owens.forum
09-02-2010, 05:30 AM
Hello everyone ...
I have a 15th level human Paladin that does quite a wee bit of soloing while waiting for my guildies to come online.
Have been spending some time soloing the various explorer/slayer areas, e.g. Gianthold, Necro4 and Vale ... and kinda happy with the results. Although doing quests with guildies or joining PUGs really makes earning XP and loot easy (that is, most XP for overall time spent), soloing lets you hone your technique(s) and figure out what works against what ... so that you're more effective come guild/PUG quest time.
Just want to share a few techniques I currently use and hopefully get feedback and/or suggestions on how to further improve my soloing experience ... so here goes:
1. Scout the battlefield: Whenever checking out a new area and/or encountering a new opponent, stop and observe. Rushing in to whack the baddies with your +5 Holyburst Falchion of Pure Good is always fun, until you realize that you need to bypass their DR and don't have the appropriate weapon to do so (e.g. Flesh Golems at Necro4).
2. Try sneaking around: Yeah, paladins are usually the fearless type, but I learned that sneaking around does have its advantages. I got some tips from reading various forum posts ... and what works for me is getting the highest + Move Silently and + Hide in Shadows items for my current level WHILE using my Invisibility clicky. This works perfectly in Gianthold. Walked right beside several Fire Giants and Trolls without getting spotted. Fun, considering I didn't invest in any points in Hide/Move Silently skills.
Haven't tried this in Necro or Vale since I have not seen the need to sneak around there just yet. Sneaking around to check if a red-named boss is up prior to engaging the bunch of enemies also saves you a fight without getting a reward chest for your efforts.
3. Do some research: I know that this is boring ... but research on quests/weapons/skills can be as simple as asking another guildie what you should do/use in a specific quest. Of course, you could always use Google.
4. Bring the right equipment: Since you're choosing the "battlefield" and the opponents, take time out to do some research and pick your weapon inventory. Like in the previous example, I enjoy sniping foes from afar ... so I got a Metalline Returning Handaxe to bypass DR. Then I whack them with my Metalline Falchion of Pure Good when they get close.
Test your equipment, while you're at it ... see what works against each type of opponent; and what items work for you and your playing style.
5. Employ strategies and tactics: Play smartly ... use terrain and dungeon features to your advantage. One good example of this is in Ataraxia. Go to the mining cave and then just wait there under 'doorway/arch' on the cave ledge while the duergar rush up to meet you. Just bring out a Two Handed weapon, any will do ... I use a Quarterstaff of Enfeebling (since I like the animation) ... and smack them dead. Using a Two Handed weapon at a narrow doorway or arch does not give your foes the opportunity to make a decent attacks on you for some reason, so flail away until they're all dead.
Prepare yourself too ... set up your weapon sets, buff up as required, click them clickies BEFORE engaging.
Another tactic you can use is sniping foes from afar. This either allows you to get in a few free hits, or if lucky, you get to kill them without any risk to you.
Learn when to use Lay on Hands and/or the Unyielding Sovereignty heal. Developing the discipline as to when to use them will pay off in your guildie/PUG runs.
6. Know when to run: I know Paladins are supposed to be heroic and all ... but a dead hero isn't very heroic. Run away, wand whip to full health, then go back and bash their brains out. Get yourself a decent Boots of Striding set.
Running in a straight line also sometimes doesn't work. Jump down a ledge (don't forget featherfall, though!), zig zag and/or jump. These techniques sometimes make a big difference.
7. Don't bring a hireling: Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but I think soloing should be more of an exercise/training session rather than your primary means to level up. Of course, If you do use this approach ... by all means, fee free to bring a hireling along.
Hirelings will just slow you down, are usually a distraction (e.g. Hey, where's that hireling again?), cause dungeon scaling to activate (I think) and possibly cause you to be less careful. But hey, that's just my take on things.
8. Use SP wisely: Your SP pool will never match that of a caster, so be frugal. I try not to use SP on Cure Spells ... I just bring wands. But wands cost gold, so if you're kinda tight on funds, then I guess casting Cure spells will save you some. Using SP wisely also implies casting the right spell at the right time. Knowing when to cast Resist Energy will save you a bundle of wand charges, potions and/or Cure spells when cast at the right time.
Don't forget to keep a few SP on tap always for your Divine Sacrifices.
9. Use every trick in the book (over and over again): For me soloing is a training exercise, so I try using techniques I would use in 'real' quests to see how best to use them under pressure. Like spamming Divine Sacrifice and Exalted Smites while fighting red-named bosses, while swapping my Improved Destruction, Improved Cursespewing, Paralyzing and Holy Burst of Pure Good weapons as needed ... all at the same time.
Getting used to doing this in a relatively non-threatening (haha) situation gets you ready for the real thing.
10. Try not to die: The purpose of any training activity is to improve your current technique. Dying in-game means that you did something wrong. Make sure that each death in-game is a learning experience.
That's it for now. This is in no way a comprehensive end-all Paladin soloing guide, as things that I have described here may not apply after level 15 (?), haha. These are just some tips I've picked up after a few months playing and reading the forum posts.
More techniques or suggestions are very welcome!
I have a 15th level human Paladin that does quite a wee bit of soloing while waiting for my guildies to come online.
Have been spending some time soloing the various explorer/slayer areas, e.g. Gianthold, Necro4 and Vale ... and kinda happy with the results. Although doing quests with guildies or joining PUGs really makes earning XP and loot easy (that is, most XP for overall time spent), soloing lets you hone your technique(s) and figure out what works against what ... so that you're more effective come guild/PUG quest time.
Just want to share a few techniques I currently use and hopefully get feedback and/or suggestions on how to further improve my soloing experience ... so here goes:
1. Scout the battlefield: Whenever checking out a new area and/or encountering a new opponent, stop and observe. Rushing in to whack the baddies with your +5 Holyburst Falchion of Pure Good is always fun, until you realize that you need to bypass their DR and don't have the appropriate weapon to do so (e.g. Flesh Golems at Necro4).
2. Try sneaking around: Yeah, paladins are usually the fearless type, but I learned that sneaking around does have its advantages. I got some tips from reading various forum posts ... and what works for me is getting the highest + Move Silently and + Hide in Shadows items for my current level WHILE using my Invisibility clicky. This works perfectly in Gianthold. Walked right beside several Fire Giants and Trolls without getting spotted. Fun, considering I didn't invest in any points in Hide/Move Silently skills.
Haven't tried this in Necro or Vale since I have not seen the need to sneak around there just yet. Sneaking around to check if a red-named boss is up prior to engaging the bunch of enemies also saves you a fight without getting a reward chest for your efforts.
3. Do some research: I know that this is boring ... but research on quests/weapons/skills can be as simple as asking another guildie what you should do/use in a specific quest. Of course, you could always use Google.
4. Bring the right equipment: Since you're choosing the "battlefield" and the opponents, take time out to do some research and pick your weapon inventory. Like in the previous example, I enjoy sniping foes from afar ... so I got a Metalline Returning Handaxe to bypass DR. Then I whack them with my Metalline Falchion of Pure Good when they get close.
Test your equipment, while you're at it ... see what works against each type of opponent; and what items work for you and your playing style.
5. Employ strategies and tactics: Play smartly ... use terrain and dungeon features to your advantage. One good example of this is in Ataraxia. Go to the mining cave and then just wait there under 'doorway/arch' on the cave ledge while the duergar rush up to meet you. Just bring out a Two Handed weapon, any will do ... I use a Quarterstaff of Enfeebling (since I like the animation) ... and smack them dead. Using a Two Handed weapon at a narrow doorway or arch does not give your foes the opportunity to make a decent attacks on you for some reason, so flail away until they're all dead.
Prepare yourself too ... set up your weapon sets, buff up as required, click them clickies BEFORE engaging.
Another tactic you can use is sniping foes from afar. This either allows you to get in a few free hits, or if lucky, you get to kill them without any risk to you.
Learn when to use Lay on Hands and/or the Unyielding Sovereignty heal. Developing the discipline as to when to use them will pay off in your guildie/PUG runs.
6. Know when to run: I know Paladins are supposed to be heroic and all ... but a dead hero isn't very heroic. Run away, wand whip to full health, then go back and bash their brains out. Get yourself a decent Boots of Striding set.
Running in a straight line also sometimes doesn't work. Jump down a ledge (don't forget featherfall, though!), zig zag and/or jump. These techniques sometimes make a big difference.
7. Don't bring a hireling: Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but I think soloing should be more of an exercise/training session rather than your primary means to level up. Of course, If you do use this approach ... by all means, fee free to bring a hireling along.
Hirelings will just slow you down, are usually a distraction (e.g. Hey, where's that hireling again?), cause dungeon scaling to activate (I think) and possibly cause you to be less careful. But hey, that's just my take on things.
8. Use SP wisely: Your SP pool will never match that of a caster, so be frugal. I try not to use SP on Cure Spells ... I just bring wands. But wands cost gold, so if you're kinda tight on funds, then I guess casting Cure spells will save you some. Using SP wisely also implies casting the right spell at the right time. Knowing when to cast Resist Energy will save you a bundle of wand charges, potions and/or Cure spells when cast at the right time.
Don't forget to keep a few SP on tap always for your Divine Sacrifices.
9. Use every trick in the book (over and over again): For me soloing is a training exercise, so I try using techniques I would use in 'real' quests to see how best to use them under pressure. Like spamming Divine Sacrifice and Exalted Smites while fighting red-named bosses, while swapping my Improved Destruction, Improved Cursespewing, Paralyzing and Holy Burst of Pure Good weapons as needed ... all at the same time.
Getting used to doing this in a relatively non-threatening (haha) situation gets you ready for the real thing.
10. Try not to die: The purpose of any training activity is to improve your current technique. Dying in-game means that you did something wrong. Make sure that each death in-game is a learning experience.
That's it for now. This is in no way a comprehensive end-all Paladin soloing guide, as things that I have described here may not apply after level 15 (?), haha. These are just some tips I've picked up after a few months playing and reading the forum posts.
More techniques or suggestions are very welcome!