Training suggestions? (Especially lores)

[Ashliana]

First of all, I'll explain what kind of empath I want to be: an all-purpose one. As you can see below, I've max trained in spell aiming and 1x'd in Transformation for both the +DF to 1110 and healing RT reduction. I'd like to be able to both fog to, and return from, people that need rescuing.

Also like to hunt with 1106, and heal well; I'll be defending myself with a runestave. I realize I'm trying to "do it all," but it basically comes down to: I don't know which lores to focus on, whether they're worth it at all/etc.

Blessing lore sounds useful, removing scars automatically.. Manipulation sounds useful for instant death 1106 crits, Spirit Summoning seems useful for Herb Production, but I don't think it'd be worth the cost of training.

At level 23, your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Physical Fitness...................| 145 45
Arcane Symbols.....................| 120 30
Magic Item Use.....................| 120 30
Spell Aiming.......................| 150 50
Harness Power......................| 105 25
Mental Mana Control................| 102 24
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 105 25
Climbing...........................| 35 7
Swimming...........................| 50 10
First Aid..........................| 172 72

Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 22

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 3

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 23
Training Points: 436 Phy 135 Mnt


Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Xiandrena]

I see what you're trying to do and believe me it does make sense because I've gone the same route, here is what it looks like around level 87.

Skill Name | Actual Actual
| Bonus Ranks Goals In-Game Time to Goal
Armor Use..........................| 50 10 10
Physical Fitness...................| 200 100 100
Arcane Symbols.....................| 90 20 20
Magic Item Use.....................| 140 40 40
Spell Aiming.......................| 278 178 178
Harness Power......................| 200 100 100
Mental Mana Control................| 151 51 51
Spirit Mana Control................| 151 51 51
Spiritual Lore - Summoning.........| 150 50 50
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 160 60 60
Survival...........................| 140 40 40
Perception.........................| 190 90 90
Climbing...........................| 150 50 50
Swimming...........................| 140 40 40
First Aid..........................| 300 200 200

Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 40 40

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 40 40

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 146 146


I hunt with boneshatter and wither and heavily with wands. I'm playing around with my physical training right now to see how much I can reduce the sickness from 130. I haven't decided if I wanna waste my time with blessing lore because for all it does it's not worth the cost IMO. The summoning lore I use for long distance locates (from Icemule to the Rift) and it makes my fire spirit happy.

[Cyprion]

my empath, went with both fogs first, now all spell training is empath, so should be jumping a bunch every lvl. Still able to hunt with bone shatter easily. i went the shield/open hand route vs runestaff.

(at level 33), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Shield Use.........................| 128 34
Brawling...........................| 128 34
Physical Fitness...................| 102 24
Harness Power......................| 168 68
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Climbing...........................| 58 12
Swimming...........................| 54 11
First Aid..........................| 168 68

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

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

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 30

[iJin]

If you're going to be a "all purpose" empath at a low level, you're going to suck. You're not going to be amazing at everything. Not now at least. Personally, I would stick to what is more important. For me it's Empath CS and being able to take hits. Therefore not dying.

But..
Runestaff DS sucks. I would go shield/brawling. But if you must, you have to make sure your MIU and symbols is up to train if not more.

Also, face it you're going to have to pick one lore and go with it. Blessings, for the scar removal is pretty lame. I'd put it into something more useful like manipulation. Also, you just need 13 ranks in manipulation for the crit (Thanks Adamina <3). After that if you really want to be lazy with the scars, then go ahead for the blessings, but it's totally pointless and I just see it for the impatient people. Only other reason is for the +1 AS from..bravery was it? Or herosim, I forget.

Keep up the training in spell aiming, and in empath at level.

Meh, I guess that is all.

[Ashliana]

Thanks for all the awesome input, everyone.


I would go for shield/brawling

I see. What's the purpose of the brawling, though? DS bonus with shield bonus, if open hand?

[iJin]

Yup, the shield bonus. DS rules.

[Ashliana]

Even at 1x/1x, it's better than a runestave? Maybe I should look into this.

[Izzy]

Shield/brawl is much harder early on, especially when you're pushing to learn all your spells. It's much more expensive, points-wise, to go the shield route. I tend to lean towards runestaves until you at least learn 225/130/1140..because after that any training is basically for improved CS. MMC determines the damage on your boneshatter, and manipulation lore simply allows for the insta-death crit. I like getting 5 ranks telepathy lore if you use 1110, for the second CS cycle. It's cheap for a nice benefit.

[Xaerve]

Spell aiming is a supreme, mega, fucking, titanic waste before Cap. I'd highly suggest dropping it all together.

You can be more than effect with just 1106/1115. I finally, at way passed cap, just fixskilled into Spell Aiming to hit the greater water elementals.

In fact, I had absolutely no lore until I capped. Your Empath CS is god, so I would just keep dumping points into spell ranks.


1X MMC is also critical, it really helps your 1106/1115 do maximum damage. I'd highly suggest doing that.

I also have no FA training, never saw the point since the changes; unless you want to skin.

At around 45 trains I'd switch to 1x brawling, 1x shield.

Also, increasingly as you near OTF hunting age-you're going to want to 1x Perception to help with the scout ambushes.

[Xaerve]

Even at 1x/1x, it's better than a runestave? Maybe I should look into this.

Shields also cannot be disarmed.

[Ashliana]

Spell aiming is a supreme, mega, fucking, titanic waste before Cap. I'd highly suggest dropping it all together.

You can be more than effect with just 1106/1115. I finally, at way passed cap, just fixskilled into Spell Aiming to hit the greater water elementals.

In fact, I had absolutely no lore until I capped. Your Empath CS is god, so I would just keep dumping points into spell ranks.


1X MMC is also critical, it really helps your 1106/1115 do maximum damage. I'd highly suggest doing that.

I also have no FA training, never saw the point since the changes; unless you want to skin.

At around 45 trains I'd switch to 1x brawling, 1x shield.

Also, increasingly as you near OTF hunting age-you're going to want to 1x Perception to help with the scout ambushes.

Really? With Heroism/Bravery/CoL signs, my bolt AS gets up to about 250, which helps a lot while doing Adventurer's Guild stuff.

[Nilandia]

Spell aiming is a supreme, mega, fucking, titanic waste before Cap. I'd highly suggest dropping it all together.

You can be more than effect with just 1106/1115. I finally, at way passed cap, just fixskilled into Spell Aiming to hit the greater water elementals.

In fact, I had absolutely no lore until I capped. Your Empath CS is god, so I would just keep dumping points into spell ranks.

I'd very strongly disagree with this. Spell aiming has been wonderful for me in allowing me to use fire spirit, empathic assault and the web bolt. I'd just mentioned it on the officials, but a fire spirit boosted with summoning lore is the closest thing we've got to a mass disabler.

Bone shatter and wither are very nice to be sure, but having viable options is also very nice.

Gretchen

[BigWorm]

I'd very strongly disagree with this. Spell aiming has been wonderful for me in allowing me to use fire spirit, empathic assault and the web bolt. I'd just mentioned it on the officials, but a fire spirit boosted with summoning lore is the closest thing we've got to a mass disabler.

Bone shatter and wither are very nice to be sure, but having viable options is also very nice.

Gretchen

Agreed. My 33 empath does well with 111/1110/118 mixed in with 1106.

[Ashliana]

Thanks again. Another quick question: I know at a certain point, Bone Shatter becomes less effective and to keep up the damage, you have to switch to Wither.

At what point does this happen? Also, is there any reason that a low-level empath should use wither immediately (some kind of damage advantage over 1106?)

[Nilandia]

Nilandia's at 58 and she still uses bone shatter as her primary attack spell because bone shatter stuns well and it's more cost friendly. I'll agree, though, its damage caps out quickly, but doing 100 damage a cast is not always a bad thing. I'd have to say it's something you'll have to play with and figure out for yourself. It would depend upon your mana reserve and which creatures you're hunting, as well as what you're comfortable with.

Gretchen

[Flurbins]

I'll agree, though, its damage caps out quickly, but doing 100 damage a cast is not always a bad thing.

I know there's a cap of 50 for the first hit, but has anyone ever figured out how high the crits go?

[Nilandia]

I think the highest I've seen may have been two further waves of damage at 40 a piece. That'd be 130 damage total.

Gretchen

[Nilandia]

Bumping the thread to add a cast of bone shatter that gave the most damage I think may have ever seen.

You channel at a hideous ghost pirate.
You concentrate intently on a hideous ghost pirate, and a pulse of pearlescent energy ripples toward her!
CS: +287 - TD: +37 + CvA: +25 + d100: +59 == +334
Warding failed!
The ghost pirate shudders with severe convulsions as pearlescent ripples envelop her body.
The ghost pirate is crushed for 50 points of damage!
... 50 points of damage!
Impact removes the left hand in a spray of red mist!
... 70 points of damage!
Strike to chest causes a large gaping hole!
You hear a sound like a weeping child as a white glow separates itself from the ghost pirate's body as it rises, disappearing into the heavens.
The ghost pirate spits out one last curse and lies still.

170 damage for a single cast of bone shatter.

Gretchen