29 réponses à ce sujet

[Aeryus]

I've been seeing people talk about how AW's are so badass, so I decided to make Anders into an AW, then I picked up Battlemage for his third.

I even respec'd his talents/spells as if I'd created him fresh, to make sure I optimized him (as well as I thought I could, at least).  He has:

4/4 AW
4/4 Spirit Healer
3/4 Battlemage
Up to:  Arcane Mastery, Attunement, flaming weapons, rock armor, and crushing prison (I think that's all).

In a normal fight, I have flame weapons, arcane shield, rock armor, miasma, combat magic, and cleansing aura on at all times (auto recasts miasma and aura if they turn off)

I don't really use shimmering shield or draining aura yet, maybe later when I get better mana regen.  I still cast a few spells like crushing prison and hand of winter at times, so I need the mana.

He survives fairly well, but he has a very low hit rate, like 60%.  He's using Spellweaver and Howe's shield.  Just started Awakening.  So, not only does he not hit very often, he also doesn't do a whole lot of damage.

How can I use him better?  I pretty much only use him for auto attack, and he'll crushing prison elite or higher, and hand of winter if surrounded.  I feel like I have his tactics set up well, and he is a good asset to the party, but I just feel like I'm not using him as well as everyone seems to think an AW should be?  Any tips?

Edited intro statement

Modifié par Aeryus, 06 novembre 2010 - 05:53 .

[Bozorgmehr]

Arcane Warriors do have a lousy hit rate, but that's not really an issue. The AW is the ultimate tank; they are (almost) indestructible. Why bother about your hit rate? It just takes a little longer for enemies to die. You can do a number of things to improve it though:

- You already have Miasma (other spells and talents lowering enemy defenses will help)

- Drop the shield, you don't need it anyway. Go DW (there are some nice daggers that will boost your attack) - you'll have to meet the Dex requirement though which is nice anyway (better def and att). With the Circle tower's bonuses and gear you only need a couple of points in Dex to get to 26 or 30 (depends which dagger you're going to use)



Your hit rate should be around 70%

[ashwind]

Shimmering shield imo is what makes arcane warrior indestructible and to maintain shimmering shield without losing mana, I need to have a shield XD

Miasma, bring along a champion for Rally and Warcry to increase hit rate. Bard's battle song is nice too.

I personally invest 90% of my stats to magic because 5 magic = 1 attack (not as good as dex) but few can resists my mana clash or arcane prison. Since I do not hit much, I wanna make every hit count and magic increases damage. In Origins, my AW hits for about 75-85 physical damage on most things (Maric's Sword and Shield set).

Modifié par ashwind, 06 novembre 2010 - 06:38 .

[Aeryus]

Well I'm using Anders in Awakening and tried not to bring much over from Origins into it. Any specific gear you recommend from it? I was thinking Stormchaser's set? Got everything but those expensive gloves.

[Aeryus]

ashwind wrote...

Shimmering shield imo is what makes arcane warrior indestructible and to maintain shimmering shield without losing mana, I need to have a shield XD

Miasma, bring along a champion for Rally and Warcry to increase hit rate. Bard's battle song is nice too.

I personally invest 90% of my stats to magic because 5 magic = 1 attack (not as good as dex) but few can resists my mana clash or arcane prison. Since I do not hit much, I wanna make every hit count and magic increases damage. In Origins, my AW hits for about 75-85 physical damage on most things (Maric's Sword and Shield set).

How would I keep mana from draining, since I already have miasma and cleansing aura up - shimmering shield would only drain it faster?  I just got stoic for BM - does that recover mana very quickly?

[Gloatie]

Hit was the only thing that bugged me about AW too. Otherwise, loads of fun.



The dual wield/dex idea is interesting. Seems it would gimp the magic score, though. In DA:A I guess one would have attribute points to spare. Interesting...



The other thing I never really bothered with was party buffs, ala Rally etc. That would be my recommended approach, since it lets you keep the magic focus of your AW.



Myself, though annoyed by missing, I just accepted the hits as free damage and the magic as bread and butter.

[Bozorgmehr]

ashwind wrote...

Shimmering shield imo is what makes arcane warrior indestructible and to maintain shimmering shield without losing mana, I need to have a shield XD

Never needed a shield though I don't run around with SS activated all the time. It's only needed during some of the hard fights. I never use armor on my Arcane Warrior either - only mage gear. With a nice Magic score, Rock Armor will provide better protection than any armor ever can, and at only 5% fatigue (and no movement penalties)

Aeryus wrote...

How would I keep mana from draining, since I already have miasma and cleansing aura up - shimmering shield would only drain it faster?  I just got stoic for BM - does that recover mana very quickly?

Andruil's Blessing (belt) is great, and there are other items available to counter mana drain. Most importantly there are always potions, use them. Mana shouldn't be much of an issue; just make sure to only activate sustainables you really need and only after you used 'normal' magic attacks. I only use AW to clean up whats left or against powerful guys like Revenants.

Gloatie wrote...

The dual wield/dex idea is interesting. Seems it would gimp the magic score, though. In DA:A I guess one would
have attribute points to spare. Interesting...

Your magic score isn't that important, spell power is. With the right gear plus Spell Might you can have a 100+ spell power score - which is deadly. And you have a dex between 30-40.

Poisons are the reason an Arcane Warrior’s fighting style should always be DW. Your main weapon should be the Spellweaver and your secondary a dagger. The requirements to equip the Spellweaver are easily met (magic instead of strength), but to be able to equip high end daggers you need a decent dexterity, 26 for trier 6 daggers (you’ll get some nice ones during certain quests and some will start the game with The Edge), 30 for trier 7 daggers, so you can use the best – the Rose’s Thorn – although its very expensive to acquire and there are better items to spent your hard earned money on (early game).

As an Arcane warrior your damage output will be determined by how often you hit your enemies. Your primary weapon (Spellweaver) deals good ‘raw’ damage (since damage is calculated based on your magic attribute), your secondary weapon (dagger) deals minor ‘raw’ damage (dexterity determines the amount of damage). Runes, sustainables like frost, fire and telekinetic weapons and more importantly, poisons are the real killers.

Example Poison Damage:

Concentrated Demonic Poison     +10 spirit damage
Concentrated Venom                       + 3 nature damage, chance to slow
Adder’s Kiss                                      + 3 nature damage, chance to slow
Concentrated Deathroot Extract     + 2 nature damage, chance to stun
Concentrated Crow Poison            + 6 nature damage, chance to stun   
Fleshrot                                               + 3 nature damage, chance to stun
Quite Death                                        +10 nature damage, chance to stun, instantly kills weak or injured creatures

Optional;
Concentrated Soldier’s Bane           +10 stamina damage
Soldier’s Bane                                     +5 stamina damage

Total Damage                                      +10 spirit damage
                                                                +27 nature damage
                                                                 High chance to slow target
                                                                 Very high chance to stun target
                                                               +15 stamina damage

Vulnerability and Affliction Hexes increase damage considerably, I’m not sure if equipment such as the Black Hand Gauntlets (+20 % spirit damage) and the Silk Weave Gloves (+20 % nature damage) increase damage even further.

You can make an infinite amount of all poisons mentioned above, except Concentrated Demonic Poison (there are much more poisons in DAO btw). After discovering the huge potential of poisons I used money to brew a vast supply. Two instaed of one weapon will multiply your damage output and you can add 2-3 runes.

Modifié par Bozorgmehr, 06 novembre 2010 - 09:27 .

[HippeusOmega]

For my arcane warriors i usually get Dex to 30-40 and the rest into magic. Usually don't have much trouble hitting with that much dex especially with all my buffs and debuffs on.

[Elhanan]

You may wish to consider changing to Maric's arms and Cailan's armor for restorative properties, if available. Fade Wall is another good shield.

Try Telek weapons, and let another mage or two furnish the Primal choices. Cleansing Aura may not help you, but it aids the party if I recall correctly. You may want to consider the Glyph line for utility, and getting Mana Clash line for anti-mage spell, as well as Spell Might to boost buffs before casting..

[BootOnFace]

Maric's Arms is a good idea, if you use them with Superior Dragonbone, you can cast spells almost as well as a non-AW.

[ashwind]

Aeryus wrote...
How would I keep mana from draining, since I already have miasma and cleansing aura up - shimmering shield would only drain it faster?  I just got stoic for BM - does that recover mana very quickly?

Umm - I dont maintain Cleansing Aura - if you have cleansing aura, then I think you can keep SS up all the time.

I am lazy  So my AW is a massive armor AW with SS always on. I use the Cailen Armor set and the Meric's sword and shield. I have Andruil's Bleaasing, Spellward, Lifegiver and Key to the City.

That gave me enough mana to maintain SS all the time. Fade Wall and Spell Weaver works too.

The added advantage of the set I am using is its massive HP regen - anything that cant hit me for more than 20 damage every round with consistency means they cannot do any damage to me. It is not easy to hit through 69 Armor and about 45% chance to dodge melee (Dodge is higher in Awakening) for 20 consistent damage per round.

Miasma does not drain mana, it simply reserves a portion of your mana. Cleansing Aura, Shimmering Shield does and I have always pick SS.

Bozorgmehr wrote...
Never needed a shield though I don't run around with SS activated all the time. It's only needed during some of the hard fights. I never use armor on my Arcane Warrior either - only mage gear. With a nice Magic score, Rock Armor will provide better protection than any armor ever can, and at only 5% fatigue (and no movement penalties)

I run around in massive armor and SS because I am so lazy to attend to details

Also, I have this odd feeling that one of my companion is going to backstab me - wearing a shield to protect my flank gives me peace of mind :devil:

Modifié par ashwind, 07 novembre 2010 - 08:11 .

[Aeryus]

ashwind wrote...

Aeryus wrote...
How would I keep mana from draining, since I already have miasma and cleansing aura up - shimmering shield would only drain it faster?  I just got stoic for BM - does that recover mana very quickly?

Umm - I dont maintain Cleansing Aura - if you have cleansing aura, then I think you can keep SS up all the time.

I am lazy  So my AW is a massive armor AW with SS always on. I use the Cailen Armor set and the Meric's sword and shield. I have Andruil's Bleaasing, Spellward, Lifegiver and Key to the City.

That gave me enough mana to maintain SS all the time. Fade Wall and Spell Weaver works too.

The added advantage of the set I am using is its massive HP regen - anything that cant hit me for more than 20 damage every round with consistency means they cannot do any damage to me. It is not easy to hit through 69 Armor and about 45% chance to dodge melee (Dodge is higher in Awakening) for 20 consistent damage per round.

Miasma does not drain mana, it simply reserves a portion of your mana. Cleansing Aura, Shimmering Shield does and I have always pick SS.

Bozorgmehr wrote...
Never needed a shield though I don't run around with SS activated all the time. It's only needed during some of the hard fights. I never use armor on my Arcane Warrior either - only mage gear. With a nice Magic score, Rock Armor will provide better protection than any armor ever can, and at only 5% fatigue (and no movement penalties)

I run around in massive armor and SS because I am so lazy to attend to details

Also, I have this odd feeling that one of my companion is going to backstab me - wearing a shield to protect my flank gives me peace of mind :devil:

Well something is draining my mana, I guess it is only cleansing aura?  I thought Miasma did....... it turns off when my mana is drained, I know that for sure, because I have to have my guy auto cast it in his tactics setup mid battle because it turns off.  None of the other sustainables I currently use do (well, other than cleansing aura of course because it is draining)

With my current setup, he can't maintain what he has now w/ shimmering shield I don't think.  I haven't used him much since I got stoic, so  maybe that'll help keep my mana up - not sure how effective it is.  Again, still new in the Awakening campain and didn't bring much over from Origins, so equipment is limited.  Maybe once I get better equipment I can use more sustainables.

[Liliandra Nadiar]

Cleansing Aura and Shimmering Shield both drain mana in combat. Haste as well if you have it too. All are rather heavy mana sinks in any form of sustained combat. Cleansing also only partially helps you.



With Awakening only gear, it'll be awhile until you have enough combat mana regen items to counter SS and CA alone, their combined drain I don't think you can at all.

[cptncanuck]

I find Arcane Warriors are best in groups, and with two handed weapons.

In groups, you can have different mages supporting different party upkeeps so that it doesn't all fall on one AW to uphold - that and you can have flaming, frosted, and AP weapons! Throw in Haste on one, Miasma on another, and have every AW supporting their own shimmering shield (it is a HUGE plus) as well as arcane shield, and you have 3 super-badass killing machines.

[DKJaigen]

cptncanuck wrote...

I find Arcane Warriors are best in groups, and with two handed weapons.
In groups, you can have different mages supporting different party upkeeps so that it doesn't all fall on one AW to uphold - that and you can have flaming, frosted, and AP weapons! Throw in Haste on one, Miasma on another, and have every AW supporting their own shimmering shield (it is a HUGE plus) as well as arcane shield, and you have 3 super-badass killing machines.

i hate to sound like a pompous jackass but that simply doesn't work. as an AW you want fast weapons not slow ones. as the damage done by weapon enchants and runes makes are the real damage dealers.

[Akinra]

With the right gear you can still have mana regeneration with shimmering shield up permanently.



In terms of hit rate I don't find it that much of an issue once you get to teens/mid teens in terms of level. I have all arcane warrior talents, and all combat training skills. Dex you don't need any more than 20-25 (and that's with gear bonuses and the extra points from the circle tower). I'm doing ~70-80 damage per hit and hit rate is around 70-75%

[HippeusOmega]

Here is a link to my topic i made this summer this has a lot of the stuff ure asking about



http://social.biowar...6/index/4790999

[Bozorgmehr]

If you're going to be a AW Tank, running around with SS, Rock Armor, AS, Miasma etc; you're Magic score isn't important. You only need a high Magic score if you're casting (which you should btw, you're a Mage after all and magic will do insane damage). People whom neglect magic and play like a tank are much better off investing in Dex than in Magic; their damage output will be much higher with a high Dex score and a medium magic score.

@OP; invest in Dex, drop heavy armor (redundant and it only slows you down), go DW (daggers only for best DPS, this means you'll want to max dex not magic); use runes and poisons (they will multiply DPS); use Swift Salves for an additional 20% DPS output - the best 'pure' AW uses:

Str base

Dex high

Wil base

Mag high

Cun base

Con base

[Elhanan]

Personally I like playing:

Str base

Dex 30

Will 30

Mag high (eg; 70 by Landsmeet)

Cun base

Con base

The DEX will allow you enough bonus for Attack when you go with S&S, and the Will allows enough extra mana for varied items; not just the ones used to boost mana. You can use armors like Cailan's set, Evon's heavy which is my fave, or drop to light with Battledress, Felon's, or stay in robes.

And I recommend keeping a good staff, and consider using a Rapid Aim item,

[Akinra]

This guide gives some excellent tips for arcane warriors



http://www.gamefaqs....gins/faqs/58247

[tonnactus]

Bozorgmehr wrote...


Never needed a shield though I don't run around with SS activated all the time.

In Awakening a shield with the Legion of the Dead heraldry gives a +20 boost on all attributes.Dexterity is then high enough to not miss anymore.The boost for magic and willpower is also nice.

[Bozorgmehr]

+20 attribute bonus? I don't think there is something like that, it would break the game. One heraldry providing 20 points in all 6 attributes (= 120/3) = 40 levels! That's insane.

[DWSmiley]

It's true. Unintended, no doubt, but true.

[Bozorgmehr]

Can't find anything about this on wiki. What rune does this? and were do you get it? Though I'm not sure if I want to know ...

[Elhanan]

Tis the Legion of the Dead heraldry device for shields; helps a great deal for S&S Rogues.