Gear check

[Sturmpanzer]

http://eq.magelo.com/profile/1392593

First, wanted to say a big thanks to everyone here. This site has been a huge help in planning my gear/AAs thus far.

I'm getting to the point where I'm not sure how to progress tho.

The glaring holes I have in my gear (in no particular order):
3 empty slot 12s
ears
waist

Other slots I think could stand an upgrade would be secondary & range.

Raid gear/targets are a no go for me atm (thus the empty slot 12s). I had considered upgrading these items (wrist, chest, legs) to warped steel & eventually cores.

I need to look for upgrades that can be single grouped. I have tanked names in FM & Beza, but atm anything more seems out of my league (got pwned in SHIP).

Thanks!
Sturmpanzer

[Quxinot]

Looks like you're doing pretty well, honestly, but with only a couple of flaws:

-Consider DoN type 12's. You can single group missions for RC's and get augs to fit. The chest/legs are a little expensive (680rc iirc), the other ones are cheaper. This (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=82972) is an example for your wrist (35hp, stats). Minor upgrade, but beats an empty slot.

-You're short on shielding/avoidance (21/47). Sverag has an 2% shielding 50hp (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=89920) aug that could help. There's also a 20ac 45hp (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=89916) aug that you can get while you're there. It's technically a raid, but if you get a fairly decent group you could do Circle of Drakes (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/quest.html?quest=3073) with a group (minimum required 6 to get the instance) that can drop a 4% shielding 90hp (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=71598) aug.

-Dwerium jewelery is kinda meh. Consider doing this (http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?id=17964) task and trying for a Hoop of the Nest Defender (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=71593), which would give you a good avoidance boost, as well as an AC boost (and give you a spot for another 25ac/25hp (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=83424) aug.

-Range slot is definitely weak. Skip on using a bow in your range slot, and just bandoleer it in and out with a hotkey for pulling purposes (/bandoleer activate bow, /autofire on, /autofire off, /bandoleer activate tankingsetup). There's a number of good ranges out there, just go for as much AC/avoid/shielding as you can find on it.

-Warped steel is worse overall than elegant/sublime, even without a type12 aug. Once you start getting cores and so on into it, it closes the gap.

-You're missing a number of great melee focus effects. Specifically you need Improved Dodge xxx and Improved Block/Parry xxx. These would be worth taking a bit of an AC/HP loss to get, as they'll really help out how well you take hits.

-I'd consider swapping the aug out of your secondary weapon with a EB proc or a CS4 proc (both available from DoN merchants), as this will give you more aggro. The CS4 would not hurt your dps any, the EB would slightly, but the payoff would be a touch more aggro.

-The aug in your arms could be swapped for something with rather more AC. There's a thread stickied with a list of stuff that's pretty doable. The Blessed Shard (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=68667) from primals in yxxta is easily groupable for example. However it's type8 only, so be thinking ahead for where you can put it.

-Once you hit level 80, I have to think that you could probably tank Shyra, and get bazu augs for your type12 slots. One thing to note is that you'll need to bring a slower for her, and a shaman will have quite a bit of trouble landing a slow even after malo, if there's no other magic debuffs on her, so bring an enchanter, bard, tash stick, or whatever.

-It looks really, really gay, but Ornate Gnoll Hide Lariat (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=41361) is a better weapon than your current offhander, and they're dirt cheap in the bazaar. It also will taunt a bit harder than your current offhander.

-With the coming of the new mercanaries, you may find that adding another healer to your party will probably increase the range of stuff you can tank. If this is the case, you may be able to swing Yar`lir with a single group, and get a shot at an excellent belt upgrade (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=71657) as well as a lovely ring (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=71658), a 15 avoid 90hp aug (http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=71660), and a 33/22 (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=34865) weapon.

Mostly you seem to have really good augs, and pretty good gear. Levels will of course help, ditto AA (cap CA/CS asap!), but don't forget about that older content that used to be raids--much of it is now groupable if you have the right mix of classes and strats, with suprisingly less gear than you'd maybe think.

[Karesi_Ferocity]

Just letting you know Ornate Gnoll Hide Lariat got the shaft hard on Test.

It went from the stunproc + damage to a dot.

Seriously.

[Pylon]

Quxinot, Could you look at the "excellent belt upgrade" link, it appears to have a typo and I cant get it to open. I'm in about the same boat as far as group power as the OP and I'm looking for a decent AC belt to put the warleader pearl I got last night on it =) I almost hated to put it on the old belt I have. I'll probably be making a gear check post of my own soon but a belt is top priority for me right now.

[Crashbomba]

http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=71657

[Pylon]

Just letting you know Ornate Gnoll Hide Lariat got the shaft hard on Test.

It went from the stunproc + damage to a dot.

Seriously.

Looking on eqplayers at my warriors, it looks like this went live:

Ornate Gnoll Hide Lariat (Augmented)
Magic Item Lore Item Magic Item
Slot: Primary Secondary
Skill: 1H Slash
AC: 16
Damage: 26
Attack Delay: 20
DPS: 15.6
Damage Bonus: 18
STR: 20 DEX: 8 STA: 26 CHA: 5 AGI: 18 INT: 17 WIS: 25 HP: 350 Mana: 355 Endurance: 355 SV Fire: 15 SV Disease: 25 SV Cold: 15 SV Poison: 10 SV Magic: 25
HP Regeneration: 5
Damage Shield: 5
Recommended level of 76
Required level of 71
Weight: 3
Size: Tiny
Class: RNG BRD WAR ROG
Race: All
Augment Slots:
Slot 1, Type 4: Deep Crust Fire Geode
Effects:
Whip Crack: Inflicts up to 245 damage every six seconds.
Focus Effects:

gha that blows.

[dzirkelb]

I think mercs wont' work on raid targets...once you engate with a merc, they go into submission as an fyi.

[Kudedor]

I think mercs wont' work on raid targets...once you engate with a merc, they go into submission as an fyi.

Have you actually had this happen?

According to dev posts, the only issue with raids and mercs is that of scripts not handling mercs well. For that reason, AFAIK, mercs are disabled in certain raid instances, but shouldn't care whether the target you are attacking is flagged as a raid NPC or not.

[Quxinot]

Quxinot, Could you look at the "excellent belt upgrade" link, it appears to have a typo and I cant get it to open. I'm in about the same boat as far as group power as the OP and I'm looking for a decent AC belt to put the warleader pearl I got last night on it =) I almost hated to put it on the old belt I have. I'll probably be making a gear check post of my own soon but a belt is top priority for me right now.

Oops. Fixed.

[Pylon]

The Ornate Gnoll Hide Lariat was brought up on the eqboards and Aristo - and EQ designer said it was just a description error and would be fixed.

I had noticed it was not looking like a DoT but was unsure.

[Sturmpanzer]

Thanks for the feedback!

I started working on some of your suggestions. I replaced the aug in my arms with Blessed Shard, filled my empty slot 12s from the DoN vendor. I also went ahead & picked up the Ornate Gnoll Hide Lariat for only 2k in the hope that it wasn't really nerfed, only a description error. Also picked up EB aug from the evil side to fill it.

The reason I have the bow showing in my magelo, is because honestly it's the only one I have. I was looking at picking up something like Sliver of Life (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=77061) to replace it for normal set up. I would gain Dodge 1, lose 5ac, 10 hps, 5 shielding from current item Plaguebreeze (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=33617). I wasn't sure if this was a tradeoff I should make. I can pick up a range item with Dodge 1 on it pretty cheap, around 5k or so atm. However the first big wishlist item I plan to go after is range item from SHIP with Dodge 3 Greasy Clockwork Bauble (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=72159)

I still need to find an item with block/parry to go after. I'd really like to push on up in levels, AAs, gear to the point that I could start trying Crystallos. I think that's my main goal atm, that's wear I'd like to gear up.

http://eq.magelo.com/profile/1392593

[Sturmpanzer]

- Corrected a spell description error with the Ornate Gnoll Hide Lariat. The proc had been labeled incorrectly as a DoT.


Nice!

[Lord Hiroo]

question, are you going to keep your trio ears? cuase with SoD they now have upgrade to those with type 7 slot as will as the slot 10 and slot 11.. i got the drops in tosk but if you want to keep them, you may want to look into those =)

[Cowboyatheart]

With SoF and SoD, the block/parry should be on the neck slot.
That's not good news considering your neck item is quite nice.

[Sturmpanzer]

Yeah, my ears were actually my #1 priority to upgrade, but I haven't seen anything from SoD yet. If they have player crafted trio crap thats 50+ ac, I'd really have to think about it.

And yeah, I agree that it sucks that Parry/Block will only come on a neck item unless I can manage to get a Bazu or Last Blood aug.

[Quxinot]

What's poo about that? A bazu should be pretty well within your reach at your current gear level (you may need a spot heal periodically--a shammy with HoT would rock for you--or two, but nothing awful). Try shyra as you sit. Bring a group of the most solid folks you can, and just go for it. You have the elegant armor already, you have the sublimes already, may as well remove the junky type 12's and put in 30ac/150ish hp upgrade or two!

Honestly even if it wasn't a great item, or an ac/hp/avoid/shield loss, block/parry is a focus you can't really do without. I forget what the parse info said when I first tried it, but the results were absolutely impressive. I forget if it was a 6% or a 10% incoming damage reduction at the time, but I definintely remember my jaw hitting the floor...

[Jeromeru]

best bet by far esp being group geared is get as much ac as you can imo. go back do all the 25ac 25hp augs and any other ones you can manage check links for ac augs. elegant armor is gonna be your best bet to be cought up to speed. its no secret im one of the biggest ac whores (waves at other ac whores) but group content being what it is the ac on it all is so low compared to overhigh hp so you can make it up. Bazus should be pretty easy to get and worst case you can always go with the LDoN ones until you manage to farm them. Get a group of 18 or so peeps take out some Last blood mobs too and you should be alright. wep wise your alright scoop up some of the newer ones in kurns i think it is(anyone conferm) and with the 2.0 you should be alright. (id lean away from replacing the 2.0 but if your going to be sure you dont suffer to much of a loss on it and make sure you always keep mit on you augged with 2 of your cs/eb augs for when you bring out your shield) Besides that just keep your mod 2s up and keep on trucking all of us were at that point at one time or another and dont let anyone keep ya down.

[Sturmpanzer]

http://eq.magelo.com/profile/1392593

UPDATE:

I've pretty much rounded out my augs atm I think until I start in on the new SoD ones. I now have Dodge & Parry/Block effects (although I'm looking to upgrade from III to IV soon). Downed Shyra and got bazu aug to fill one slot 12 & even got the 90 hp/15 avoidance aug. Spent all my dkp last night to get a last blood for one other slot 12. Will be killing Shyra again shortly to fill the last slot 12 soon.

I'm looking to upgrade ear, back, shoulders, and range hopefully soon from Crystallos.

Porous loams have dropped to insanely cheap (picked up 13 the other day for like 60k?!?) so I think I will start replacing TSS visible armor as I can get bazu/last bloods to fill the slot 12s. I'm still considering doing Crystallos chest whenever I can pick up all 4 essences & core.

Anything I missed or should look at differently?

Thanks!

[babywolf97]

when u go into a raid zone u wont be able to unsuspend ur merc or like in a zone like PoT when u go to a raid area not able to.