Gladiator Build Discussion

[DaveO]

Sorry to hear about your loss, LazySod. I know how painful that must have been since you've discussed Thanatos quite a bit elsewhere. Just out of curiosity, what will your skill choices be for your new Gladiator?

[LazySod]

I've decided to build the new Thanatos with the skills that made the old one strong: fast Multi-Hit for most enemies, hard hit for the occasional boss, heroic courage (in planning - see above post for the experiment I am running), dagger stare as the only combat arts.

Add to that constitution, concentration (needed to get reload times down), axe lore (want a Fad axe again), weapon lore (affects damage from weapons and dagger stare), armor (can't be sturdy enough), parrying (what you can't avoid can't damage you), agility (still not entirely sure on that one, but I took it the last time, might as well take it this time)

Skipping out on most of the other combat arts as well as double wield - double wield because it didn't work, the combat arts because I didn't use them. Ever.

Attribute points will go 8/10 into Strength, 2/10 into Physical Regen. Nothing else.

[DaveO]

Sounds like you have a good plan. The attribute allocation is a little different than my approach, but both Strength and Physical Regeneration add to hit points. My allocation is 6 points Strength, 4 into Physical Regeneration.

I see you listed 7 skills, so does that mean you'll pick Trade as the level 50 skill or choose some other skill? Trade is in my opinion your best choice for the level 50 skill since the alternatives(Disarm, Riding, and secondary specific weapon lores) seem to be a waste. I know I've tried to 'convert' you to pick Trade before, but I can't honestly say I've really used the skill much for my Gladiator. I suspect that's why I'm currently encountering offense and defensive struggles against some monsters, especially in the bigger player games. I also probably need to understand how to make the best use for item sockets. :confused:

[LazySod]

I've got a level 140 Dwarf with level 200+ trading (or did I get that maxed out? Haven't checked him in a long time). He'll do the trading, if ever it becomes necessary. I've not decided yet on what the 8th skill will be. Thanatos didn't have trade and didn't have any trouble in the higher levels - he got a lot of help from other players (thanks again, you know who you are). Maybe I'll give him a weird skill. Like long handled weapons, so that I can fool around with an Orla stick every now and then.

[Jonnyx]

The one combat art i would still recommend having as a glad would be Stomping Jump. The ability to stun monsters - especially later in the game shouldnt be underestimated. Combine that with a Fad axe or two and dual wielding, dagger stare and you can expect to be doing sever hundred thousand points of damage (up to 3m) on a jump. Enough to kill most of the little monsters or at least stun them!

[LazySod]

But dual-wield is bugged - I did way more damage with just one axe and a shield than I did with two axes. Does SJ have a ranged damage or does it affect only the creature being jumped on?

I never really used it - just to make a bit of a mess on the island every now and then. The earthquakes are just too funny when there's a dozen people standing there. I've always kept myself to DS - casting that and then running into the middle of the fray, letting the Fad axe take out the monsters while taking the occasional MH shot. And the pods? They didn't matter - the DS would get them and at level 200+ it lasts for 2 minutes orso and that is more than enough to get the most of them down.

[ten76]

SJ damages only one target, but the fireball from fad can damage multiple targets:)

[Dags]

Way back just after sacred+ came out I and another playing partner had glads of the same level and with stomping jump. SJ was pretty low, but effective enough to boot Orcs around. My partner and I would play soccer with an orc bouncing it back and forwards between us. it was a ball, we didn't have SJ high enough to do much damage, but enough to move an Orc. Orc soccer, you should trey it sometime, good fun:p

[Jonnyx]

SJ damages only one target, but the fireball from fad can damage multiple targets:)

especially with DS active as well as each DS damage then has the chance to trigger Fad's ability.

[JimmyP]

btw jasons set items are adjusted now ,checked them in plat battered machette +17 to all skills and +4 to all ca and jasons mask ..sorry forgot to check him ..was curious about the machette

dagger stare is great but dangerous in vot now..not tryed it with fad axes not planning tho :( get a nice lvl stomping jump,you will need it in vot trips instead of DS

[LazySod]

Why is DS dangerous in VOT now? I've always liked it - gets the monsters on your toes quicker, makes the Fad trigger more often, does damage to the pods while they are attempting to stop you from multihitting. Only thing it misses is lifeleech, but as I said to someone in game sometime on that same subject - that would probably make it -too- powerfull.

[JimmyP]

not sure youve tryed it yet,but 7k damage max ive seen from a hellgolem or a nice damage from a shadow guard....DS also attracts baddies,cant imagine you trying to kill off a large group of baddies in vot now,*talking about platinum servers here,not sure yet their damage in niob ...*
will check it out later today.btw shadow guards are made stronger tho

[LazySod]

Yeah. You've got me there. The Shadowguards always were the only fear of Thanatos (the first). They were the only creatures that could still damage him to the point of butterflies. I forgot the name of the ones running around on Hells Ridge. They were amazing too.