Posts: 1,095
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Stockton, CA
IGN: Atma
Server: Clockworks
Guild: Fallen
10-29-2008, 12:00 PM
Quote:
I don't care that this quote of mine has more info than you need, since you didn't ask about RMs. But I'm going to copypasta the entire fucking thing until people read threads that ask the same question.
Quote:
Billposters
Str BP
-Starts AoEing at Lv28, with the earliest AoE skill, and easy mobs. So they can level fast from the start without having to skill spam 1vs1 to Lv65 like other classes.
-A Str AoE can PvP well, As well as giant hunt to *some* effect.
-Due to the narrow area of effect of Piercing Serpent, Many if not most Str AoEs opt for Burst Crack, a wider, cheaper, faster, and nearly as strong a skill.
-If you use buffs to cover your FS's skillset gaps, then you'll be rebuffing them every six minutes. And Stonehand is about long enough for one mob, two if you have int awakenings, maxed mental sign, and/or quick gathering skills.
Int AoE BP
-Fastest casting AoE in the game, which works with stonehand and decrease in magic motion time bonuses.
-Bgvur Tialbold gets more damage per int than Burst Crack and Piercing Serpent get per str point.
-Bgvur Tialbold is learned at Lv70, but an Int build can FS to that level by putting all the int they'll plan to have at 70 asap, then working on sta later.
-MUCH worse at gianting and PvP. It took my 111 Int AoE BP guild lead over 12 minutes to kill a giant glaphan. And PvP is more or less regulated to str awakenings for Asal, and Bgvur spamming.
-Bgvur works in a circle area around the caster, and doesn't require a target, meaning you don't have to retarget if your locked mob dies early. Link attack gets it's effect from being locked, though, so the attribute is double-edged if you refuse to retarget.
-More int means longer buff timers, so the buffs you give yourself to cover the gaps in your FS's skillset won't need to be rebuffed so often. It also does wonders for Stonehand and Prevention.
Ringmasters
Sta/Int-Merkaba Only
-Mainly sta(usually full sta unless you have good equipment), and unless you plan to restat into a Merkaba build, low int FSing/nearly full sta AoEing with Burst Crack is your only viable means to leveling to 80.
-Does not require a Full support if built with enough sta/defensive equipment. One of the only AoE builds that can solo or plvl a leech as desired.
-Merkaba deals damage every 2 seconds for 10 seconds, so to counteract the slow killing speed of Merkaba, the RM pulls huge mobs(as many as possible, often leading to fantastic sights of 80+ Mammoths being tanked and killed simultaneously). This leads to a style that works for exp per instance rather than exp over time.
-Merkaba AoE is slower, but safer than Mercrack AoE. Many RMs use this style if only for the relaxed pace of grinding.
-If geared properly, the only source of healing need be through Prevention, so stocking on pills isn't as important as a more mortal AoE build.
-Infamous for their staying power, including PvP. However, their PvP is regulated to Merk+HC, or supporting allies.
Str/Str-Mercrack
-Uses Merkaba Hanzelrusha and Burst Crack in tandem to deal as much damage as possible.
-Can be leveled with as soon as 28, and Pre-28 can play similar to a nearly full str 1vs1 build.
-Sacrifices the virtual immortality of the Merkaba RM to level faster. This lower sta build requires an FS to level efficiently, and a rage crit/successive crits at the wrong time *can* kill this RM
-Switches to knuck and shield just after casting Merkaba/Recasting Prevention, which may take some practice to do well.
-Pulls smaller mobs than Merkaba RMs, but strives to kills more targets over a certain amount of time than a Merk RM, equating to more exp over the same amount of time grinding.
-It's debated whether the increased offensive power of a Merkrack outplays the tanking ability of a Merkaba RM in PvP.
Summary
Int AoE styles start later, while Str styles start at Lv28.
Str AoEs can giant to some extent, and can PvP, while Int AoEs are not good at either.
Merk RMs only die when they lag for an extended period of time, their Prevention trigger range is lower than the potential crit damage of their mobs, or they simply forget to reapply Prevention. Mercracks will die at some point, due to more factors being able to combine and kill them.
Mercracks can level faster than Merk RMs, but Merk RMs have much easier grinding.
what build? -
10-28-2008, 11:48 PM
Linear Mode
