Hello,

i would like to be sure of some details in order to build properly my NS for PVE untill 50.
i plan to autotrain stealth.
i thought about maxing weapon spec, envenom spec and celtic dual. like a glass cannon bm.
CS could be good for leveling too, considering the awesome hamstring chain, but i think i ll do just fine while maxing out my off hand chance.
i have two questions :

- should i go to pierce or blade for leveling and what weapons should i use then ?
- for exemple, at lvl 20, am i able to use lvl 25 dot with 20+5 envenom ? or is it capped, based on my character's lvl ?

if you have critics and ideas on the best way to level an autotrain NS, please share with me.

best regards.

High CD is not worth the extra points, not even for levelling.
The CS chain style dmg is so much higher, and the CS after-evade chain costs almost no endu.

Pierce is better than slash, because your primary stat is dex. Also, you get a 5s stun after evade in the pierce line at lvl25.
Envenom can be raised over the level with +env items, but without spellcraft (at server start) I can't tell if you will actually be able to max out on +env from items, especially in lower levels.

Personally, I would get some decent pierce and envenom skill and just put a few points in CD for the lvl4 after-evade style.
At level 20+ I would start dumping most of the points in CS (and envenom) to catch up, in particular the lvl12 after-evade, the 18/25 anytime combo, and the lvl29 followup to after-evade.

I think a good spec at lvl34 would be something like
29 critstrike
25 pierce
30 envenom
10 celtic dual

leveling keep weapon/CS at 3/4 your level, keep envenom as high as you can and CD high this is for leveling mind you.
you can respec once you hit 20 and 40 to change/adjust your spec accordingly

Shades are a real tough starter toon though, very expensive and really need good gear to level quickly. You're better off rolling a Mage, or Valewalker as your farming toon first

It was the plan dont worry, Rolling first a char to farm. I m not sure yet between chanter/menty/vw since i dislike animist...

So, I never really played a stealther on Uthgard 1.0 - or in live OF.

How do you go around leveling? Is it possible to get groups? Or do you have to strap in and solo all the way? I mean, seing as bots are not allowed.. Solo leveling a NS seems like a struggle..

I really want a NS though.. Also wondering what the best frsit char would be, to ensure some cash...

Let me know

Gnefner wrote:So, I never really played a stealther on Uthgard 1.0 - or in live OF.

How do you go around leveling? Is it possible to get groups? Or do you have to strap in and solo all the way? I mean, seing as bots are not allowed.. Solo leveling a NS seems like a struggle..

I really want a NS though.. Also wondering what the best frsit char would be, to ensure some cash...

Let me know

it's not impossible, but quite hard to find group as NS (or as any other assassin). Still, there will be many people so it can be easier than in uth 1.0 i suppose.

jeaf wrote:

Gnefner wrote:So, I never really played a stealther on Uthgard 1.0 - or in live OF.

How do you go around leveling? Is it possible to get groups? Or do you have to strap in and solo all the way? I mean, seing as bots are not allowed.. Solo leveling a NS seems like a struggle..

I really want a NS though.. Also wondering what the best frsit char would be, to ensure some cash...

Let me know

it's not impossible, but quite hard to find group as NS (or as any other assassin). Still, there will be many people so it can be easier than in uth 1.0 i suppose.

I hope so :p Cause right now, it hurts my head thinking about solo leveling without buffs/heals :p

A good solo spot is usually faster (counting in wipes and stuff) than a bad group

You will get groups, but it is more work, usually you will have to build it yourself. Many groups will only accept you when they are desperately looking for tanks --> not a good grp setup usually

Personally, I found it best to level my stealther solo, and have another grp char which I can switch to if I feel like group levelling or there is a proper LFG.

shade wrote:A good solo spot is usually faster (counting in wipes and stuff) than a bad group

You will get groups, but it is more work, usually you will have to build it yourself. Many groups will only accept you when they are desperately looking for tanks --> not a good grp setup usually

Personally, I found it best to level my stealther solo, and have another grp char which I can switch to if I feel like group levelling or there is a proper LFG.

Ya, will probably do something like this..

shade wrote: Personally, I found it best to level my stealther solo, and have another grp char which I can switch to if I feel like group levelling or there is a proper LFG.

how much time (more or less OC ) to levelling solo the NS? i've some bad things to levelling a NS (my favourite class) solo...

(i'm a NEW Uthgard player...)

Honestly, I can't tell. We'll have to see in Beta. It depends on so many factors, like
- base XP
- XP bonuses (relics etc.)
- amount and duration of camp bonuses (will it degrade slowly, or be gone after the first set of mobs)
- respawn rates at certain spots
- number of players/availability of spots
- item drop rates and quality
- availability of quest items (especially weapons)
- mob HP
- weaponskill/defense penetration implementation
- level modifiers (your lvl. vs. mob lvl)

We'll just have to wait and see...

shade wrote:Honestly, I can't tell. We'll have to see in Beta. It depends on so many factors, like
- base XP
- XP bonuses (relics etc.)
- amount and duration of camp bonuses (will it degrade slowly, or be gone after the first set of mobs)
- respawn rates at certain spots
- number of players/availability of spots
- item drop rates and quality
- availability of quest items (especially weapons)
- mob HP
- weaponskill/defense penetration implementation
- level modifiers (your lvl. vs. mob lvl)

We'll just have to wait and see...

Like other ppl

Tyvm

I wanted to get some opinions on an odd Nightshade spec I am thinking about.

50 Envenom
35 or 40 Stealth
44 or 39 Pierce
29 Celtic Dual

The general idea behind the spec is to open up with the Ice Storm Side Stun --- > Tempest Bleed Combo from Celtic Dual instead of the PA / CD combo most assassins would use.

The 44 Pierce option gives the 2nd chain to the 25 pierce evade style. The 40 Stealth option gives Safefall 4.

This build would be a Viper build in which I would Stun - Bleed - Poison DoT - Str / Con Debuff open up. Then try to fit in the side snare Copperhead if possible. Kite around - Instant DD / Cast DD. Switch weapons to fresh poison. Pop Viper when you want to either force them to purge or kill.

Is ignoring the Critical Strike line dumb? Side benefit would be easier to template and more hits with piercing weapon skill being higher.

Another benefit is that leveling while AT'ing stealth should be easier given you don't need stealth openers from the crit strike line.

You don't need 50 Envenom, just combined 50, e.g. 36+14 (at RR4 from items/RR).

Short answer, your damage will be really bad. Pierce styles have low damage, and your CD styles will do low dmg because of the low spec (and because you're a NS, not a BM).

The Crit Strike styles are superior in all regards:

- The Garrote/Achilles anytime chain has the highest damage multiplier in the whole game (for anytime styles). On top of that, you have a snare effect AND a combat speed debuff, something which no other anytime style chain has (afaik).
- The pincer side-style does more damage than the CD side styles.
- The Perf and backstab do more damage than ice storm. Moreover, they penetrate/remove bladeturn (very important on casters) and they can't be blocked/parried/evaded (very important on tanks).
- The after-evade chain has the highest growthrate in the whole game. So even after you stun with diamondback (25 pierce), you will use the CS evade chain afterwards.

So in all regards (anytime, positional, reactional) the Crit Strike styles are superior to pierce and CD, except for the after-evade stun and the side-stun.

I recommend you try it out, especially in Beta. I think it's always important to build your own oppinion, not purely rely on others.
But for this question, "paper daoc" gives a good answer.

shade wrote:You don't need 50 Envenom, just combined 50, e.g. 36+14 (at RR4 from items/RR).

Short answer, your damage will be really bad. Pierce styles have low damage, and your CD styles will do low dmg because of the low spec (and because you're a NS, not a BM).

The Crit Strike styles are superior in all regards:

- The Garrote/Achilles anytime chain has the highest damage multiplier in the whole game (for anytime styles). On top of that, you have a snare effect AND a combat speed debuff, something which no other anytime style chain has (afaik).
- The pincer side-style does more damage than the CD side styles.
- The Perf and backstab do more damage than ice storm. Moreover, they penetrate/remove bladeturn (very important on casters) and they can't be blocked/parried/evaded (very important on tanks).
- The after-evade chain has the highest growthrate in the whole game. So even after you stun with diamondback (25 pierce), you will use the CS evade chain afterwards.

So in all regards (anytime, positional, reactional) the Crit Strike styles are superior to pierce and CD, except for the after-evade stun and the side-stun.

I recommend you try it out, especially in Beta. I think it's always important to build your own oppinion, not purely rely on others.
But for this question, "paper daoc" gives a good answer.

Appreciate your response. Guess there is a reason everyone goes the same spec. Maybe I shouldn't go against the grain on this one:P

So 50 spec envenom with +11 item and +4 RR (for a total of 65) has zero impact on poisons? In other words, 35+11+4 is identical in terms of damage output so only an idiot would spec over 35 poison at the meta-game.

Can the same be said about stealth? If you spec 35 stealth and then get +11 and +4 ... do you get the Safefall 4 and 5 from the item bonus? Are you harder to see with 50 stealth compared to 65 stealth?

And ... if critical strike is your primary style generator ... why not just use a staff? Is the only reason to use pierce the evade stun? Since staff is 100% dex, I would think the weapon skill would be similar to a 30 Pierce spec.