a little harder. But is still easy when you know how. Can earn upto 500g a run.

I like to run from Beacons to Kryta for about 500g a run. You can do this the donations way aswell which also earns but not as much.

Thank you very much. I will try starting these runs. Would you reccomend any special skills for any of these (like remove hex, purge hex, the "elite sprint" (can't rem the exact name)) ?

Take care,
Bob

Me NoFat · Feb 10, 2006, 02:20 PM // 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulcino Bagnato

B/b) In this case I would lose the Mending and Live Vicariously skills ? What are the Me equivalents ?

Thank you very much
Bob

I also suggest a change to W/Me if you have a prot monk going down with you in Tombs. There really is no replacement for Live Vic and Mending but you can start putting out some damage as a stance tank for once. Go cap IW and use it. After that mix in some Dolyaks, shields up, and other stance/shouts. There is a good build here somewhere for a W/Me in new UW I will try to find it and post you a link.

found it

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvndoom

W/Me

12 Illusion
9 str
9 sword (as long as it meets your req)
9 tactics

Equipment: Sword with enchantment mod, shield, Rockmolder. Weapon set #1, sword and shield, Weapon set #2, sword and Rockmolder.

Illusionary Weaponry
Healing Signet
Dolyak Signet
Watch Yourself
Flurry
Sever Artery
Gash
Res Sig

Using a Rockmolder gives you 12 energy that's hidden from the Fear Me spams until you switch over. Then you only have to regen 3 energy to re-cast IW, and switch back to your shield.

When you're not fighting the ghouls and have energy, spamming Flurry with IW lets you put out 34 DPS for 36 seconds (20% enchant mod), making you look like a damn Jedi Ginsu Master out there. When you aren't using IW, Sever and Gash lets you bleed and deep wound everything but the Dream Riders.

Dolyak is for getting up in the Dryders' faces to kick their ass without worrying about Meteor Shower knocking you down. Good for tanking Wurms too.

Too many so-called "tanks" don't even consider how they're going to get around being blind and with zero energy 75% of the time and still be able to contribute other than taking up space.

striderkaaru · Feb 10, 2006, 02:56 PM // 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulcino Bagnato

Thank you a ton for your observations.

A few questions:

A) I'd love to but can't seem to find PUG which fit me. Either you are already skilled or after 10 seconds most pprobably you will have some mildly mentally disturbed player calling you a noob and otherwise trying to make you feel like a Griffon's furuncle :-)

B/b) In this case I would lose the Mending and Live Vicariously skills ? What are the Me equivalents ?

B/c) So you feel the sword is so much better that the axe ? OMG ... it will take me a lot of time and money to replace my trustworthy axe and the related Elites :-(

C) Can you explain the reason for which you specifically suggest replacing the non-stacking rune with a minor strength (as I still do not seem to understand the importance of that attribute given my usage of skills).

Thank you very much
Bob

A) sticks and stones. there are always people who will call you names, whether you deserve it or not. the key is to ignore it. you may not have too much experience in uw or fow, but we all start somewhere. it's ok if you fail miserably the first few times, as long as you learn from your mistakes. after all, why do we fall? so we can learn to pick ourselves up.

a good thing to do might be to browse these forums for uw or fow tanking builds and strategies. i know they're here, as i have participated in those discussions. they may be older threads, so you may have to go back farther. however, they do contain some good information you might like to know before going in.

B) b - the monsters in the new tombs area have a skill called fingers of chaos. this strips enchantments from mo/ or /mo characters. so, your enchants will be stripped immediately anyway. there are no adverse effects for /me, which is why w/me is the best option for tanking in tombs.
c - sword isn't necessarily better. however, for wurms, the ripostes work wonders. it's always good to be versatile and be able to adapt to different situations.

C) as someone has already mentioned, two vigor runes don't stack. thus, the major vigor rune in your setup isn't really doing much. whether you use strength skills or not, i would dump all unused attribute points there and having a +1 will help. each point in strength adds +1% armor penetration to your attack skills. it's a good passive effect for otherwise unused points.