Broadened Horizens beyond the basis of healing.

[Celexei]

Okay...well i love sittin and healing and all, but i don't want to ONLY be able to heal, but with the TP's and costs of skills i'm having a hard time coming up with how i can improve and open options for a better way... Currently i'm OHE shield, i'd LIKE to keep that because Runestaff DS just sucks bigtime, i'd also like to pick up on skinning, that being a very prime idea as well as healing as the main...i'll post what i have so far, and feel free to give advice, i still have the 30 day uber fast migration, and my fixskills....

Race: Dark Elf Profession: Empath (shown as: Mender)
Gender: Female Age: 0 Expr: 78632 Level: 8
Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 61 (5) ... 61 (5)
Constitution (CON): 62 (1) ... 62 (1)
Dexterity (DEX): 62 (16) ... 62 (16)
Agility (AGI): 59 (9) ... 59 (9)
Discipline (DIS): 72 (1) ... 72 (1)
Aura (AUR): 72 (21) ... 72 (21)
Logic (LOG): 64 (7) ... 64 (7)
Intuition (INT): 67 (13) ... 67 (13)
Wisdom (WIS): 84 (22) ... 84 (22)
Influence (INF): 82 (11) ... 82 (11)
Mana: 57

(at level 8), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Shield Use.........................| 45 9
Edged Weapons......................| 45 9
Physical Fitness...................| 45 9
Spell Aiming.......................| 45 9
Harness Power......................| 82 18
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 70 15
Perception.........................| 35 7
First Aid..........................| 40 8

Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 1

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 8

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 8
Training Points: 28 Phy 7 Mnt

Unique empath options are always welcome too....but thanks in advance to all.

[Artha]

Don't get any funny ideas about empaths not existing solely for healing my booboos.

[Snapp]

If you're looking to be a hunting empath who doesn't use a runestaff.. my suggestions:

Armor Use..........................| 40 8

Shield Use.........................| 45 9

Edged Weapons......................| 45 9

Physical Fitness...................| 45 9

Spell Aiming.......................| 45 9 -either 2x this, or 0x it.. 1x is pointless, IMO

Harness Power......................| 82 18 -2xing this doesn't prove enough benefit for a non-runestaff using empath to me..wasteful on points.. I'd 1x it

Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 70 15 -Unless you're really into healing, I'd 1x this at most

Perception.........................| 35 7 -Personal preference, but I wouldn't be getting this at this early of an age

First Aid..........................| 40 8 -I'd at least 2x this for the benefits to Bone Shatter and skinning

Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 1

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 8

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 8
Training Points: 28 Phy 7 Mnt

I'd also pick up Mental Lore- Manipulation for the benefits to Bone Shatter... and if you DO decide to pick up Spell Aiming to 2x, you should probably make Dext. a little higher so it's a viable hunting choice. Since you want to skin, might want to pick up some Survival here and there too.

[Nakiro]

I'm pretty much with snap, except concentrate on Major until you've got up to 215. You're not going to be able to use 102 if you're swinging, and you'll want to get 211 and 215 for the AS anyway.

[Celexei]

am i needing to look into any stat changing, cause my AS at 8 is like 32

[Artha]

Well, you're a dark elf with a strength bonus of 5. You're not going to swing very hard for awhile...it should get better when you get heroism and bravery, but you'll lose those eventually.

[Snapp]

Originally posted by Artha
it should get better when you get heroism and bravery, but you'll lose those eventually.

I really wouldn't even THINK of that as happening at this point. That'll happen when Savants are released, which is at least like 2006.

[Celexei]

Lose those?....hmmm ya lost me on that

[Celexei]

so.....
Armor : 8
Edged : 9
Shield : 9
Physical Phytness : 9
Spell Aiming.... Help there... should i 0x or 2x that...and if i am to 2x it, whats it benifit and how do i free up the TPs for it?
Drop Harness Power down to : 9
ML Transformation....I am really big into healing, and that will always be my primary, should i still drop that down to 1x?
Drop Perception to : 0?
First Aid : up to 2x
and swap my spells to Majors instead of Minors....

Is that the best plan to try to go for?

[Artha]

I really wouldn't even THINK of that as happening at this point. That'll happen when Savants are released, which is at least like 2006.

Why not when Monks are released? They're getting Minor Mental too, IIRC.

[Celexei]

Artha or anyone else that wishes to comment...does that plan look suffice?

[Artha]

I don't really know empaths, so I can't comment on the plan specifically.

[Celexei]

we need to get some dern empaths readin the forums then...hehe

[Snapp]

The benefit to Spell Aiming is a huge increase when casting "bolt" spells.. Right now, empaths only have access to 111 (Fire Spirit).. so it's not really that great, and does consume a lot of points. Don't forget to 1x Mental Lore-Manipulation if you want to use Bone Shatter.

As for the Monk thing Artha, I really hadn't thought of that... hmm, maybe I should actually be thinking about losing my Major Spirit sphere.. nah, it's Simu, I still don't think it'll happen before 2006.

[Wezas]

First of all, if your runestaff DS sucks, how many magic skills/spells are you training in per level. Minimum is 11, I recommend 12+.

You can be a swinger in earlier levels (until you have enough mana to use bone shatter efficiently on hunts). But I would change your goals once that's over. Also, consider 2xing in spell aiming (for fireball and any new spells we get) and consider 2xing in harness power (for extra mana). I currently do both.

As for lores, I consentrate mainly in manipulation. I'm not sure if that's the best route, but that's what I do.

I can hunt my own level, especially if the target is living and has bones.

[Miss X]

I really do think if your going for a weapon swinging empath then you have to give up spell aim. I mean, its possible but hard. I would get 8 armor ranks, 1x weapon and shield, 1x transformation lore, 1x maniuplation lore, 2x (at least) first aid, 1x Physical fitness, get 25 ranks of Arcane symb and MIU, doesnt really matter how fast you do this, 1x mana share spiritual till you have 24 ranks, get 25 perception too if you can. Obviously get swimming and climbing as and when you can fit it in.

Don't 1x spell aim, if you're gonna do it, 2x or its pointless. The new empath attack spell is going to be bolt based and CS based but I doubt it will be that good. I had been considering switching to runestaff but after talking to a friend about it I realised that the DS drop would be too much so Im sticking with my weapon cos I :heart: it!

[Jolena]

Runestaff users do NOT have to have 11 ranks in magic per train to have good DS. I have a wizardess who had 9.5 and she has great DS. Could be better with a shield/sword, but still it's not necessary to have 11 ranks. Also.. in my opinion you SHOULD .5 perception from day 1 to help you with searching out things that you will need later. Also..skinning is mainly affected by survival, NOT first aid. First aid has a very small almost negligible amount of bonus to skinning..it's mainly survival that counts in that aspect. First aid helps you tend mainly.

I don't agree that you should either 0x or 2x harness. I think 1.5 harness is great too, I have a few that do that.

[Bobmuhthol]

<<Also..skinning is mainly affected by survival, NOT first aid. First aid has a very small almost negligible amount of bonus to skinning..it's mainly survival that counts in that aspect.>>

If, by that, you mean they're weighted equally... then yes.

[Celexei]

SO i believe Rumples doesn't have any survival but 2x's FA and kicks ass at skinning, but he's also not a healin puff....if some of ya can through some good plans out there such as X did, i'm interested in trying anything, i just really want to be able to hunt and skin, but be a primary healer like 95% of the time.

[Jolena]

I single in survival only and I can skin very well, so I dunno what to tell ya. It's your choice really.

[Celexei]

see i don't know much about bein a puff and all, but i'm tryin, would it be better to 1x survival, 1x FA,.....1x FA......or 2x FA?

[Bobmuhthol]

3x FA.

[Celexei]

Bob you come up with a damn plan where i can 3x FA and still be awesomely viable as a dark elf warpuff and i'll do it and Cyber you too..

[Bobmuhthol]

When I stop not caring about empaths. Though the cyber bit is really hard to turn down.

[Celexei]

LOL, care about Empaths for just one moment at least....you have no clue how hard it is to TP place a damn warpath

[Bobmuhthol]

3x FA + Bone Shatter = No need for weapons.

[Miss X]

Survival and First aid, as Bob said, are equally weighted in terms of skinning. I 3x FA and .5x survival and I skin really well. I also 2x Harness Power and lore (manipulation because I hunt more than heal) but I have no spell aim. However, with empaths losing 211 and 215 eventually, our AS will go down and to be honest Id rather have more spells and higher CS than I would spell aim.

Also, remember that as well as skinning, first aid really helps with bone shatter. Its great being able to cast when you want and swing at stuff if you feel like it. :)

[Celexei]

so X, you are able to heal and all still right? i mean...your plan right now is really what i'm possibly leanin for, i like the way its sounding, but i really do mainly wanna heal.

[Miss X]

Yep, I heal pretty often lately because Im up in the rift. I have 270 mana so healing down is never a problem. I think what tends to happen, certainly what happened with me, is I mainly healed for around 30 trains and then I hunted a lot more. Now, I get most of my EXP from hunting however I have no problems with healing. I just think, with the plans to reduce healing exp, empaths need to train to hunt too. I can u2u you my current training when I get home from work later if you need it. :)

[Celexei]

that'd be rocksish i haven't heard anything about the reduction to EXP gain, and also the drop with 211 and 215 prolly won't happen till 2006ish anyway like has been said....HOPEFULLY, but yeah i'm looking for a good good training path, and i'm liking yours so far as what i've hear, but yeah i want to primarily sit and heal...but be able to when needed go out and hunt.

[Miss X]

If you have time, read though the official boards, although they are kind of annoying they are a good way of keeping up with the things that are planned. According to Simu, monks are planned for 2005 I think, so we will lose the 200's then, however knowing Simu it will be 2010.

The sitting and healing thing does get old and boring in the end though, I mostly hate healing these days. Even if you want to mostly heal, at least you know if you need a break you can hunt.

[Celexei]

ah ha, completly my plan...hehe, i'm glad someone finally understands...cause really i do get alot of enjoyment out of healing, and hell it doesn't pay bad, but i mean after i get a bit older i'm gonna wanna hunt some too. And yeah predictin simu ...it'll be at LEAST 2006

[Celexei]

I's guessin ya still at work Chica?...hmmm okies!...i's just keep healin

[Celexei]

soooo...currently i'm lookin like this after this train

(at level 9), your base skill bonuses, ranks and goals are:
Skill Name | Actual Actual
| Bonus Ranks Goals Time to Goal
Armor Use..........................| 40 8 8
Shield Use.........................| 45 9 10 ASAP (will rise when points are available)
Edged Weapons......................| 50 10 10
Physical Fitness...................| 50 10 10
Spell Aiming.......................| 40 8.994 0 22 in-game hours
Harness Power......................| 82 18 18
Mental Lore - Manipulation.........| 25 5 10 ASAP (will rise when points are available)
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 66 14.999 10 44 in-game hours
Perception.........................| 35 7 7
First Aid..........................| 111 27 27

Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 1 9 ASAP (will rise when points are available)

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 7.999 0 53 in-game hours

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 8 9 ASAP (will rise when points are available)
Training Points: 4 Phy 0 Mnt (14 Phy converted to Mnt)

look healthy?

[Trinitis]

This is my empath Chica help set up. She's a tank hunting (240ish DS without weapon/shield. just over 300 DS holding a shield and no weapon for open handed casting.)

Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Shield Use.........................| 128 34
Brawling...........................| 128 34
Physical Fitness...................| 102 24
Arcane Symbols.....................| 90 20
Magic Item Use.....................| 90 20
Harness Power......................| 168 68
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Mental Lore - Manipulation.........| 128 34
Perception.........................| 128 34
Climbing...........................| 102 24
Swimming...........................| 102 24
First Aid..........................| 202 102

Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 14

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 20

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 34

[Celexei]

thats actually a damn good lookin plan, but i don't think i could do brawling, CoL puff and all, plus i only plan on huntin whenever i get really REALLY damn bored of healin, cause i love healin really

[Celexei]

and hows your CS at i would guess 33 trains? what do ya hunt and all?

[Trinitis]

Originally posted by Celexei
thats actually a damn good lookin plan, but i don't think i could do brawling, CoL puff and all, plus i only plan on huntin whenever i get really REALLY damn bored of healin, cause i love healin really

My healer is a COL empath as well. :) I chose brawling that way I could keep my casting hand open, and still get DS boosts.

[theotherjohn]

Originally posted by LordAdredrin
This is my empath Chica help set up. She's a tank hunting (240ish DS without weapon/shield. just over 300 DS holding a shield and no weapon for open handed casting.)

Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Shield Use.........................| 128 34
Brawling...........................| 128 34
Physical Fitness...................| 102 24
Arcane Symbols.....................| 90 20
Magic Item Use.....................| 90 20
Harness Power......................| 168 68
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Mental Lore - Manipulation.........| 128 34
Perception.........................| 128 34
Climbing...........................| 102 24
Swimming...........................| 102 24
First Aid..........................| 202 102

Spell Lists
Major Spirit.......................| 14

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 20

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 34

why do you have 8 armor ranks?

MC only works on multiples of 10

[Trinitis]

Originally posted by Celexei
and hows your CS at i would guess 33 trains? what do ya hunt and all?

I just turned 33, have not hunted yet to see my new CS/DS/etc..

at 32, the CS was 166 with bone shatter. I'm in Zul right now, hunting Krynchs (spelling on those buggers?) They seem to drop to cbone really easy :).

I was hunting farmhands in mule. A cake walk for sure. But the damn trees and their boils was causing me to loose 2-3 deeds a day.

[Trinitis]

why do you have 8 armor ranks?

MC only works on multiples of 10


Umm..because 8 ranks for double leather?

MC?

[theotherjohn]

Originally posted by LordAdredrin


why do you have 8 armor ranks?

MC only works on multiples of 10


Umm..because 8 ranks for double leather?

MC?

6 ranks for doubles

Mana control works on multiples of 10 so either have 20 or 30 nothing in between use the points for cheap runestaff skills

[Drew2]

TOJ are you absolutely sure that it's 8 ranks for doubles? I've been using 8 for many years now and I'm pretty sure I've checke the math before. But if you're positive, I'll believe you.

[Trinitis]

I did the math in the past and came up with 8 ranks as well. Thats why all my casters have always had 8 ranks.

[Celexei]

aye, Eight ranks it is, thats what i've always been told and taught, and he's not a runestaffer, he has a shield and open casting hand...so it'd be pointless to put points for a staff wouldn't it?

[theotherjohn]

Originally posted by Tayre
TOJ are you absolutely sure that it's 8 ranks for doubles? I've been using 8 for many years now and I'm pretty sure I've checke the math before. But if you're positive, I'll believe you.

ask nakiro or any of the other hunting empaths

[theotherjohn]

Originally posted by theotherjohn

Originally posted by Tayre
TOJ are you absolutely sure that it's 8 ranks for doubles? I've been using 8 for many years now and I'm pretty sure I've checke the math before. But if you're positive, I'll believe you.

ask nakiro or any of the other hunting empaths

here is nakiros caster plan off the official boards

My empath is 17 and can selfcast hunt jungle trolls on teras no problem with it

For the caster:
2x HP
1x MIU
1x Arc Sym
1x ranks Empath spells
.5 ranks Minor Spirit
.5 ranks Major Spirit
2x Spell Aiming
1x Mental Mana Control
1x Spiritual Mana Control
3x First Aid
1x Mental Lore - Manipulation
1x Spirit Lore - Summoning
6 Ranks of Armor
1x Physical Training

If you can't fit all that in, back off on the Harness Power a bit.


Nakiro

[Celexei]

not a bad looking plan but is he still a healer?

[Snapp]

Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Shield Use.........................| 142 42
Combat Maneuvers...................| 50 10
Blunt Weapons......................| 142 42
Physical Fitness...................| 108 26
Arcane Symbols.....................| 114 28
Magic Item Use.....................| 117 29
Spell Aiming.......................| 184 84
Harness Power......................| 142 42
Spirit Mana Control................| 114 28
Spiritual Lore - Summoning.........| 90 20
Mental Lore - Manipulation.........| 142 42
Survival...........................| 50 10
Perception.........................| 78 17
Climbing...........................| 50 10
Swimming...........................| 50 10
First Aid..........................| 184 84

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

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

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 29

This is my empath at level 40. As you can see, he's also a weapon/shield user... and this plan's always worked well for me. The CM I added for kicks because I like being able to use some of the skills. I've also always been told 8 ranks of armor for doubles. My favorite part about him is having different ways to hunt (swing, bolt, or shatter) and of course the option to heal.

[Kitsun]

Originally posted by Celexei
so X, you are able to heal and all still right? i mean...your plan right now is really what i'm possibly leanin for, i like the way its sounding, but i really do mainly wanna heal.

I don't understand where you're getting the impression that empaths need to train specifically to heal.

You could totally screw an empath's training but as long as you nabbed some of the healing spells and some PT for HP and harness power for mana - there's no way to stop an empath from healing.

You actually don't even need the second two. You could always just use herbs to heal down once you nab someone's wounds. But you wouldn't be able to heal someone's blood loss.

Healing is a mindless little ability empaths have. If you train them to do ANYTHING, they can very likely heal as well.

[Celexei]

Snapp whats you Spirit summoning lore for?

[Snapp]

Originally posted by Celexei
Snapp whats you Spirit summoning lore for?

It adds to a few of our spells.. I just got it for Fire Spirit (111-bolt spell) mainly.

[Celexei]

makes since...i like your plan, what are your stats like?...i pretty much have my plan set but im still looking for other ideas

[Snapp]

I'm not the greatest number cruncher, nor do I use any spreadsheets.. I just prefer to "wing it." This is what I started with:

Strength (STR): 87
Constitution (CON): 64
Dexterity (DEX): 83
Agility (AGI): 68
Discipline (DIS): 57
Aura (AUR): 65
Logic (LOG): 60
Intuition (INT): 48
Wisdom (WIS): 81
Influence (INF): 47

This is what I'm at now:

Strength (STR): 92 (21) ... 92 (21)
Constitution (CON): 76 (8) ... 76 (8)
Dexterity (DEX): 93 (31) ... 93 (31)
Agility (AGI): 81 (20) ... 81 (20)
Discipline (DIS): 74 (2) ... 74 (2)
Aura (AUR): 78 (24) ... 78 (24)
Logic (LOG): 78 (14) ... 78 (14)
Intuition (INT): 65 (12) ... 65 (12)
Wisdom (WIS): 97 (28) ... 102 (31)
Influence (INF): 69 (4) ... 74 (7)

[Celexei]

what race?

[Snapp]

Dark Elf.

[Killer Kitten]

I can't look at my char anymore, but I had a human empath who always hunted. If I remember this right... fully singled in edged, shield, brawl. Six trains in armor, just enough for double leathers. Singled in mental lore and those points divided equally between manipulation and the one that began with 't' that helped lower healing spell roundtime.

Doubled in first aid, doubled in spells, with empath list concurrent with level, major spirit up to 40 and the rest minor, past 60 or somesuch. Doubled in spell aim. 8 ranks of multi opponent combat for nice splashes on my fireballs and a good 5 second swing at two critters with my sword. 24 ranks each of climb and swim, 32 or 33 ranks each of items and scrolls.

I forget what all else, but I'm sure I've posted it elsewhere. She was a hella fun character to play. Oh yeah, and Voln of course, so that brawling was good for offence as well as defense.

Kimm/Ex-Tilone