Two quick-ish questions!

Tozie - Sanctuary
Tozie - Sanctuary Posts: 6 Arc User
edited April 2011 in Cleric
I don't know how I made it to 4O without posting in this forum.. I've done lots of lurking, but now I have some questions that I haven't seen just yet. Sorry if they are mega repeat questions! And sorry that this is a wall of text :c

Question 1:

Is anyone else having trouble with kiting lately? It's the only thing that keeps me alive half of the time, but lately when I try to do it I magically get teleported right back into range and get hit. I really don't remember this happening before, but it's getting really annoying...

Question 2:

Does anyone have videos of their BH runs? I just hit forty recently and want to try BH29, but I really don't want to **** up and have everyone die! I've looked on youtube, but it's always in another class' POV so all I see of the cleric is the little arrow that shows they are behind while everyone else is rushing forward, and the magical glow of IH from the invisible cleric P:

I know that experiencing it first-hand would help me learn and whatnot, but I would like to go in prepared so there aren't a bunch of unneccesary deaths! And I've read through a lot of threads and always see things about avoiding aggro and whatnot, but I'm a very visual person so I can't picture how I'm supposed to be doing things..

So any advice would be amazing!

...And I lied, there are actually three questions. Is there armor besides NPC armor that is available/better for me that I should be using right now?
If it helps this is my build (I.. have no idea what I'm doing with it by the way):

Base: VIT-43 (I wanted to not die a tad..) STR-26, MAG-146, DEX-5
With armor/stuff: VIT-48, STR-31, MAG-148, DEX-5
Post edited by Tozie - Sanctuary on

Comments

  • Samaela - Dreamweaver
    Samaela - Dreamweaver Posts: 426 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    I don't know how I made it to 4O without posting in this forum.. I've done lots of lurking, but now I have some questions that I haven't seen just yet. Sorry if they are mega repeat questions! And sorry that this is a wall of text :c

    Question 1:

    Is anyone else having trouble with kiting lately? It's the only thing that keeps me alive half of the time, but lately when I try to do it I magically get teleported right back into range and get hit. I really don't remember this happening before, but it's getting really annoying...
    Lag. It happens to me as well when the connection I'm using is bad.

    Question 2:

    Does anyone have videos of their BH runs? I just hit forty recently and want to try BH29, but I really don't want to **** up and have everyone die! I've looked on youtube, but it's always in another class' POV so all I see of the cleric is the little arrow that shows they are behind while everyone else is rushing forward, and the magical glow of IH from the invisible cleric P:

    I know that experiencing it first-hand would help me learn and whatnot, but I would like to go in prepared so there aren't a bunch of unneccesary deaths! And I've read through a lot of threads and always see things about avoiding aggro and whatnot, but I'm a very visual person so I can't picture how I'm supposed to be doing things..

    So any advice would be amazing!
    Sadly I don't have any videos of that, I would record it myself, but I have this feeling that being level 77 and doing it, especially since I'm able to solo the instance, is quite different from doing it at 40. But it's not really that hard, stack the barb, heal who ever needs it, don't heal the people who's stealing aggro out of pure idiocity, they will get you killed.


    ...And I lied, there are actually three questions. Is there armor besides NPC armor that is available/better for me that I should be using right now?
    If it helps this is my build (I.. have no idea what I'm doing with it by the way):

    Base: VIT-43 (I wanted to not die a tad..) STR-26, MAG-146, DEX-5
    With armor/stuff: VIT-48, STR-31, MAG-148, DEX-5
    I believe I used 3 star armour with nice stats that I bought in the AH until I hit 60 and got the rank gear. Also, you build looks nice, but I think you have more str than you actually need, focus on putting points into magic for a while. I have like 44 at the moment myself.

    Replies in red :D
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    Samaela[demon cleric]||Nanimee[mystic]||aquaelle[psychic]
  • Lelouchvi - Sanctuary
    Lelouchvi - Sanctuary Posts: 133 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    For question number 2

    Your job as a cleric is to keep everyone alive.
    Your main heal will be iron heart blessing.
    Just keep stacking that heal on the tank and dont heal until the tank has aggro.
    Also make sure to keep everyone else alive using chromatic healing beam, iron heart blessing and wellspring surge. If you heal the tank before he even attacks then the mob will lose interest and go after you.
  • Tozie - Sanctuary
    Tozie - Sanctuary Posts: 6 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Thank you both for such quick replies! c:

    I'll blame crappy apartment internet for this crazy teleport effect.. Maybe I'll test out the connection on campus.. Good to know it's not just me, though! That would be my luck.

    I'm trying to picture this all in my head. I stack IH on the tank a couple times before it goes and attacks boss/mob (Will that alone draw aggro to me or is that only if I get too close to the boss/mob?) then wait for the tank to attack.. Then spam IH? Or will that make me steal aggro?
    And in regards to other people stealing aggro, does it get me killed 'cause my healing aggro outweighs theirs or is it something else? Because then I'm confused about healing other people without drawing mobs to my squishy self.

    And for my build I'll put more into magic from now on! I've been trying lately but then I get paranoid that I'm not putting enough strength..
  • GoogleMaster - Raging Tide
    GoogleMaster - Raging Tide Posts: 53 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Thank you both for such quick replies! c:

    I'll blame crappy apartment internet for this crazy teleport effect.. Maybe I'll test out the connection on campus.. Good to know it's not just me, though! That would be my luck.

    I'm trying to picture this all in my head. I stack IH on the tank a couple times before it goes and attacks boss/mob (Will that alone draw aggro to me or is that only if I get too close to the boss/mob?) then wait for the tank to attack.. Then spam IH? Or will that make me steal aggro?
    And in regards to other people stealing aggro, does it get me killed 'cause my healing aggro outweighs theirs or is it something else? Because then I'm confused about healing other people without drawing mobs to my squishy self.

    And for my build I'll put more into magic from now on! I've been trying lately but then I get paranoid that I'm not putting enough strength..

    If you stack IH on the tank before he jumps in, that won't get you aggro but if you cast an IH after a tank has jumped in but hasn't yet attacked all mobs or used his aggro skills to attract all mobs attacking him, they'll go for you instead. Think of it as if casting IH on the tank is equal to hitting the mobs. If the tank doesn't deal more damage than you, or doesn't use his aggro skills , the mobs will hate you more than the barb.

    It works in the same way for squishy aggro stealers. If they steal aggro and you manage to get an IH in before they get two shotted, and if nobody else is building aggro on that mob or attacking it, you'll be next on its list. But if you didn't IH before they died, the mob shouldn't even know your name o.o

    Have fun on your first BH! b:victory
  • Flickerfae - Sanctuary
    Flickerfae - Sanctuary Posts: 351 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Don't worry too much about not knowing. Everyone is learning at that level. Half the people you BH with will be just as clueless as you. The other half will be helpful high levels or alts of high levels. Those people can give you helpful on-site tips as the situation changes.

    You'll mess up every once in a while... even those of us who've been doing BHes since they came out still do. But every time you do, it'll be a learning experience that you can take on your next BH.

    As a cleric, your first job is to protect yourself. You second job is to protect the tank. Everyone else is third priority. Remember that, and the rest will come.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

    -Ignoring my main for alts since early '09
  • Hiemus - Raging Tide
    Hiemus - Raging Tide Posts: 141 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Question 1:

    Is anyone else having trouble with kiting lately? [snip!]

    A1: lag +1.

    Question 2: [snip!]

    A2: The midget green pea monsters will always 1-shot you from a very long distance and THROUGH walls. Do not draw heal aggro onto yourself from it. The lantern explodes on death, so keep your team mates' HP bar higher, or they might die from that explosion. If a team mate dies, you can rez them in 3 seconds. If you die, you waste more time, among other things, than that trying to walk back, alone, through Hall of Deception mobs.

    Just be very mindful of avoiding heal aggro, and stay back. If people are too dumb to retreat in face of overwhelming adversary, you achieve nothing by running forward and die with them. You can rez them in a few seconds.


    [snip!] Is there armor besides NPC armor that is available/better for me that I should be using right now?

    A3: Not really. 3 stars is enough at that stage.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Bluelita - Archosaur
    Bluelita - Archosaur Posts: 62 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Don't worry too much about not knowing. Everyone is learning at that level. Half the people you BH with will be just as clueless as you. The other half will be helpful high levels or alts of high levels. Those people can give you helpful on-site tips as the situation changes.

    You'll mess up every once in a while... even those of us who've been doing BHes since they came out still do. But every time you do, it'll be a learning experience that you can take on your next BH.

    As a cleric, your first job is to protect yourself. You second job is to protect the tank. Everyone else is third priority. Remember that, and the rest will come.

    My cleric is not so amazingly more levelled than yours, but this is why I remember exactly bhow it was in bh29 - and I asked myself the same questions like you b:chuckle
    Before starting my bh in a random squad, I always reminded to the squad that:
    1. A cleric is slow. You need to keep it in your mind and don't rush like crazy.
    2. If a bunch of mobs attack you- attack them all with aoe skill or just land a single hit on them. It will permit me to heal you and save your ***. If not, I cannot heal him and you die.
    This last argument somewhat worked, I must admit, on more intelligent squads. But at this level your squad will often let you die without even trying to help you.. This made me live a period "oh my God, I am a complete fail as a cleric, I would never make it good" and so on. Dunnow if it was the same for another clerics here?
    In any case after some fail squads you will find surely a good one where you can really show all your skills.. it will permit you to see which part of eventual faults is yours and which comes from your squadmates.
    A tip from my faction fantastic cleric : learn how do look like aoe skills of each class, so you can know if they attacked all the mobs (and you can heal)...
  • Tozie - Sanctuary
    Tozie - Sanctuary Posts: 6 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Thank you so much everyone for all of the replies and advice! c:

    You'll be happy to know that my first BH went pretty well! I was nervous at first 'cause it was just me, a veno, and a mystic, but it worked out just fine I think! They waited for my slow cleric booty to catch up, so I only had to use holy path once.. Which was when I was trying to run from a mob I accidentally ran into.. b:shy

    There were a couple deaths though :c I'm not sure what happened with the first one, it may have been a lantern.. And that's when I ran into a mob 'cause I was paying less attention to them since I was itching to res.. I totally died, but thankfully at the last second I got hit with a res buff so I didn't have to go to town c: Definitely going to pay more attention next time!

    Everyone was fighting ranged mostly, so most healing was when those darn lanterns exploded (Thanks for the warning, Hiemus!) until a bit before Qingzi when a bm joined us. He caused me some frustration :c I hadn't even buffed him before he took off, and then he was out of range half the time so his HP tanked a lot when he ran into mobs, and I was nervous (and out of range!!) to heal and steal aggro since I wasn't sure if he was using AOE or not since I was still catching up and unable to see.. And I didn't even get to stack IH a couple times before he ran right up to Qingzi so I was spamming my heals like crazy while his HP plummeted.

    Thankfully he didn't die! I spammed IH, hit the others with wellspring when they needed it.. And then Qingzi was down c: Huzzah! I'm excited for my next run, I hope it goes as well as this one did!

    Thanks again everyone for everything! c:
  • GoogleMaster - Raging Tide
    GoogleMaster - Raging Tide Posts: 53 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Gratz on your first BH! b:victory Now start stacking them! XD
  • SeaStorm - Heavens Tear
    SeaStorm - Heavens Tear Posts: 315 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    STR wise just look at the next lvl weapon you want, add str as necessary. Once you hit your 50s visit the forges near General Summer and take a look at the Twilight Temple (TT) 60 Ancient Arbor weapon. Start gearing your str for that. At some point take a look at the various weapon paths (mostly based on the adds on the weapons) from TT90/99 and start working your way backwards (by using the soul edges) so you know what your STR needs to be for your late game weapons.

    If you're running a new instance it never hurts to ask a squad a) anything explode in here I need to worry about b) to tank...do you want heals stacked before getting mobs or after you've Roared (Roar is a Barb AOE that aggros all surrounding mobs onto the barb - looks like whitish swords)...BM's stun is a large golden lion head...I usually start healing after that goes off. Personally I'd rather have someone ask questions than get frustrated cause they don't know what to expect.

    Unless my cleric knows and trusts the tank(s) she's with...she always plays from max distance to squad. If they're people I know/trust I will be right in the thick of things.

    FYI prepare for exploding mobs in BH 39.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • SeaStorm - Heavens Tear
    SeaStorm - Heavens Tear Posts: 315 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    oh one more thing once you're into TT gear (lvl 70+) keep an eye on the STR there. Max STR for TT90gear/weapon is 49. I had to up my cleric's STR at 100 to 53 for her lvl 100 leggings.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Flickerfae - Sanctuary
    Flickerfae - Sanctuary Posts: 351 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Oh jeez, you got a kamikaze tank on your first run? Bad luck! b:chuckle

    You'll run into those from time to time. Usually, they run ahead because they know they're tough enough to take a couple hits without heals (like a high level barb/bm helping on a lower level BH). But occasionally you'll get the barb or bm who doesn't realize that bh mobs hit harder than they're used to. At that point, if you can catch up with them and heal them, fine (you did well not healing when you weren't sure if he'd aggroed everything! As I said earlier, protect yourself first!).

    But if it's too risky, like you just catch up to him as his hp is down to 10% and there's no way you can get a heal off before he dies, then you just have to let him die. Remind him how slow you are, then rez him. The lesson sticks pretty well when they've died to learn it.

    As you get more BH runs under your belt, you'll learn to be more assertive with the rest of the party. Party members (especially tanks!) need to be aware of their own limitations, and the limitations of their clerics. As you're the one watching the HP bars, you have a better perspective on the big picture than the rest of them, so don't feel bad if you feel the need to point out something that someone is doing that endangers the rest of the party. Learning what everyone should and should not do in BH comes with time, though, so you're probably a little while away from that.

    For now, have fun and good luck. b:victory
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

    -Ignoring my main for alts since early '09
  • Hiemus - Raging Tide
    Hiemus - Raging Tide Posts: 141 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    "FYI prepare for exploding mobs in BH 39."

    Yeah half the fat mobs explodes in there. Also, the birds uses Freeze, and the brown midgets are fast and deadly and BLENDS into the landscape to ninja up behind your lonely cleric butt.

    Asking questions is always better than finding out things in the middle of life/death actions.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Tozie - Sanctuary
    Tozie - Sanctuary Posts: 6 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Thank you GoogleMaster c: And you're darn right I'm stacking, I read about that somewhere or another while I was looking up BH info.. That'll make things easier on me! Especially since I have little time with exams coming up :c

    SeaStorm: Ah! Thank you so much, I'll keep a better eye out from now on. I've kind of just been randomly adding STR.. What do you mean by different weapon paths? I'm really not too familiar with armor and weapons :c I honestly started playing this game 'cause I have this weird thing where I like to level things up.. I'm slowing learning!
    And I'm definitely going to be hitting up the chat more, I don't want to make stupid mistakes again if they are avoidable. I'm glad you mentioned what the barb's attacks look like, since I haven't squaded with one yet!

    Flickerfae: He was probably about five levels higher than I was, so maybe he'd done this more and was confident.. Still, it gave me a mini heart attack when I saw his HP dropping so quickly and so low :c
    He did have a res buff, maybe that's why he wasn't so worried about dying? Or maybe he just didn't think about staying in range. Either way, if this type of thing happens again I am going to say something 'cause I really don't want to get flamed when it's not my fault! Thank you very much for the advice c:

    Hiemus: More explosions?! Augh. I really do think that's my least favorite thing. For now, anyway, before the ninja midgets get me! Hehe, thanks for all the heads up though c: But I think I'm going to do 29 for a while longer to get some spirit and catch my genie up. I've been really lazy about that..

    Is it just the cleric board that is so helpful and amazing? I'm going to say it is. b:thanks
  • Hiemus - Raging Tide
    Hiemus - Raging Tide Posts: 141 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Mage class has 4 types of weapon: wand, glaive, patka, magic sword. They have different Str requirements. You should take some time to look at a Blacksmith's inventory for Str req. on regular weapon, as well as on PWI website for Str req. on unique weapon. This helps you plan ahead and avoid wasted level up points.

    If you want to repeat BH for spirit, it's probably better to do 39. 29 is shorter, but 39 gives more spirit, and you have better chance at getting better mob drops. On my old cleric I farmed 29, but it sure didn't give much besides extra spirit and 1 Fiend's Ring. If you farm 39, you might just get a Wheel of Fate mold. Other cleric's thoughts on this?

    Anyway, level slow for more spirit = more skills.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • GoogleMaster - Raging Tide
    GoogleMaster - Raging Tide Posts: 53 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    If you want to repeat BH for spirit, it's probably better to do 39. 29 is shorter, but 39 gives more spirit, and you have better chance at getting better mob drops. On my old cleric I farmed 29, but it sure didn't give much besides extra spirit and 1 Fiend's Ring. If you farm 39, you might just get a Wheel of Fate mold. Other cleric's thoughts on this?

    I hate bh39. .-.
    But yeah, Wheel of fate would be awesome if you got it. Besides, Trioc's and Serenetti's mold drop rates are much better than Qingzi's.
    Also, @OP: You might want to change your genie if it turns out to have low LP in the future. Normally, people say the genie's luck becomes apparent by the time its level 50. And bh39 has less fail squads too! So I agree with Hiemus!

    By the way, Arcane Armor requires 0.5 str per level (1 str every 2 levels). And if you have that much, you can use all the magical instruments known to elfkind!
  • violetvalor
    violetvalor Posts: 2 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    I can see the merits of both. For me, I liked to use bh29 to stop and farm spirit. It was quick and I could continue with my other tasks. =)
  • Fiorrello_ - Raging Tide
    Fiorrello_ - Raging Tide Posts: 76 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    if you add one point of strength every other level then that will be the minimum requirement for both your armor and your weapon.

    -simple yes?
    patience is a virtue
  • violetvalor
    violetvalor Posts: 2 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Yes =)
  • StreamElf - Sanctuary
    StreamElf - Sanctuary Posts: 219 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Good to hear your first bh went great :D

    Also, for endgame you have to have around 54-ish strength. I've had that amount since lvl 50 and i can get every weapon i want.

    If you have any questions while playing, don't hesitate to pm me and ask, since we're on the same server anyway ^^ I''ll be happy to help.

    Good luck with the game, and don't forget to have fun :D
    8x Cleric (Sanctuary)
    6x Veno (Sanctuary)
    5x Assasin (Harshlands)
    3x Archer (Sanctuary)
  • Tozie - Sanctuary
    Tozie - Sanctuary Posts: 6 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Uwah sorry for the late reply :c Exams and 6OO deadlines are coming up, so between work and school, my time for PW is.. -534649274

    Hiemus: Oh! Is there one that I should be leaning towards? I've just been using glaives because their max damage is highest, but then I read in a few other threads that wands and swords are better..
    And I'm trying to gain a lot of spirit easily/quickly, that's why I wanted to do bh29 a ton before moving on up. I want to max out as many skills as I can. Also, I feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick when it comes to drops. Is it just that the random drops hates me? I think I've gotten like, two items from the bhs I've done so far.

    Googlemaster: I think I'm going to have to get a new genie. It's LP is really low (can't remember exact number at the moment).. What genie skills do you suggest, by the way! I got a zeal to lure with, so it has that, earthquake for knockback, holy path and.. I forget the name but it gives me a quick hp boost when I **** up P: Second something? Augh memory fail.
    You guys are tempting me with bh39 but right now I only really have time for bh29. It's just quick and straight forward so I'll have to stick to that until I have some more time on my hands! :c Summer is almost here! But then my managers are going to murder me with work..

    StreamElf: Thank you very much! c: I've had several more awesome squads recently too! I have to restart my stacking though :c
    Oh geez, I have so much strength for my level! Hehe, I've been dumping everything into magic lately, though.
    And thank you so much! That's very sweet of you c: