Empath Help

[100% Wool]

Just came back from a 2 year hiatius and....
I'm a level 62 Empath and have no idea what I'm doing with my skills.
A couple years back I focused on 1106 but I may have missed some important or drastic changes in spells and what not over the past 2 years so if anyone can help with a good training plan using runestaves. Please reply.

Race: Halfling Profession: Empath (not shown)
Gender: Male Age: 23 Expr: 3688684 Level: 62
Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 100 (10) ... 100 (10)
Constitution (CON): 66 (18) ... 50 (10)
Dexterity (DEX): 60 (20) ... 60 (20)
Agility (AGI): 65 (17) ... 65 (17)
Discipline (DIS): 83 (11) ... 83 (11)
Aura (AUR): 88 (14) ... 88 (14)
Logic (LOG): 90 (25) ... 90 (25)
Intuition (INT): 100 (35) ... 100 (35)
Wisdom (WIS): 100 (25) ... 100 (25)
Influence (INF): 100 (20) ... 100 (20)
Mana: 200 Silver: 100

(at level 62), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use.......................... | 30 6
Physical Fitness................... | 99 23
Arcane Symbols..................... | 198 98
Magic Item Use..................... | 198 98
Harness Power..................... | 164 64
Mental Mana Control................| 164 64
Spirit Mana Control................| 164 64
Mental Lore - Manipulation.........| 164 64
Perception...................... ..| 105 25
Climbing.......................... .| 105 25
Swimming........................... | 25 5
First Aid.......................... | 292 192

Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 25

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 30

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 97

I have 1228 PTP to spend as well

I'm also wondering what armor should I be training up to, etc

What my main attack should be, and how I should go about confronting monsters when hunting as far as fighting strategies.

And what spells I should be training in.

Thanks in Advance

[Gan]

Looks like you're a runestaff user.

Here's my empath's training at 100... but he's a brawl/shield combo:
Armor Use..........................| 140 40 (max for brig)
Shield Use.........................| 201 101
Combat Maneuvers...................| 82 18
Brawling...........................| 201 101
Physical Fitness...................| 120 30
Arcane Symbols.....................| 120 30
Magic Item Use.....................| 120 30
Spell Aiming.......................| 302 202 (for 111 and 1110 attack spells)
Harness Power......................| 300 200 (for 400+mana)
Spirit Mana Control................| 145 45
Mental Lore - Manipulation.........| 150 50 (for boneshatter)
Mental Lore - Telepathy............| 99 23 (for added cycles of 1110)
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 148 48 (for no RT healing)
Perception.........................| 200 100 (for reduction of ambush DS pushdown)
Climbing...........................| 120 30
Swimming...........................| 120 30
First Aid..........................| 403 303 (effects damage of 1106 and lets you skin for $$$)
Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 25
Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 40
Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 143


Allright. I tried the runestaff route, and was very impressed with the increased amounts of CS that is given to your attack spells. However, because I'm an OTF hunter, the propensity of being disarmed was frequent, even with CM training. And once you lose that staff, it can get pretty messy.

For the most part I follow the plan that Chica worked through by being a brawl/shield user. This allows me to have a shield to block attacks as well as an open hand to cast with.

My forms of attack are primarily 1106, 1110, and 111 in that order. I am a COL user so I get the DS/AS boost from signs. However, should they ever decide to put undead in that area, I'm going to switch back to voln for the voln-fu which is quite devastating when used on everything there, including constructs who have that anti-magic shield that kills spells until its defeated.

My CS for 1106 and 1110 is 475. My AS for 111 and 1110 is 465 (higher when adding 117). My DS self spelled is mid 500's in guarded, low 600's when adding wizard spells (400's, 500's, and a statue). CS for 214 and 110 is in the 412 range.

I can heal on the run (no physical RT), so getting wounded in swarms when my DS is pushed low is not an issue when I need to move.

I wear FGB and have no issues with crits (6 to 7% spell hindrance, yes it varies day to day), and my DS pushdown when scounts ambush is minimal due to my 1x in perception. I also have added CM ranks to minimize the Griffen manuevers (screech/fear and the effects of being dropped after flying).

I also have the option of using a brawling weapon (4x flaring troll-claw is my weapon of choice when I use it).

30 ranks in swimming will get you through the pool to OTF, and likewise 30 ranks of climbing will get you through everything to get to the rift.

Lores: (very grey area)

Nakiro did research on RT/healing and came up with 48 ranks max for capped levels with transformation.

Several folks have encouraged increased ranks in telepathy for added cycles of 1110. I currently have one AS cycle, and 3 CS cycles of 1110 with 23 ranks.

Its been said that ranks in manipulation will increase damage and 'flares' (instances of damage) of boneshatter, and I get around 3 to 4 per cast with 50 ranks. No hard research on this I've seen yet to affirm 50 being the optimal number to achieve.

First aid will improve damage given with 1106, but with diminishing returns after 2x. I have 3x for increased value in skinning which is a $$$ maker.

Other folks will chime in on their training strategies. Pick and choose to your taste. Just remember you want a magical rank ratio no lower than 9:1 to keep up a viable DS with a runestaff, in my opinion.