Getting started in Albion

[inqy]

Hi Guys

I'd like to play part time in Exc/Albion a little (perhaps progressing to 50/50). So I'd like some tips on what to do. I have got a plan and I'll outline it here, really tho I'm after advice or perhaps some tips of what NOT to do.

So far I have a lvl37/38 Necro on my 2nd act and I plan to use this to pl myself a Sorcerer on main act. Reason for this is I assume it's a very needed class in groups and would like to play in a group. I'd like to avoid a melee class as this is predominantly what I have been playing on mid/prydwen. Also apart from the necro on 2nd account I don't want to go through the leveling a buffbot to be able to compete also.

Next up spec for the Sorc: 46Mind/28Body. No idea if thats a good idea, just seemed important to have the best aoe mez and as I was so close to top power regen just nudged it up further. Matter better 2nd line?

I've been through the whole toa arti farming and xp grind mess on my main char iniquity on prydwen and don't want to repeat this so apart from maybe a couple levels of ML will this really hurt me if I just max out my standard stats and skills with sc? (as I should always be grouped etc)

Appreciate the help.

 

[Javai]

Most people will tell you to go body as a Sorc these days. I play a mind Sorc though and love it but I would say that to be a competitive Mind Sorc you need to be 44 mind 31 body in order to have aoe root as well as best mezz.

I don't think you'll really miss much not going through the MLs but I think getting capped cast speed and range are essential on Mind Sorc. I still got bruises on my forehead from baning my head on desk when I get target out of range 3 times followed by inst interupt/cc from enemies

 

[inqy]

I bow down to any Sorc's wisdom here. Thanks.

Something I forgot to mention is it worth me beginning PL of sorc now/soon, or wait til necro reaches 50?

 

[Pin]

I'd like to play part time in Exc/Albion a little (perhaps progressing to 50/50). So I'd like some tips on what to do. I have got a plan and I'll outline it here, really tho I'm after advice or perhaps some tips of what NOT to do.

Hi

So far I have a lvl37/38 Necro on my 2nd act and I plan to use this to pl myself a Sorcerer on main act. Reason for this is I assume it's a very needed class in groups and would like to play in a group. I'd like to avoid a melee class as this is predominantly what I have been playing on mid/prydwen.

A Sorc is a much-needed class, but as they are not easy to play (well) and you aren't so familiar with casters or CC, I'd suggest suffering a little and actually playing it in PvE some (lvl 40/45+ AC groups are fast enough - will be faster than a non-botted necro anyway).
It might not wholly prepare you for playing a Sorc in RvR, but it will get you slightly accustomed to the type of 'random' people a new, part-time Sorceror will typically group with in teh zerg

Also apart from the necro on 2nd account I don't want to go through the leveling a buffbot to be able to compete also.

If you've got 2 accounts, you'd be a fool not to put a Cleric on the second one. All you will really need is level 40 and +25% buffs from ToA - doesn't take much time.

Next up spec for the Sorc: 46Mind/28Body. No idea if thats a good idea, just seemed important to have the best aoe mez and as I was so close to top power regen just nudged it up further. Matter better 2nd line?

You'd lose the AE root at 30 Body - this is NOT a good idea.
Popular specs:
44Mind, 31Body (mine) - If you're after the best mezz, go with this one. Nukes are pretty crap if you haven't got time to get good gear or get Realm Rank, so mainly focus on CC. With good (ToA) gear you'll nuke in the 400 range (without debuffs), but at pretty high mana costs.
46Body, 28Mind (or similar) - Primarily into nuking and debuffing, your mezz will last for 5secs (instead of 7!), gets resisted more, etc.
36Mind, 40Body - Jack of all trades. I don't particularly fancy this spec anymore after the lvl 50 lifetap was introduced as the damage difference (once you have some RR) is tiny over 44M, 31B. Lose red mezz and str/con, gain yellow root and dex/qui.

And avoid Matter like the plague

I've been through the whole toa arti farming and xp grind mess on my main char iniquity on prydwen and don't want to repeat this so apart from maybe a couple levels of ML will this really hurt me if I just max out my standard stats and skills with sc? (as I should always be grouped etc)

If you are 44M, 31B without ToA stats you should probably forget about nuking (200-250 unless assisting a Cabby), which is not a bad thing anyway.
If you can get some +castspeed items, and maybe some +dexcap and +duration items (which really aren't hard to get) this is all you'll really need for a CC Sorc.
Caster MLs are generally pretty crap (or sometimes useful, but not critical), so don't worry about those if you don't want to.

 

[Das_Hibbie]

I suggest you don't PL if you plan on playing a sorc The sorc is quite tough class to play and beleive ir or not, the PvE aspect of the game will act as a trainer for you. That's ju my opinion though

 

[inqy]

if sorc is perhaps a bad 1st char choice. What else could I try. With initially no bb but maybe later (much later?)

I'll probably still do sorc, but if I find I'm crap at it, I'll try something else.

 

[Pin]

if sorc is perhaps a bad 1st char choice. What else could I try. With initially no bb but maybe later (much later?)

I'll probably still do sorc, but if I find I'm crap at it, I'll try something else.

It's not like it's your first char (with 3 50s on Pryd), just a different to what you are used to.
You should choose a char that you want to play and think you'll enjoy (as long as you enjoy it, you should get better with practice).

 

[inqy]

I'm willing to give it a go. Just gotta put in the time now to get up to level and armour/sc etc.

Oh and learning the class of course

 

[Flimgoblin]

smite cleric!

your necro is in the right guild (or was anyway) for it anyway

 

[inqy]

well I've not moved, just not played alb for a month or 2. I'm presuming you are joking but then again I'm not up to speed on albion humour. I was under the impression smite clerics weren't so good.

Worse than a sb?

 

[Skilgannon]

Lo Inqy

I know jack about sorcs so the best advice I can give you is listen to Pin as he knows his stuff.

Hope you have fun here.

 

[Alithiel]

Caster MLs are generally pretty crap (or sometimes useful, but not critical), so don't worry about those if you don't want to.

Even if you don't do any other ML's as a Caster, at least do ML1 and go Convoker so you can be someones wood-summoning bitch for door repairs after keep raids/defence!

There are never enough convoker's around when you need them... and those who are always seem to manage to repeatedly summon oaken boards instead of the more useful higher level woods...

 

[Draylor]

I'm not up to speed on albion humour. I was under the impression smite clerics weren't so good.

Not everyone plays only FotM classes, however some people take avoiding FotM further than others.

And then we have Flimgoblin, who for some reason enjoys spec'ing chars in ways some (most?) folks would consider totally gimped.

Shield merc, smite cleric, earth wizard, painworking necro - hes tried them all. Do not take advice on how to spec a char from him - please

 

[inqy]

evil. I knew I joined the wrong guild

 

[Ilienwyn]

don't forget right race for sorc too!!

 

[Flimgoblin]

half-ogre!

(ok ok, inconnu, but Uranga is the only level 50 hogre sorc on excalibur apparently! The only one that shows up in the XML anyway )

Painworking necro was so bad I gave up on it now that's saying something

 

[Wildfire]

Personally I'd suggest going Saracen as a sorcerer, as they have the highest base dex. Also for spec... well at the moment I'd personally say your best bet is to go 40 body 36 mind - split spec. This will allow you to function both as crowd control and as a debuffer / nuker. In modern-day RvR groups typically only run with one sorc and you have to have the best of both worlds.

 

[Thorwyn]

I'd personally say your best bet is to go 40 body 36 mind - split spec. This will allow you to function both as crowd control and as a debuffer / nuker. In modern-day RvR groups typically only run with one sorc and you have to have the best of both worlds.

I agree.
And it´s a pretty good spec for PvE too. You can farm gobos for money or PL toons, not quite as fast as a servant necro with bb or cabbie, but still at an impressive pace.

 

[slaaght]

>Shield merc, smite cleric, earth wizard, painworking necro

Good lad! Some of these classes that aren't FoTM would be rally handy in groups I'm sure. An Earth Wiz with high level damage shield and EB would be very handy indeed for a group for sure.
+14.6 DPS is not to be laughed at, and with purp mobs bashing you the damage shield would be guaranteed to do damage back!

 

[Belomar]

EB is baseline for all Elementalists (Theurgists and Wizards).

 

[slaaght]

>EB is baseline for all Elementalists (Theurgists and Wizards).

A question on that one: Is there a higher damage variance if you are low in +Earth spec?

A contrasting but relevant example I've seen personally is that a Cleric who does not spec encs still gets the baseline buffs, but even those baseline buffs are not as good as one who specs full encs.

Say a +15 STR baseline buff. If you spec encs it seems to give +15 or more, but a full Rejuv would only give you say a +11 buff.

Does that make sense?

 

[Flimgoblin]

25% bonus for full spec
-25% penalty for 1 spec

haven't tested if the damage improves however, my cleric's level 40 damage add (delving at 9.2 dps so in theory with 25% bonus it's 11.5dps)
will overwrite a fire wizard's (1 spec in earth,say) baseline damage add -delves at 10.0 dps so would be 7.5 dps if it was a 25% penalty


However an earth theurgist will overwrite my cleric DA (in theory a 12.5 dps DA)

 

[slaaght]

Interesting. TY for the info.

I'm levelling a full Rejuv Cleric as well as a full Encs, so I'll definitely be able to make a comparison on cleric baseline buffs.

I've got an Earth Wiz to the lofty heights of level 9 , but even at that low level it makes getting other chars from 1-5 a breeze with the damage buff and damage shield.

I enjoy playing the Earth Wiz in groups (is absolutely shite solo) and will take him higher.

 

[Flimgoblin]

it's definitely true for cleric buffs

there was a set of patches that the damage adds were completely unaffected by spec (fire wiz ones would overwrite my earth wiz ones for example) - prior to it earth ones overwrote and fire ones couldn't overwrite, and then lately it's gone back to what it was. (This was around the time of them nerfing high level damage adds in low level pve)

 

[slaaght]

IMO the damage shield should give be a little better damage as it's a specline spell. It gives you a lot less than the baseline damage add, and REQUIRES you get hit for it to work

Found this as well in 1.65 patch notes FWIW:

- The amount of aggro generated by any damage add spells (damage adds or damage shields) has been reduced.

Therefore buffing everyone could be good, even chars you don't want to get aggro, i.e. someone using a detaunt with damage add may be handy.