Am I up to snuff?

[PCSwarrior]

So, I've got a level 18 FvS, healing/melee specced, and I stepped into Shavarath for the first time today.

We ran Sins of Attrition on normal, group was 1 PM, 4 DPS, and myself.

We went around the outside area a bit first, and by the time we were in the quest, i was nearly out of SP. So after a few fights I hit the shrine at the entrance. Things went smoothly enough until we got to the ladder. The leader already knew this was my first time, so he gave instructions on what to do. I misunderstood them, and turned around the wrong way at the bottom of the ladder. 10 seconds later, party whipe. 1 person made it to the shrines down the hall, where there were atleast a dozen mobs. We were going through our options, and someone mentioned they had a Cake. I was sitting up at the top of the ladder, and he comes up and uses it on me. We get all of us but the one at the shrines raised on top of the ladder.

So, we kill a group of mobs that teleported up the ladder, then headed to the shrines. 15 seconds. Another party whipe. I just couldnt keep up with the damage all these mobs were putting out. No one blamed me, which was nice. We recall out, some grabs their CC-specced PM while another holds the instance, we get back in, the rest of the quest goes smoothly.

I have a bit over 400 HP, almost 2400 SP, and Heal, Mass Heal, MCSW, and MCCW. I generally rotate between MCSW and MCCW, unless someone or all the melees are dropping fast, I will throw in some Heals. I leave Quicken and Emp. Healing on the whole time. My only healing gear is the Flesheater's Staff. I probably used about 10 major pots throughout the quest, and got 4 or 5 reimbursed from various people.

So, what is the bench-mark for level 18-20 healers? Am I at where I need to be? Should I use different healing techniques?

[Rogann]

I'm up to snuff and gots me an ace machine

[Vellrad]

Sins got INSANE scaling mechanics.
It is easier to solo it, even if you don't know the quest, assuming you got some self heals, and DPS or instakills.
Just check how to get there, buy invisi and haste pot, run to quest entrance ignoring mobs, get in and have fun!

[PCSwarrior]

Hmm alright, maybe I will try soloing it later then, thanks for the tip!

[Vellrad]

np gl hf

[Meiron]

I wouldn't say it's your stats that's the problem but rather your choice of tactics. On my FVS I use Mass Heal as my go-to healing spell 95% of the time. I only use the mass cure spells in an emergency. Why? Efficiency. Mass Heal is enough to completely heal the whole group, and if you're going to keep Quicken on it's not interruptable, and casts in about 2.5 seconds. Spamming mass cures is a good way to dry up your blue bar and still not keep up with any serious incoming damage. If your melee cannot survive between Mass Heal casts, then they are not ready gear or build wise, and it's not an issue you can fix.

[dopey69]

as a fs much more ezer to solo sins

although mine is not a mele specced toon ( i have other better mele options than a fs.)

i ransack it weekly usually about 20 minutes a run killing all and lookin for all chests


run run run ear dweller blade barrier = mass pain

eardweller not needed tho she dies a lot in there

[Faent]

Sins can be a tough quest for an unprepared group. A tank will massively benefit a six-man group and completely neutralize the quest. Crowd Control is difficult for non-elite casters to pull of successfully in Shavarath. If you don't have a great tank or elite crowd control, then it's probably best for you to lead the quest your self as a FvS. This means you run ahead, spawn all the mobs, and wing-kite them through Blade Barriers. If you're new to this, run Death Pact. And practice doing it solo.

With a tank, the tank runs ahead and spawns the mob, which mostly attack only him. They all attack him if he's using intimidate, and then you only have one person to heal. If he's not using intimidate, let him lay down some aggro, and then your DPS can pick them off.

With excellent CC, your caster hangs behind a melee who spawns the mob. A nice strategy is toss a Dancing Ball, hit with a Hypno SLA and throws a Mass Hold followed by a Mass Suggestion. Alternatively, high-enough DC's on Mass Suggestion alone will neutralize most of encounters. Not many casters function well in here, but the elite ones shine.

For the easiest run, take Gula's Ham and hope for the Orthon. Knowing where the mob spawns are is critical, since you only want to take one pack at time. After the second Cinderspawn, most groups spawn two groups of mobs at once. You don't have to do this if you run through the first group and up the slope. If your party does this, the second group won't spawn.

[Premier]

I will also recommend running Sins solo as a FvS.

Cast Sonic resist to mitigate damage because the Orthons arm repeater does sonic damage. Since you're not lvl 20 and therefore do not have the 10dr, try bringing Darnis the Wizard hireling along; he has displacement and haste. Park the hireling at the front, cast displacement and haste, run ahead with the hireling staying put and clear far enough ahead such that when you summon the hireling to you he instantly teleports instead of walking. Try this a few times and you'll get used to how far you can go, where the mobs spawn and how many at a time.

I've farmed Sins using this method many, many times. Two items drop from there that I use on my FvS: Torin's Choker (sup Pot 6 necklace) and Vorne's Belt (+6 Con, GFL). Large ingredients can also drop from the extra chests (4 or 5 extra chests, can't remember exactly). Use the method above and you'll be wondering why you tried running this with a group to begin with.

A disclaimer, once you realize quests are easier solo you'll find yourself pugging less and less and less, eventually you'll only group up for raids. I've gotten to that point....

As a FvS you can solo the Amrath quests except for Genesis Point, you need two people for the maze, trust me I've tried...

Good Luck.

-Premier

[MeliCat]

Did everyone have displacement? That buff makes a huge difference in there to healing stress.

[Premier]

Did everyone have displacement? That buff makes a huge difference in there to healing stress.

Another source of 50% miss chance is casting Holy Aura for the Blinding area of effect. Fly into a group of enemies and cast Holy Aura right in the middle. Just be sure to turn extend off as it burns 10 extra spell points for little benefit, heighten affects Holy Aura too. This tactic can be used in Devil/Orthon spawns in part 4 of the Shroud to eliminate lots of pre-Arraetrikos heals. Actually, I use this tactic alot.