shadow dancer: shadow charges questions

[redoubt]

I realize the answer to all of this is probably: "Don't run in shadowdancer". So... after that...

Anyone having trouble getting shadow charges? Sometimes my assassinates do not add charges. Is it possible that some other part of the damage I do on that attack kills them before the assassinate? Also, I've see times where my marked targets die in under 10 seconds, but I don't get a charge. If the shrouding strike kills them, it should apply a charge, right?

Does reaper do something special that removes charges? I used to be able to go in and out of quests and keep my charges.

[Saekee]

The mostly reliable way I would get a charge is with shrouding strike before they croak. But if they are really weak, it does not always work. Assassinate would sometimes. However, like you say—I can’t figure out the logic—just after a bit, I have the 7

[DYWYPI]

It also seems to depend upon how you kill the monster regarding the accumulation of 'Shadow Charges' via 'Shrouding Strike/Shot' and of course there is a time frame. Like was mentioned above if the monster is low level "too weak" or dies too easily (fast) the charge won't likely register as often.

Sometimes you can accumulate two, or more Shadow Charges quickly with a few swings in one combat, i.e. it seems to award two Shadow Charges. Also it doesn't always seem to apply the 'Charge' with a "Marked" target and successful Assassinate. Albeit I'll sometimes get multiple 'Charges' quite easily with Execute, etc.

Shadow Charges are removed on: exiting Completed quests, Resting at a Shrine or Tavern, or Death. However, if you enter a Wilderness Area and gain 'Charges' in the Wilderness things like: Cloak of Shadows, will remain active; if you enter a public area. In other words use Wilderness areas to your advantage, especially before entering the Crystal Cove Challenge.

[redoubt]

Okay, sounds like you two are seeing the same stuff as I am.

I'm trying an assassin again and had not been one since before reaper and the agro changes. Running the LOD chain on R1 while I was level 21. I don't see how mobs would be "weak" in that instance, but maybe so. DDo math, right???

As to how they are killed, I was wondering as well. I've been purposely not applying the shrouding strike until they are at half health to make sure they go down, but I may be killing them too often with the shrouding strike and thus it does not resister before they die....

Something similar might be happening with assassinate. I'm not sure.

Come to think of it, I've used explorer zones to charge up before going into quests before.... hmm.... need to test a couple things.... back in a bit...

[redoubt]

Okay, I tried a few more things.

I wanted to test the "weak" enemy theory. I used my level 23 assassin.

In EE spinner (so level 23). I assassinated the first Rakshasa several times. Each time the combat log would show 2 lines of damage followed by the hit with assassinate message. This would apply a charge and I was getting the combat log message saying I was affected by untouchable and # charges.

When attacking the others (who the priestess drops mass deathward on) there is no message about assassinate at all (meaning no combat log info on why it doesn't land.) Shrouding strike did work on them.

In gateway to Khyber, level 9, I would use only the assassinate attack and would kill the troll on the first hit. No assassinate message and no charge. When I used only the shrouding strike attack I would get the affected by untouchable message and a charge.

So... thus far I think that assassinate is not the first thing checked. I think its possible to kill a mob before the game even looks to see if assassinate works. On the assassinates that worked I was getting two lines of damage and then assassinate, then sneak damage info. I'm not completely sure how the combat log prioritizes, but this repeated a few times. On the assassinates that did not work, there was zero assassinate feedback. (And I also did not get the message saying I was in the wrong configuration.)

I did not get any more instances of shrouding strike not working, but I was using it at the initial hit in both low and high level quest.

On charges and zoning:

Leaving completed gateway to Khyber via recall, my charges and stance dropped.
Leaving the searing heights via teleport my charges and stance stayed.
Leaving spinner of shadows through the door my charges and stance stayed.
Entering spinner of shadows with charges, my charges stayed.

[DYWYPI]

The test above might suggest; Death Ward was possibly interfering with Assassinate. Yes, Assassinate [(Combat): You hit Troll with Assassination.] is one of the later applied damage effects when attempting to Assassinate anything. Possibly its worthy of a Bug Report; that Death Ward seemed to effect Assassinate outcomes.

Having the Assassinate effects apply later on in Combat was part of the issue when used with 'Venomed Blades', which disrupted Assassinate (causing Assassinate to fail due to aggro from the Venom damage) several years ago.

To have 'Shrouding Strike' work and gain Shadow Charges you don't necessarily need to attempt to use Assassinate to silence an opponent. Though it's probably easier to grasp the concept; of picking a target to Mark, and going to eliminate it, with cruel and silent efficiency.

[slarden]

I am not sure assassinate ever gave you shadow charges on it's own, but it's been a while since I played assassin. I remember using shrouding strike.

With the sneak damage, 25% incorporeal, evasion, immunity to energy drain, ability to boost int and the upcoming mp/rp changes to shadowdancer it could be a very viable tree possibly even for non-assassins like a pure arti with light armor for example.