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View Full Version : Episode 672: The Smyths ponder Alafaya's Training Path, picking versus non-picking



NinjasLeadTheWay
12-30-2013, 05:56 PM
The debate as to whether Faya should keep 2.5x in picking versus removing it completely and maxing combat skills since we barely get boxes anymore as is and though she is able to pick them often, well some not so much. Our story starts here...

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "need help lnet. I am a level 94 rogue and 2.5x train in picking and disarming locks. should I fixskills and stop opening boxes and be a better hunter?"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "I mean I cant even open half my boxes even at 2.5x....and Mikeke doesnt pick and way outhunts me....but...I like picking boxes"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "I have a wizard that helps me pick"

[LNet]-GSIV:Mikeke: "but she's not maxing PF, Dodge, cmans this way"
[LNet]-GSIV:Mikeke: "And that shits kind of important"
[LNet]-GSIV:Mikeke: "She could 2x dodge, 2x pf, if she dropped it and get more cmans"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "my stats self...and I do more than 2x dodge"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "I ttrain mid level"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "usually with mikeke"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "its easy with him"
[LNet]-GSIV:Mikeke: "That's because I am awesome enough for both of us"
[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "dont get me wrong...I am not having issues hunting...even alone"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "my in game husband thinks I could be wayyy better if I dont pick. and Im asking opinions"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "well at 2.5x I cant without my own lore"

[LNet]-GSIV:Alafaya: "thanks everyone for the PMs and input"

LNET EDITED FOR OPSEC SAKE.


Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...
>
Mikeke shrugs.
>
Mikeke says, "Just 2x lores and get the spells, then put the rest in PF, and you can still pick but also take hits better."
>

Clefford has just set up a raffle for a sonic alteration in the Bard Guild, Courtyard on Four Winds Isle. Tickets cost 25,000 silvers. It draws around eleven-thirty in the morning as the elves tell time on Tilamaires, the 31st day of Eorgaen.

>
Alafaya returns to normal speed.
>
[haste]>prepare 506
[haste]>cast Alafaya
You recite a series of mystical phrases while raising your hands, invoking Haste...
Your spell is ready.
>
You gesture at Alafaya.
Alafaya begins moving faster than you thought possible.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>
Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...
>
Alafaya removes a blood red teardrop-etched scarab from in her leather toolkit.
>
Alafaya rubs a blood red teardrop-etched scarab in her hand.
>
Alafaya says, "Hang on."
>
Mikeke grins.
>
Mikeke nods.
>
Alafaya says, "Dont cast at me cospi."
>
Alafaya returns to normal speed.
>
[haste]>prepare 506
[haste]>cast Alafaya
You recite a series of mystical phrases while raising your hands, invoking Haste...
Your spell is ready.
>
You gesture at Alafaya.
Alafaya begins moving faster than you thought possible.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>
Alafaya put a blood red teardrop-etched scarab in her leather toolkit.
>

You feel at full magical power again.
>Mikeke says, "He's turned off."
>
Mikeke snickers.
>
Alafaya removes an onyx scarab figurine from in her suede survival kit.
>
Alafaya rubs an onyx scarab figurine in her hand.
Alafaya becomes calm and focused.
>
Alafaya put an onyx scarab figurine in her leather toolkit.
>
Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...
>
Alafaya returns to normal speed.
>
Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...
>
Alafaya scowls at a weathered fel chest.
>
Alafaya says, "Freakin scales."
>
Mikeke chuckles.
>
Alafaya says, "Wuld be a record."
>
Alafaya says, "And I want it."
>
Alafaya drools.
>
Mikeke grins.
>
Mikeke tried to drag you, but your group status is closed. Type "GROUP OPEN" to permit yourself to be dragged.
>
Mikeke snickers.
>
Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...
>
Mikeke asks, "Should we vavacte?"
>
Mikeke asks, "Vacate?"
>

[Leaving rest mode.]

Alafaya says, "No."
>join mike
Mikeke is already a member of Alafaya's group.
>snicker
You snicker.
>duck alafa
You quickly duck behind Alafaya.
>cover mike
You move to stand in front of Mikeke.
>

[Entering rest mode...press any key to resume.]

Mikeke buries his face in his hands.
>
Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...
>
Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...
>
Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...
>
The focused look leaves Alafaya.
>
A bit of perspiration trickles down the back of your neck. No one ever said that a wig would be comfortable.
>
Alafaya gazes thoughtfully at an enruned thanot chest.
>
Alafaya picks up an enruned thanot chest.
>
Alafaya put a dagger in her black leather boots.
>
Alafaya drops an enruned thanot chest.
>
The scintillating light fades from Alafaya's hands.
>
Alafaya begins to meticulously examine an acid-pitted brass chest.

You feel a strange sense of serenity and find that you are able to reflect on recent events with uncommon clarity and understanding.
>
Having found a trap on the chest, Alafaya begins to attempt to disarm it...

Alafaya peers thoughtfully into the lock mechanism of an acid-pitted brass chest for a moment, then takes a small metal file and spends a moment scraping at the casing just inside the keyhole. She blows once into it and a small puff of greyish-white powder emerges. Alafaya then removes a needle from her leather toolkit and slides it carefully into the hole, before making a decisive jab at something within. You hear a faint hissing noise, and another cloud of dust emerges from the chest's lock.
>
Alafaya removes a dagger from in her black leather boots.
>
Alafaya asks, "Did you pick up a box?"
>
Mikeke shakes his head.
>
Mikeke says, "Nope."
>
Alafaya put a dagger in her black leather boots.
>
Alafaya begins to meticulously examine a weathered fel chest.
>
Alafaya begins to meticulously examine a plain silver chest.
>
Alafaya says, "Dude."
>
Alafaya says, "I lost the scales on."
>
Alafaya winces.
>
Mikeke says, "Oh."
>
Mikeke asks, "How?"
>
Mikeke asks, "Did it vanish?"
>
Alafaya says, "No."
>
Alafaya says, "Hang on."
>
Alafaya removes a dagger from in her black leather boots.
>
Alafaya shrugs.
>
Alafaya says, "We gonna die."
>
Your blue wig slips ever so slightly to one side. You adjust it discreetly.
>
Alafaya put a dagger in her black leather boots.
>
Mikeke laughs!
>
Alafaya removes a deep blue vaalin lockpick from in her leather toolkit.
>
Mikeke asks, "Should I hide?"
>
Alafaya picks up an enruned thanot chest.
>
Mikeke snickers.
>
Alafaya put a deep blue vaalin lockpick in her leather toolkit.
>
Alafaya removes a dagger from in her black leather boots.
>
Alafaya put a dagger in her black leather boots.
>
Alafaya removes a copper lockpick from in her twilight-hued carryall.
>
Alafaya put a copper lockpick in her twilight-hued carryall.
>
Alafaya removes a deep blue vaalin lockpick from in her leather toolkit.
>
Alafaya gives her blue vaalin lockpick a sharp twist, attempting to straighten it slightly, before settling into the difficult task of picking the lock on an enruned thanot chest...
Then...CLICK! It opens!
>
Mikeke grins.
>
Alafaya offers Mikeke an enruned thanot chest.
>
Mikeke accepts Alafaya's thanot chest.
>
Alafaya put a deep blue vaalin lockpick in her leather toolkit.
>
Mikeke asks, "Can I open this?"
>
Alafaya picks up a dented gold box.
>
Alafaya says, "Yes."
>
Alafaya says, "Maybe."
>
Mikeke says, "Or will it explode."
>
Mikeke opens an enruned thanot chest.

Suddenly, an enruned thanot chest gives off a loud sizzle, and explodes in a bright flash!
Being closest, Mikeke takes the brunt of the blast!
... 5 points of damage!
Strike glances off the chest.

The chest's casing is blasted into hundreds of tiny flechettes!

Mikeke is severely perforated!
... 5 points of damage!
Minor puncture to the left leg.
... 15 points of damage!
Shot to the hand slices a finger to the bone!
... 10 points of damage!
Well aimed shot almost removes an eye!
He is stunned!
... 15 points of damage!
Shot to the hand slices a finger to the bone!
... 15 points of damage!
Well aimed shot, punctures upper arm!
... 15 points of damage!
Well aimed shot, punctures upper arm!
... 1 point of damage!
Minor strike under the right eye, that was close!

Someone screams, "Endangering public safety by Mikeke! Call the night watchman!"

Alafaya is struck by flechettes!
... 5 points of damage!
Minor puncture to the chest.
>
Alafaya says, "I thinki."
>
Alafaya says, "Crap."
>
Alafaya says, "Oops."
>

A number of deputies charge in, led by the night watchman.
Mikeke is able to move again.

With great ease, the night watchman grabs Mikeke and shackles his wrists.

"There you are! I got a tip that I'd find you here," says the night watchman.

With a keen eye, the night watchman glances over Mikeke quickly. He says, "We'll not have you dying before sentence is carried out. Let's get you healed up, though there will of course be a slight charge for it." With that, a demure looking city official, evidently an empath, comes forward and heals all Mikeke's maladies.

The night watchman then drags him off.

Alafaya
12-30-2013, 06:00 PM
That is not how I remember it at all. #Picking4life #mikekecaneatme

Thondalar
12-30-2013, 06:02 PM
2x picking and get to 404. At 94, this should put your ability somewhere around the -1100 range on locks and -390 range on traps...not enough for all capped boxes, but a lot of them. Pick up more post-cap.

A lot of it depends on your hunting style, too...ranged is cheaper TP-wise than sword/board, for example.

Jhynnifer
12-30-2013, 06:11 PM
You're better off pushing 2.25x + your own lores. This will put you at 3x picking skill and you should be able to handle all capped boxes. If you're ranged and you're not pushing for 430 this should be easily accomplished.

That being said, you say you don't have an issue hunting even alone, so i don't see why you should drop picking/disarming if you enjoy it. You're ranged iirc? I dropped picking/disarming and while everyone else said it was a great idea, I really miss it. Another thing, what is your actual training? If I could take a look at it, I might be able to point out some areas where you could shift points to help out. Also, do you actually HAVE any spells?

Alafaya
12-30-2013, 06:30 PM
Im not dropping picking...went down 2x and picked up lores. will see how it goes. :)

rolfard
12-30-2013, 07:00 PM
lores multiply your skill. you ought to keep the straight skill and invoke lore off scrolls (since you need arcane lore for scarabs, you can choose to leave MIU out)

cwolff
12-30-2013, 07:08 PM
It's really just a theoretical discussion. Alafaya could be 5x w/ self lore and still blow up plenty of boxes.

Jhynnifer
12-30-2013, 07:20 PM
Honestly, heading for cap 2x + your own lores is only going to net you 2.5x and you won't be able to open -all- of your own boxes. What did you drop the .5x for? Spells?

Cereal Killer
12-30-2013, 07:22 PM
Umm ... scales you need to see, pick, THEN disarm with the dagger ...

Jhynnifer
12-30-2013, 07:46 PM
Umm ... scales you need to see, pick, THEN disarm with the dagger ...

Yep, I saw that in the original trap. She picked then handed it over instead of disarming. Probably got sidetracked.

Neovik1
12-30-2013, 09:34 PM
I did 2x and a little extra here and there if I could sacrifice the trainings points where I wouldn't be giving up my combat skills. The only boxes I ever had trouble with were Minotaur boxes. But having the lores was an important factor in my picking. For awhile I just realized that minotaur boxes were just an exception on their difficulty.

Jeril
12-31-2013, 08:13 AM
3x pick/disarm is 3.535 exp post cap while that can certainly be used to boost ones combat abilities the game is more then just that. I know for me I capped with 1x in trading, survival, and first aid and after bumping my dodge up to 2x I bumped those skills up to 2x before touching any more combat abilities and I don't regret it. We play this game for fun, so I say do what is fun for you.

Victorj
12-31-2013, 09:14 AM
Picking has always been a TP sink especially if you're 2x+. That being said, if you enjoy picking, and can hunt fine solo, then by all means go for it. At cap, being 2x with lores is roughly equal to 3x without lores (you'll probably pick around -1100 and disarm around -430 in both cases). Max trap for the 3 capped areas is -480, max lock is -1295 for OTF, -1435 (?, haven't seen anything over -1395, but Gib says they can gen up to -1435) for Nelemar and roughly the same for Scatter, so you'll want to be at least 2.5x disarm + lore to get a majority of them (that way, you can disarm every trap, and then wedge the ones you can't pick).

NinjasLeadTheWay
12-31-2013, 10:29 AM
You're all way more helpful on PC than you are on lnet. Ha!

Neovik1
12-31-2013, 11:00 AM
Picking has always been a TP sink especially if you're 2x+. That being said, if you enjoy picking, and can hunt fine solo, then by all means go for it. At cap, being 2x with lores is roughly equal to 3x without lores (you'll probably pick around -1100 and disarm around -430 in both cases). Max trap for the 3 capped areas is -480, max lock is -1295 for OTF, -1435 (?, haven't seen anything over -1395, but Gib says they can gen up to -1435) for Nelemar and roughly the same for Scatter, so you'll want to be at least 2.5x disarm + lore to get a majority of them (that way, you can disarm every trap, and then wedge the ones you can't pick).

Rlen has a -1600 lock for his max. That was more than likely an invasion box though.

Victorj
12-31-2013, 11:27 AM
Rlen has a -1600 lock for his max. That was more than likely an invasion box though.

Could also be a player lock.

Neovik1
12-31-2013, 12:31 PM
Could also be a player lock.

I could have sworn it was an invasion box from during the Barnom Lich thing. I think I was actually there when he got it. I could be wrong though, my memory can be pretty shitty at times.

I don't think Rlen is the type of person that would get a personal best on a player made lock.

Victorj
12-31-2013, 01:45 PM
I could have sworn it was an invasion box from during the Barnom Lich thing. I think I was actually there when he got it. I could be wrong though, my memory can be pretty shitty at times.

I don't think Rlen is the type of person that would get a personal best on a player made lock.

Yea, I don't think Rlen would either, but I'm just saying that player made locks do count towards your best personal lock.

Velfi
12-31-2013, 01:55 PM
lores multiply your skill. you ought to keep the straight skill and invoke lore off scrolls (since you need arcane lore for scarabs, you can choose to leave MIU out)

It's always been my understanding that self-cast lores trump all, whether imbedded/scrolls or cast from others.

Well, aside from the super lore vial things, natch.

Alafaya
12-31-2013, 02:06 PM
[You have just beaten your personal best trap of -361!]

Alafaya
12-31-2013, 02:08 PM
You make an excellent attempt (d100=95).
You struggle with the trunk. As you do, you get a sense that the trunk has an extremely difficult lock (-1015 thief-lingo difficulty ranking). Then...CLICK! It opens!
Roundtime: 18 sec.

Jeril
01-01-2014, 08:46 AM
We are a bit more helpful here because on lnet at the time it seemed like people were trying to out voice each other so nothing really got through. Rlen's box was one from lich's landing. And yes, some rare boxes in Nelemar can be above 1400, I've pulled a few out myself. For scatter boxes Draithe or Dhairn would be the ones to ask about that, they use their own picker and likely pick more boxes from there then anyone else. Using your own 404 has the potential to be better then anything because ranks in 400s is a factor. I know 404 from magic items count as self cast, I forget if scrolls are the same or not though.