Okay, today I came across a claim that STR is important to Mages in PvP. This has somewhat confused me, since I always assumed STR to be a relatively useless stat for Mages. The person that made the claim said that, since STR adds to one's defense rating, it is important in deflecting Fighter and Ranger attacks in PvP: a good Fighter or Ranger can take advantage of a STR lacking Mage (ie. defense rating lacking Mage) and defeat them easily.

Can someone please clarify this? I'm confused.

That someone is speaking rubbish: Just how exactly does STR, the last stat a mage would use, wearing +INT/END armor benefit to deflecting Physical attacks? Against an AGI ranger who hits critical, and almost never misses, or against a fighter who utilizes Mad Melee Mastery? Maybe this certain someone was experimenting, I think there's some sort of a heavy DMG dealing mage who splits points between STR and INT to increase DEF rating and have enough magical power to take out his foes, maybe even use melee. But now that's a hybrid. If the person you're talking about is a pure mage, then he''s wrong, adding STR is a waste of CPs.

That is what I thought too. But the person was adamant that he knew what he was talking about. He told me that "When you (as a Mage) get owned by Fighters, don't come asking me why.", or something like that. He was a level 100, by the way, which according to him made his claim credible. I vaguely know that Strength does in fact give Defense Rating bonuses, but I do not see how a Mage's defense rating will benefit from the restricted amount of points a Mage can spare in Strength.

EDIT: I've found that each point in Strength gives 12 Defense Rating. So 500 STR is 7000 Defense Rating. Compared to the attack ratings of most Fighters and Rangers, that isn't really enough, and is not worth the 500 points that could as well be spent in END or INT, IMO.

Plain BS if you ask me. Mind that not only defense rating counts, you can make your attacks the defending part. continually shoot bolts for example, will not let the character still run to you very quick, expecially if they really hurt.

Use a shield, best advice I can give. A shield can give (out of my head) maybe a 20% block. This means 1/5 of the attacks are blocked. I think that that is worth far way more then some strenght.

I actually.. feel for the 100 being so noob.. LOL did I said that?!

Indeed. "The best defense is a good offense."

Now I dont PVP ... think that is established by now ... but definately rubbish. Wonder why so many of us laugh at the noob 100's that are in the game.

The best mages do have higher defense ratings when fighting warriors. You will see them wearing warrior shoulders, boots, gloves, etc. Ask Pharque or Nolan, but I dont believe they use any str not added by the gear they are wearing.

I heard Shardian is very popular with mages who utilize DEF rating against warriors and rangers.

well Jay i think this guy is absolutely right he should wear full endu mage gear and spec to 505 str using full str weapons and jewelry too of course and he will be the best at getting whacked real bad (you guys did not get it but this is maybe exactly what he is looking up to)

I would expect Mages use Shardian for its Blocking Power, Endurance Boost and Stun Resistance, plus a hefty amount of Ranged Reflection; rather than for its defense rating.

The main reason I brought this up is because the guy was telling a new mage to spec 3 INT, 1 END and 1 STR per level, by the way.

Hehe, being a level 5 or a level 100, it doesnt does anything at all, I've seen extreme noobs yet at level 100, while other new players directly know what to do, and if I sometime look their character up, theyre well on their way of becoming very good.

yo Legend bring yer fanny in da game will you !

Chtulhu, oh Dark Master, "Shardian" is a mythic shield commonly used by mages...

Shardian @ TheTownstons wiki



Edited by Teclis (03/25/08 10:57 PM)

Shardian rocks, nuf said. Boo to the nay sayers out there, and those who don't believe in shields for pvp. Its a must have for any fighter, mage not so much, but can be just enough to ward of enough damage to turn the tables.