HA hybrid questions

Atropah - Sanctuary wrote: »

Hey guys~

I got some issues with the venomancer. First off, I think the class is awesome and I love playing it. I stopped because I hate pwi's view of it. It is a class that solo's in a mmorpg game. Most venos are **** that don't play well with others and never squad, despite their slow killing speed (most my classes kill 2-3 times faster than venos around me, and they still don't want to squad even though I'm trying to help them.)
I build most my classes as support ie. vita barb for tanking, pure mage cleric for best heals,... and usually prefer the pure build because I expect to do most my playing in a squad so I specialize in one area.

That being said, I am intrigued by the HA hybrid build. I read the guide and have a few questions.

1. How would this benifit a squad? My tank pet would be less reliable because my heals would be reduced, and I doubt I'd replace a barb as tank, or be able to compete as a dd. Zeal genies replace venos for luring, usually. I guess I'd still have lending hand and bramble to offer, but do I gain any more support ability, or lose it?

Yes, you pet heal would be lower than your pure mage veno, but I dont see alot of pure mage venos around. Most are vit arcane, so your heals shouldnt hinder you so much. Also zeal genies dont replace venos for luring. There are still alot of cases where a pet is still the best way to lure, and sometimes it can aid you in luring. No, you wont replace a barb as a tank in say bh, unless you have a herc and offer to tank. In TT, Fcc, you herc can tank all but 1 boss. In bh, if you were to body tank (without pet) you would basically be a 3rd place tank, being if there wasnt a barb or bm in squad. They would rip aggro from you. Best way to keep aggro as a heavy hybrid is sparking and alpha male. Chi gain is still pretty fast, and you would have a reason to cast bramble on yourself if you were planning to take hits. Just remember alpha male cancels it out.

2. Looking at my 4 magic weapons, 3 have attack speed of 1.25, pataka has 1.00. Would I try for -int gear to increase chi gain since many fox skills use it, as well as saving for lending hand?

I haven't had any experience with -int gear. I personally, would choose
-chan over -int, although some -int gear would be good. Also, your primary weapons for phys attacks should be magic swords or glaives. Patakas have a 1.00 atk/s that nerf our damage.

3. Which out DDs end game? Pure arcane with herc, or HA hybrid (guessing herc is still recommended?)

I would have to say that both are equally good DDs. Pure mage venos would obviously do more magic damage, and your magic attack wont be as high, but you can always mix up your damage and DD in foxform with good mellee damage.

4. My hp pool and mdef is reduced, but my pdef skyrockets. One reason I want this build is I was noticing venos die everytime they tried to lending hand a tanking barb with an aoe boss when they went in range to deliver. Would I be less survivable to aoe bosses?

It depends on the aoe. In lower lvls, i supposed countering aoe is difficult. magic aoe you would definately take harder hits from than physical aoes. But just remember if you know the boss has a pure magic aoe. switch to a set of robes if you have them, if its physical aoe, stay in heavy. if its both, go half and half. Also don't worry too much about your low Hp pool. vit isnt a needed stat unless youir a barb. Imo, its useless.

5. Pet choice for HA hybrid?

Its up to you. But, I would suggest a dark wanderer for land. Its got pretty good phys def, and its a good DD pet too. I have 3 land pets that i use regularly: Hercules, ninetail fox, and celestial sting. Herc is for tanking, and it my primary pet. ninetails is for debuffing (it comes with lvl 4 howl). and the sting is for ranged luring or taking out the head room in Fcc. Currently working on nix atm.

6. To replace a tank you either need aggro skills (like a barb or BM), or to out DD everything else (like a fist BM or magic tanking psychic) or take the slow approach and get a lead before others attack. Can we actually tank?

Yes, we can actually tank, but as i said before we would be a 3rd place tank. barbs first, then bms, then us, unless you have a herc, then its usually first place tank, until someone steals aggro from your herc. Anyways, the squad would have to take the slow approach, so you could get aggro. also sparking as much as you can, and alpha male should help you hold aggro. This is usually what i have to do. Also, see answer to question #1. Sorta repeated myself.

I'm not really taking a hp loss with this build, as I'd have been a pure magic veno with 3 vit anyways. I leveled to 36 as a pure magic build, bare minimum str (around 31 I think). Now I plan to spend the next 16 levels or so adding only to strength and dex to change over my char to hybrid. Pain in the ****, but its cheaper and my magic is right where it needs to be in 16 levels anyway, but before I do I was hoping for some answer so I could feel sure about changing over.

Thanks, any and all help is appreciated (trolling is not). b:byeb:cuteb:bye

Atropah - Sanctuary wrote: »

@ Vitenka - Good points! Thanks. But overall damage output, as if a mage veno sent her pet in and stood back and casted vs a pet and a foxform veno attacking, who does more? One hits hard with spells, the other is weaker but debuffs and synergies with pet.

and are usually very helpful. I'd like to be one of those.

but...I still have more questions b:sad

Im sorry that the red print bothered you?

Maybe it's a server thing.

Survivabilty is based off of skill, not vit

Solandri - Heavens Tear wrote: »

As the FAQs say, heavy is not recommended as a leveling build. It's a PITA constantly finding +stat gear as you're leveling. Easier to get it done once and have it over with. So level 80 or 90 is best.

Shifong - Heavens Tear wrote: »

I like to DD in fox form on bosses because i can easily go afk b:cute