(reposting from the vault)
Heya Folks,
Thought i'd start a little discussion on skald realm abilities.... which ones to get, and which ones to not get. Here we go
Ignore Pain - get it asap. 23 points after you put in the pre-req of first aid. This effectively doubles your hit points for most major encounters. The 30 minute timer is high, yes, but you don't always need it, and when you DO need it, there's nothing that can even compare. Those 250 point bounty point heals that you need to be out of combat for 3 seconds to use can't complete w/ a 1k insta heal.
First aid - get it to level 2 as a pre-req for ignore pain. If they fix this so it becomes a 90% heal like it SAYS they will (right now it is still the 'old' version, and heals about 250 hps or so at lvl 2), then it might be worth getting lvl 3 on, as FA is on a 15 min timer, and you only need to turn off auto attack for about 4 seconds to use it, you do NOT need to be out of combat for 10 seconds like with a speed song kicking in.
Augmented Acuity - This is the best way to increase your damage output. Mastery of Pain DOES give you more crits, but crits are quite erratic and can be 7 extra damage or 100 extra damage. Higher charisma will give you consistently higher damage. Also, lvl 1 of this is the pre-req for mystic crystal lore, another great ability.
Purge - 10 points and worth getting. I would get this after ignore pain..... If you wait too long to purchase purge, you will never be able to save up 10 points before you get bored and spend them on cheaper things Purge is truly invaluable when a sorc quickcast mezzes you for over 1 minute, or a solo smite cleric stuns you in preperation for the SMITE SMITE SMITE of doom.
Mystic Crystal Lore - Only 3 points, I picked this up and really love it. Its on a 5 minute timer, and level 1 gives you about 25-30% of your power back. YUM. If there's a really long fight with lots of mezzing and healing, you can even use it more than once. The little power boost is great when you need those DDs shouts to finish someone off, or juts enough juice to mez/snare 1 more person. Pick this up after purge.
Long Wind - Probably worth getting the first level. Superior sprinting is a handy thing to have, specially with all those damn minstrels and their speed of sound BS realm ability.... gotta be able to run em down so you can kill them when SoS wears off
Tireless - Level 1 worth getting just so you can regen endurance on the run. This means you no longer need to sit down after every fight, you can just move with your group and not have to sit down to get the ole green bar to fill up. Again, not a high priority, just falls under the 'nice to have' section.
These are the main realm abilities I have experience with, I really believe saving your first points for Ignore Pain / First aid 2 then purge will increase your survival rate in rvr a lot, both in small group conflicts and in 1 on 1 situations. Its importnat to get the spendy items first, as it takes FOREVER just to get 1 realm skill point at higher realm skill levels.
edit:
realm abilities really give you the option for flexability (purge/IP/MCL/most active timer based abiltiies) and for a more passive focus (extra str, extra chr, etc). With 100 realm skill points you can have it all, and the pasive abilities are very good to have, no doubt about that, but I really believe it is important to get the flexibility first, before focusing on pure damage output, because usually if you win a fight, well, you probably would have won doing a little less damage too..... but when you think back to those fights where a timer based ability totally changed the whole direciton of the fight.... like a full hp recharge, or just enough power to mez another add.... You really want to get that flexibility first, because you all NEED that stuff in situations where the battle is going to be really close. Hitting for 10 extra dmg per swing wont do much if you're mezzed or dead.
Also - consider the bounty point totems and other charged items when rvring.... a full bar of endurance regen for 400 bps can give you enough juice to style down a few more albs/hibs or sprint away.... im just blabbing now better sleep
Heya Folks,
Thought i'd start a little discussion on skald realm abilities.... which ones to get, and which ones to not get. Here we go
Ignore Pain - get it asap. 23 points after you put in the pre-req of first aid. This effectively doubles your hit points for most major encounters. The 30 minute timer is high, yes, but you don't always need it, and when you DO need it, there's nothing that can even compare. Those 250 point bounty point heals that you need to be out of combat for 3 seconds to use can't complete w/ a 1k insta heal.
First aid - get it to level 2 as a pre-req for ignore pain. If they fix this so it becomes a 90% heal like it SAYS they will (right now it is still the 'old' version, and heals about 250 hps or so at lvl 2), then it might be worth getting lvl 3 on, as FA is on a 15 min timer, and you only need to turn off auto attack for about 4 seconds to use it, you do NOT need to be out of combat for 10 seconds like with a speed song kicking in.
Augmented Acuity - This is the best way to increase your damage output. Mastery of Pain DOES give you more crits, but crits are quite erratic and can be 7 extra damage or 100 extra damage. Higher charisma will give you consistently higher damage. Also, lvl 1 of this is the pre-req for mystic crystal lore, another great ability.
Purge - 10 points and worth getting. I would get this after ignore pain..... If you wait too long to purchase purge, you will never be able to save up 10 points before you get bored and spend them on cheaper things Purge is truly invaluable when a sorc quickcast mezzes you for over 1 minute, or a solo smite cleric stuns you in preperation for the SMITE SMITE SMITE of doom.
Mystic Crystal Lore - Only 3 points, I picked this up and really love it. Its on a 5 minute timer, and level 1 gives you about 25-30% of your power back. YUM. If there's a really long fight with lots of mezzing and healing, you can even use it more than once. The little power boost is great when you need those DDs shouts to finish someone off, or juts enough juice to mez/snare 1 more person. Pick this up after purge.
Long Wind - Probably worth getting the first level. Superior sprinting is a handy thing to have, specially with all those damn minstrels and their speed of sound BS realm ability.... gotta be able to run em down so you can kill them when SoS wears off
Tireless - Level 1 worth getting just so you can regen endurance on the run. This means you no longer need to sit down after every fight, you can just move with your group and not have to sit down to get the ole green bar to fill up. Again, not a high priority, just falls under the 'nice to have' section.
These are the main realm abilities I have experience with, I really believe saving your first points for Ignore Pain / First aid 2 then purge will increase your survival rate in rvr a lot, both in small group conflicts and in 1 on 1 situations. Its importnat to get the spendy items first, as it takes FOREVER just to get 1 realm skill point at higher realm skill levels.
edit:
realm abilities really give you the option for flexability (purge/IP/MCL/most active timer based abiltiies) and for a more passive focus (extra str, extra chr, etc). With 100 realm skill points you can have it all, and the pasive abilities are very good to have, no doubt about that, but I really believe it is important to get the flexibility first, before focusing on pure damage output, because usually if you win a fight, well, you probably would have won doing a little less damage too..... but when you think back to those fights where a timer based ability totally changed the whole direciton of the fight.... like a full hp recharge, or just enough power to mez another add.... You really want to get that flexibility first, because you all NEED that stuff in situations where the battle is going to be really close. Hitting for 10 extra dmg per swing wont do much if you're mezzed or dead.
Also - consider the bounty point totems and other charged items when rvring.... a full bar of endurance regen for 400 bps can give you enough juice to style down a few more albs/hibs or sprint away.... im just blabbing now better sleep
)
