Magic Item Use - How much is enough?

[Maerit]

I know 1x in this helps with Runestaff Defense. I have been leveraging scrolls a lot more recently, and was wondering if it was feasible to drop my MIU down substantially to push closer to 2x in Arcane Symbols so I can better unlock and infuse scrolls.

So, I'm curious as to how MIU helps with Sorcerer skills in general. I basically never bother with 420 because I'm not making utility objects for other characters / players. I don't really have any imbeds to leverage at this time.

What formulas am I missing that MIU plays a factor into?

[Silvean]

It factors into Ensorcell (735) but so do Arcane Symbols ranks. It's also a success factor when using the training cauldrons to gain alchemy ranks.

[time4fun]

I'm not a sorcerer, but given the number of self chargers being added into the game lately, 2x seems wise

[caelric]

I have a 1x day 1750 item, so I maxed MIU, and only 1.5x AS (at cap), but if I didn't have that, I would have stuck at 1x MIU. Because I did 2x MIU, though, I have a pocket wizard that makes some imbeds for me, and one rub of an imbed lasts ~3 hunts.

[Fallen]

I know 1x in this helps with Runestaff Defense. I have been leveraging scrolls a lot more recently, and was wondering if it was feasible to drop my MIU down substantially to push closer to 2x in Arcane Symbols so I can better unlock and infuse scrolls.

So, I'm curious as to how MIU helps with Sorcerer skills in general. I basically never bother with 420 because I'm not making utility objects for other characters / players. I don't really have any imbeds to leverage at this time.

What formulas am I missing that MIU plays a factor into?

MIU is used in the unlock checks, while Arcane Symbols is used in the Infuse checks. Mana controls determine how much mana you give the scroll per infuse attempt. Hard to sleep on any of these skills if you aim to make strong use of Scroll Infusion. Also, don't forget about Small Statues. It's also quite nice for make use of rods with RAISE for maximized durations. Finally, it counts as cheap magic ranks for runestaff DS.

PS
Spellburst (IT HAPPENS!)

[Maerit]

Ok cool. So I'll stick to 1x MIU then, thanks for the insight!

I was also going to use the 2x AS to help improve my Rune Strength so I could make better use of 208 scrolls.

I have been toying with dropping Spell Aim as I use spells which benefit from Spell Aim infrequently (at best). Especially with 709 being so potent replacing my love of 708 and having AoE 703 now to lock down casters. I don't use focused implosion outside of the Arena since I love loot too much... 710? Nah... Bolts? Umm, nope. Just not seeing a lot of value from Spell Aim now that Duskruin is done for a while. Hrmmmmmmmmm

[crb]

I always 2x'd it and AS, they're cheap, and boost runestaff DS as well.

[Maerit]

I just don't know where you guys are getting all these TPs to 2x crap...

Right now at level 69 I'm:

8 ranks of Armor use
1x PT

1x AS
1x MIU
2x Spell Aiming
1x Elemental Mana Control
1x Spiritual Mana Control
1x Harness Power
1x Sorcerous Lore - Necromancy

30 ranks of Climbing and Swimming
1x Perception

40 ranks in MnE
40 ranks in MnS
87 ranks in Sorcerer spells

Something has to give. I'm not capped, so is all this talk of "always" doing stuff all post-cap talk?

[Gizmo]

I don't even have 2x AS at Cap, as of now I still have 1x AS/MIU/HP

[Fallen]

I didn't have points to 2x MIU until post cap. I did 2x Arcane Symbols, though. I wouldn't go below 1x MIU.

[Silvean]

Something has to give. I'm not capped, so is all this talk of "always" doing stuff all post-cap talk?

I'm a proponent of going 3x spells, 1x CM, and 2x Perception at cap. So, if you follow that all the way, you can't even start working on 2x MiU until around double cap.

You could make a good argument for moving MiU or AS up the list of priorities if you have a particular magic item or interest in scroll infusion.

But, in response to your original question, I think some of the far post-cap people lose sight of the realities of sorcerer TPs and sorcerer hunting prior to level 100. I guess, if you were really committed to scroll infusion, dropping lore training below 1x in favor of Arcane Symbols before cap is justifiable.

[Fallen]

I .5xed lore and .5xed mana control. I was nowhere near 3x spells pre-cap. Hell, 10+ million post cap and I still don't have that. All those TPs for just a few points of CS. Bleh.

1x Shield, 1x Brawl
2x Spell Aim
1x MIU and Arcane Symbols (free points went here first), 1x Harness Power
2xish Spells
1x Perception
.5x ish lore when I had the TPs
24ish ranks of Physical Training

Smattering of Climbing/Swimming/Armor Use.

Wasn't too tight for TPs, really.

[Maerit]

I .5xed lore and .5xed mana control. I was nowhere near 3x spells pre-cap. Hell, 10+ million post cap and I still don't have that. All those TPs for just a few points of CS. Bleh.

1x Shield, 1x Brawl
2x Spell Aim
1x MIU and Arcane Symbols (free points went here first), 1x Harness Power
2xish Spells
1x Perception
.5x ish lore when I had the TPs
24ish ranks of Physical Training

Smattering of Climbing/Swimming/Armor Use.

Wasn't too tight for TPs, really.

Not 1xing PT these days will get most folks killed more often when they hunt critters that doe maneuvers. Low ranks in mana controls, these days, is also a detriment as that ties into a number of our abilities, mana regeneration, and gives access to the amazing mana spellup feature!

With all the changes to Necro lore during HSN, I would suffer not 1xing in that too... Oh how things have changed!

[Fallen]

Not 1xing PT these days will get most folks killed more often when they hunt critters that doe maneuvers. Low ranks in mana controls, these days, is also a detriment as that ties into a number of our abilities, mana regeneration, and gives access to the amazing mana spellup feature!

With all the changes to Necro lore during HSN, I would suffer not 1xing in that too... Oh how things have changed!

I've always found padding is the best defense against maneuvers. Everything else was largely secondary.

[Androidpk]

At what level does scroll use become beneficial?

[Fallen]

At what level does scroll use become beneficial?

That would depend highly on your training, but I would say as soon as you learn the spell it can become useful to Sorcerers who don't MA.

For instance, a properly trained Sorcerer at level 14 could unlock spells like Thurfel's Ward (503), Natural Colors (601), Spirit Shield (202), Prayer of Protection (303), Mantle of Faith (1601), and Prismatic Guard (905)

This would net you: +20, +10, +10, +10, +5, and +5 for a total of 60 DS which should be more than enough to render you safe from harm hunting at that level.

They would wish to only attempt to unlock the scroll for 5 charges using beiron'fyn, but it is still entirely doable and would provide an immediate benefit.

[time4fun]

I just don't know where you guys are getting all these TPs to 2x crap...

Right now at level 69 I'm:

8 ranks of Armor use
1x PT

1x AS
1x MIU
2x Spell Aiming
1x Elemental Mana Control
1x Spiritual Mana Control
1x Harness Power
1x Sorcerous Lore - Necromancy

30 ranks of Climbing and Swimming
1x Perception

40 ranks in MnE
40 ranks in MnS
87 ranks in Sorcerer spells

Something has to give. I'm not capped, so is all this talk of "always" doing stuff all post-cap talk?

I'm seriously as far from an expert as it gets here, but are you actually using that 2x SA? I looked up the TP cost for sorcerers, and it's not pretty. If you aren't really using it, that would free up a lot for you. You can work your way back up to 2x later.

[Androidpk]

That would depend highly on your training, but I would say as soon as you learn the spell it can become useful to Sorcerers who don't MA.

For instance, a properly trained Sorcerer at level 14 could unlock spells like Thurfel's Ward (503), Natural Colors (601), Spirit Shield (202), Prayer of Protection (303), Mantle of Faith (1601), and Prismatic Guard (905)

This would net you: +20, +10, +10, +10, +5, and +5 for a total of 60 DS which should be more than enough to render you safe from harm hunting at that level.

They would wish to only attempt to unlock the scroll for 5 charges using beiron'fyn, but it is still entirely doable and would provide an immediate benefit.

That would definitely be a good boost. I don't have any AS ranks yet but I'll have to see about bringing that up next.

[Maerit]

I'm seriously as far from an expert as it gets here, but are you actually using that 2x SA? I looked up the TP cost for sorcerers, and it's not pretty. If you aren't really using it, that would free up a lot for you. You can work your way back up to 2x later.

This is exactly what I've done right now. I dumped 2x SA, went 2x AS and bumped up my deficient spell training. So far, it works completely fine except people complain when they hunt in the same areas as I do since I'm basically using 709 instead of 708. Necro-hands everywhere!

I may switch to trying 717 as a disabler instead, but I really hate losing out on loot options, so not sure if the target will drop sufficient items as they flee in terror for me to hunt with 717.


And, if I decide I can't handle the loss of 708, then we're getting a fixskills after HSN anyway.