Mc'Wallace

Ok 1st post, so be gentle..

I've recently changed from STR / WIS to STA / WIS (obviously trading Blade Dance, for Lend Shielding) was that a silly thing to do?

I've read up the posts on here, and it's sorta pushed me into the STA vs. STR debate, abd STA wins... imo BUT... after doing this and THEN consulting the guild (oops) they're saying that bladedance is essential as we're not the hardcore, uber guilds like NPU etc... which is very true.

So please give the best advice for a MT raiding dirge (pretty new to the raiding scene) in the average guild, with lots of new raiders etc.
Bladedance the way forward, or would you still recommend STA and Lend Shield?

Please note that we don't have the HUGE ammount of DPS that you guys have, or the experience raiding (well some do) but we're getting there, slowly but surely.

IMO i like the STA / WIS setup, i've also gone for Degredations and Luck for EoF (this best for me?) Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

Loudness

immunities makes mobs easier, no mob requires it.

if your guild has trouble on mobs that have AoE's, or they want you to have immunities, then stay str/wis

if your guild doesn't have problems, then go sta/wis/etc

and again with EoF aa's its all situational, i have degredate, because i debuff the main mobs, other dirge has rez line, because she only rezzes.. and ya don't ever spec outta luck or your guildmates will murder your entire family.

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RogueFrequency

STR line is nice for Parry increase. And BD is nice for learning new encounters and becoming proficient at them, but is not required.

Lend Shield is a horrible skill that sounded good at first, and even worked well with a Templar AA skill... too well actually, so they fixed it. Now it plain sucks. Sta line is ONLY for grp 10% dbl attack. Good for DPS dirge, but not so great for MT dirge.

MT dirge STR/WIS
DPS dirge STA/WIS/INT (5 points in int for rythm blade)
OT dirge STR/WIS would be nice for pally OTs (parry buff)

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Loudness

not so much, i mean, i havn't casted my parry buff in.. a long long time, and im always MT dirge.. yes bladedance is nice for learning stuff, and thats why i said whatever his guild wants..

lend shielding does suck a nice fat one

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Kytar

It is worth checking if your guild also expects every group to get AE immunity. There are alot of strats that require every group to have some form of AE immunity. So if you took it, but no one else did, it would not be overly useful.

Not that the odd BD on the pull or when stuff hits the fan is not good, but you can definetly live without it.

As was said above, BD appears to make some fights easier. I would think it wise to stick with BD until your guild can clear the mobs in question, then look at replacing it.

Carvium

didn't someone work out that the parry buff AA was a load of rubbish because it only added 2 points to parry for the cos of 8 AA's??

TBH you should ask your raid leader/s also if you have now been on a few raids with them you will have seen if the AE's are hurting.

I went back to STR/WIS after trying STA/WIS for 2 reasons
1. I didn't like the STA line.
2. RoK is coming out in a bit, so the zones andthe mobs there need to be learnt.

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Mc'Wallace

Thanks very much for the heads up guys! i guess i'll be switching back to STR / WIS After all - atleast until mobs become easyfor us to handle.

Just another question though, what are the other forms of AoE immunities in the game now since the LU Tweak? i've seen some posts about "since other classes get the chance to be blockers..." but what classes are these, and how effective is their blocks compared to bladedance?

Carvium

jeez i should check my spelling before logging off :P AE Blocks.... Other Classes.... brain freeze..... Druids get one definatley from there AA's and i think clerics do too.. brain still frozen.

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RogueFrequency

I want to say its like 6 parry I think. Not that great, but if you have to get BD, might as well look at the bright side.


1. You must hate dps'ing.
2. Respec cost goes back to 10g after a month.


Swashes get a BD like ability. 13 second duration, 5 min recast.

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Lyxson

Must..
have..
my..
DBL ATK! the double attack is amazing, never underestimate it!

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