So Bard epic finally came down to earth prices, eh?

[Loadsamoney]

Originally Posted by Ripqozko [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Use the wiki -loramin

Thanks, I'll keep asking.

[Snaggles]

The herbalist spade eventually will proc up to a 2.5 min root spell. It’s a blessing and a curse. Sometimes it’s better for them to flee. If you want to keep them locked down that’s really handy. A rooted mob attacks the nearest PC so in a group that can help control who’s getting hit (or not).

It’s a bit slower than the woodsman which makes casting between swings more ideal. Bigger player ripostes, less DS damage taken. It’s all/all so works good for a lot of classes vs just one class (also more expensive).

The basic calculation to compare ratios is:
Main or 2h: 2x dmg + dmg bonus / delay
Offhand: 2x dmg / delay

Woodsman:
31x2= 62 + (dmg bonus per level) / 35
(2.142 at 50)
(2.657 at 60)

Herbalist:
39x2= 78 + (dmg bonus per level) / 43
(2.186 at 50)
(2.674 at 60)

https://lucy.allakhazam.com/dmgbonus.html?setcookie=1

It’s pretty close. Some quicker 2h’s fare better than they should for the ratio. I don’t think either would be noticeably better 50+ parsing past random chance.

I had a Woodsman a long time and soloed to 60. Some melee but a lot of bow rotting at close range. Most good animal fear spots will green out around 49 around when the spade would start proccing. Paralyzing Earth is helpful for a bit of extra safety so it would probably be my pick. Plus it looks cool [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Anything prone to complete heal or gate in a group situation I would use something else than a root weapon. Luckily worst case you will have a Swarmcaller too.

[Jimjam]

Originally Posted by Loadsamoney [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Thanks, I'll keep asking.

Rip is being ironic as simply considering ratio overlooks a lot of how to tier weapons.

I was lucky enough the be pretty actively playing during the Azure Guard days and they granted me the gem for Earthcaller so I was mainly rocking my epics for a long time. I’m not really the type to go chasing the best weapons.

I do enjoy the trash clear type raids and did eventually manage to get a Braid of Tunare for very little dkp, which is noticeably better than Earthcaller (but Earthcaller still gets a lot of use). As I understand it the braid is a second tier 1 hander, and even the best 1 handers compare unfavourably to the best couple of tiers of 2 handers (i don’t have a great 2 hander - i have a Culler (31/37 trash drop from upper Hate) which gets used to slaughter stuff around the Rivervale are while waiting for rezzes).

So tldr Earthcaller is very expensive compared to alternatives, but it does have a niche (I don’t think my ranger could solo the 50+ KC nameds without it). For xp grinding, even solo, you’re probably best just going for max dps which apparently means 2 hander (but I can’t vouch that from a deep 1st hand experience).

[Loadsamoney]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Rip is being ironic as simply considering ratio overlooks a lot of how to tier weapons.

I was lucky enough the be pretty actively playing during the Azure Guard days and they granted me the gem for Earthcaller so I was mainly rocking my epics for a long time. I’m not really the type to go chasing the best weapons.

I do enjoy the trash clear type raids and did eventually manage to get a Braid of Tunare for very little dkp, which is noticeably better than Earthcaller (but Earthcaller still gets a lot of use). As I understand it the braid is a second tier 1 hander, and even the best 1 handers compare unfavourably to the best couple of tiers of 2 handers (i don’t have a great 2 hander - i have a Culler (31/37 trash drop from upper Hate) which gets used to slaughter stuff around the Rivervale are while waiting for rezzes).

So tldr Earthcaller is very expensive compared to alternatives, but it does have a niche (I don’t think my ranger could solo the 50+ KC nameds without it). For xp grinding, even solo, you’re probably best just going for max dps which apparently means 2 hander (but I can’t vouch that from a deep 1st hand experience).

To be fair I had forgotten about Swarmcaller, which could serve as a Tash stick in a group setting too. Don't think I'd use it solo because it'd be too RNG dependant on an early proc and losing DPS/HP if it doesn't, but I should still have it in my toolkit.

I guess I should just get both, honestly. Silver Swiftblade for 20-30, Woody for 30-50, Spade for 50 onwards, unless the root would be detrimental. Then having the Woody as a fallback would be damn nice.

[Foxplay]

Unless they add Scales to WW dragons / ToV dragons. Bard and Warrior epic is pretty much join a raiding guild.

Even in the rare event somebody sold a Green / White scale the astronomical amount of plat they would ask / have you pay would be so much that you could have just joined a guild and farmed dkp for it faster than it would take to farm that amount of plat

[Snaggles]

The braid is solid. I’ve parsed next to a guildie with one a lot using various 1h weapons and he’s right up there and the dot is an invisible 8dps when it’s rolling.

There are a lot of B (even the Vyemm whip is) and C tier 1h’s. Even a Nev claw or Sboz can luck out on a parse.

[Toxigen]

Oh yeah forgot about Swarmcaller. Definitely want to open with that every mob then swap to woodsmans.

[Loadsamoney]

Originally Posted by Toxigen [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Oh yeah forgot about Swarmcaller. Definitely want to open with that every mob then swap to woodsmans.

I hope it's a consistent proc, because I'd get pretty frustrated if I wear a mob down to 20% or less when it finally goes off and I lost more health than necessary because of bad rng.

If there's a reason I favor Dual-Wield over 2Handers, it's consistency. I like sustained over burst, or peaks and valleys. I'm not a fan of high variance.

[Toxigen]

Originally Posted by Loadsamoney [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I hope it's a consistent proc, because I'd get pretty frustrated if I wear a mob down to 20% or less when it finally goes off and I lost more health than necessary because of bad rng.

If there's a reason I favor Dual-Wield over 2Handers, it's consistency. I like sustained over burst, or peaks and valleys. I'm not a fan of high variance.

Again, its the same thing as why people don't like 2 handers because "it feels bad" when RNG doesn't go their way. The lows are a far greater psychological impact than the highs.

Sometimes you'll slow the mob on the first couple of swings, sometimes it won't proc til you've done 50% of its hp. It'll always be the correct move (when solo) to open with Swarmcaller proc.

But whatever. You can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink. The fact is your thought process is wrong.

[Loadsamoney]

Originally Posted by Toxigen [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Again, its the same thing as why people don't like 2 handers because "it feels bad" when RNG doesn't go their way. The lows are a far greater psychological impact than the highs.

Sometimes you'll slow the mob on the first couple of swings, sometimes it won't proc til you've done 50% of its hp. It'll always be the correct move (when solo) to open with Swarmcaller proc.

But whatever. You can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink. The fact is your thought process is wrong.

I didn't say I disagree with you or that I wouldn't use it, I just said there's a reason why I like the feel of dual-wielding even if it's inferior, and that it'll be pretty frustrating when bad variance hits. I'm still going to commit though, as I want to learn to play the class more optimally, to my benefit and my future guildies as well.

Gotta unwrinkle those jimmies a little man.