Weed Mage

[spraggeth]

Currently thinking about converting my ranger to a weed mage to give it a go. I set him up for escorts right now but I am still getting wrecked a decent amount so I think I am going to ditch that idea. I have a little bit (100k BPs) before I can afford my next fixskill potion but I figured I'd get some opinions. I have read through the older posts on weed mage and there is multiple type builds going around but I did not see any combat logs. My build idea is as follows at level 83 halfling ranger:

70 Armor Ranks
2x Ranged
1x PF
1x Dodge
50 climb/swim
2x Perc
1x FA/Surv
1x HP
20 MnS
115 Ranger

How would you tweak this? This seem viable? Is 70 armor ranks too much for the 9% spell hind that comes with it? Should I double up on PF? Should I ditch some ranger spells and get some lore? These are my main questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It is tough to figure this out as I have not found any combat logs at this point.

Thanks for any help.

[Nosimaj]

I spiked from Aqueducts in OTF (about your level) to about 95 after which I returned to bow and arrow. I did it with a max AS build. I didn't have any dodge and my armor use was and is only 8 ranks. I find that it is up to the player and is based on one's tolerance of spell hinderance. I wore 102 during these levels along with the usual and did well. The rest of my training is pretty much identical putting all remaining points into ranger ranks.

I think you will find it works well. If you are looking for a more druidesque ranger build look at Ryku on PC. He had a pretty unique weed mage build going well into cap. If I recall I think he did it from his 60s into post cap. Someone else posted in the same thread if I recall that they did it earlier with some good success maybe Tgo, I can't really recall without looking it up.

Either way you go is viable and I found it ideal when I started OTF.

Good luck and enjoy it.

[loxe]

if you can find a higher level paladin to give you armor fluidity it will cut your hindrance down to around 5%

[Luftstreitkräfte]

I did weedmage for about 15m exp between a few rangers. (I had Jaeden afk in nelemar for 3 months straight without dying.)

70 Armor Ranks (just get enough for brig. that's all you need)
2x Ranged (go sword board. ranged is gay and your DS will suffer. sword board and you just don't die.)
1x PF
1x Dodge (probably can get away with less)
50 climb/swim (why not 30 of each?)
2x Perc (1x is fine)
1x FA/Surv
1x HP
20 MnS
115 Ranger (just go 1x. you won't need more unless you are hunting the wrong places)

get combat maneuvers so you can get cmans like focus and cdef.
if you want to kill stuff get 1x ambush. remember, ranged is for losers.
if you need TD get blessings lore. but i like to get maybe .5x in summoning lore just for fun. but you really don't need it.
also CoL or you're gay.

=Drew

keep wall of thorns up all the time.

[BriarFox]

I've always been of the opinion that a druid build is really only doable post-cap, but here are a few suggestions:

1) Drop the armor to 30 ranks for brig for 6% hindrance
2) Drop ranger spells to level+20 (which is perfectly amazing for spike thorn and such)
3) Drop the FA/survival and some of the climb/swim if needed.
4) If you're not GoS, go GoS and convert your extra stamina to mana. Get some stamina regen items to help.
5) Hunt with 102 up, as nosimaj mentioned.
6) Consider picking up some spiritual mana share for the extra mana regen (1/10 ranks) and the power spellup benefits.
7) Make good use of 650: For you, perhaps move back and forth between Porcupine and Owl for defense and CS (if you're doing 635 frequently).

Definitely stay with ranged, by the way; it's far better defensively with a magic-heavy dodge build and has lower TP costs than sword and board. Post cap, I am a huge fan of 140, but I doubt you have the mana or the extra TPs to get it and make good use of it right now.

[spraggeth]

I've always been of the opinion that a druid build is really only doable post-cap

Why until post cap? Just mana concerns?


2) Drop ranger spells to level+20 (which is perfectly amazing for spike thorn and such)
3) Drop the FA/survival and some of the climb/swim if needed.

This frees up a ton of TPs and you didn't really mention what you thought would be a good replacement. Are you just recommending putting those TPs to defensive traits like 2x PF and what not?

[BriarFox]

Why until post cap? Just mana concerns?



This frees up a ton of TPs and you didn't really mention what you thought would be a good replacement. Are you just recommending putting those TPs to defensive traits like 2x PF and what not?

Partly mana but also just the TPs needed to overtrain spells. Fortunately a defensive ranged build takes minimal TPs. For the extra TPs, you've got at least three options. 1) 74 ranks of CMAN for cdef rank 5 and disarm rank 5, 2) 1x summoning lore, 3) 1x+ ambush to increase ranged AS. Personally, I'd probably do #2.

[SHAFT]

I'm certain this mage would be much better if he didn't use so much weed. Lay off the weed, flunky!

[spraggeth]

For those that may or may not be curious. I dropped a ton of stuff and am trickling in stuff as I go as I only had one fixskills. This is current at level 84:

Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Ranged Weapons.....................| 184 84
Physical Fitness...................| 184 84
Dodging............................| 184 84
Harness Power......................| 184 84
Perception.........................| 268 168
Climbing...........................| 150 50
Swimming...........................| 90 20

Spell Lists
Minor Spiritual....................| 20

Spell Lists
Ranger.............................| 84

>exp
Level: 83 Deeds: 10
Experience: 5822015 Death's Sting: None
Exp. until next: 10485 Recent Deaths: 5
Mental TPs: 644 Fame: 32194669
Physical TPs: 2697 Mana: 118/253 max
Long-Term Exp: 0


As you can see I still have a ton of unspent points. So far the only thing to seem lacking is my TD. My DS dropped by around 30 or so. Going from level -20 to level in Rangers increased the potency of 616 to a point of ridiculousness. Don't even know if further over training would be worth it. Average of two casts per kill. Very, very seldom does it take 3. I am CoL as well so my mana pool is over 500 after wracking at level 84. Not that I ever need it. Can almost go from 0 to fried in just over one mana bar.

Still open to more suggestions. I got this build from Ryku after talking with him. He told me lore is not worth it until far post cap.

Currently thinking of dumping points into CMAN and maybe 2x PF for more survivability. Probably get disarm and combat focus for the TD. After that, maybe extra mana and MnS to 40 to run 140 all the time. Thoughts?

[BriarFox]

2x ranged and 20 ranks MIU, then flavor to taste.

[Ceyrin]

Quit trying to curse him with arrows.

Also, a real weed mage is .5x lores, at least. I'd go with the already recommended summoning lore.

I love the choice of doubles. Spell hindrance definitely impacts survivability.

[Destrier]

You may wish to consider tangle weed then spike on some foes, if it is taking you 2 spikes to kill average. You may find you use less mana per kill by putting it prone first.

[BriarFox]

Quit trying to curse him with arrows.

Also, a real weed mage is .5x lores, at least. I'd go with the already recommended summoning lore.

I love the choice of doubles. Spell hindrance definitely impacts survivability.

The 2x ranged is for DS - really!

[spraggeth]

Also, a real weed mage is .5x lores, at least. I'd go with the already recommended summoning lore.

I love the choice of doubles. Spell hindrance definitely impacts survivability.

The lores seem like a moot point right now as I don't use 635 that much. To have less than a 50% extra chance at another damage cycle on 616 doesn't seem worth it.

The doubles for the no spell hindrance definitely make the mana go further but they add another problem, the TD issue that comes with worse CvA.

[spraggeth]

The 2x ranged is for DS - really!

I may end up doing this if I have left over TPs. 2x ranged is a lot of TPs for 30 DS though. My defense is still at 552 right now. We will see. I need to fix a bit of the CvA problem first though.

[spraggeth]

You may wish to consider tangle weed then spike on some foes, if it is taking you 2 spikes to kill average.

Might save on mana but not on time. I view this build as a kill quickly type of decision that I made. Even that short delay before 610 pulls them down can be risky. Mana isn't an issue right now either. I suspect it will be even less of an issue if I choose to increase my ranger spells even more.

I have actually considered switching to GoS. What is everyone's thoughts on that? I am a halfling so I get to maximize the benefits of of wracking. However, that -10% to DS (I have 10 spirit) or -20% if one of my signs wears off in the middle of the hunt can be risky. Considering I am thinking about going 2x PF I will have 150 stamina in a couple of levels which would equal to 25 mana every stamina pulse essentially.

[Nosimaj]

It's personal preference but with this build I like spirit enhancives with CoL as halfling. But sans the enhancives I could see both being great however I wouldn't go to GoS unless 2x PT. So I think your thought are in the right spot.

[spraggeth]

May be going back to Aug Chain. TD is a real issue. I died with an end roll of 106 today to what I am guessing was 409. Rank three neck wound. Rolled a 75. I don't know how anyone can play this build in doubles as a non-halfling (+40 ETD). It was instant cast on entering the room. No chance to CC.

Even with 20 extra CvA from aug chain I could still get hit. Might have to do combat focus and aug chain. Dead DPS = No DPS. No matter how powerful 616 can be, if you're dead you aren't killing.

[Ryku]

TD is a real pain man. Post cap that still was my number one issue. I tried going GoS and it was even worse, if I remember right. I got as much as I could from CMANs and enhancives, and aspect of the owl was a must for the spirit for wracking. Pretty sure that boosts your TD too ya?

[spraggeth]

TD is a real pain man. Post cap that still was my number one issue.

So you thinking aug chain might be worth the 9% hindrance?

[Ceyrin]

Blessing lore for more TD?

[spraggeth]

Blessing lore for more TD?

Only things there is you are spending 95 lore ranks 0/10 TPs per to get +10 spirit TD. That is a lot of points for not a lot of gain. Be cheaper to get focus and get the +10 to all spheres. Or to give up 4 spell ranks and train to 70 ranks in armor for +20 CvA. At least that is how I view it.

[Ryku]

The 9% is a bitch, but it's a bitch you can count on. Is it worth the TD? Your call. I'd say yes, for sure. I rocked the aug chain for a long time, going doubles after cap because I could, but it still gets me killed sometimes. Doubles is fun and as far as post cap end game goes, is probably the way to go, but it has its trade offs no doubt, especially pre-cap.

[spraggeth]

The aug chain is just so much cheaper than doing CMANs for +10 TD which still isn't enough. I am about to dump in and get back into aug chain. So far I have died to TD issues three times in a couple days and lost one bow (itchy curse, lost it while running ;go2 and didn't stow it quick enough. Dropped it in a random room and had to cypher through my logs to find the room. Meanwhile Mr. Janitor had already got it).

The 9% can be a bitch I am sure, but when the only thing I am dying to is TD, I am not concerned with a 9%. It shouldn't get me killed very often if at all.

[Sherlock]

I'll add to this.. My weed mage is lower level (68) and hasn't hit the TD issues Spraggeth has had. I have mostly avoided critters that cast CS spells. I've stuck to minotaur/yeti with bounties usually sending me to the Red Forest. Absolutely love being a weed mage. I fry incredibly quickly and have no mana issues (COL).

Armor Use..........................| 130 35
Ranged Weapons.....................| 170 70
Physical Fitness...................| 170 70
Dodging............................| 170 70
Harness Power......................| 170 70
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Spiritual Lore - Summoning.........| 160 60
Survival...........................| 170 70
Perception.........................| 170 70
Climbing...........................| 130 35
Swimming...........................| 105 25
First Aid..........................| 140 40

Spell Lists
Minor Spiritual....................| 20

Spell Lists
Ranger.............................| 88

Level: 68 Deeds: 18
Experience: 4220747 Death's Sting: None
Exp. until next: 96753 Recent Deaths: 1
Mental TPs: 0 Fame: 29206435
Physical TPs: 31 Mana: 206/206 max
(1996 Phy converted to Mnt)
Long-Term Exp: 0

The couple of times I died since fixskills was being put to sleep or being knocked down and bound inside of the Red Forest. Like Spraggeth I've had no DS issues at all.

[Sherlock]

Just a follow up to this.. Is it 30 or 35 ranks to fully offset all brig penalties including maneuvers? I might have slightly overtrained in armor.

[BriarFox]

Just a follow up to this.. Is it 30 or 35 ranks to fully offset all brig penalties including maneuvers? I might have slightly overtrained in armor.

30.

[Sherlock]

30.

Thanks. I'll have to go ahead and start migrating those extra 5 ranks down.