help with skills

[LeDru]

So at 61 trains, a solo hunting ohe ambusher needs to prepare for spellburst areas. I have no idea what to tweak to survive there. I would like to be able to pick at least my own boxes and maybe a little higher if possible. Currently in brig, sword/board with med. shield.

(at level 61), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 126 33
Shield Use.........................| 210 110
Combat Maneuvers...................| 188 88
Edged Weapons......................| 226 126
Ambush.............................| 226 126
Physical Fitness...................| 161 61
Dodging............................| 224 124
Arcane Symbols.....................| 90 20
Magic Item Use.....................| 15 3
Harness Power......................| 35 7
Disarming Traps....................| 254 154
Picking Locks......................| 254 154
Stalking and Hiding................| 229 129
Perception.........................| 229 129
Climbing...........................| 124 32
Swimming...........................| 124 32

[kgolfer]

For spellburst you need to train in MIU, AS, HP, lores mostly.....knowing spells adds also. If you have the ability to learn the spell but do not the spell costs less to wear.....if you have no ability to know the spell it costs more to wear it......bard spells I don't think count....colors count as 1 mana....statues, disk don't count

rough estimate to get started is the ranks in MIU + AS + HP / 3 = x

x is the basic amount you can wear adding up the last two numbers of the spell

503 + 509 = 12 mana
414 = 7 mana (1/2 due to you can know it)

That is a basic low down.

The formula really isn't known now, but that will give you a start point.

Also, Maaghara tower mobiles are stripped if you don't have knowledge of the spell.

Good luck, and expect to burst a couple times figuring it out.

AK

[DaCapn]

I just have to ask what the deal is with 33 ranks of armor use?
http://www.krakiipedia.org/wiki/Armor_Use

[Gelston]

Armor Skills? Although that won't really give him enough for a second rank.

[LeDru]

the armor ranks were just enough to wear the brig with no penalties. He's been gone for a year so that new armor skill is something else i need to look at. Just not sure what i can drop and still be an effective hunter/picker to bring up the MIU/AS/HP.

[Beguiler]

Could theoretically drop down to 1x shield use... could 1x CM, but perhaps he wants that up for the maneuvers.

Could drop 2 ranks each swim/climb, more than he needs for where he can hunt right now. Though if he wants to do the Temple, the swim will have to go up as he nears that goal.

[DaCapn]

the armor ranks were just enough to wear the brig with no penalties. He's been gone for a year so that new armor skill is something else i need to look at. Just not sure what i can drop and still be an effective hunter/picker to bring up the MIU/AS/HP.

That's what I was saying, 30 ranks covers brig penalties (33 would be uselessly overtrained for something or needlessly undertrained for something else).

If you intend to stay in brig, I'd suggest 50 ranks of AU. It's still under 1x and you get 2 armor specialization ranks.

If you intend to use spells, I'd say 100 ranks of AU with aug chain is probably the sweet spot. You earn a 3rd rank of specialization and get MnE penalties minimized at 90 ranks and the 1st tier of AP reduction at 100 ranks.

If you don't intend to use spells, I'd go for 90 ranks and use hauberk or MBP. You train them off at 80 and get the 3rd rank of specialization at 90. Which you choose largely depends upon how much you're willing to take evade penalties and whether or not you have flaring accessories. Of course, nothing is stopping you from switching between them according to what you want to hunt.

With respect to your actual query, I second dropping shield to 1x. Also, you could probably drop perception some too (1.5x is probably good enough for you). I wouldn't take it over 2x in your case. It doesn't help with aiming blows with melee weapons and it's going to provide marginal impact for spotting traps with your disarm ranks what they are. It does provide maneuver defense, though (not that we know how much).