Spoonwelder
08-05-2010, 08:50 PM
Ok - everyone - everyone - everyone puts skill points in UMD.....This started as a post asking why because I hadn't ever thought it through. As I looked through the other possible skills I figured out why.
It starts with the fact that most of the forum is end game focused. So if you never get a character past L10 the answer IS different for you because your UMD will never be worthwhile. For anyone who aims to L20 and staying there for a while to grind for gear and to feed your Alts....then UMD is one of few choices.
If you only get one Skill point - I personally lean to balance first since I hate being on my ass in a fight. If you get 2 points then UMD comes next. Three or more you are likely an evasion type rogue splash and then you have alot of spots for your skill points to which I will not comment.
A review of the skills - with comments from a Pure Pally POV
Bluff - maybe for a dedicated soloist to mid levels but only if you have backstabbing weapons
Balance - like I said first skill point goes here IMO but there are items so I can see the argument to go UMD first.
Concentration - Class skill but you aren't often casting mid-fight - it'll be LoH and then back to hacking away - you are a top up healer at best and not healing at all even better as you us SP for buffing yourself
Diplomacy - rarely is a Pally every going to want to shed aggro
Disable Device - no/no/no - pure Pally remember
Haggle - max ~25% bonus not worth it (I believe its 2.5%/point at 10max points)
Heal - use wands/pots - useless skill in general
Hide - look in the mirror - you can't sneak in heavy armor
Intimidate - 30-40 at endgame likely not effective - fact or opinion?)
Jump - only situationally for a Pally helpful but pots and clickies can help
Listen - kinda helpful so monsters don't sneak up on you - but with Fortification you should be able to take any first strike against you
Move Silently - see Hide x2
Open Lock - no/no/no
Perform - what... open heart surgery on a demon? Otherwise, no.
Repair - if this was for your weapons and armor fine otherwise - see heal.
Search - what are rogues for - see listen tho
Spot - see Listen
Tumble - 1 point is all you need
Which leaves UMD really its more of a point that nothing else is worth the point so go with UMD and then you get (nod goes to Junts for his summaries in a few builds)
11 skill points
8-10 for Cha Bonus
6 Cha skills (Green Steel)
------
24 which should cover alot of RR
Add buffs and 6 fingered gloves and you are up to mid to low 30s and you can Raise dead all the time and Heal most of the time - an epic item and you are 100% Healing
Note the counter arguments:
BUT Raise dead shouldn't be an issue - get a few clickies and if a Paladin has to raise more than 2-3 times in a quest then this will not be the reason the quest/raid fails. These clickies will come easier than any epic items.
AND for Heal Scrolls - maybe if you are soloing alot - but 3-4 LoH and an Unyielding Sov. plus pots and wands and you should be standing in most situations. In raids the mass heals should be sufficient to keep you up. If a quest fails because you aren't healing - it was going to fail anyway.
RR restrictions - there is no other way around that except to wait for gear that is good for you. But most RR is bypassed by grind/epic gear at that point anyway.
But since no other skill really stands out as better -UMD is #2 on my list.
It starts with the fact that most of the forum is end game focused. So if you never get a character past L10 the answer IS different for you because your UMD will never be worthwhile. For anyone who aims to L20 and staying there for a while to grind for gear and to feed your Alts....then UMD is one of few choices.
If you only get one Skill point - I personally lean to balance first since I hate being on my ass in a fight. If you get 2 points then UMD comes next. Three or more you are likely an evasion type rogue splash and then you have alot of spots for your skill points to which I will not comment.
A review of the skills - with comments from a Pure Pally POV
Bluff - maybe for a dedicated soloist to mid levels but only if you have backstabbing weapons
Balance - like I said first skill point goes here IMO but there are items so I can see the argument to go UMD first.
Concentration - Class skill but you aren't often casting mid-fight - it'll be LoH and then back to hacking away - you are a top up healer at best and not healing at all even better as you us SP for buffing yourself
Diplomacy - rarely is a Pally every going to want to shed aggro
Disable Device - no/no/no - pure Pally remember
Haggle - max ~25% bonus not worth it (I believe its 2.5%/point at 10max points)
Heal - use wands/pots - useless skill in general
Hide - look in the mirror - you can't sneak in heavy armor
Intimidate - 30-40 at endgame likely not effective - fact or opinion?)
Jump - only situationally for a Pally helpful but pots and clickies can help
Listen - kinda helpful so monsters don't sneak up on you - but with Fortification you should be able to take any first strike against you
Move Silently - see Hide x2
Open Lock - no/no/no
Perform - what... open heart surgery on a demon? Otherwise, no.
Repair - if this was for your weapons and armor fine otherwise - see heal.
Search - what are rogues for - see listen tho
Spot - see Listen
Tumble - 1 point is all you need
Which leaves UMD really its more of a point that nothing else is worth the point so go with UMD and then you get (nod goes to Junts for his summaries in a few builds)
11 skill points
8-10 for Cha Bonus
6 Cha skills (Green Steel)
------
24 which should cover alot of RR
Add buffs and 6 fingered gloves and you are up to mid to low 30s and you can Raise dead all the time and Heal most of the time - an epic item and you are 100% Healing
Note the counter arguments:
BUT Raise dead shouldn't be an issue - get a few clickies and if a Paladin has to raise more than 2-3 times in a quest then this will not be the reason the quest/raid fails. These clickies will come easier than any epic items.
AND for Heal Scrolls - maybe if you are soloing alot - but 3-4 LoH and an Unyielding Sov. plus pots and wands and you should be standing in most situations. In raids the mass heals should be sufficient to keep you up. If a quest fails because you aren't healing - it was going to fail anyway.
RR restrictions - there is no other way around that except to wait for gear that is good for you. But most RR is bypassed by grind/epic gear at that point anyway.
But since no other skill really stands out as better -UMD is #2 on my list.