Iskar SK - starting stats

[Llahsram]

Would it be a good idea to put 15pts in STA and 5 in INT starting off a new SK?

[Baler]

Looking over level 60 raid geared magelo blue characters,.. INT is the only stat you can't easily cap, that includes buffs from shaman/ench. Food for thought if you're planning to go that high.

avg people will say stam or dex or int for various reasons.
stam is life,. a small amount at 60
dex for procs
int for more mana

do not put any into STR or AGI or CHA.

[Samoht]

Full stam.

[fash]

INT if you're on pvp server

[Baler]

Full stam.
1 STA = 5.2 HP for SHD/PAL
So at level 60 that's 104 more hit points.
However 'more' effect can be nullified due to shaman buffs. Something to consider.

INT if you're on pvp server
at 60 I believe with int less than 200 you get 12 mana per int.
Then any int after that is 50% less so 6..

at level 60 that's 240 more mana, Because let's be honest your INT is going to be under 200.

---
15 sta & 5 int at 60 would be. 78 life + 60 mana (if under 200 int)
Seems like OP split the difference lol
---
I don't think 12 mana per int is exactly correct.

[demokatt]

I put all in str on my iksar sk, never regret it. but I mostly solo and never raid so I did it for extra damage and carry capacity.

[welly321]

Full STA
Int is really not that hard to get

[GreldorEQ]

I have a 55 non-main Iksar SK with better than average groubale/dropable/planar gear.

I went with DEX as I had pie-in-the-sky ideas of having a raid geared SK someday. DEX over 150 maxes a difference soloing. Max DEX would be a dream come true. Since that will likely never happen without NTOV gear, I can say with certainty that INT is the way to go.

With no clickable snare as an Iksar, you will find that mana is the single largest constraint on your class, whether grouping or solo. Any extra bump in mana is a boon. Even with a few nice high INT sky pieces, mana is always my constraint.

Dreams of a Greenmist keep me from re-rolling. Even if I had one, mana would still be my problem.

[Spyder73]

Delete Iskar and re-roll female Dark Elf for maximum fashion quest potential

[Naethyn]

Full stam.

[Sage Truthbearer]

INT all the way.

[jolanar]

I recently made a Dark elf SK and when I was in the starting screen I panicked and put 10 into Str and 10 into Stam. Once he equipped his gear he was at 150 strength and I immediately regretted that decision. Should have gone full stam.

[GreldorEQ]

I recently made a Dark elf SK and when I was in the starting screen I panicked and put 10 into Str and 10 into Stam. Once he equipped his gear he was at 150 strength and I immediately regretted that decision. Should have gone full stam.

It really wont make much difference. Your choice will negligibly affect your experience, especially considering you can use snare and fear clicks.

[Keary]

Have you ever seen an Iksar swing a 2hs? *cringe*

[Jimjam]

I believe someone made a patch that fixes the awkward iksar 2hs animation bug.

[Tenlaar]

I would certainly like to know more about that.

[Glasken]

I believe someone made a patch that fixes the awkward iksar 2hs animation bug.

Doesn't sound classic. The wimpy two handed swing isn't a bug, the 2hb and 2hs animations are just as they were in classic.

Overriding it with a "standard" 2hs/2hb like you see with medium sized races would be great, however.

[Lhancelot]

Have you ever seen an Iksar swing a 2hs? *cringe*

One of the reasons I have failed to get any iksar over lvl 24. Their combat animations and overall ingame movements irk me beyond reason.

[24kanthony]

Keep in mind that at higher levels, you'll be self buffing Shroud of Death(50hp LT proc), so with dex high enough for semi-regular procs, you'll make back more hp in a fight than you will get from a little extra sta. Higher dex ends up really being extra HP, damage, and aggro in the end.
A skilled healer wont have a hard time keeping you on your feet with a lower HP pool if you have enough dex and mana for life taps to off-set some of the damage when things get rough.
If you plan to solo as much or more than you group, you wont need extra HP for all the fear kite (jboots make this trueX2).

Either way, dont overlook DEX.

[Troxx]

Grouping:

INT: in a well oiled group, having a chanter to clarity you is far more important than total mana
Str: in a well oiled group, you have shaman buff str. If not, your dps contribution is negligible.
Agi: borderline worthless as long as you're over the 75 mark
Dex: awesome proc or proc buff? Situationally useful
Stam: with a competent healer 20 stamina really means nothing

Raiding:

INT: won't make a huge difference
Str: you have raid str buffs
Agi: again, worthless past 75
Dex: shaman buffs, possibly worth something
Stam: you won't be tanking anything where 20 more stamina is worth shit

Solo:

INT: more mana, but more med time
Str: if your gear sucks, it makes a difference
Agi: again, worthless past 75
Dex: depending on weapon/buff, possibly worth it
Stam: not super important

Take home point? Starting stats mean little. They are MOST valuable when you choose stats that don't favor the end game and raid level gear. You benefit a lot levels 1-59. End game? Stamina/Dex or INT.

Biggest take home point: don't sweat starting stats, they really are not all that important. Depending on the $$ spent twinking - dex/int is where I'd be most tempted to put it as an iksar sk.

[Samoht]

Don't put starting points into stats that are easily maxed out with gear or buffs. Focus + STR buff + DEX buff = maxed out STR and DEX. Boon + any DEX buff = maxed out DEX. STA buff and you're still under 200? Yeah, put points into STA.

[Cecily]

It's everquest, stats don't matter. Not like SKs tank anything.

[Samoht]

It's everquest, stats don't matter.

We both know that's not true.

Not like SKs tank anything.

Except trash, particularly adds that are unexpected.

[Cecily]

No, I honestly feel that way. Realistically, there's no 20 point stat distribution that will have a noticeable in game effect.
An endgame 20 CHA SK will be just as useful as any other.

[Jmcwrestling]

I believe someone made a patch that fixes the awkward iksar 2hs animation bug.

I couldn't ever get it to work :(

[Samoht]

No, I honestly feel that way. Realistically, there's no 20 point stat distribution that will have a noticeable in game effect.
An endgame 20 CHA SK will be just as useful as any other.

Well then you're just giving straight-up terrible advice here. At 60, 20 STA should be worth 104 HP on an SK. That's more than a Djarns. Everybody who wears a Djarns should just delete them and only play with one ring because Cecily says they're worthless. Unless of course you're wearing a HP ring in the other slot, too, and then you have to delete that one as well and wear no rings. Because 104 HP is worthless.

[Vallanor]

For what it's worth, I made an erudite paladin and "screwed up" my initial stat distribution (mostly strength) and it has never really mattered. There's no question I probably died a handful of times when I would have otherwise survived during my years of play, but I can't actually think of a specific one. Basically, I largely agree with Cecily that you'll be fine no matter what you do.

Also, it always annoys me when min/maxers ignore that other stats can also save your life. Extra strength is extra dps that will occasionally finish off a mob a few seconds earlier and prevent your death. Extra dex is extra procs again for increased dps and for SKs, extras lifetaps that may be worth more than 104 hps over a fight. Extra int is extra mana that may allow you a life-saving fear to get a mob off your back so you can zone or FD or whatever.

If you're tanking and spanking, more hp is gonna be the most useful usually, but there are other "life-saving" stats that also matter and it's silly to just ignore that. Unless you plan on doing the batphone thing and raiding end game, you won't max the other stats either so the argument that they will hit the str/dex/int cap regardless isn't really true for most players.

Edit: Just one last point. Even though sta buffs are lacking relative to other stats, sta is really just a proxy for hps and hps buffs are not in short supply. Using my very non-min/maxed paladin as an example, when fully buffed I have something on the order for 5300 hps. With 20 more sta, this would be around 5400 hps which is an increase of about 2%. I guess it's up to you whether or not that's important enough to forego other useful stats while leveling up.

Also good god, sorry for the wall of text...

[Troxx]

Well then you're just giving straight-up terrible advice here. At 60, 20 STA should be worth 104 HP on an SK. That's more than a Djarns. Everybody who wears a Djarns should just delete them and only play with one ring because Cecily says they're worthless. Unless of course you're wearing a HP ring in the other slot, too, and then you have to delete that one as well and wear no rings. Because 104 HP is worthless.

And therefore anyone who could play an ogre but doesn't play an ogre has immediately lost EQ and cannot possibly be successful? I mean -- you've never seen a human, barbarian, hobbit, or dwarf warrior survive tanking rough encounters right?

There are smarter choices and dumber choices with where to put your starting stats, but Cecily is right. 20 starting stats means surprisingly little - especially at the end game.

[Samoht]

There are smarter choices and dumber choices with where to put your starting stats, but Cecily is right.

This statement is contradicts itself. Are there smart choices or not? And if there are smart choices, that would mean Cecily is championing the dumb choices, no? How often is a dumb choice the correct choice?

[Samoht]

For what it's worth, I made an erudite paladin and "screwed up" my initial stat distribution (mostly strength) and it has never really mattered. There's no question I probably died a handful of times when I would have otherwise survived during my years of play, but I can't actually think of a specific one. Basically, I largely agree with Cecily that you'll be fine no matter what you do.

Also, it always annoys me when min/maxers ignore that other stats can also save your life. Extra strength is extra dps that will occasionally finish off a mob a few seconds earlier and prevent your death. Extra dex is extra procs again for increased dps and for SKs, extras lifetaps that may be worth more than 104 hps over a fight. Extra int is extra mana that may allow you a life-saving fear to get a mob off your back so you can zone or FD or whatever.

If you're tanking and spanking, more hp is gonna be the most useful usually, but there are other "life-saving" stats that also matter and it's silly to just ignore that. Unless you plan on doing the batphone thing and raiding end game, you won't max the other stats either so the argument that they will hit the str/dex/int cap regardless isn't really true for most players.

Edit: Just one last point. Even though sta buffs are lacking relative to other stats, sta is really just a proxy for hps and hps buffs are not in short supply. Using my very non-min/maxed paladin as an example, when fully buffed I have something on the order for 5300 hps. With 20 more sta, this would be around 5400 hps which is an increase of about 2%. I guess it's up to you whether or not that's important enough to forego other useful stats while leveling up.

Also good god, sorry for the wall of text...

Your argument is completely invalidated by your Paladin wearing a Djarns in your Magelo. Obviously you value HP over everything else, even AC.

[Vallanor]

Your argument is completely invalidated by your Paladin wearing a Djarns in your Magelo. Obviously you value HP over everything else, even AC.

I have no idea how to respond to this. What a weird statement. Did I say hitpoints don't matter?

My point that my non-min/maxed toon is fine is not invalidated by a ring with hitpoints on it. My point that other stats are helpful while leveling up and can also save your life is not invalidated by a ring with hitpoints on it. My point that hitpoints are probably the most important thing while tanking (yep I said that in my wall of text) is obviously not invalidated by a ring with hitpoints on it.

My shield only has 50 hps and I have one in the bank with 100 hps. Does this fact re-validate my argument?

[Samoht]

I have no idea how to respond to this. What a weird statement. Did I say hitpoints don't matter?

Please don't post walls of text in the middle of a thread if you're not even bothering to read the whole thing. Go back and re-read the post directly above yours.

My point that my non-min/maxed toon is fine is not invalidated by a ring with hitpoints on it. My point that other stats are helpful while leveling up and can also save your life is not invalidated by a ring with hitpoints on it. My point that hitpoints are probably the most important thing while tanking (yep I said that in my wall of text) is obviously not invalidated by a ring with hitpoints on it.

My shield only has 50 hps and I have one in the bank with 100 hps. Does this fact re-validate my argument?

No, it only further devalues your point of view or anything further you might add. Especially because the part I bolded above makes your whole point of view contradictory to itself.

[Lhancelot]

And therefore anyone who could play an ogre but doesn't play an ogre has immediately lost EQ and cannot possibly be successful? I mean -- you've never seen a human, barbarian, hobbit, or dwarf warrior survive tanking rough encounters right?

There are smarter choices and dumber choices with where to put your starting stats, but Cecily is right. 20 starting stats means surprisingly little - especially at the end game.

You also are debating with a guy that thinks iksar are better than ogre. We all know if you can play ogre you pick ogre when min/maxing.

Ogre > all.

He doesn't even follow his own advice by choosing the inferior race (stat-wise).

[Samoht]

Unfortunately for team idiot, the AC bonus and regen for an Iksar are also measurable stats and happen to be far superior than anything an Ogre has to offer for basically every class.

If Iksar is a choice, it is the best choice. Always.

[Lhancelot]

Unfortunately for team idiot, the AC bonus and regen for an Iksar are also measurable stats and happen to be far superior than anything an Ogre has to offer for basically every class.

If Iksar is a choice, it is the best choice. Always.

Obviously you are blinded by your infatuation with gimpy looking reptile races.

that regen means nothing when you tanking dragons and the AC "bonus" is non-existent on this server.

There's been zero proof that the pittance of extra AC an iksar is granted at lvl 60 amounts to any significant damage reduction.

What does matter for shaman/warrior/sks is FSI which ogres get and iksar do not.

Coupled with their starting massive STR and STA, ogre are able to gear around not having to worry about STA or STR while an iksar is always going to be as durable as a soiled wet paperbag until they are sitting in BiS raid gears due to their awful low starting STR and STA.

Thomas, you know all of this though. Embrace the Ogre as the true superior race and your soul will be set free.

[Cecily]

Well then you're just giving straight-up terrible advice here. At 60, 20 STA should be worth 104 HP on an SK. That's more than a Djarns. Everybody who wears a Djarns should just delete them and only play with one ring because Cecily says they're worthless. Unless of course you're wearing a HP ring in the other slot, too, and then you have to delete that one as well and wear no rings. Because 104 HP is worthless.

I stick to my argument. 100 hp doesn't really matter all that much. Delete every DJ Arn's ring on the server and... not much would change.

[Sage Truthbearer]

I put all my starting stats in STR and I can't think of a single time doing STA instead would've made a noticeable difference in the outcome of anything. You know what would have made a significant difference? Picking a race that had better stats but where I hated how they look. Because I would not have enjoyed the game and probably would have quit my character as a result.

Just my two cents.

[Troxx]

You also are debating with a guy that thinks iksar are better than ogre. We all know if you can play ogre you pick ogre when min/maxing.

Ogre > all.


I'd take iksar over ogre any day.

[maskedmelonpai]

ogre only beat iksar if they tiny. cause then they liek retarded teddies (o^^o) best is when you gotta lizard AND tiny ogre cause then he doubl as a chew toy / companion for lizard ^^

[Cecily]

I would say tiny ogre is the min/max choice for adorable but wood elf brownies and iksar broodlings exist too. All things considered iksar wins.

[maskedmelonpai]

yeah, tiny lizard is super cute too. i guess most tiny things are cute, which is why I don't particularly have love for hobbits/dwarfs/gnomes because they cannot be tiny, just small :c

[Lhancelot]

yeah, tiny lizard is super cute too. i guess most tiny things are cute, which is why I don't particularly have love for hobbits/dwarfs/gnomes because they cannot be tiny, just small :c

yeah I wish you could shrink them smaller. :(

[Jimjam]

yeah I wish you could shrink them smaller. :(

A few Boon of Garou seems to sometimes do the trick. I'm not entirely sure of how it works mechanically though.

[skarlorn]

yes it is very disappointing hobbits cannot be shrunken further.

one of the WORST things about being a hobbit, tbh

[kaev]

yes it is very disappointing hobbits cannot be shrunken further.

one of the WORST things about being a hobbit, tbh

True, other than that bit about being a hobbit

[Jimjam]

True, other than that bit about being a hobbit

Better to be a hobbit than be a two bit ho.

[maskedmelonpai]

Better to be a hobbit than be a two bit ho.

this funny ^^ 2b it ho ^^

[kaev]

this funny ^^ 2b it ho ^^

I thought his post made a grand ending for the thread, now you've ruined it. :(

OP, your idea is fine, Starting stats do not matter a great deal in the long run, those 20 points just aren't all that important (unless you get a huge eboner out of min-maxing, in which case go ahead and knock yourself out.)

[aaezil]

Ogres could have 10000 starting str/sta and still scratch their butts constantly/continue to be butt ugly and unplayable

[Beastagoog]

I'd suggest INT tho I do like the dex arguement.

Dont bother with str/stm....10-20 extra str/stm isnt going to be close to the effect you get out of int/dex.

Iksars have very balanced starting stats...and their epic (bless your soul if you get one) has one of the best procs you'll get on any weapon in the game.

I personally would put all my points in to int, because mana is everything on a hybrid...without it we're just a wet noodle dps.

Like the other person said having an extra 200 mana by default at level 60 carries more value than hitting for marginally more damage.

I would only consider dex if I knew for certain I was going to get the sk epic.

[Beastagoog]

I'd suggest INT tho I do like the dex arguement.

Dont bother with str/stm....10-20 extra str/stm isnt going to be close to the effect you get out of int/dex.

Iksars have very balanced starting stats...and their epic (bless your soul if you get one) has one of the best procs you'll get on any weapon in the game.

I personally would put all my points in to int, because mana is everything on a hybrid...without it we're just a wet noodle dps.

Like the other person said having an extra 200 mana by default at level 60 carries more value than hitting for marginally more damage.

I would only consider dex if I knew for certain I was going to get the sk epic.

Meant to add this:

People always play to the warrior side of hybrids...and it baffles me because that is the weakest side of a hybrid. Our power is within our spells and mana pool. Not some diddly squat extra hp or hitting slightly harder.

[Makeitrain]

Meant to add this:

People always play to the warrior side of hybrids...and it baffles me because that is the weakest side of a hybrid. Our power is within our spells and mana pool. Not some diddly squat extra hp or hitting slightly harder.

this guy def pumped stam on greybeard

worst paladin i've ever seen

this MANA ideology was taught to him by people that actually know the game

see i told you ignorance is curable

[Beastagoog]

this guy def pumped stam on greybeard

worst paladin i've ever seen

this MANA ideology was taught to him by people that actually know the game

see i told you ignorance is curable

I went str/agi like an idiot. Learned my mistake by realising mana counted on hybrids.

Sorry to whoevers anon alt you are, better luck next time..

(Assuming Ecutetard or Hippi's anon account)

[trite]

Found a magelo profile of an iksar shadow knight with 20 points into int and possibly best set of shadow knight gear on...check it out, 217 int, way over 255 str, 238 sta, 186 dex...int seems a fine way to go...

*Name:
* Class: Shadow Knight
* Race: Iksar
* Level: 60
* Guild:
* Religion:
* AltOrTestChar: No

* BaseSTR: 80
* BaseSTA: 75
* BaseAGI: 90
* BaseDEX: 85
* BaseWIS: 80
* BaseINT: 105
* BaseCHA: 60

* Neck: Valtron`s Necklace of Wonder
* Head: Crown of Narandi
* Ears1: Vyrinn's Earring of Insanity
* Ears2: Yunnb's Earring
* Face: Akkirus` Mask of Warfare
* Chest: Breastplate of Eradication
* Arms: Onyx Chain Sleeves
* Back: Cloak of Venom
* Waist: Belt of Dwarf Slaying
* Shoulders: Spirit Wracked Cord
* Wrists1: Silver Charm of Tranquility
* Wrists2: Silver Bracelet of Speed
* Legs: Blood Lord's Greaves
* Hands: Do`Vassir`s Gauntlets of Might
* Fingers1: Ring of Destruction
* Fingers2: Ring of Dain Frostreaver IV
* Feet: Boots of the Storm

* Primary: Palladius` Axe of Slaughter
* Secondary:
* Range: Brain of Cazic Thule
* Ammo:

[Beastagoog]

That's alot of good gear.

You'd have to be a red99 raider or top tier blue raider to attain even half of that.

[trite]

That's alot of good gear.

You'd have to be a red99 raider or top tier blue raider to attain even half of that.

True, almost none will ever have this gear set, but a lot of people want to spend starting points optimally as if they were going to have it for warm fuzzies

[Beastagoog]

True, almost none will ever have this gear set, but a lot of people want to spend starting points optimally as if they were going to have it for warm fuzzies

Join red and you could get most if it. Just be willinf to raid 30+ hours a week for your chance at some if the key pieces.

[Sonderbeast]

Lol mana. You trolls.

[Crashking]

Better to be a hobbit than be a two bit ho.

what did you call my druid... just because I take her out and let her get paid for helping others travel the world doesn't mean she is what you said.... I often get more then just 2 bits.. so I guess she is a high priced escort. Ya know just in it to provide companionship but some folks are just in a hurry to get off to their final destinations and only spend moments with her, leaving her time to get cleaned up for the next client(s) -- I mean she has the capacity to take on 5 others at once but usually doesn't get a full boat as she respects the time of others and you know what they say.... MONEY talks.:eek:

[Crashking]

Found a magelo profile of an iksar shadow knight with 20 points into int and possibly best set of shadow knight gear on...check it out, 217 int, way over 255 str, 238 sta, 186 dex...int seems a fine way to go...

*Name:
* Class: Shadow Knight
* Race: Iksar
* Level: 60
* Guild:
* Religion:
* AltOrTestChar: No

* BaseSTR: 80
* BaseSTA: 75
* BaseAGI: 90
* BaseDEX: 85
* BaseWIS: 80
* BaseINT: 105
* BaseCHA: 60

* Neck: Valtron`s Necklace of Wonder
* Head: Crown of Narandi
* Ears1: Vyrinn's Earring of Insanity
* Ears2: Yunnb's Earring
* Face: Akkirus` Mask of Warfare
* Chest: Breastplate of Eradication
* Arms: Onyx Chain Sleeves
* Back: Cloak of Venom
* Waist: Belt of Dwarf Slaying
* Shoulders: Spirit Wracked Cord
* Wrists1: Silver Charm of Tranquility
* Wrists2: Silver Bracelet of Speed
* Legs: Blood Lord's Greaves
* Hands: Do`Vassir`s Gauntlets of Might
* Fingers1: Ring of Destruction
* Fingers2: Ring of Dain Frostreaver IV
* Feet: Boots of the Storm

* Primary: Palladius` Axe of Slaughter
* Secondary:
* Range: Brain of Cazic Thule
* Ammo:

Based on the profile there... with dex only at 186 .. wouldn't that suggest you could put some of the points here instead of int, based on the arguement that int past 200 give reduced increase. Now I can say yes, as others have pointed out mana is a nice thing to have, but proc is so much fun too at times... those warm spell glows make you feel all fuzzy on the inside? OH wait I meant to say about others pointing things out is that this level of gear is a total pipe dream and well it should only take I don't know nearly forever to get it especially with raid scene of 99 as it stands. -- Long live the rand on loot or that DKP master pool. Wait how were we doing loot again? Last FD'er standing, clickfest, rand to sell loot rights, um so many different things purposed across the forums I lost count.