Latest gear projections for AC tank

[Khellendros13]

Yeah. I've been kind of lazy about getting these in, but I think I'm going to have to start doing many more of these, and working in other stuff. What are some of the short epics that still grant full tokens?

As an aside, I'm even more furious now than I was when they initiated the partial token on epic completion ********! Almost 200 **** tokens, and that's not even 200 quests! Not if I want to play some of the House P, D and K epics! ****ing jackasses! And it's just for one character! And not counting all the stuff I need to slot!


Haha. Before I really looked at the Cavalry Plate I had discounted the Abishai set, as I felt it was too much trouble with not enough return, but the Cavalry Plate is such a tremendous upgrade over the Vambraces that it's hard to ignore. I'd actually been working toward the red dragonplate and was aiming for a set-up similar to the one Junts has on Jaerlech, but it's taken me so long to get scales, and I haven't even seen the Red Shard more than once that I'd semi-given up. Plus, that would have left me with trying to squeeze in another stat somewhere again since it loses the +7 Cha from the Vambraces, and the Epic Claw Gloves were removing my Dex item as well.

Junts solved that by churning out a series of epic boots (Kundarak, Firestorm, Dustless) each with the Cha 6 on them, but I'm not so happy running ToD without the Cha--I want it if I have to intimidate, or if I end up having to throw out some LoH. Not a tremendous concern, something I'm inclined to worry about.

This set-up at least lets me do ToD without really losing anything. Well, except for months of my life spent farming epic tokens.

Eagle's Splendor

[sephiroth1084]

Eagle's Splendor

You know...that's actually not a bad idea! Not like I use the spell slots for anything else! I lose 2 Cha brackets when I take off the Vambraces, but that's not too terrible.

Thanks, Fel! This outlines perfectly why I make posts about this kind of thing.

[sephiroth1084]

Coming back to this in light of the adjustments to a few epic items coming with the next mod, and the alchemical stuff from the new raids.

First, we have the new Epic Brawn's Spirits (+10% hate, Intimidate +20, Exceptional Con +2, Green slot) and Grim's Bracelet (+7 Str, +3 Dodge, Green Slot).

The Bracelet represents an interesting replacement for the Chattering Ring, but would replace the Torc while tanking. This leaves the ring slot free for something else, but what to put in there? Options include:
-Ring of the Silver Concord: +7 Cha (redundant with Epic Helm of Frost), +6 Protection (+1 AC upgrade), yellow slot
-Seal of the Earth: +6 Natural Amror (+1 bonus over having a ranger around; +2 vs. Yugo Wis pot), Greater Acid Resistance (redundant outside of ToD with Epic Boots of Corrosion), Stoneskin 3/rest (nice, but not spectacular), yellow slot
-???

The Spirits represent 20 more HP and +5 intimidate over the bonus from the Epic Cutlass (huge boost when not using the Cutlass), more threat and another place to put Toughness, but replaces the Bloodstone for a small loss in DPS. Pretty sure the hate bonus makes up for that as far as maintaining aggro is concerned.

In tanking situations outside of ToD that would mean:

Head: Epic Helm of Frost
Neck: Epic Grim's Bracelet
Trinket: Epic Brawn's Spirits
Cloak: Min II (would love to be able to move away from this, but nothing around to replace the HP)
Belt: Defender of Siberys
Gloves: Epic Charged Gauntlets
Boots: Epic Boots of Corrosion
Bracers: Bracelet of Tharaak
Goggles: Conc Opp
Ring 1: Defender of Siberys w/ +20% Healing Amp
Ring 2: ??? (Epic Seal of the Earth, Epic Ring of Silver Concord, Frenzied Berserker for +2 Str) ???
Armor: Epic Cavalry Plate
Weapon: Epic Brigand's Cutlass
Shield: Epic Swashbuckler

And I would have 2 yellow, 3 green and a colorless slot to fill with some combination of +1 Str, +1 Con, Toughness, Good Luck, Resistance +4, Blindness Immunity, Proof Against Poison, -15% Arcane Spell Failure (for scrolls), Natural Armor +4, +6 Dex.

Thinking probably +1 Str, +1 Con, +6 Dex, Toughness, Good Luck, +6 Dex.


That leaves the new alchemical items, which I know basically nothing about. Would any fit in with this equipment? How would the heavy shield stack up against the Swashbuckler? Anything worthwhile there for this character?

[Angelus_dead]

That leaves the new alchemical items, which I know basically nothing about. Would any fit in with this equipment? How would the heavy shield stack up against the Swashbuckler? Anything worthwhile there for this character?

From what I've seen, the shield isn't worth it unless you can't loot Swashbckler, or really like stunning (meaning non-boss combats). It also could break DR on shield bash, if you use that.

The interesting thing to look at is Fabricator Bracers, Incite 20 with stacking +4 str, +4 dex, +4 con, +2 ac, +5% doublestrike. (It'll be no surprise at all if that gets nerfed before live release, though)

[sephiroth1084]

From what I've seen, the shield isn't worth it unless you can't loot Swashbckler, or really like stunning (meaning non-boss combats). It also could break DR on shield bash, if you use that.

That's about what I figured. Worth considering, maybe, if I can find some way to work in Improved Shield Bash, but I don't see that happening.

The interesting thing to look at is Fabricator Bracers, Incite 20 with stacking +4 str, +4 dex, +4 con, +2 ac, +5% doublestrike. (It'll be no surprise at all if that gets nerfed before live release, though)

WOW! What's the proc rate on the Combat Infusion? If this doesn't get nerfed, and the rate is high, this will be worth using over the Tharaak.

Thanks, A_D.

[lord_of_rage]

From what I've seen, the shield isn't worth it unless you can't loot Swashbckler, or really like stunning (meaning non-boss combats). It also could break DR on shield bash, if you use that.

The interesting thing to look at is Fabricator Bracers, Incite 20 with stacking +4 str, +4 dex, +4 con, +2 ac, +5% doublestrike. (It'll be no surprise at all if that gets nerfed before live release, though)

Wow those are insane A_D. So much for the claw set.I think Id wind up with echarged guantlets and those on light now.

[grodon9999]

I just can't see myself giving up claw, not matter what your AC is you'r gonna get hit and that 30% healing amp is huge.

[Astraghal]

Even though I do, I hate using the Epic Boots of Corrosion to complete the Abishai set. I really like having my boots and to some degree trinket slot on a 'dial'. Also, is not having Seeker really bad for an AC tank? I can never seem to fit it in when considering these kinds of builds.

[sephiroth1084]

Wow those are insane A_D. So much for the claw set.I think Id wind up with echarged guantlets and those on light now.

You could go Claw Gloves + these bracers + Epic Gem.

I just can't see myself giving up claw, not matter what your AC is you'r gonna get hit and that 30% healing amp is huge.

While I'd love to have it, at this point I just can't fit in the Claw stuff. I'd rather use the Abishai set than the Claw gloves, though just barely. I could see going Helm, Bracers, Boots, but if AC is going to have to be maxed for the new raids, then I'd rather have the total of +2 Dodge on bracers and +3 from Abishai. Having a lot of healing amp to begin with helps as well (20% on ring, 20% human, 5% paladin, 10% ship).

Even though I do, I hate using the Epic Boots of Corrosion to complete the Abishai set. I really like having my boots and to some degree trinket slot on a 'dial'. Also, is not having Seeker really bad for an AC tank? I can never seem to fit it in when considering these kinds of builds.

What boots do you use instead? Which trinket?

As to whether Seeker is a big deal...I can't really say. I've had it in the build almost constantly with the Bloodstone, occasionally dropping that for the Gem + Siren's Charm combo, but I only used that for a short time. I don't think the Seeker is a necessity, but it's nice to have.

[lord_of_rage]

You could go Claw Gloves + these bracers + Epic Gem.

While I'd love to have it, at this point I just can't fit in the Claw stuff. I'd rather use the Abishai set than the Claw gloves, though just barely. I could see going Helm, Bracers, Boots, but if AC is going to have to be maxed for the new raids, then I'd rather have the total of +2 Dodge on bracers and +3 from Abishai. Having a lot of healing amp to begin with helps as well (20% on ring, 20% human, 5% paladin, 10% ship).

What boots do you use instead? Which trinket?

As to whether Seeker is a big deal...I can't really say. I've had it in the build almost constantly with the Bloodstone, occasionally dropping that for the Gem + Siren's Charm combo, but I only used that for a short time. I don't think the Seeker is a necessity, but it's nice to have.

Wont work on how I plan to set light up. Ill be using the escorched for the +8 armor bonus and and abishi bonus.

[sephiroth1084]

Wont work on how I plan to set light up. Ill be using the escorched for the +8 armor bonus and and abishi bonus.

Bracers and which other two pieces?

[Angelus_dead]

WOW! What's the proc rate on the Combat Infusion?

The proc rate for Combat Infusion is reported to be over 5%, which means nearly 100% uptime once combat gets going.

[sephiroth1084]

The proc rate for Combat Infusion is reported to be over 5%, which means nearly 100% uptime once combat gets going.

That has "NERF" written all over it,as you said.

[lord_of_rage]

Bracers and which other two pieces?

light will use the full set other than tanking e tod.

[sephiroth1084]

light will use the full set other than tanking e tod.

5 set? Why?

[Khellendros13]

5 set? Why?

It works well with monk splash, as you need +8ac bracers, and can't use the Epic Belt from Fens instead (DoS belt).

My solution for Rings is Epic Silver Concord ring with +6wis slotted and the DoS ring with +2 wis (or heal amp).

I posted a build after Lord of Rage asked me as a comparison to his own plans.
No feedback yet.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=337856

Obviously it is a bit different as Monk splash gets no option for armour (Icy's or nothing really) so the other slots become a bit tighter and IMO benefit from the 5 piece Abishai set a lot due to the slots. 40hp outside of ToD is pretty nice too, but U11 will see that benefit lessened.

I am planning on Epic Brawns too for the +2 con and Intim...I don't think losing seeker+6 matters when you have 200% hate gen, and the Elite bosses will have closer to 80% fort anyway.

Also, you could make the Epic Envenomed Cloak with hvy fort slotted, and change your goggles to con opp HP.
Use Epic Silver Concord Ring for AC mode. The cloak will save you slotting +1 con somewhere, or you can jiggle enhancements/stats to even it out.

Also, that lets you retain +3ac from the 3piece Abishai set in ToD or when you need FoM boots, or Greaves etc.

I like to have Wisdom slotted as I swap between various goggles (Tharnes, HP, con op SP, Time Sensing). Epic Ring of Concord is good so you can hotswap it with Kyoshos for DPS mode.

[sephiroth1084]

The reason I was puzzled about the 5-piece set is that I don't see the extra 2 pieces offering much benefit. +3 Con? The items are nice, but aren't too spectacular in and of themselves. I'd certainly choose the Epic Claw Gloves over the Charged Gauntlets if I could fit everything in. In my case, I have 4 of the 5 pieces on Ferrumrym, swapping the boots and bracers in and out of ToD.

I would love to be able to ditch my Min II cloak, but I don't see how. Losing 45 HP would hurt. Losing the 300 SP from the Conc-Opp goggles would hurt, as would losing +6 Cha skills (UMD, Intimidate). Swapping to the Envenomed Cloak, I could treat the extra Con bracket as 20 HP from the Min II cloak, and eat a loss of 15 HP and +1 Cha skills swapping the Wiz VI to a yellow slot to maintain the SP.

Actually...that doesn't sound too bad! I lose 15 HP, gain +5 Resist, can save AP on Human Con or a slot on Con +1 (or recoup the lost HP if the +7 Con gets me to another bracket with all of that), and gain some greater flexibility with the Abishai set, where I can ditch the bracers for +2 Dodge. I was going to get angry over not having seen this before and having wasted a set of Epic Scorched Bracers, but I remembered that I couldn't make this swap before because I had no place for Protection with the ubiquitous Chattering Ring locked out the Ring of the Silver Flame.

I'm liking this!

Head: Epic Helm of Frost w/ +6 Dex
Neck: Epic Grim's Bracelet w/ Good Luck
Trinket: Epic Brawn's Spirits w/ Toughness
Cloak: Epic Envenomed w/ Heavy Fortification
Belt: Defender of Siberys
Gloves: Epic Charged Gauntlets w/ Wiz VI
Boots: Epic Boots of Corrosion w/ what? +1 Con here doesn't help in ToD, but it will be useful in the new content; -15% ASF or Blindness Immunity and Blindness Immunity?
Bracers: Bracelet of Tharaak
Goggles: Conc Opp
Ring 1: Defender of Siberys w/ +20% Healing Amp
Ring 2: Epic Ring of Silver Concord w/ +1 Str
Armor: Epic Cavalry Plate
Weapon: Epic Brigand's Cutlass
Shield: Epic Swashbuckler

This leaves me wondering whether I would be better off with the Epic Gloves of the Claw + Gem of Many Facets. I lose a bluee slot, which hurts, but I can live without Good Luck, and basically trade +20 HP for +30% healing amp With the new 20% HP boost from the Defender stance, that amp looks a lot more attractive than +2 exceptional Con. Actually, I'd be losing a blue and another slot, which hurts. If the Red Fens items got revised with slots I think I would do this.

[Astraghal]

What boots do you use instead? Which trinket?

As to whether Seeker is a big deal...I can't really say. I've had it in the build almost constantly with the Bloodstone, occasionally dropping that for the Gem + Siren's Charm combo, but I only used that for a short time. I don't think the Seeker is a necessity, but it's nice to have.

It will come down to whatever gear you're comfortable tanking Elite Horoth with. That's why I don't like using the Abishai boots, because the place you need the set bonus most for AC (Elite ToD), you won't have it. I also like to have the choice of switching between striders, FoM boots and Firestorm Greaves. As far as the trinket goes, I use all the melee Cove trinkets situationally as well as a Pale Lavender Ioun Stone. When gear consolidation allows, I will consider using the Epic Gem of Many Facets (when they update it) to complete a few Fens sets.

I play DDO like an arcade game and like to set up my gear, inventory, UI etc. as intuitively as possible and I find losing all the situational benefits from having an open boot and trinket slot to be a bit of a drag (even though you can get like +2? extra AC). Having Blur, True Seeing, FoM, 33% fire absorbtion etc. at will is a lot to give up IMO. Sure you can have it all but I'm not willing to micro-manage my DDO play time to the point of doing gear swaps for each mob I fight. Also, Seeker probably isn't a big deal in the overall threat picture but it's nice DPS if you can fit it in.

[sephiroth1084]

It will come down to whatever gear you're comfortable tanking Elite Horoth with. That's why I don't like using the Abishai boots, because the place you need the set bonus most for AC (Elite ToD), you won't have it. I also like to have the choice of switching between striders, FoM boots and Firestorm Greaves. As far as the trinket goes, I use all the melee Cove trinkets situationally as well as a Pale Lavender Ioun Stone. When gear consolidation allows, I will consider using the Epic Gem of Many Facets (when they update it) to complete a few Fens sets.

I play DDO like an arcade game and like to set up my gear, inventory, UI etc. as intuitively as possible and I find losing all the situational benefits from having an open boot and trinket slot to be a bit of a drag (even though you can get like +2? extra AC). Having Blur, True Seeing, FoM, 33% fire absorbtion etc. at will is a lot to give up IMO. Sure you can have it all but I'm not willing to micro-manage my DDO play time to the point of doing gear swaps for each mob I fight. Also, Seeker probably isn't a big deal in the overall threat picture but it's nice DPS if you can fit it in.

The ToD issue is why I had made both the bracers and boots, so that I could complete the set with Helm, Gloves, Boots or Helm, Gloves, Bracers. If I make this switch to the cloak then I'll be able to go Helm, Gloves, Cloak in ToD, and will have the option of swapping the boots around as needed.

Also, I think some of our differences here are due to the inherent differences between paladins and fighters; you need FoM and some of the other stuff more than I do, because you're not making your saves 95% of the time. Also, I don't know if you have UMD, but if I need TS, I scroll it.

The Epic Gem is compelling, though.

[LeLoric]

Here's my U11 goal for my 18 ftr/2 rog

Epic Chimera's helmet w/+6 dex, +1 exc dex/Epic Helm of Frost w/ +6 dex
Epic Envenomed Cloak w/ Heavy Fort
Epic Charged Gauntlets w/ GFL
Epic Grim's Bracelet w/ Toughness
Epic Ring of Silver Concord w/+1 exc cha
45 hp air guard goggles/tharnes
Tharaak Bracers/ Fabricator bracers
Epic Boots of Corrosion w/ +2 luck, +6 wis
Epic Dueling Leathers w/ +7 enhancement bonus
Epic Brawn's Spirits w/ +1 exc con
6 cha skills air guard belt/ravager belt
Ravager ring w/ 20% healing amp

Epic swashbuckler w/ +7 enh/Epic KWS w/ +2 luck, +7 enh
Epic Chimera's fang w/ good enh

Other gear available for dps swapping but this is main tanking gear setup.