Advice for a Warrior who recently returned to the lands

[Orrinn]

Back in the lands after a 5 year hiatus and I have a ton of questions I could ask but let me start with Three basic ones. I have found it impossible to hunt solo now because I keep getting critted and bleeding out every oriface and newly battle-created oriface. I figured it was my armor coverage being insufficent, and remember I usually went light on armor due to being an ambusher.

30 train half elf warrior

My armor is Tightly Linked Rolaren Chainmail, 4x and I carry a 4x Rolaren Tower Shield. I went to the pawnshop and picked up a regular set of Full Plate to test in the field and let some critters take a whack at me. significant difference in the amount of damage I took (duhh) but my RT's went up (regular swing from 5 to 6secs, ambush swing from 6 to 9 seconds). Considering I have 68ranks in armor training, I reviewed some charts and got soem advice from an elder who agreed that either chain hauberk or metal breast plate was the way to go until I gain more armor ranks. Can I get some feedback? I am really only looking to be able to survive in the field longer without getting critted so easily and bleeding. With only 157hp, it doesnt take much to get me into a compromised position where my AS starts to suffer.

In the past my strategy had been to take out the critters leg and down he goes. With this new parry thing critters do (blocking w/ shields or weapons, which is new to me) that strategy doesnt work, because if they block my ambush attack i am left vulnerable in an offensive stance. Clearly I need advice.

I trained solely in Edged weapons and I am swinging a 5x, ice flares (or it may be diverse random flares) Longsword. I am also thinking that maybe this isnt the best weapon for aimed attacks? I remember having a fond time in battle with a 4x Falchion I had in my 20's and wonder if my weapon of choice doesnt mesh with my attack strategy.

So that is really questions 1 and 2 there. Advice on weaponry/armor purchases, keeping in mind I have about 5million to spend and really will spend it all because its stupid to have been hoarding money for so long while hunting with inappropriate gear.

Question 3 - I am not sure if this is the right forum, but I am looking for advice on how adjusting my skills via FIXSKILLS. I apparently have 2 weeks left for that migration stuff since I returned to lands about 2 weeks ago. I would like advice on how to adjust my skills so I am more capable in combat. the inability to hunt solo effectuvely is really making me rethink my return to GS and I have a feeling that I just need some good advice to get going.

thoughts?

thanks in advance

Orrinn Galahen
a half elf warrior who trained in scroll reading for some bizarre reason?

[Euler]

reroll. Warriors should be halfling or gnomes only.

[Androidpk]

Post your skills, that will help us out more. Unless your doing sword and shield for role playing purposes, you're severely gimping yourself. You would be better off using a two handed weapon, a polearm (lance), or two weapon combat.

Also, I can't praise berserk and multiple opponent combat enough, I'm addicted to it. Add in some mage spells and a decent weapon and armor and you're almost unstoppable.

Definitely get yourself into plate as soon as possible. I got a 4x metal breastplate and a 4x suit of full plate I can sell you if you want.

[ElvenFury]

Are you using feint and/or stance dancing? If the critter is in offensive it shouldn't be parrying or blocking you almost ever.

[Orrinn]

I was born a half-elf. Ill register a complaint with mum.

Exposing my ignorance, I dont even know what feint/dodge are or how to do them. I think the sword and shield thing was a role playing thing at first, but now with FIXSKILLS/Migration, I am more than willing to ditch the shield and switch to two-handers, assuming i can effectively transfer all my train points from edged to two hander. i have 0 two hander. Just assumed a shield was essential to defense.

Skills below, and may be interested in that armor, the breastplate. I do like to ambush, and thats part of the fun for me, so I feel like my armor skills are not enough for the full.

Made very minro adjustment to these skills, I think upping Agility 10 by decreasing dex by 10. and depleted my two hander to add to combat meneuvers and armor, maybe shield too. Otherwise, its whats below is 99.9%. Just made those changes but I had this run down handy.

Name: Orrinn Galahen Race: Half-Elf Profession: Warrior (shown as: Mercenary)
Gender: Male Age: 58 Expr: 1035865 Level: 30
Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 100 (25) ... 100 (25)
Constitution (CON): 100 (25) ... 100 (25)
Dexterity (DEX): 100 (30) ... 100 (30)
Agility (AGI): 100 (35) ... 100 (35)
Discipline (DIS): 78 (9) ... 78 (9)
Aura (AUR): 77 (13) ... 77 (13)
Logic (LOG): 56 (3) ... 56 (3)
Intuition (INT): 55 (2) ... 55 (2)
Wisdom (WIS): 60 (5) ... 60 (5)
Influence (INF): 47 (4) ... 47 (4)
Mana: 2 Silver: 957
Scan: Requesting INFO START
>
Level 0 Stats for Orrinn, Half-Elf Warrior

Strength (STR): 90
Constitution (CON): 90
Dexterity (DEX): 90
Agility (AGI): 90
Discipline (DIS): 70
Aura (AUR): 70
Logic (LOG): 50
Intuition (INT): 40
Wisdom (WIS): 50
Influence (INF): 20

Scan: Requesting SKILLS BASE
>
Orrinn (at level 30), your base skill bonuses, ranks and goals are:
Skill Name | Actual Actual
| Bonus Ranks Goals In-Game Time to Goal
Armor Use..........................| 167 67 67
Shield Use.........................| 162 62 62
Combat Maneuvers...................| 163 63 63
Edged Weapons......................| 164 64 64
Two-Handed Weapons.................| 40 8 8
Brawling...........................| 40 8 8
Ambush.............................| 120 30 30
Multi Opponent Combat..............| 124 32 32
Physical Fitness...................| 145 45 45
Dodging............................| 154 54 54
Arcane Symbols.....................| 78 17 17
Elemental Mana Control.............| 35 7 7
Spirit Mana Control................| 35 7 7
Survival...........................| 78 17 17
Stalking and Hiding................| 40 8 8
Perception.........................| 70 15 15
Climbing...........................| 54 11 11
Swimming...........................| 50 10 10
First Aid..........................| 78 17 17
Training Points: 12 Phy 8 Mnt

Thanks alot for the help and looking forward to hearing more

[Drunken Durfin]

Hey...I remember you. Welcome back.

[Latrinsorm]

Unless your doing sword and shield for role playing purposes, you're severely gimping yourself.Not true.

Longswords are base 4 RT weapons. Base 4 have the same minimum RT as base 5 (5 seconds), so you're better off going to a base 5 weapon in a one-weapon scenario (favorites are falchions and handaxes, but pretty much any base 5 is better than a longsword in every situation).

The first thing you should do is get PF to at least 2x - it is your primary redux skill, as well as your primary stamina skill.

The second thing you should do is get 80 armor ranks and get in Metal Breastplate. Between being in the Plate Armor Group and bumping your redux, you will notice a significant change in defensive capabilities. You should not wear armor you're not trained for because that will hinder your:

Maneuvers! This is the third thing you should seriously look into. I cannot recommend the Warrior Guild strongly enough. You can get Feint, which is one of the two best disabler CMANs, for practically no work whatsoever (10 ranks in Warrior Tricks, no parter reps, no dangerous reps of any kind). You can also get Berserk, with which you can (with enough training, it will take awhile) break out of stuns, webs, and binds. Berserk training is dangerous, but you probably won't die more than two or three times if you're careful.

Take a look through the CMAN system. There are two things you can do to a creature that will reliably stop it from smushing you: knock it down or put it in roundtime. Stuns are extremely unreliable, as even if you generate one a lot of creatures shake them off anyway. Nothing shakes off roundtime, anywhere, ever. Feint and Dirtkick are good ways to put things in roundtime; if you do end up sticking with the shield, Shield Bash is a top shelf knockdown maneuver.

Finally, even with the best tactics and skills some creatures are just difficult for warriors to hunt. Especially at level 30, you have a wide variety of creatures to choose from.

[Orrinn]

thanks for that. I really welcome anyone and everyone's input here. Even though some folks have replied if you reviewed the thread I would appreciate diverse input (i.e. I can now consider a switch to falchion or a switch to two handers).

i am in the guild but I believe I am undertrained. Is there someplace I can re-research the warrior guild, trainings, skills etc etc.

I have 4 more shots at redo-ing some of my skills/stats in this migration period thing (which i am having difficulty distinguihsing from the fixskills thing) but I can test out jacking up my armor score and PF.

The more posts i get, the closer my mind gets from "clear as a bell" ;-)

[Jace Solo]

I think I remember you too. Definitely, do you plan on saving up for a fix stats later? You might wanna think about rerolling for max stats...course, I don't know how important that is for a warrior.

[Orrinn]

And is it dumb to fidget with my scores/stats so I can increase my Mana from a max of 2 to 6 or 8 so that I can utilize my CoL offense and defensive signs more easily in battle?

[Orrinn]

Not sure what fixstats is, but I think I have one I can use now and dont have to wait till may, since I just returned to lands. Re-rolling implies retstarting the character at 0 trains? or just re-doing my stats? Id rather not lose the gains my stats have acquired over the 30 trains. I dont have that much to devote to playing to rebuild what ive gained so far. plus my girlfriends pretty peeved already that im back into GS lol.

[Androidpk]

Not true.

Longswords are base 4 RT weapons. Base 4 have the same minimum RT as base 5 (5 seconds), so you're better off going to a base 5 weapon in a one-weapon scenario (favorites are falchions and handaxes, but pretty much any base 5 is better than a longsword in every situation).


I'm talking in terms of sheer stopping power. RT is pretty much a non issue if you berserk anyways, flat 5 seconds.



You can also get Berserk, with which you can (with enough training, it will take awhile) break out of stuns, webs, and binds. Berserk training is dangerous, but you probably won't die more than two or three times if you're careful.

Not true. Training for berserk doesn't require any parter reps so that helps out a lot. You can breeze through and master it very fast if you want to.

[Latrinsorm]

And is it dumb to fidget with my scores/stats so I can increase my Mana from a max of 2 to 6 or 8 so that I can utilize my CoL offense and defensive signs more easily in battle?You can gain mana from training in Harness Power, 3 mana per train. 3 or 4 ranks should cover you.
I'm talking in terms of sheer stopping power. RT is pretty much a non issue if you berserk anyways, flat 5 seconds.With proper use of maneuvers, stopping power is not necessary - it's not like falchions are closed fists.
Not true. Training for berserk doesn't require any parter reps so that helps out a lot. You can breeze through and master it very fast if you want to.The main reasons I say berserk takes a while is that at early ranks it takes for-ev-er to actually get a berserk going and that berserk (unlike almost all tricks) costs stamina. This is obviously less of an issue if you play a 3x PF giantman or something, but for slimmer races (especially at low levels, especially with low PF training) stamina is a limiting factor.

.

On the topic of fixstats and fixskills:

To use a fixskills, go to an inn or type GOALs in game and set all your skills to where you want them to be. GemStone has a system now that allows you to untrain skills and reallocate the training points to wherever else you want. Normally, that takes an extremely long amount of IG time. If you use a fixskills (by typing FIXSKILLS and following the instructions), it happens instantaneously. We get a FIXSKILLS every year in May, so don't worry too much about locking yourself in to something you may eventually dislike.

Stats - there are essentially two schools of thought regarding stats. One is that you should aim for "max stats", or for as many of your stats as possible to be 100 at level 100. This is mostly a holdover from GS III, when it was possible to max all stats. The benefit from this is that wherever a mechanical formula takes a stat bonus into account (TD, warcries, trading, etc. ad infinitum), you will be better off than the fellow who doesn't have maxed stats. The drawback is that your fasting growing stats will always be your profession's prime stats, which in GS 4 are also your main TP-generating stats, which brings me to the second school of thought: "max TPs". In this school you set your prime stats pretty much to 100 from the beginning, and as a result will have more TPs from level 0 to level 100 than the max stats plan.

I recommend you mainly lean towards the max TP plan while keeping in mind which stat bonuses you really care about - for instance, combined Agility and Dexterity bonus subtract one RT per 15 bonus, so if you want to use a flamberge in 5 seconds, you have some decisions to make. 100s at 100 look pretty, but an extra 1000 TPs along the way is IMO prettier.

[pabstblueribbon]

Farkin nubs

[Drunken Durfin]

Head over to Tsoran.com and get the trainer spreadsheet. Playing with your stats there is one of the best things you can do for your long-term benifit. Skills can always be changed. Fixing your stats is quite a hefty investment, using the freebie is in your best interest.

And whatever you do, don't tank your INF. You will be in hell when you get to Warcry training at the guild.

As for the max TP or max Stat argument, I am in the max stat camp. You can always get more TP's.

[Orrinn]

So I am getting it more now, especially with the stats, and with the variety of opinions. There are options in how I can re-configure my character based on what im looking for performance wise. it also sounds like I need to decide if I want to swing one-handers or two-handers. Which makes me wonder if im actually getting the defensive advantage I think I am by expensing attack damage potentials of two-handers, to hold a shield (and TP's to invest in shield training). Im holding a tower shield yet im still getting torn up. Kind of makes me feel like, whats the point?

Harness power is a great suggestion. what do people mean when they say "PF" ? Im kind of seeing some skills I can probably cut to zero because I wasn't thinking when I trained in them. For the critters I fight at 30 trains im no where near trained enough in stalking/hiding for it to be effective so I may as well reclaim those. Dont know why I trained in brawling? could reclaim those TP's. Do I really need my first AID trainings anymore since I have sign of staunching>? Am I thinking about this the right way?

I figure I cant do this perfectly, but at least if I get the right gist.

[Androidpk]

PF = physical fitness.

[Androidpk]

My warrior is lvl 31 so I'll post my training so you can get an idea.

Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 193 93
Combat Maneuvers...................| 164 64
Polearm Weapons....................| 164 64
Multi Opponent Combat..............| 138 39
Physical Fitness...................| 169 69
Dodging............................| 164 64
Harness Power......................| 54 11
Perception.........................| 20 4
Climbing...........................| 70 15
Swimming...........................| 62 13


Very much combat oriented, nothing much else. The only time I die is when I'm out hunting and I don't pay attention to the screen. I can uphunt at least 10 levels, usually with no problem.

[Latrinsorm]

Which makes me wonder if im actually getting the defensive advantage I think I am by expensing attack damage potentials of two-handers, to hold a shield (and TP's to invest in shield training). Im holding a tower shield yet im still getting torn up. Kind of makes me feel like, whats the point?I think you'll find that with your enhanced defensive capabilities you will get torn up far less. That said, your shield is probably getting you around 30 DS in stance offensive, so without it you'd be getting torn up that much worse, minus the gain in dodge DS you'd receive. (You would get a very slight bump in parry DS, but with the stance offensive modifier of parry DS it's barely worth mentioning.)

Also worth looking at is the amount of blocks you get. With 2x, you should expect to block about 10% of the time, which comes in pretty handy.
Do I really need my first AID trainings anymore since I have sign of staunching>?If you use herbs, first aid training cuts down on healing RT. If you care about skinning, FA training is also worthwhile, - even a smattering like you have does something. If you don't care about either of those things, chuck it.

[Stunseed]

Here's my GoS TWC Warrior.

Two Weapon Combat..................| 190 90
Armor Use..........................| 235 135
Combat Maneuvers...................| 190 90
Blunt Weapons......................| 190 90
Multi Opponent Combat..............| 130 35
Physical Fitness...................| 190 90
Dodging............................| 190 90
Arcane Symbols.....................| 2 0
Harness Power......................| 86 19
Spirit Mana Control................| 20 4
Perception.........................| 111 27
Climbing...........................| 50 10
Swimming...........................| 25 5

[Androidpk]

I might try out either blunt or ohe and TWC eventually.

[AestheticLife]

If only because there isn't a fixrace potion, I'd say CONVERT. That'll fix'em!

[Stunseed]

I might try out either blunt or ohe and TWC eventually.

Everything around you turns red as you work yourself into a berserker's rage!
>
You rage across the battlefield, striking with unrelenting fury!
You swing a blackened iron morning star at a kiramon defender!
AS: +354 vs DS: +121 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +23 = +284
... and hit for 91 points of damage!
Neck removed, head falls to the ground.

[You have 2 kills remaining.]
[You have earned 60 prestige points.]
The kiramon defender falls back into a heap and dies.
You swing a blackened iron morning star at a kiramon worker!
AS: +354 vs DS: +178 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +1 = +205
... and hit for 54 points of damage!
Whoosh! Several ribs driven into lungs.
The kiramon worker is stunned!
You swing a kelyn spikestar at a kiramon worker!
AS: +347 vs DS: +158 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +51 = +268
... and hit for 92 points of damage!
Spinal cord damaged by smash to the back.
You swing a blackened iron morning star at a kiramon defender!
AS: +354 vs DS: +201 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +77 = +258
... and hit for 63 points of damage!
Stomach ripped open by mighty blow!
The kiramon defender is stunned!
You swing a kelyn spikestar at a kiramon defender!
AS: +347 vs DS: +181 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +100 = +294
... and hit for 90 points of damage!
Blow ruptures the stomach!
You swing a blackened iron morning star at a kiramon worker!
By amazing chance, the kiramon worker evades the attack!
You swing a kelyn spikestar at a kiramon worker!
AS: +347 vs DS: +169 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +65 = +271
... and hit for 72 points of damage!
Right hand mangled horribly.
The kiramon worker is stunned!
>
You rage across the battlefield, striking with unrelenting fury!
You swing a blackened iron morning star at a kiramon worker!
AS: +354 vs DS: +149 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +90 = +323
... and hit for 91 points of damage!
Right leg ripped from socket at the knee!
The kiramon worker's right hind leg gives way and it lurches to the floor.
You swing a kelyn spikestar at a kiramon worker!
AS: +347 vs DS: +57 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +81 = +399
... and hit for 122 points of damage!
Well placed shot pierces knee, that hurt!
[You have earned 35 prestige points.]
The kiramon worker clicks one last time and dies.
You swing a blackened iron morning star at a kiramon defender!
AS: +354 vs DS: +165 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +75 = +292
... and hit for 88 points of damage!
Lucky shot rips through bone and muscle sending weapon arm flying.
The defender clicks its mandibles wildly and waves its mangled limb around uselessly.
You swing a kelyn spikestar at a kiramon defender!
AS: +347 vs DS: +155 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +20 = +240
... and hit for 60 points of damage!
Blow to chest causes the kiramon defender's heart to skip a beat.

[You have 1 kills remaining.]
[You have earned 70 prestige points.]
The kiramon defender falls back into a heap and dies.
You swing a blackened iron morning star at a kiramon worker!
AS: +354 vs DS: +149 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +42 = +275
... and hit for 63 points of damage!
Strike to temple! Saved by a thick skull!
You swing a kelyn spikestar at a kiramon worker!
AS: +347 vs DS: +93 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +42 = +324
... and hit for 148 points of damage!
A mighty blow cleaves a swath through the kiramon worker's back, taking the spine with it.
[You have earned 30 prestige points.]
The kiramon worker falls back into a heap and dies.
>
You spin around looking for something to attack!

Finding no target for your rage, you let out a horrendous scream of frustration!

The redness fades from the world and you begin to breathe harder.

:)

[Androidpk]

That's exactly why I wouldn't mind switching some day. When do you plan on getting 60 ranks in MoC?

[Stunseed]

One train shy of being done with AU. I'll start the climb to 1x MoC then, along with magical skills.

[Androidpk]

60 ranks in MoC is my #1 goal now. I'm really starting to love redux now that's kicking in pretty good.

A Grimswarm giant ranger swings a morning star at you!
AS: +319 vs DS: +130 with AvD: +19 + d100 roll: +74 = +282
... and hits for 30 points of damage!
Strike pierces upper arm!
The guiding force leaves a Grimswarm giant ranger.

Rank 1 injury.

[Stunseed]

Yeah, at this point I could cap on just bandits/escorts they don't do a damn thing to me. I need to do a tiny bit of physical skills ( climb/swim is low ), and I'd like to consider a new skill ( hurling a stupidly weighted morning star ) but otherwise moving to 1x MoC/MIU/AS is the next goal.

[JHarris]

If only because there isn't a fixrace potion, I'd say CONVERT. That'll fix'em!

Why is everyone so hard on a half-elf warrior? With only a +3 agibonus item, they ambush claids in 6 seconds, and have a much stronger DS and better dodge rate than a lot of the other races, without the extreme TD loss of a full elf.

[Androidpk]

Play a rogue if you want to ambush. :D