Channeling vs Magic...

Brillance - Raging Tide

I hope I make myself clear in this thread. Seems stupid, but its kind of hard to put this question in the right words - here goes...

Background: Sage, Arcane wearing, pure Magic (except for strength for gears). Mainly PvE & TWer. I never PK and dont worry about Crit bonuses, currently at 7%.

I have -24% channeling now, and what concerns me is my next move on gears to R8 with Archangel Sleeves & Boots will seem to cause me to lose a lot of Vit and Magic bonuses on my gears.

I have seen Mystics that seem to put as much Channeling as possible where ever they can - obviously giving up precious Magic & Vit bonuses to do this.

This leaves me wondering...

Is there a cap, or point where Channeling peaks in its effectiveness?

Add on question: I had thought to get Oracle sleeves & boots for the +10 Magic complect bonus, but everyone seems to go with the Archangel -3% channeling bonus.

Which is really better with R8, Archangel or Oracle?

Although the Oracle are lower leveled, the +10 Magic seems much more attractive to me than the -3% channeling.

Thanks for any and all input. Appreciated.

Desdi - Sanctuary

Channeling has a cap at -99% if I recall correctly.
I'll share you my personal preference from the time I was playing Mystic (pure-mag, Sage, lvl9x as well before I retired from it for various non-pwi related issues).

I found Mystics to have short channelling on the majority of their skills so I didn't rely on channelling too much but rather on magic for having effective heals and strong attacks, on HP (refines/shards) for survivability and I made sure to include some Phys Defence + on my gear (whether that was from the Arcane armor or from ornaments).

I suppose people love channelling due to Absorb Soul but with even a channelling of 20% and with the -channelling skill (sorry I forgot the name of it) it was still relatively fast. I have no experience in TW but I'd assume that Absorb Soul it's not something to rely on too much anyway?

The refine difference doesn't seem too big nor do the statistics so you'll probably do well even in Oracle sleeves/boots however you should consider whether that will be your endgame gear because;

-If you decide to get Nirvana gear you need to get TT99 first anyway (assuming you follow the TT path)
-If you consider getting TT99 top/bottom at some point you'll be most benefited if you have the whole set.
-If you're considering getting rank 8 gear either would work out (I heard rank 8 sleeves/boots are a pain to get due to the need of wedding candy).
-If you consider rank 9, get whatever's cheaper for now.


EDIT: I personally choose HP/survivability over channelling anyway and magic over channelling if there's room for it. I'd rather live and continue dealing damage/healing than die and deal 0 damage/heal no one. The Archangel sleeves/boots alone won't give much more survivability than the Oracle ones.

As a Venomancer who has solo'ed a lot (mostly to help faction) I have a separate set of channelling gear for effective pet healing but that's another story XD. If, however, you can afford it you can consider building a separate set of channelling ornaments (necklace, rings, belt etc.) for other situations.

Alexis - Lothranis

In general, and with the risk of sounding harsh, if you're a mystic and u go for purposely choosing chanelling while sacrificing other stats you're on the noob side of the world. There are like only 2 skills with chanelling over 1.5 seconds (excluding Clear Thoughts which, if u have time to worry over that, u have time to channel it). You said u already have 24% channeling. Stacking other chan gear can only do so much to 1.5 seconds >.>

That's main reason why I'd advise r8 over tt99 wrists and boots. With r8 u got a healthy +8 magic and vitality and a +1 atk lvl on both wrists and boots. That does much more then 9% channeling. (Think about it this way if not convinced. Taking the average 1.5seconds channeling -9% would mean u win 0.135 seconds, even less with faster skills so I'd say the stats on r8 beats that.)

And um idk why the tt90 gold is even in the discution, unless you're on a very low budget, it's grade 11 so gonna refine for lower and lower stats. And r8 covers that +10 magic anyways...Oh and the boots suck.

And yes getting r8 wrists and boos isn't cheap cause of the candies but it costs about the same as tt99 gold. And at least with r8 you'll be sure it's gonna come up at least 3 sockets and it's easier to go for 4 sockets by keep trying(u can get them once per day for 1m).

RouxLouka - Dreamweaver

I'd go with channeling if you're playing support. I got interrupted by the 4th boss in caster nirvana once 5x in a row just trying to lyse a plant.

If you're planning to refine a lot, you might as well go with tt99, so you can go with nirvana.

Brillance - Raging Tide

Desdi, Alexis & RouxLouka, I thank you all for your replies. You have all given me a lot to think about, and Im glad I asked now, instead of waiting until after the damage was done, lol.

I call myself a noob alot, but I do so lovingly. I am new to PWI, so my understanding of the game and its mechanics is still very limited.

I found Channeling to be a helpful bonus as soon as I got Sleeves of the Sea Captain, and didnt let them go until I got a Neck that moved that bonus to make room for my beautiful green Acrobatic Armlets +7 Magic, +7 Vitality & 2% Phys Damage reduction.

As a noob (or newb), I have seen so many Archangel Sleeve & Boot sets that I just assumed they were better (because of the bonus) than the straight up R8. This was only reinforced by any ingame bonus discussions I have had revolving around channeling vs. critstrike rate. I had no idea it had anything to do with the cost of Wedding Candy for those R8 items.

This is where the Oracle set came into it - why am I going nuts for a -3% Channeling bonus, when Oracle has a +10 Magic bonus smiling at me? Just didnt make good sense.

Alexis - you blinded me with Science. b:chuckle

Yes, -24% certainly seems fast enough and off-the-charts in combination with Rapid Growth as Desdi points out. The upcoming loss to Vit & Magic didnt go unnoticed by me though if I did go with the Archangel items, and I was seriously questioning its value. I honestly think I could easily lose 3% and not really feel it.

I am DD & Heal Support, so I look at myself as a support role, although I truely love the Mystic's ability to hit hard, and would really HATE to feel less powerful & more squishy if there is no appreciable benefit to it.

Thanks again everyone! b:thanks

XMiyala - Dreamweaver

I have 36% channeling with gear, and 91% capped with demon spark/demon rapid growth. Personally I'd say both channeling and magic is good, especially for casting your squad heal and absorb soul. Instead of going with channeling pieces that gimp your defense. I.e. don't wear elemental belts. Honestly i think the r8 sleeves and boot are ****. TT99 is ok, but I don't think the 3% chan is enough to tell a difference. Personally I'm still using sleeves of the sea capt, but one day I might nirvana some TT sleeves, or just use the TT90 gold one with p def adds.

Lunaryl - Heavens Tear

I'm a rank 9 mystic, and with that I only have a stunning -16% channeling total. I both do PVE and PVP. Even with only -16% I can keep myself and squadmates alive in both. Channeling really isn't a concern with a mystic, so I really don't see a need for it. You're gimping yourself if you go for channeling gear.. why play a semi-support class if you can't live to support?

I think the only time I throw on channeling gear is for the tiger event on Mondays, or if I'm doing heads in FF because I can hit two with natures vengeance, instead of one. >_>

thumbs

Why not go with rank 8 gear? - Because it can't be account shared.
Why go with Channeling Equips? - Because they can be account shared.

Better to invest in equips you can use on multiple toons than disposable gear.

The argument over the utility of -ch is valid, but also situational. -That's why some of us get super inventories and swap equips.

Eoria - Harshlands

r8 top+tt90 green pants+tt99 gold sleeves+either tt99 gold boots for set bonus/eventual Nirvana recast, Lunar gold boots, or a nice pair of OHT boots.

Pretty much your best combo right there. Don't even bother with tt90 gold.

Edit- Actually, as I recall, mystic r7 pants are pretty nice too. Could use those instead.

Brillance - Raging Tide

Well, it all boils down to economics - and since Ive been buying rep since I started playing, I have the rep now for R8. Which makes R8 the cheapest & fastest way to get regeared when I hit 100, even with the 40 million on Wedding Candy for the Sleeves & Boots. I also want to get R8 Recast.

After the R8 Recast is all gemmed, I will look into whether to start farming Nirvy or work on building more rep for R9. But yeah, it wont surprise me if R8 Recast turns out to be the end of the line for me. Which hey! Im good with that. b:cute

I get a $20 Game Card every once in a while, so you can just imagine how long it will take for me to buy another 100K of Rep and then start saving up for Medals of Glory. Im thinking everyone will have their R10 already by the time I get 1 piece of R9, lol. >.<

This is my only Char so far. For those that have made multi-chars in the game, I can see getting and working around an Account Stash to be a wise investment and a huge savings. Thanks thumbs, I'll keep that in mind.

And thank you for the suggestions Eoria.

Safeng - Sanctuary

I would never sacrifice any defense for channeling.

I'm a r8 sage with currently 30% channeling and I'm doing fine. Not like we got too many long cast skills anyway. lol
I got myself the TT99 sleeves simply because I could make them for free. My main is a veno so yea, I farmed TT For boots I'm in no hurry, cost of both seems pretty much equal.

Willbert - Dreamweaver

- 54 Channeling,

Enjoy putting plants out and blowing them up while healing pet as it has agro and doing dd.

As an arcane player I really enjoy doing a lot within a short time frame.

I also switch gear were if I do get melee agro I have physical def to tie me over until the mob is dead.

A pure player in any game is versatile and has tools at their disposal to be flexible depending on the situation. This does not mean top gear.. but gear oriented to situations.. eg.. channeling, magic or def gear.

But most of all .. play where you enjoy yourself and feel comfortable... this will always get you to what you wish to achieve item wise.

Cheers and happy gaming!

Praxalis - Archosaur

My personal preference is to maintain -18% channeling

Why? This allows me to keep some nice defensive end game gear while still keeping up with some of the other casters who may have a delay in reaction time in a TW setting. I love my Wings of CLoudcharger too much (though I should seriously invest in Matchless wings lol)

Since R8 recast has come out though, I can see potential in a high channeling build to swap out into if I need to beat out other casters. a possibility to get -chann on boots, higher than the TT 99 bonus w/ boots + sleeves with better base defenses? Heck yes!

I would say keep 2 sets of gear if you can-a -chan based and a more defensive build with less chan. Shard accordingly, of coure-but that's only if you wanna go down that route. Can get quite pricey b:surrender

Brillance - Raging Tide

I feel I'm honestly close to perfect right now for my playstyle, and the upcoming changes scare me as they confuse me.

Thanks for the advice & comments. b:thanks


I just today turned 97. I have 4325 HP & 10032 MP, with 7456 - 9476 Magic Attack.

Phys Def is currently 1918, Def lvl 15 & Att lvl 15 with O'malley's Blessing. My Phys Def was 250 points higher with Anger of the Beasts Soul +4 but I switched it out for a Purple Mogwai Belt (that I have yet to refine) for its +6 Magic Bonus.

I had good survivability with the gold belt, & I still feel comfortable without the extra 250 PDef. If I deside to refine the Purple Belt (if I even can) then no worries, but I still carry the gold one in my inventory.

Im thinking about changing out Cape of Elite Leather for another with a Magic Bonus that I will loose a little on the Defense end if I do...so, Im holding off and thinking about it, lol. >.<

Im fine as I am - its the future that scared me...b:surrender

Eoria - Harshlands

There's absolutely no need to specifically search out stuff that gives +mag. Your survivability is more important. .___.

Try to complete your OHT culti for the 4th past belt. It's pretty much the best belt besides Warsong. As for cape, stick with Elite Leather until you can get like a Cloudcharger/Matchless/2nd recast Nirvana cape.

Brillance - Raging Tide

Eoria - Harshlands wrote: »

There's absolutely no need to specifically search out stuff that gives +mag. Your survivability is more important. .___.

Try to complete your OHT culti for the 4th past belt. It's pretty much the best belt besides Warsong. As for cape, stick with Elite Leather until you can get like a Cloudcharger/Matchless/2nd recast Nirvana cape.

I got 3 bosses in SoT to unlock the second map, but noone wants to do a full SoT so I only have one boss. -.-' In the first squad that was doing their BH I asked about it, and peeps complained that it takes 3 hours or something. b:shocked

Thanks for the suggestion about the cape. ^^

Eoria - Harshlands

Just hop on someone's fb99 or something. That's how I ended up doing mine.

XMiyala - Dreamweaver

Brillance - Raging Tide wrote: »

Phys Def is currently 1918, Def lvl 15 & Att lvl 15 with O'malley's Blessing. My Phys Def was 250 points higher with Anger of the Beasts Soul +4 but I switched it out for a Purple Mogwai Belt (that I have yet to refine) for its +6 Magic Bonus.

I don't think you can refine the Mogwai belt, So I'd probably go back to the anger of beast souls.

I am using the 4th past belt, I just got it last night. Probably gonna use it forever, unless I get warsong. I am currently rockin' 39% channeling with 94% demon sparked with demon rapid growth combo. b:victory. I still have a TM69 cape though. I know it's only grade 9, but I don't plan to upgrade it. I also have nearly 500 magic. (Can't give you an exact amount cause I'm not in game atm)

Brillance - Raging Tide

Grats on the belt. Im soloing Blackhole Devourer with the reduced PDef with no problems (except it feels like it takes half an hour to bring him down). I havent gone to BH89 since switching the belts though, so you are probably correct I will be switching back.

I didnt have the coin to get the TM69 cape when I was of level. Runs were going for 600K each at the time, and now Im just above level for TM79, as people just started advertizing runs on my server for 700K each. The Cape of Elite Leather is serving my purpose though, as my neck is Ethereal. I also got a Sign of Antiquity:Chaos ring which threw me another 250 PDef, and made me brave enough to try the belt when I saw the magic bonus.

Right now, I have 496 Magic (with gear bonuses). Losing the belt will only bring me down to 490, but I do feel comfortably stronger in my DD with the +6. It feels right, but we will see what happens. b:cute

XMiyala - Dreamweaver

Thankies, lol. Blackhole is easy, I usually just spam cragglord on him. And I actually didn't get my cape until I was lvl 90. I did the runs on my seeker (1m per run) and account stashed the cape to my main. I have 486 magic now. I had more magic with my neon purgatory, but now I have more magic attack. 10.4k-12.4k