THW - open ambush versus stealth?

[Briem]

Okay so I've decided to walk the road of the THW user. I have always loved THW and fits my style of play. However I am faced with a crossroads with how I should venture forth. I have been single training in ambush but am not sure when ambush kicks in for its most potent accuracy. I feel like 30 ranks was when ambush was spot on but that is based on hearsay from long ago times. That being said, currently I have been attacking all enemies from the open, and if I get overwhelmed I drop tangleweed (just reached lvl 10). I would love to hunt from hiding, but with a THW it may be obsolete? Now since I'm still low level I may not truly being feeling the effects yet. Will my days of open ambush, as a ranger dry up and my reliance on hiding pick up, or could i ditch all my ranks in stalking/hiding and put them in MOC or dodging / extra spells? Here is a link to my current skills. Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated. To be realistic I will probably never cap, but with some confidence will reach the lvl 50 mark (also I'm Voln for my hunting preference).

Mischab (at level 11), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 58 12
Combat Maneuvers...................| 58 12
Two-Handed Weapons.................| 102 24
Ambush.............................| 35 7
Physical Fitness...................| 58 12
Harness Power......................| 62 13
Survival...........................| 90 20
Stalking and Hiding................| 96 22
Perception.........................| 86 19
Climbing...........................| 25 5
First Aid..........................| 40 8

Spell Lists
Minor Spiritual....................| 3

Spell Lists
Ranger.............................| 10

[Whirlin]

How is your roundtime with ambushing from hiding with a THW?

[Briem]

I'll have to double check, but last check was 8 seconds assuming I was not encumbered

[waywardgs]

At level 11... just do whatever.

[Briem]

I understand right at this moment I can get away with anything essentially, I'm more concerned 20 levels from now, having dumped all my points in something and having to wait for the mitigation to go through is my big concern.

[Whirlin]

Depends on your objectives of Gemstone.
Do you want to be the most efficient hunter?
or do you want to play the way you envision your character, and the whole RP thing?

More often than not, you're gonna take a hit to efficiency to fit the RP build that you envision of yourself. Is that hit to efficiency going to make hunting impossible? No, likely not. But it won't be optimized.

If you're going to ambush in 8 seconds, with unlikely to get down to 5, I'd give up on hiding, ambushing (from hiding), and seek counseling to come to terms with the fact that the benefits from 601, 608, and 617 will never truly be maximized. And I'd use those points to pick up Dodge training.

Also, your perception is overleveled, doesn't need to be above 1x.

But, that's just like, my opinion man.
http://media.screened.com/uploads/0/4810/572474-yeah_well_thats_just_like_your_opinion_man.jpeg

Hell, if someone can level a polearm sorc, you can level an hiding and ambushing THW ranger.

[Briem]

I appreciate the input, for some reason I envisioned having 2x percept to help with bounties for foraging and skinning but it is super point intensive so I will drag it down, and losing out on 608/617 would be a huge loss so I may bite the bullet and attempt the 8 sec ambush and if I'm lucky the first leg strike will be all I need and just hunt wisely. Thanks again =)

[loxe]

OK first what are you swinging? I have a lvl 41 stalk/hide ambush thw ranger and do very well. He Is using a +22 hcw quarterstaff (quick and crush only damage) 1x ambush,cman,perc,survival,spells,and pf. 2x thw and stalk/hide. Dodge as you can. And armor up to what your goal is. (I 1x armor) and only have .25x dodge.

[Drazaan]

I appreciate the input, for some reason I envisioned having 2x percept to help with bounties for foraging and skinning but it is super point intensive so I will drag it down, and losing out on 608/617 would be a huge loss so I may bite the bullet and attempt the 8 sec ambush and if I'm lucky the first leg strike will be all I need and just hunt wisely. Thanks again =)

The skills for improving your skinning are First Aid and Survival rather than Perception. Perception is part of the foraging formula, though as a ranger your class bonus to forging in addition to the Foraging spell, Aspect of the Yierka, and Survival training will do plenty to augment it so that 2x Perception is not needed.

If I were you and you do intend to reach 50, but most likely not cap, do what you need to to get your ambushing RT down from 8. Look at the AGI_DEX page on Krakiipedia and figure out what sort of Agility and Dexterity you need to make this happen. It will add a great deal to the quality of life of your character if you go with THW Ambushing.

I've done two-handed rangering before and it is definitely viable, but don't anticipate to as quick or efficient as an open archer ranger. Live your life, follow your dreams, and all that.

[Whirlin]

If I were you and you do intend to reach 50, but most likely not cap, do what you need to to get your ambushing RT down from 8. Look at the AGI_DEX page on Krakiipedia and figure out what sort of Agility and Dexterity you need to make this happen. It will add a great deal to the quality of life of your character if you go with THW Ambushing.


Ambushing adds 3 seconds, which is mitigatable with DEXAGL. However, THW tend to have high RT additions, thus the other poster was using a quarterstaff. Krakii also says that minimum ambush RT is 1+ minimum RT of the weapon... but I'm not sure about that.

Depends on Race for minimum RT.

[Riltus]

Ambushing adds 3 seconds, which is mitigatable with DEXAGL. However, THW tend to have high RT additions, thus the other poster was using a quarterstaff. Krakii also says that minimum ambush RT is 1+ minimum RT of the weapon... but I'm not sure about that.

Depends on Race for minimum RT.

Yes, ambush is +1 sec to minimum RT.



2H Weapon|Base Ambush RT|Minimum Ambush RT
Quarterstaff|8|6
-|-|-
Bastard Sword 2H|9|6
Katana 2H|9|6
-|-|-
Military Pick|10|6
Flail|10|6
Flamberge|10|6
War Mattock|10|6
Maul|10|6
-|-|-
Two Handed Sword|11|6
Battle Axe|11|6
Claidhmore|11|6

Note: Encumbrance penalty adds 1 sec to Base RT and increases an additional 1 sec for each 5% encumbered body weight. This RT penalty is uncapped.

Mark

[Whirlin]

I have tables too!

5 RT Reduction|4 RT Reduction|3 RT Reduction
Halfling|Aelotoi|Erithian
Burghal gnome|Dark elf|Human
Elf|Forest gnome|Dwarf
|Half-elf|Giantman
|Sylvankind|
|Half-krolvin|



5 RT Reduction|STR Mod||4 RT Reduction|STR Mod
Halfling|-15||Aelotoi|-5
Burghal gnome|-15||Dark elf|0
Elf|0||Forest gnome|-10
|||Half-elf|0
|||Sylvankind|0
|||Half-krolvin|10

[Briem]

Super informative posts, thanks to all. I've adjusted my my Agi and Dex accordingly and at the moment have my rt at -2 and my base rt at 5 versus 6 with a mattock / axe. May look into attempting using the Qstaff, but I sadly do not have the money for CW but a 4x may be just as viable. Sounds fun to thump legs and heads!