Empaths and the UAC system.

[FlayedAngel]

Curious about how feasible a UAC-implementing Empath can be for hunting.

I've heard that UAC isn't effective unless you can 2x in Brawling (which pures can't, we only get 1x), but... don't know how true that is. I've also heard that some people have been fairing decently, with a little change in strategy. I've played around with it a bit, and it seems to work well enough-ish, but it also seems extremely hit-miss. I understand there's a certain degree of randomness to it, but it seems to take much longer overall to kill anything than Voln Fu did prior to the release of the UAC system.

Anyone have tips on how to best train/implement UAC for an Empath? Any advice would be appreciated!

[Elgrim]

I've got a 28 empath using brawling while holding a runestaff and honestly it kicks butt. I usually start a fight by setting up with bone shatter and then going from there with UAC. Have had no problems overhunting 5 levels.

I'm probably not even close to the optimum build, but here is what I have

(at level 28), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Brawling.............................| 117 29
Physical Fitness...................| 187 87
Arcane Symbols...................| 117 29
Magic Item Use...................| 117 29
Spell Aiming........................| 117 29
Harness Power....................| 117 29
Mental Mana Control............| 117 29
Spirit Mana Control..............| 102 24
Mental Lore - Manipulation....| 117 29
Survival.............................| 117 29
Perception.........................| 117 29
Climbing............................| 70 15
Swimming..........................| 70 15
First Aid............................| 158 58

Spell Lists
Major Spiritual....................| 15

Spell Lists
Minor Spiritual....................| 20

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 25

I've considered tanking survival, FA, and spell aiming and getting .5x CM and Armor, but still doing some research on that. That would still leave me with 8x magic ranks for runestaves.

[audioserf]

1x spell aiming isn't doing enough for your runestaff defense (seriously, it's ultra-negligible) to be worth singling. Either double it to use it in combat or drop it entirely to free up the points.

[Elgrim]

Actually, the reason I kept the aiming was to make occasional use of 111 aimed, which is still very viable with all the empath AS buffs at single training. But obviously it is something I am considering.

[Jace Solo]

It wont be for long. Consider that.

[Asile]

It wont be for long. Consider that.

^ ^ This. Seriously. You have maybe 10 more levels at best. Double SA or drop it, this is not a skill you can half-ass.

[FlayedAngel]

Good to know that I want to keep up SA should I decide to go back to pure.

So, my primary question remains: how viable is it to 1x in Brawling for an empath at higher levels? Anyone out there been have any experience with this? Is it really not worth it unless you can 2x train (ie, another profession that can)?

[Jason13828]

My empath is 43 and hunts on Teras using UAC. Here are his skills:

Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Shield Use.........................| 142 42
Brawling...........................| 145 45
Physical Fitness...................| 145 45
Arcane Symbols.....................| 105 25
Magic Item Use.....................| 120 30
Spell Aiming.......................| 188 88
Harness Power......................| 145 45
Mental Mana Control................| 145 45
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Spiritual Lore - Summoning.........| 145 45
Mental Lore - Telepathy............| 25 5
Perception.........................| 70 15
Climbing...........................| 70 15
Swimming...........................| 70 15
First Aid..........................| 145 45

Spell Lists
Major Spiritual....................| 19

Spell Lists
Minor Spiritual....................| 20

Spell Lists
Empath.............................| 55

He was brawl/shield before for open hand bone shatters but since I hunt Kiramon that wasn't very effective. I used to have a VERY hard time frying on workers and defenders were almost impossible. However...now that UAC is here I am very successful at it. If you'd like I can post a log. Usually only outside spells I hunt with are 401, 406, 414. DS is of course a problem when caught in offensive. Sometimes for set-up I'll blast a 1110 in their face or a 118 web-bolt.

[FlayedAngel]

He was brawl/shield before for open hand bone shatters but since I hunt Kiramon that wasn't very effective. I used to have a VERY hard time frying on workers and defenders were almost impossible. However...now that UAC is here I am very successful at it. If you'd like I can post a log. Usually only outside spells I hunt with are 401, 406, 414. DS is of course a problem when caught in offensive. Sometimes for set-up I'll blast a 1110 in their face or a 118 web-bolt.

Yeah, caught in offensive sucks. But that's excellent... glad to know it's working well for someone! I wouldn't mind a log, just to see if I can get a comparative basis going to speculate on what I might want to tweak.