NOVEL NEXT Non story: A plunge into a tier 6 Build
Spoiler alert.
You're not supposed to read a Professional's full status unless you have the right skills or grasp their arms. Do you have the right skills?
Okay, let's do this.
Augusta Mary Cowen will probably one day star in a prequel short story set on the days when the Gilded Gate opens up in London (tentative title: The Infinite Labyrinth – Knight), but she began as a newbie in the days of the Gate opening, like everyone else.
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Augusta Mary Cowen |
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Health: 186/186 Mind: 165/165 |
Endurance: 163/163 Aether: 151/151 |
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Effective level: 1 |
Level 1 Defender |
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Experience: 0/1000 |
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Strength: 14 Dexterity: 15 Agility: 15 Constitution: 18 Stamina: 16 |
Wisdom: 14 Focus: 17 Presence: 15 Fortitude: 16 Intellect: 15 |
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Milestones: none |
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Skills: none |
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Equipment: none |
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18 years later (and she still looks like a young 30, not a late-40ish old victorian hag, in case you're wondering), she's there, at the end of the ship's plank in front of Randel:
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Augusta Mary Cowen |
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Health: 26869/26869 Mind: 12884/12884 |
Endurance: 11109/11109 Aether: 9879/9879 |
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Effective level: 708 |
Level 28 Imposing Knight Level 96 Imposing Banneret Level 73 Precise Fixer Level 109 Advisor Level 78 Light Commander Level 62 Calculating Guardian Level 86 Spellbringer Level 81 Calculating Barrier Level 58 Protector Level 47 Defender |
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Experience: 7762/280000 |
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Strength: 213 Dexterity: 165 Agility: 203 Constitution: 795 Stamina: 300 |
Wisdom: 255 Focus: 102 Presence: 259 Fortitude: 269 Intellect: 234 |
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Defence Rating: 9971 Regeneration: 11% Accuracy: 8%
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30% Health/CON 30% Aether/INT 2.5 Aether/WIS 25% Mind/FOR 22.5% Team defence 35% Armour |
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Milestones: Defender III , Protector IV, Calculating Barrier VI, Spellbringer VI, Calculating Guardian V, Light Commander VI, Advisor IX, Precise Fixer VI, Imposing Banneret VII, Imposing Knight II |
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Skills: Dodge (13), Flat Blade (11), Protect (9), Anticipate (7), Intimidate (5), Burning Aura (4), Shielding (4), Lightning Grasp (3), Shock Touch (3), Share Debuff (3), Assess Mind (2), Freeze Limb (2), Repel (1), Fire Spark (1), Asphyxiate (1), Cold Blood (1), Cleanse Poison (1), Increase Healing (1), Share Pain (0), Deflect Attention (0), Assess Threat (0) |
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Equipment: Plated Intricate Runic Circlet, Plated Strong-path Breast Masterworks, Plated Strong-path Deflecting Handgrips, Plated Speed-path Adjusted Swordholder, Greaves of the Sarmasion Painmaker, Plated Speed-path Flexible Sollerets, Aerial Focus Neck Links, Dyremic Red Dualstone Ring, Ring of the Biskantan Swordbearer |
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Whoa, indeed.
As an aside, while the French, British and American Great Empires still rely mostly on conventional armies enhanced by various Labyrinth-powered tech, that's why the Chinese go full Xianxia. A Hero (the Chinese name for their Professionals) leading the charge might be defeated by a company-strength force, a group of high-tier Heroes is nigh undefeatable (see the fight in London from chapter 1 or the worries from Randel in the Interlude just before this), except maybe a full brigade willing to stand their ground (and kill the healer first). However, if you lose your Heroes, it can take a decade or more to replace them.
The italicized items in her loadout are Artefact-level items (earned from the Sarmasios and Biskanta zones). Her sword (currently unequipped) is her third and biggest Artefact overall:
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Armament of the Biskantan Swordbearer |
Two-Handed |
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Artefact |
Requires: Level 559 |
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Provides: 671 lightning damage (+42% FOC), +2 Flat Blade ranks, +3 Shock Touch ranks, INT+93, CON+104, PRE+98, health+1104, mind+592, endurance+1561, +3% regeneration, +6% lightning skills cost reduction |
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She's a terror, isn't she? Typical lair enemy in tier 5 zones which are Cowen's group latest haunts:
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Enraged Frozen Elemental |
Level 625 elite |
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Health: 30393 |
Mind: 29221 |
Stamina: 2088 |
Aether: 40196 |
(yields ~10600xp. Uses icy attacks that do 2091 dmg before mitigation… and spell attacks that do upward of 2860 area-of-effect dmg. That's considered trash mob, of course)
The real threat is when you encounter this guy:
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Dirmankali of the Endless Ice |
Level 610 boss |
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Health: 440975 |
Mind: 161982 |
Stamina: 379899 |
Aether: 320945 |
So, how does all this work?
She's a trailblazer. She's not the highest level in the British Empire, but she's been doing Labyrinth scouting for 18 years, meaning she's picked stuff as they found it. The build might not be optimal, but it's a solid build.
Classes she's picked along the way:
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Defender The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.(tier 1) |
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Required: 18 CON |
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Provides: +6 health/+2 endurance/+3 mind/+1 aether per level +1 Milestone/15 levels Defender Milestone: +3 CON, +2 AGI, +1 STR, +1 INT, +1 WIS, 5% health/CON |
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Skill set: Personal / Defence |
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Protector (tier 2) |
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Required: 25 CON |
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Provides: +8 health/+3 endurance/+5 mind/+2 aether per level +1 Milestone/14 levels Protector Milestone: +5 CON, +3 STA, +2 WIS, +1 INT, +1 DEX, 5% health/CON |
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Skill set: Personal / Defence |
At the edge of tier 3, she looked like this:
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Augusta Mary Cowen |
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Health: 1357/1357 Mind: 591/591 |
Endurance: 548/548 Aether: 383/383 |
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Effective level: 105 |
Level 58 Protector Level 47 Defender |
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Experience: 0/116000 |
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Strength: 17 Dexterity: 19 Agility: 21 Constitution: 47 Stamina: 28 |
Wisdom: 25 Focus: 17 Presence: 15 Fortitude: 16 Intellect: 22 |
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20% Health/CON |
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Milestones: Defender III, Protector IV |
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Skills: Dodge (2), Flat Blade (2), Anticipate (2), Protect (1) |
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Skills are the 3 she's picked ranks at both Defender/Protector and the last 4th at Protector. The 5% health/CON does NOT stack between both Milestone types, only the strongest effect takes place.
Anyway, she's got the right stats to pick the next class (there's none with just CON, but she qualifies for both possibilities):
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Calculating Barrier (tier 3) |
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Required: 45 CON, 20 INT |
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Provides: +12 health/+3 endurance/+7 mind/+5 aether per level +1 Milestone/13 levels Calculating Barrier Milestone: +7 CON, +4 PRE, +3 AGI, +2 FOC, +1 STR, 5% health/CON |
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Skill set: Personal / Defence |
And then she stumbles upon a problem once she discovered that her tier 4 should probably be:
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Calculating Guardian (tier 4) |
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Required: 85 CON, 36 INT |
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Provides: +18 health/+5 endurance/+10 mind/+7 aether per level +1 Milestone/12 levels Calculating Barrier Milestone: +9 CON, +5 DEX, +4 STA, +3 INT, +1 WIS, 5% mind/FOR |
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Skill set: Personal / Defence |
Can you spot the problem? Calculating Guardian requires more INT, but Calculating Barrier gives none. That's when Charles Babbage, build expert, comes out and suggests picking some INT class for the missing 14 INT. She doesn't qualify for the tier 2 full spellcaster, but she does for the hybrid tier 2 Spellbringer with INT/AGI. As much INT gains and better stats. Plus melee/control skills more suited for a tank than the full offensive set of spellcasters.
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Spellbringer (tier 2) |
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Required: 20 INT, 20 AGI |
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Provides: +3 health/+2 endurance/+6 mind/+9 aether per level +1 Milestone/14 levels Spellbringer Milestone: +5 INT, +4 WIS, +2 STR, +1 PRE, 5% aether/INT |
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Skill set: Aether / Control |
The downside is that she immediately loses all of her non-ranked defensive skills while she's grinding Spellbringer. That puts a small crimp on her tanking abilities, but she still has her +3 dodge/flat blade/etc… She can't rank them, but she can use them.
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Augusta Mary Cowen |
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Health: 3133/3133 Mind: 1674/1674 |
Endurance: 963/963 Aether: 2018/2018 |
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Effective level: 272 |
Level 86 Spellbringer Level 81 Calculating Barrier Level 58 Protector Level 47 Defender |
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Experience: 0/344000 |
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Strength: 35 Dexterity: 19 Agility: 39 Constitution: 89 Stamina: 28 |
Wisdom: 49 Focus: 29 Presence: 45 Fortitude: 16 Intellect: 52 |
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30% Health/CON 30% Aether/INT |
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Milestones: Defender III, Protector IV, Calculating Barrier VI, Spellbringer VI |
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Skills: Dodge (3), Flat Blade (3), Anticipate (3), Protect (2), Intimidate (1), Repel (1), Burning Aura (1), Shock Touch (1), Freeze Limb (1), Lightning Grasp (1), Fire Spark (1), Asphyxiate (1) |
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Now, she can rank her Calculating Guardian… and then discover her next challenge while she does that, the only tier 5 tank class found so far. It is one of the "hybrids":
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Imposing Banneret (tier 5) |
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Required: 116 CON, 116 WIS, 116 PRE |
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Provides: +28 health/+9 endurance/+15 mind/+12 aether per level +1 Milestone/11 levels Imposing Banneret Milestone: +12 CON, +7 WIS, +5 FOR, +4 DEX, 5% armour |
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Skill set: Equipment / Defence |
"Oh, bollocks!" she says. She hoped for some sort of CON/something hybrid, but the closest she finds requires 3 stats. She has some WIS and PRE, but they're absolutely not in range of what she needs.
"Hey, Babbage? Any ideas?"
"Sure, Cowen. How about starting with Light Commander, which you qualify for. Good stats, and you can rank your skills. Then you move on to Advisor, as soon as possible to get more PRE and good stats. And you finish with Precise Fixer which gives you exactly the stats you want. Yes, you do want that healing class. Trust me."
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Light Commander (tier 3) |
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Required: 45 PRE, 20 AGI |
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Provides: +5 health/+7 endurance/+12 mind/+3 aether per level +1 Milestone/13 levels Light Commander Milestone: +7 PRE, +4 STA, +3 DEX, +2 FOC, +1 WIS, 5% aether/INT |
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Skill set: Aether / Defence |
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Advisor (tier 4) |
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Required: 68 PRE, 68 CON |
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Provides: +12 health/+8 endurance/+19 mind/+6 aether per level +1 Milestone/12 levels Advisor Milestone: +9 PRE, +5 CON, +5 AGI, +3 WIS, 2.5% Team defence |
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Skill set: Team / Defence |
(Group Defence is an effect by which she shares her Defence with the rest of the group. Everyone in her team gets 22.5% of her current defence rating as a bonus at Advisor IX. Alas, will not stack with anyone else's group defence - only the largest bonus wins)
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Precise Fixer (tier 4) |
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Required: 85 WIS, 36 STA |
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Provides: +7 health/+5 endurance/+10 mind/+18 aether per level +1 Milestone/12 levels Precise Fixer: +9 WIS, +5 INT, +4 PRE, +3 STA, +1 CON, 0.5 aether/WIS |
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Skill set: Aether / Support |
The two presence classes are in the Defence area, meaning she can improve her tank skills. The sideshow in healing is not that important, but it works to rank the skills she picked as a Spellbringer since it's all aether.
All of that grinding yields some good results:
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Augusta Mary Cowen |
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Health: 7693/7693 Mind: 6071/6071 |
Endurance: 3646/3646 Aether: 5504/5504 |
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Effective level: 594 |
Level 73 Precise Fixer Level 109 Advisor Level 78 Light Commander Level 62 Calculating Guardian Level 86 Spellbringer Level 81 Calculating Barrier Level 58 Protector Level 47 Defender |
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Experience: 0/584000 |
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Strength: 35 Dexterity: 62 Agility: 84 Constitution: 184 Stamina: 87 |
Wisdom: 132 Focus: 41 Presence: 188 Fortitude: 16 Intellect: 92 |
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30% Health/CON 25% Mind/FOR 30% Aether/INT 2.5 Aether/WIS 22.5% Team defence |
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Milestones: Defender III, Protector IV, Calculating Barrier VI, Spellbringer VI, Calculating Guardian V, Light Commander VI, Advisor IX, Precise Fixer VI |
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Skills: Dodge (6), Flat Blade (6), Anticipate (5), Protect (5), Intimidate (3), Burning Aura (3), Lightning Grasp (3), Share Debuff (2), Shielding (2), Shock Touch (2), Freeze Limb (2), Repel (1), Fire Spark (1), Asphyxiate (1), Assess Mind (1), Cold Blood (1), Cleanse Poison (1), Increase Healing (1) |
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Okay, her Fortitude is pitiful and 25% Mind/FOR is going to be a waste. So what? The goal is tier 5, not stats.
She managed to rank defence skills for 6 out of 8 classes, and she's got some interesting control and team skills. Sounds very, very good indeed.
And now she can level her tier 5 Imposing Banneret. And when they find out the Imposing Knight class, she's very happy that she's followed Babbage's advice since she already has enough PRE for the next step! No more detours!
Okay, by then, Babbage has a General Theory of Professions and has a fairly good idea of what each profession has for stats and requirements. It's almost as if he had an excel spreadsheet with the class designs on it!
A reminder of the Imposing Knight as seen in the previous chapter:
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Imposing Knight (tier 6) |
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Required: 188 CON, 188 WIS, 188 PRE |
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Provides: +45 health/+13 endurance/+23 mind/+19 aether per level +1 Milestone/10 levels Imposing Knight Milestone: +15 CON, +10 WIS, +6 AGI, +4 FOC, 5% armour |
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Skill set: Opponent / Defence |
And that's the final "naked" build for Ms Cowen (not Mrs. Common error from Avery Randel):
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Augusta Mary Cowen |
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Health: 13279/13279 Mind: 8655/8655 |
Endurance: 4874/4874 Aether: 7278/7278 |
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Effective level: 708 |
Level 28 Imposing Knight Level 96 Imposing Banneret Level 73 Abiding Fixer Level 109 Advisor Level 78 Light Commander Level 52 Calculating Guardian Level 86 Spellbringer Level 81 Calculating Barrier Level 58 Protector Level 47 Defender |
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Experience: 0/280000 |
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Strength: 36 Dexterity: 108 Agility: 96 Constitution: 299 Stamina: 72 |
Wisdom: 210 Focus: 49 Presence: 192 Fortitude: 81 Intellect: 67 |
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30% Health/CON 30% Aether/INT 2.5 Aether/WIS 25% Mind/FOR 22.5% Group defence 35% Armour |
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Milestones: Defender III, Protector IV, Calculating Barrier VI, Spellbringer VI, Calculating Guardian IV, Light Commander VI, Advisor IX, Abiding Fixer VI, Imposing Banneret VII, Imposing Knight II |
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Skills: Dodge (8), Flat Blade (8), Anticipate (6), Protect (6), Intimidate (4), Share Debuff (3), Burning Aura (3), Lightning Grasp (3), Shielding (3), Shock Touch (2), Freeze Limb (2), Repel (1), Fire Spark (1), Asphyxiate (1), Assess Mind (1), Cold Blood (1), Cleanse Poison (1), Increase Healing (1) |
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She's already ranked Dodge and Flat Blade and will progress on the skill ranking as she gains Milestones in Imposing Knight. By the way, Dodge looked like this on Ira last time we saw him:
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Dodge |
Personal/Defence |
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Rank 2: Gives a 22% +2% × AGI/CON chance of dodging. Cost on trigger: 0.98 Endurance/AGI. |
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Cowen's rank looks like that:
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Dodge |
Personal/Defence |
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Rank 13: Gives a 31.5% +13% × AGI/CON chance of dodging. Cost on trigger: 0.87 Endurance/AGI. |
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You see why she likes that skill. Any melee attack, she has a 34.8% chance of negating outright (at current AGI/CON).
Then she has mostly level 500-550 heroic-type gear, with three Artefact items. Stat-wise, without the sword, she gets ~16500 in terms of vital pools, ~1350 total potentials and 17 various skill ranks, which brings her to the total stats at the start.
And then? What is she's looking for?
There's a new tier 7 zone unlocked recently and she is aiming for that new tier 7 Profession they've just discovered (and yes, the word Lord is used - Queen Elizabeth II in our history is "Lord of Mann" for instance, so it's not really inappropriate):
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Impassable Lord (tier 7) |
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Required: 292 CON, 292 WIS, 188 PRE, 188 STR |
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Provides: +70 health/+23 endurance/+40 mind/+18 aether per level +1 Milestone/10 levels Impassable Lord Milestone: +19 CON, +14 PRE, +9 STR, +4 FOC, 2.5% group defence |
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Skill set: Team / Defence |
… and she has a big problem to address, her unequipped STR is… only 35. She's missing 153 points in it.
She's going to need some serious boostrap. Or find a different defence class.