Post by Prince Mordred on May 23, 2011 17:00:16 GMT -5
Eliminate focus/rush from my Blade?
EDIT:
Still no replies, so let me sum up my questions:
Is the single-blade's DEX-synergy (dodge/crit/focus/rush) really worth building into, vs. the alternatives?
Especially, how much damage and energy benefit is there?
(anyone, anyone...)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Original post:
OK, so Single Blade synergy apparently works like this:
1. You cause bleeds.
2. Bleeds give you focus when you use Dragon Bite.
3. Focus gives you rush when you have Form of Swordsman on.
4. You rupture the bleeds and (with NoMercy) cause more.
Question: So what does focus and rush do for me?
1. Focus increses your damage some(?), based on STR and DEX.
2. Focus returns some(?) energy, based on DEX.
3. Rush returns some(?) energy, based on DEX, and reduces energy cost
4. Rush refreshes a portion(?) of the duration of bleeds.
Against Rush:
1. Seems like the energy cost of running the Form would make the energy returns a wash.
2. You have to use Dragon's Bite to get Rush, and it seems to be an expensive, relatively ineffective attack, making extending the duration of bleeds a wash. I'm using it with Cull the Weak at L18 and am not impressed.
If not Rush, than still Focus?:
1. I'm basically getting an unknown damage boost (which could be very good, or negligible) - One post described this as up to 15% per stack, which means I have to go to rank 3 on the power, and then the fight has to go 8 rounds, and then I'm operating at about 120% bonus - which is a lot.
2. I'm getting an unknown energy return, described as "a small amount."
Now, also mixed in to all this is the super stats.
If I take STR and DEX, I should be in heaven - damage scales with superstats, STR bonuses melee and focus damage bonus, and lets me throw cars at people. DEX bonuses dodge, avoidance, chance to crit, focus damage, focus energy return, rush energy return. Now I also will need EGO to be high for crit damage, I need CON to be high to not be squishy, I need END & REC to be high so I can attack with my sword instead of my energy builder, especially if I'm leaking ENG because of the Brawler role. Hmmm, yep that's 6 stats I need to keep high - no problem, high is relative, right?
What if, instead, I'm not impressed with SS DEX + EGO critical damage potential? After all, up to a 30% chance to do up to 30% more damage = average hit of 110% vs 100% without SS DEX and EGO.
And if I'm not chasing Crits, then I can ignore EGO. That mean's DEX is now good for avoiding damage + the focus/rush thing. SS DEX can give me up to 60% reduction up to 30% of the time = average of 20% reduction. If I SS CON instead, I get better than that in hit points I can count - about 1,200 extra for 80 (SS contrib by Lvl 40) = 25% more health vs 20% reduction.
Now also, if I get rid of the Focus/Rush and replace it with Invulnerbilty/unbreakable or Regeneration/resurgance I become absolutely non-squishy. But if I'm gonna do that, I can SS REC instead of CON, that's another stat issue resolved.
Meanwhile, I still have a good bleed combo of apply bleed/rupture+reapply bleed. Plus, this is a two-stroke cycle (caress/scything/nomercy+embrace) instead of a three-stroke cycle (caress/scything/nomercy+dragon+embrace).
Am I missing something, or does ignoring DEX, EGO, Focus, and Rush in exchange for REC and a defensive passive/active combo make a whole lot of sense?
I know I don't have the game experiece or the numbers, which is why this REALLY is a QUESTION, I'm not selling something, I'd like to understand the synergy. Am I right, or what part(s) have I gotten wrong?
Building a better Blade, please help!
EDIT:
Still no replies, so let me sum up my questions:
Is the single-blade's DEX-synergy (dodge/crit/focus/rush) really worth building into, vs. the alternatives?
Especially, how much damage and energy benefit is there?
(anyone, anyone...)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Original post:
OK, so Single Blade synergy apparently works like this:
1. You cause bleeds.
2. Bleeds give you focus when you use Dragon Bite.
3. Focus gives you rush when you have Form of Swordsman on.
4. You rupture the bleeds and (with NoMercy) cause more.
Question: So what does focus and rush do for me?
1. Focus increses your damage some(?), based on STR and DEX.
2. Focus returns some(?) energy, based on DEX.
3. Rush returns some(?) energy, based on DEX, and reduces energy cost
4. Rush refreshes a portion(?) of the duration of bleeds.
Against Rush:
1. Seems like the energy cost of running the Form would make the energy returns a wash.
2. You have to use Dragon's Bite to get Rush, and it seems to be an expensive, relatively ineffective attack, making extending the duration of bleeds a wash. I'm using it with Cull the Weak at L18 and am not impressed.
If not Rush, than still Focus?:
1. I'm basically getting an unknown damage boost (which could be very good, or negligible) - One post described this as up to 15% per stack, which means I have to go to rank 3 on the power, and then the fight has to go 8 rounds, and then I'm operating at about 120% bonus - which is a lot.
2. I'm getting an unknown energy return, described as "a small amount."
Now, also mixed in to all this is the super stats.
If I take STR and DEX, I should be in heaven - damage scales with superstats, STR bonuses melee and focus damage bonus, and lets me throw cars at people. DEX bonuses dodge, avoidance, chance to crit, focus damage, focus energy return, rush energy return. Now I also will need EGO to be high for crit damage, I need CON to be high to not be squishy, I need END & REC to be high so I can attack with my sword instead of my energy builder, especially if I'm leaking ENG because of the Brawler role. Hmmm, yep that's 6 stats I need to keep high - no problem, high is relative, right?
What if, instead, I'm not impressed with SS DEX + EGO critical damage potential? After all, up to a 30% chance to do up to 30% more damage = average hit of 110% vs 100% without SS DEX and EGO.
And if I'm not chasing Crits, then I can ignore EGO. That mean's DEX is now good for avoiding damage + the focus/rush thing. SS DEX can give me up to 60% reduction up to 30% of the time = average of 20% reduction. If I SS CON instead, I get better than that in hit points I can count - about 1,200 extra for 80 (SS contrib by Lvl 40) = 25% more health vs 20% reduction.
Now also, if I get rid of the Focus/Rush and replace it with Invulnerbilty/unbreakable or Regeneration/resurgance I become absolutely non-squishy. But if I'm gonna do that, I can SS REC instead of CON, that's another stat issue resolved.
Meanwhile, I still have a good bleed combo of apply bleed/rupture+reapply bleed. Plus, this is a two-stroke cycle (caress/scything/nomercy+embrace) instead of a three-stroke cycle (caress/scything/nomercy+dragon+embrace).
Am I missing something, or does ignoring DEX, EGO, Focus, and Rush in exchange for REC and a defensive passive/active combo make a whole lot of sense?
I know I don't have the game experiece or the numbers, which is why this REALLY is a QUESTION, I'm not selling something, I'd like to understand the synergy. Am I right, or what part(s) have I gotten wrong?
Building a better Blade, please help!