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Plummy

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Creating new stalkers

I've created a couple of new stalkers now and I've noticed that the early levels are almost identical regardless of powersets. By level 12, I'd consider AS, build up and placate must-haves. Each changes the way you can play your stalker so significantly that I can't imagine playing without them. That doesn't leave many other power slots available and if you're pushing for a travel power, you're going to find yourself very low on attacks or defense (I've heard some people only have the basic starting attack until they hit 18).

So, does anyone have a fundamentally different levelling route to this? Does anyone NOT take AS, build-up or placate during their early levels? Can you make a viable scrap-a-like by focusing more on the attacks and defenses and leaving the stalker specifics until later? The powersets are much more interesting than the Brute's, but sometimes I'd like to be able to just wade into a gang and beat the bejeesus out of them.

08/28/07 07:01

Aurrius

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RE: Creating new stalkers

I usually take two attacks, Assassin's Strike, Build Up and Placate as soon as possible. Defence and travel can wait.

@Aurrius | Paragon/Rogue Knights | Union

08/28/07 08:58

BishopDon

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RE: Creating new stalkers

I tend to wait somewhat to pick up Build up. I know it can help early on, I just take some other stuff; starting/finish travel powers, fitness, attacks, defense...

It just depends on the reason you're leveling your toon though. If you're planning PvPing at an early level, then you'd want to include Build Up early on and forgo some other stuff. The Vet Rewards will help fill in some attacks until you get further along.

08/28/07 09:17

Epsilon Unit

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RE: Creating new stalkers

I tend to get Bu later rather than sooner but it all depends on the build you making, if theres any defence powers like E.X. caltrops from Ninjutsu pool i skip that, Post your build and we can help just that little bit more, my builds are usually really screwed up till that first respec where i can respec it into pvp or pve, but it still really depends on the build

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08/28/07 20:53

Plummy

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RE: Creating new stalkers

I'm really happy with my stalker at the moment (claws/regen), he can handle pretty much any situation, but it occurs to me that he can do that thanks to the stalker tricks. Taking out large groups is easy thanks to build up and quick claws attacks, taking out bosses is easy due to AS and placate. I've just started a nin/nin and I'll be following much the same route. But I've come across stalkers you (as some of you have said above) where they didn't take build up until later, or they didn't bother with placate. I even met one guy who hadn't picked up AS, in favour of getting combat jumping earlier. Am I being too restricted in my toon development? I just can't imagine any other builds working but there are hundreds out there so I must be missing something! I might copy over to the test server, strip him down and rebuild him to find out.

My build (I'm not at home, so it's a guesswork affair) is listed below. Can anyone rebuild it into a workable stalker that doesn't rely on the BU/AS/Placate combo?

1. Claw attack (I forget which, it's the second starter attack)
1. Hide
2. Claw attack (Again, I can't remember but it's the third claw attack).
4. Reconstruction (Oh man, this has been useful!)
6. Assassin's Strike (Yay, I can take out lieuts and bosses easier)
8. Build Up (Yay, I can take out everything easier)
10. Swift (For RP reasons as he's a natural origin and I want stamina later. I do have the temp travels though)
12. Placate (Yay, I can switch to vicious as bosses are now easy)
14. Dull Pain (Huge heal or 27% resist, either way it's great)
16. Integration (This is why I need stamina. Claws are efficient, but this is an end hog)
18. Focus (Rounding out my attack chain. I could have gone for Hurdle/Health to get Stamina at 20, but I was bored of the same two attacks all the time!)

Slot-wise, I can't remember what's gone where, but all attacks except Focus are at +70ish% damage and +20% accuracy.

08/29/07 06:16

Aurrius

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RE: Creating new stalkers

@Aurrius | Paragon/Rogue Knights | Union

08/29/07 09:01

Epsilon Unit

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RE: Creating new stalkers

[QUOTE] I even met one guy who hadn't picked up AS, in favour of getting combat jumping earlier.[QUOTE]

Srry to say this but if this nut skipped as and took combat jumping instead and he told me that ild be on the floor laughing so hard, Bu is a must have power but it can wait 2 Maybe three levels but u'll definitly want it dont skip as, ild rather skip having a travel power in order to having as its a must have as soon as it becomes available

08/30/07 08:51

dougnukem

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RE: Creating new stalkers

I couldn't ever see passing up on BU, AS, and Placate before 20. Holding off until 22-24 for travel, fitness, or even mez protection would be more ideal, and is usually the recommended course of action. Those 3 powers are what make a stalker. I've tried and seen others try to skip either BU or Placate, and your stalker ability goes down considerably. sure it can be done, but so can an empath defender who only takes Heal aura and sets it to auto. Catch my drift? ;P

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08/30/07 09:17

Aurrius

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RE: Creating new stalkers

[QUOTE][QUOTE] I even met one guy who hadn't picked up AS, in favour of getting combat jumping earlier.[QUOTE]

Srry to say this but if this nut skipped as and took combat jumping instead and he told me that ild be on the floor laughing so hard, Bu is a must have power but it can wait 2 Maybe three levels but u'll definitly want it dont skip as, ild rather skip having a travel power in order to having as its a must have as soon as it becomes available[/QUOTE]

I agree with you, but please, be a bit less rude next time!

@Aurrius | Paragon/Rogue Knights | Union

08/30/07 09:44

Plummy

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RE: Creating new stalkers

My nin/nin stalker is all the way up to level 9 now and I thought I'd try only taking one basic attack (Sting of the Wasp) and plenty of defense. It turns out that while he can kill stuff just fine, it's incredibly boring! Fights are literally just a case of autoexecing my attack and reading a book. I'd planned to grab build up at 8 as normal, but I was so tired of just one attack that I took Air Superiority for a bit of flavour (turns out that using non sword attacks is a pain in the ass as it slows the attack chain down but you live and learn!). Unfortunately, the extra attack has squeezed Caltrops out of the low level build and I was really looking forward to playing with those.

Next time I start a stalker, I'll stick to the tried and tested 2 attacks, 1 defense, AS, BU, anything, Placate in the early levels. Other builds seem to work well, but for me, I need a fun attack chain to keep me interested until the 20s.

Thanks for all the tips and advice :)

09/04/07 07:15

BishopDon

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RE: Creating new stalkers

See, the best advise you can take is what makes your playing experience worth the time.

I actually have gone without using BU before and didn't miss out on anything....Now, I'd like to see what a Stalker would look like without the use of AS...lol. **ducks to avoid the hostile language**

09/04/07 17:51

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