[Focus] Dropping Focus

[Black Tom]

I presently run a basic elven chiv fencer.

120 Fencing
120 Tactics
100 Anat
100 Heal
100 Resist
100 Focus
80 Chivalry

I run a max resist suit with max DCI, HCI.

I'm debating dropping focus and adding Bushido. I know the benefits for Bushido, but what are the drawbacks of losing focus? Is it just stamina and mana regen?

I tend to only use EoO and CW but I still run low on mana at times. Stamina I can keep up with pots.

Also, I hate to drop Chivalry to 60 for 120 Bushido since I fail on EoO enough as it is.

Ideas?

 

[Taylor]

There's no debate: bush much preferable to focus. That said, you won't get the full benefit of bush w/o parry.

Your mana should come from MR on your suit. Start with a rune beetle carapace and add MR items as needed. You also want 35-40 lmc on the suit, so be thinking about how to incorporate that, as well.

If I were running a bush/fencer, my template would look more like this (or some variant):

120 Fencing
115 Parry
115 Bushido
100 Tactics
100 Anat/Resist (switch for PvM vs PvP)
95 Heal
75 Chivalry

(or maybe 120 parry/bush, 85 heal...depends on what you like)

 

[hakeem]

I presently run a basic elven chiv fencer.

120 Fencing
120 Tactics
100 Anat
100 Heal
100 Resist
100 Focus
80 Chivalry

I run a max resist suit with max DCI, HCI.

I'm debating dropping focus and adding Bushido. I know the benefits for Bushido, but what are the drawbacks of losing focus? Is it just stamina and mana regen?

I tend to only use EoO and CW but I still run low on mana at times. Stamina I can keep up with pots.

Also, I hate to drop Chivalry to 60 for 120 Bushido since I fail on EoO enough as it is.

Ideas?

Even dropping focus for bushido you still won't block jack.
If you are pvping without parry, or even mid level mobs without parry, you must crank out bandies by the 1k.

 

[Black Tom]

To clarify, this is a PvM char. Presently, I can handle everything up to para balrons. Even without parry, 3 rune beetles or 4 tsuki wolves aren't much trouble. What I was looking for with Bushido is honor/perfection. I'd hate to drop resist for parry though.

 

[Taylor]

Since you are PvM, I'd drop resist and go like this:

120 Fencing
120 Parry
120 Bushido
100 Tactics
100 Anatomy
85 Heal (use enhanced aids)
75 Chivalry

This is kind of a controversial topic, but it is my belief that resist is expendable vis-a-vis PvM. Even if a bally paralyzes you, ballies move much slower than players. You'll have plenty of time to get away.

 

[Barry Gibb]

To clarify, this is a PvM char. Presently, I can handle everything up to para balrons. Even without parry, 3 rune beetles or 4 tsuki wolves aren't much trouble. What I was looking for with Bushido is honor/perfection. I'd hate to drop resist for parry though.

Without Parry, you will not be able to use Counterattack or Evasion. Also your Confidence will be hindered but not useless (it still heals through poison and mortal). But if you are used to fighting without parry, then this should not bother you.

You will gain the ability to gain Perfection and use Lightning Strike, Momentum Strike, and Confidence. I suggest you add Bushido, without parry, and try it out (its not like focus is that hard to gain if you don't like it).

Stayin Alive,

BG

 

[Taylor]

Yes, for PvM, there's no getting around having parry. Sorry, friend.

 

[Barry Gibb]

Even dropping focus for bushido you still won't block jack.
If you are pvping without parry, or even mid level mobs without parry, you must crank out bandies by the 1k.

He isn't blocking right now, so there would be no change for him.

Stayin Alive,

BG

 

[Barry Gibb]

Yes, for PvM, there's no getting around having parry. Sorry, friend.

Parry is one of the best skills to have for a melee fighter. My fighters have at least GM Parry. It would probably be better if he added 100 Parry instead of 100 Bushido (if he only wants to drop Focus). The durability of your fighter will greatly increase, especially with your Resist Spells (since poison rarely takes, so your bandaids will only need to heal not cure). My fencer has this build (can't remember the values right now):
Fencing
Tactics
Anat
Heal
Resist
Parry
Chivalry

He can take alot of abuse, very effective.

Stayin Alive,

BG

 

[Cloak&Dagger]

Since I did not really see anyone suggest it...Just drop focus for parry.... If you are looking for max damage go with Bushido, for max survivability go with parry. Other wise everyone's advice in here is good. Happy hunting.

 

[Taylor]

Since I did not really see anyone suggest it...Just drop focus for parry.... If you are looking for max damage go with Bushido, for max survivability go with parry. Other wise everyone's advice in here is good. Happy hunting.

Sound advice.

 

[Diomedes Artega]

Really no reason ever to have focus on a melee template. Others will disagree and argue and slap me for saying that, but you can easily pack weapons around that can do the same job. Granted...perhaps you might not have great weapons, but even something elementary can erase using the focus skill. Just use LMC, MI, and MR2 in place to help gain back mana.

Not sure your armor setup, so you will have to calculate in the factors of:
1. Mana return
2. Stamina return...if you really desire that.

I would tweak your numbers so you get as close to 120 parry as possible. You will want the benefits of bushido...with exactly as you mentioned.

So:
1. 120 weapon
2. 120 bushido
3. 120 parry

Pretty much in that order. As someone mentioned, you will have to decide on balanced, offense, or defensive type setup.

 

[Taylor]

Just repeat after me: focus is as useful as item ID. Say it with me, now: focus is...

 

[Black Tom]

Thanks for all the replies. I dropped focus and am now working Bushido up. Mana is no problem. I burned a few runics and got ML/SSI leafblade that keeps me maxxed. So far, so good.

 

[Connor_Graham]

85 Heal (use enhanced aids)

Enhanced aids DO NOT increase your Healing skill, they merely add more points healed as if you had 10 more skill points. They DO NOT increase your chances of not slipping or curing poison. With this in mind, I would never suggest less than 90 Healing.