AA path for max soloing efficiency

[Viko]

I am new to necro AA so looking for advice on this.

goal: Max efficiency while soloing (being able to kill the max # of mobs in a given time frame)

current AA: none
level: 70

Plan on grinding out a chunk of AA solo in 69.1 or atiki or KC faction or anywhere else, still finding out which will be fastest.


thanks in advance

Im still evaluating mana efficiency vs exp efficiency at lvl 75 before I move on.

[Desh]

DoT crits, SCM3, GoM/GoRM, mana regen, Wake the Dead line (including graverobbing), pet AAs, secondary forte.

Alot of other AA will help you solo efficiently indirectly, like Run5, defensive AAs, resists, almost anything.

I'd recommend knocking out some AA before you level up, since it seems you are a largely solo player. SCM3, DoT crits, GoM3 would all be worth doing before leveling.

[Viko]

So there are 93 AA worth of crit dots?

With maxed crit AA, what % does that get us up to? According to the descriptions it sounds like 30% ish not counting any epic focus, is this about right?

[Kroy]

30% is pretty close. If I remember correctly with just AA's it's 33%.

K.

[Evil]

DoT crits, SCM3, GoM/GoRM, mana regen, Wake the Dead line (including graverobbing), pet AAs, secondary forte.

Alot of other AA will help you solo efficiently indirectly, like Run5, defensive AAs, resists, almost anything.

I'd recommend knocking out some AA before you level up, since it seems you are a largely solo player. SCM3, DoT crits, GoM3 would all be worth doing before leveling.

As a dedicated soloer, just want to mention that I went for SCM3, DoT crits and Run5 early. Carrying SoW pots around got old quickly.

[Viko]

Ive done Run 3
Crti Affliction 1 so far


I have a shaman so sow pots arent an issue for when im in an outdoor zone (not often enough)

[Rorthoz]

Get Run5(Atiiki is indoor I believe, great spot tho btw) and FD asap. Followed by Spell Casting Mastery, DoT crits and GoM/GoRM. Then Wake the Dead line, Secondary Forte...In all honesty I would do pet AA last, but others would disagree

SPELLS: I can't emphasize this more. Get all your spells from DoD(Corath Venom/Dread Pyre) and Katta for later levels(Pyre of the Fallen/Kedgefish). Also Grave Pact if you're able to. Best Lich until level 74.

[winchester20]

Good grief people! No mention of the 9th spell slot AA? That and FD AA should be way at the top of your list. Two extra spell slots for DoTs is a mountain of gold that cannot be counted!

[Vanlor]

Good grief people! No mention of the 9th spell slot AA? That and FD AA should be way at the top of your list. Two extra spell slots for DoTs is a mountain of gold that cannot be counted!

Amen, those should be the FIRST two aas any nec buys imho. and aside from pet hold, I definitely agree with doing those very very late. Minimum like 500 AAs lol. There was recently a post on just how much all the pet crit and double attack aas can add to your actual dps... it's really a pathetic amount. I'm not really even thinking about buying them atm.

9th spell slot, FD, Run 5, SCM 3 are all crucial to solo nec imo. Right after that DoT crits, there are a lot, but they are amazing. Depending on your style of play the heal crit line can be really helpful for tap tanking, even pet healing if you do that.

[larannin]

What about hp/mana regen AA? I don't see that on anyone's lists but it seems like the biggest constraint on solo'ing is med downtime in between mobs. I'll take all the mana regen I can get, and having enough hp regen to counteract lich keeps me from having to tap a lot, although heal potions also suffice if you don't mind spending the plat.

[Viko]

I can answer my own thread now! :) heh

Run3
9th spell slot
SCM3 (GET THIS BEFORE CRITS! ITS AMAZING!)
Then burn through all the crit AA's
then GoM/GoRM

Im very happy with the SCM, and crit aa, the rest dont seem to be as huge

One could probably make the argument to do GoM/GoRM before the last few Crit dots, but meh, not sure how much of a difference that will be.

[winchester20]

Iarannin, with today's out-of-combet regen rates, the mana/hp regen AAs really don't pack as much of a punch as they used to. Not at the top nor bottom of the list, but somewhere in the middle. I guess though if you find yourself in raid zones most of the time, they'd be a little more important, since the raid zones have a 5 min timer before ooc regen kicks in.

[Marnik]

I've been working on aa's as I level. Right now, I have rs3, regen 3 and 5 banked at level 54. Some of the ones that people recommend to be one of the first, won't open up for a little bit, for me. I'm wondering if it would be better to not stop and work on aa's until I get 65 or 70. Right now, I think I'm going to get the minimum as I go along with an eye to the future aa's and level if I think I need them.

[encephalitis]

Just dinged 74 last night and have yet to get Run5 or FD aa. Never have needed them. 9th spell slot was enough.

If you're burning 8 dots on a mob, with the 9th reserved for FD (not that I ever did really), you're wasting your mana, because the mob will be dead before the final ticks of most of those 8 dots. Even big mobs. 60-80khp mobs, at my level, with full dot crit aa's up to level 74, won't last a single round of my DoTs (with the exception of the two curses I use, that last base of 30 sec, with extension like 36 sec).

Also, for those trying to say that mana and hp regen are worthless now, that's likely because you spend enough time OOC to make OOC regen matter. I chain pull for hours on end. I can do that because I regen HP by the truckload, and I regen mana by the metric ton. If you're regen'ing mana at 150/tick with lich form, why bother with OOC? Just get your spell lineup correct so that you take mobs out in about 2 min (again, 60-80k mobs), and you can chain pull till the cows come home. Then you can pull the cows.

I will eventually buy /pet hold, /pet feign, /pet focus, FD aa, Run 5, and the other crap, but not till 75 at least. Too much good gear upgrades to be had at that point to justify holding back in the 70s for aa's. The good gear at 75 will open up better exp spots, and will grant access to better DoTs, which will do far more than most of the aa's we can buy (except GoRM/GoM, and DoT crit line of course :p ).

Ultimately, choose what fits your play style.

[winchester20]

To each his own, I guess.

[Newcromancer]

"...and I regen mana by the metric ton"

So your extra 10 mana every six seconds from your FT AA's is allowing you to chain pull for hours...hmmmm, I'm not buying that.

[larannin]

you can chain pull till the cows come home. Then you can pull the cows.


That made me lol.

Personally I don't like pausing in between pulls waiting on ooc regen. I'd rather be able to pull at least several mobs in a row with no break then stop and med up. Whether it is faster that way or not, it feels like it. :)

[Viko]

To the guy who is chain pulling cows...

So do you have more than 1 cow on the leash at a time? If not, you are chain pulling 1 after the other, 2 mins per, so 30 an hour non stop?

The method I use involves having 2-3 on a leash at the same time (snared, with dots on them). With pet on one of them, and splitting up clickies/epic on the others while balancing dots. I can usually do 6-7 straight this way, in about 5 minutes. Then 3 mins ooc regen max. Thats 7.5 sets per hour, or 45-52 in an hour.

I see the merit of a steady grind like yours, but I like the downtime for reading more forums/etc, getting up every few pulls, etc.

If you do have 2-3 going at a time, with one dying every minute instead because of overlapping, and are doing closer to 60 an hour, then id be very interested in your dot lineup/specilalization.

[encephalitis]

"...and I regen mana by the metric ton"

So your extra 10 mana every six seconds from your FT AA's is allowing you to chain pull for hours...hmmmm, I'm not buying that.

Sorry, I also have Girdle of Efficiency, so add another 8 mana/tick to the list.

And yeah, over the course of two minutes, while kiting on horseback, I can chain pull (not ad infiinitum, but for many hours) without going LOM or OOM to warrant OOC regen. The average is probably more like 2.5 min per mob.

No, I do not kite multiples very often. Maybe a couple double pulls per 30 min or so.

I like that strategy, though, and I'll have to try it out. Where are you kiting that you have so many to pull and still have a safe kiting ground to do so?

[Newcromancer]

The discussion and context was AA's not gear. Most people are well over the worn FT cap.

The point I was trying to make is that anyone can chain pull it just depends upon how fast you want to kill them. Killing a large number of mobs in a faster time and then ooc regening is going to yeild more xp than killing slower without breaking simply due to the fact the /ooc regen is so much faster than your in combat regen. Therefore the mana regen AA's are not nearly as important as they once were. Run5, death peace and pet hold >>>>>>>>> FT imho.

And I would get those AA's before you plan on kiting 3+ mobs at once.

[Rorthoz]

I like to have a spell line up that will kill a mob w/out having to recast any spell more than once(including snare which I hate having to reapply). I pull another mob after I cast that line up. This usually includes 0-3 disease dots, pyre of morri, pyre of the fallen, a few poison dots; kedfish, corath, vikk's, and dread pyre, ashengate. While its not the the most efficient way to exp using dread pyre and ashengate I do not recast these spells unless GoM/GoRm procs but to kill w/out using them at least once per mob makes the mobs die so much slower. The Magic Dots are not worth using for solo exp grinding. I'm all about efficiency but with OOC regen theres only need to take it so far.

[Lylith]

but to kill w/out using them at least once per mob makes the mobs die so much slower. The Magic Dots are not worth using for solo exp grinding. I'm all about efficiency but with OOC regen theres only need to take it so far.


Ashengate is procing anywhere for 2100 to 2650 dmg at times. That's the reason I use it. It actually saves me a recast of a lower dots & re-snaring the mob again; therefore I'm not really saving any mana if I don't use it. Grip is 882 mana, so imo ashengate ismuch mroe effective. My hp regen is fine, so I tap as needed or use heal pot is the *** hits the fan.

[Jebasiz]

10 mana regen per tic is 100 per minute. That's exactly a cast of nothing for anyone of appropriate level to AA to any extent.

IMO, spell casting mastery is king. Then crit dots. Death peace and the extra spell gem should be gotten asap as well. Perhaps even gom/gorm. Get your spell casting as cheap as possible and then do as much damage as possible(ignore destructive fury for a while).

I'd also work on myself before my pet..although if you use your pet alot you might want pet hold fairly early on, but not before critical affliction and scm.

[encephalitis]

Meh, whatever. OOC regen makes it more efficient to burnout and then regen. FT still makes it take longer (even if only marginally) to do so.

/shrug I could be wrong. I often am.

[flishtaco]

Jeb is right as usual. Enciphilitis if your the FV guy then.......

Necro is not a hard class really to play and with our available gear meh.

Really go with Jeb, he prolly gets enough smoke blown up is ass enough but he has earned it, 99.99 of what he says is gospel (exception being the reet top end raider dude stuff cause he loses me there frequently as well, I have not the experience, if he says do this during Mayong fight he is still probably right but you and I will both probably never see Mayong so, I dont know if he is always right =P)

Larks ( the casual necro with all the AA thats right dinged 1761 last night, so minus expandables and banking for SoF am capped)

[encephalitis]

10 mana regen per tic is 100 per minute. That's exactly a cast of nothing for anyone of appropriate level to AA to any extent.


Except another cast of darkness if a fight runs long (3 min).

I'm not trying to be argumentative, really I'm not. I just think that mana regen of any kind is important, even if it is overshadowed vastly by OOC regen.

Now that I'm 75, and am using Ashengate Pyre regularly, I'm following a burnout strategy for kiting more and more, and I see the validity of your argument, but I also know that I'm glad I have that extra 100 mana every minute to account for fizzles (rare but they happen), or as mentioned, when I need to recast snare (even less frequent).

[Newcromancer]

"....if a fight runs long (3 min)."

Unless you are kiting some ultra named and it takes you 3 minutes to kill something (an xp mob no less) you are doing something terribly wrong.

"...and I see the validity of your argument"

There is no argument.

The problem I have and others can correct me if I'm wrong is that you are not (or at least weren't when you posted) even level 75 and have hardly any AA's yet you profess to know more than others who are maxed out on AA's and have been playing necros since the inception of the game. That is not only in poor taste yet goes a step further in giving possibly bad advice to younger players. Don't get me wrong you are entitled to your opinion and that is cool but if you go against common knowledge don't expect others to just sit on it.

[Shifty]

Once you have all of your "own" aa's done as mentioned above, and you start workin on pet...get your Suspend Minion 2 and Persistant minion. A fully armored and geared pet can tank some of the larger mobs if you need that extra couple of seconds to reapply a snare on a group of 3 mobs. And then you put him in your pocket for tomorrow, fully geared and buffed.
Granted this used to be more important before pet pulling got the nerf dildo, but it still saves time buying crap every day.

[flishtaco]

"Except another cast of darkness if a fight runs long (3 min)."

Your on FV beg borrow steal the cash to get an Ossein. You will never worry about snare mana again.

[encephalitis]

"....if a fight runs long (3 min)."

Unless you are kiting some ultra named and it takes you 3 minutes to kill something (an xp mob no less) you are doing something terribly wrong.

"...and I see the validity of your argument"

There is no argument.

The problem I have and others can correct me if I'm wrong is that you are not (or at least weren't when you posted) even level 75 and have hardly any AA's yet you profess to know more than others who are maxed out on AA's and have been playing necros since the inception of the game. That is not only in poor taste yet goes a step further in giving possibly bad advice to younger players. Don't get me wrong you are entitled to your opinion and that is cool but if you go against common knowledge don't expect others to just sit on it.

So your problem is that I wasn't lvl 75 with 1600+ aa, and not that my point is invalid. Fantastic reasoning there.

This isn't my first char, I didn't ebay, and just because I'm on FV doesn't mean I play the game on /easy or that I bought all my gear and don't know what the hell I'm doing.

This whole thread has become an entirely pointless back-and-forth about who's dick is longer because they know more about necros than the next loser wasting a large portion of their life playing video games.

Sorry to dissent the "common knowledge" with my opinion. I never advocated doing any aa's before those we know are critical to success as a solo necro. DoT crits, GoM, GoRM, etc etc etc.

Your opinion, whether or not you consider it gospel or "common knowledge", is still just that: opinion.

It is also "common knowledge" on this forum that Death Peace and Run5 aa's are on the top 10 first aa's to purchase, but I've not yet had a single experience in which either would have made a significant difference.

If you're level 75 with 1600+aa's and end-game raid gear, and you give the advice that one aa is more valuable than another, that is your opinion, colored by your character, and does not necessarily reflect the way the game works for everyone else. My opinion was as someone who has not reached the "I beat EQ!!11!" stage yet.

People who read this thread and are new to the necro class may make up their own minds, and if they look at my posts and say "that guy has no clue" then that is there choice. Fine. It makes little difference to me. But they may also say, yeah that guy is about where I am in the game, and he seems to think this, so maybe I should consider that as an option as well.

[encephalitis]

"Except another cast of darkness if a fight runs long (3 min)."

Your on FV beg borrow steal the cash to get an Ossein. You will never worry about snare mana again.

Do people assume that loot falls from the sky on FV?

People still have to go out and kill mobs for loot to magically appear in the bazaar, even on FV. Especially on FV. Raid gear doesn't just "show up".

I would probably invest in the Ossein if ever I saw one for sale. That hasn't happened yet though. Also, this isn't a thread about "what should Encephalitis do?" it's about what OP should do.

OP, if you can get the Ossein, great -- mana-free snare. If you can't get it, consider my above point.

[Newcromancer]

"This isn't my first char, I didn't ebay, and just because I'm on FV doesn't mean I play the game on /easy or that I bought all my gear and don't know what the hell I'm doing."

Perhaps not but you are an idiot.

[Evillil]

It is also "common knowledge" on this forum that Death Peace and Run5 aa's are on the top 10 first aa's to purchase, but I've not yet had a single experience in which either would have made a significant difference.

Seriously?

I'm not usually one to poke fun at other people's posts, but if that line is true, you're doing something wrong, and you're most definitely not playing your necro to full potential and "pushing the envelope" so to speak. I can't count the number of times those AA have saved me by themselves, let alone the combination of having both of them. I'm by no means "high-end" at all, but I wouldn't be able to hang out in my normal grind spots without both of them. Ever try to kill a mob that summons and get summoned just as you land a spell? You can't use the spell FD while those gems are being refreshed, but you can pop off the AA without even flinching. Plus if you're in a group/raid situation, you can FD in between casts to lose aggro and not get summoned. Not to mention the fact that having death peace gives an extra spell gem by way of omitting the spell from your lineup.

Hell, I soloed all of my 67-70 spell runes in MPG, thanks to a guide here, and not a chance I would have been able to do that without run5. Yeah, I could've done it with sow potions, but there's places potions don't work, they wear off at the wrong times, and there's the convenience factor of not having to run to the bazaar every week to restock. I didn't get run5 right off the bat like everyone else, probably waited until about the 400AA mark to get it, and I'm still kicking myself for not getting it sooner.

Death Peace and Run5 making life easier is not an opinion, it's a stone cold fact. There are many, many things that would not be doable without them, and many, many things that are about 10X easier with them.

[Marnik]

hmmm...interesting that no one's opinion takes into consideration that some people choose not to gain levels over aa and do them as they become available.

If you look at doing aa's as they become available, mental clarity is more important at 55 than it is at 75. The mobs are lower level, have less hitpoints, die quicker than they would trying to level to 75, then grind out necessary aa's. I'm doing my aa's as I level. Right now I'm at 55, have 29 aa's, max mana regen from gear and the only thing holding me back from non-stop killing is waiting on my mana to regen. I have SCM3 which is the only one that anyone says necessary before level 66. RS5 isn't available to me, no dot crits, no GOM or GoRM.

I'm tempted to level to 56, then finish grinding my aa's I want just because demi-lich gives me me 10 more mana regen. At 58, I get better augs available to me from DoN merchants, but if I'm going to do that, I may as well level to 59 and start doing grinding some more, but the mobs will have lots more hitpoints, take longer to kill and my aa accumulation won't be any faster than it is now.

The flaw with the thinking I've seen here is assuming everyone is max level before grinding aa's. It know it worked better before the aaxp changes, but from experience I can say it's better to start working on your aa's at lower levels.

[flishtaco]

"Do people assume that loot falls from the sky on FV?"

No and playing there myself, which makes this as a response to me even more ludicrious.

"People still have to go out and kill mobs for loot to magically appear in the bazaar, even on FV. Especially on FV. Raid gear doesn't just "show up"

There have been at least as many ossein sitings as our server being up sitings lately.

'I would probably invest in the Ossein if ever I saw one for sale. That hasn't happened yet though. Also, this isn't a thread about "what should Encephalitis do?" it's about what OP should do."

Aye but your the one who came in with the nonsense advice and hijacked with all the rest of us going WTF is this guy talking about?

A) everytime I see you on FV I cringe your a sniveling whiner that brings down the average intelligence of our whole server with your idiotic rants in our general channel.

B) People who have 75 and 1600 aas and played for 4+ years are in fact more likey to know how to play a necro and what is good advice. How can you not get this? Do you go up to the trainee and ask him how to fly a plane or do you go up to the instructor with 200,000 flown hours in the airplane?

C) again your the one who brought gear into this by bragging about gear that most people not on FV wouldnt have, and you by this bragging appear to have the assets to afford a ossien but have not.

To the topic the mental clarity line should be WAY down on your list. Even at 55 you should if you want to "maximize your solo ability" par down to necessary and stunning AA not for a good time call ones.

AA that should be gotten before mental clarity line are gotten at all, In order as best I can.
Spell slot
run3
SCM3 ( I was told you can do this without 6 in start field now if not true regen3 then scm3)
Death Peace
run4-5
ALL defensive avoidance/mitigate thru POP
Gom/Gorm
all critical dot aa
WTD (its fun sue me and more useful then mental clarity)
Lifeburn (it sucks but still more useful then mental clarity)
etc,etc,etc

if you follow this advice and with ooc regen and moderate non Enciphilitis twink FV gear you will be fine. Think like AA 900-1000 as far as the use of giving up 12 AA for 3 mana points every 6 seconds.

Larks

[encephalitis]

"This isn't my first char, I didn't ebay, and just because I'm on FV doesn't mean I play the game on /easy or that I bought all my gear and don't know what the hell I'm doing."

Perhaps not but you are an idiot.

Fantastic retort. Is this where I'm supposed to respond in kind and attack your personage?

[encephalitis]

Seriously?

I'm not usually one to poke fun at other people's posts, but if that line is true, you're doing something wrong, and you're most definitely not playing your necro to full potential and "pushing the envelope" so to speak. I can't count the number of times those AA have saved me by themselves, let alone the combination of having both of them. I'm by no means "high-end" at all, but I wouldn't be able to hang out in my normal grind spots without both of them. Ever try to kill a mob that summons and get summoned just as you land a spell? You can't use the spell FD while those gems are being refreshed, but you can pop off the AA without even flinching. Plus if you're in a group/raid situation, you can FD in between casts to lose aggro and not get summoned. Not to mention the fact that having death peace gives an extra spell gem by way of omitting the spell from your lineup.

Hell, I soloed all of my 67-70 spell runes in MPG, thanks to a guide here, and not a chance I would have been able to do that without run5. Yeah, I could've done it with sow potions, but there's places potions don't work, they wear off at the wrong times, and there's the convenience factor of not having to run to the bazaar every week to restock. I didn't get run5 right off the bat like everyone else, probably waited until about the 400AA mark to get it, and I'm still kicking myself for not getting it sooner.

Death Peace and Run5 making life easier is not an opinion, it's a stone cold fact. There are many, many things that would not be doable without them, and many, many things that are about 10X easier with them.

I know there are benefits, but I've never found myself in a "make or break" situation involving either of those aa's. I'm aware of the advantages.

[encephalitis]

"Do people assume that loot falls from the sky on FV?"

No and playing there myself, which makes this as a response to me even more ludicrious.

"People still have to go out and kill mobs for loot to magically appear in the bazaar, even on FV. Especially on FV. Raid gear doesn't just "show up"

There have been at least as many ossein sitings as our server being up sitings lately.

'I would probably invest in the Ossein if ever I saw one for sale. That hasn't happened yet though. Also, this isn't a thread about "what should Encephalitis do?" it's about what OP should do."

Aye but your the one who came in with the nonsense advice and hijacked with all the rest of us going WTF is this guy talking about?

A) everytime I see you on FV I cringe your a sniveling whiner that brings down the average intelligence of our whole server with your idiotic rants in our general channel.

B) People who have 75 and 1600 aas and played for 4+ years are in fact more likey to know how to play a necro and what is good advice. How can you not get this? Do you go up to the trainee and ask him how to fly a plane or do you go up to the instructor with 200,000 flown hours in the airplane?

C) again your the one who brought gear into this by bragging about gear that most people not on FV wouldnt have, and you by this bragging appear to have the assets to afford a ossien but have not.

To the topic the mental clarity line should be WAY down on your list. Even at 55 you should if you want to "maximize your solo ability" par down to necessary and stunning AA not for a good time call ones.

AA that should be gotten before mental clarity line are gotten at all, In order as best I can.
Spell slot
run3
SCM3 ( I was told you can do this without 6 in start field now if not true regen3 then scm3)
Death Peace
run4-5
ALL defensive avoidance/mitigate thru POP
Gom/Gorm
all critical dot aa
WTD (its fun sue me and more useful then mental clarity)
Lifeburn (it sucks but still more useful then mental clarity)
etc,etc,etc

if you follow this advice and with ooc regen and moderate non Enciphilitis twink FV gear you will be fine. Think like AA 900-1000 as far as the use of giving up 12 AA for 3 mana points every 6 seconds.

Larks

Most people in general on FV are barely literate, and my "idiotic rants" are usually dripping with sarcasm, so it doesn't surprise me that you would misunderstand what I'm saying, and interpret it as whining. That's why reading is FUNdamental.

This thread delights me because I have all you self-important blow-hards up in arms about a half-hearted comment about "mana regen isn't worthless". Wow, do you guys feel better now? You've flexed your ePenis and demonstrated the fruit of your wasted decade of necromancing. Congrats.



Can someone please point to the post where I said, "The list of MUST HAVE AA STARTS WITH MANA REGEN!@!!!@21211!!" ?????

I simply said don't dismiss it entirely. Then you guys fucking jump down my throat. Save your vitriol for Kela.

[flishtaco]

Really enciphilatis tell us why you hate your mother?... I mean we already now know that you know absolutely nothing about being a necromancer. Lets delve deeper into that tender psyche that is your sad self.

[encephalitis]

Really enciphilatis tell us why you hate your mother?... I mean we already now know that you know absolutely nothing about being a necromancer. Lets delve deeper into that tender psyche that is your sad self.

Clever. Yeah, you sound like you came straight out of /general.

[Lylith]

I have 350 AAs currently.

I am just now working my mana regen cap because my mana pool is larger than ever before and this allows me to kill faster.

The AA path I was told was to take as recommendation:

run 3
regen 3
smc 3
run 5 when available
ND 3
9th spell slot and death peace

What a big difference those AAs made.

Anyone not taking death peace ASAP is a fool imo. No fizzles. I repeat no fizzles. It will fail occassionally, but not much. Solo, grouped, raid, whatever, this will save your butt.

[encephalitis]

I have 350 AAs currently.

I am just now working my mana regen cap because my mana pool is larger than ever before and this allows me to kill faster.

The AA path I was told was to take as recommendation:

run 3
regen 3
smc 3
run 5 when available
ND 3
9th spell slot and death peace

What a big difference those AAs made.

Anyone not taking death peace ASAP is a fool imo. No fizzles. I repeat no fizzles. It will fail occassionally, but not much. Solo, grouped, raid, whatever, this will save your butt.

I agree that DP and Run5 are valuable, but I think their value is situational. My ideology in buying aa's has always been to buy the ones that will help me get more aa's faster first. As I have had zero need in my exp grinding to FD, and seldom grind in indoor areas where Run5 was a necessity, I can't personally make a recommendation to place those above any other aa's that would improve exp grind efficiency.

That said, it is quite clear that others have found those aa's critical to their play style, and they would recommend them highly.

So, I guess like most things, it comes down to a combination of play style, personal choice, gear, and level.

Who knows; I may recant after I purchase Death Peace. I may plaster this board with threads about it's wondrous bounty.

[flishtaco]

"Clever. Yeah, you sound like you came straight out of /general"

Lol, yah thats me the guy constantly laughing at you being made to look stupid.

I dont usually say anything to you about your stupid remarks in general.

But until your last post, and hell even mostly in your last post, you were advocating mental clarity AA over DP and Run5. Which is exactly the type of moronic statements, you make in general, you rant on and on, pick fights with everyone, and start telling every other class that you know their class best.

Sadly, as has been proven here you dont even know your own class marginally well.

Your story is easy you twinked up good on FV gear, and became so gear dependent that as a result you have no idea how to surrvive or play your class without top end gear/or indoors without your topend horse speed. /shrug to each his own but consider your lack of obstacles in your advice next time or agian be made the fool.

[encephalitis]

"Clever. Yeah, you sound like you came straight out of /general"

Lol, yah thats me the guy constantly laughing at you being made to look stupid.

I dont usually say anything to you about your stupid remarks in general.

Learn to read, and then I'll send you a dictionary so you can do some research on sarcasm.


But until your last post, and hell even mostly in your last post, you were advocating mental clarity AA over DP and Run5. Which is exactly the type of moronic statements, you make in general, you rant on and on, pick fights with everyone, and start telling every other class that you know their class best.

I've been in one debate over class mechanics, and it was with a beastlord -- a class I have played numerous times to the respective level caps as they were increased, and with whom I am pretty effing familiar.

I'm not a 7 year necro vet. I only know what works for me now. I voice my opinion not to be shouted down by assholes who can't stand to read another opinion than their own parroted back, but so that people will know that multiple play styles work, and that they have options if they don't want to do the max level max aa path just yet.


Sadly, as has been proven here you dont even know your own class marginally well.

Your story is easy you twinked up good on FV gear, and became so gear dependent that as a result you have no idea how to surrvive or play your class without top end gear/or indoors without your topend horse speed. /shrug to each his own but consider your lack of obstacles in your advice next time or agian be made the fool.

Yes, you really made me the fool. How ever shall I recover...How do you twink yourself? I don't buy or dupe plat, so if by "twink yourself up" you mean hunted, traded up, and cash farmed to get decent gear, then yeah. I don't owe you an apology for expressing my opinion, even if it is in dissent of the all-knowing circle of elites you claim to be a member of.

Glad to see you online last night, too, so I could get the spelling right on your name for my ignore list.

You're one of those crybaby bitches that whines and moans about people polluting /general. Ignore me. Seriously. I am inviting you, encouraging you, and begging you to do so.

Then you won't have to develop a sense of humor.

[flishtaco]

"Yes, you really made me the fool. How ever shall I recover...How do you twink yourself? I don't buy or dupe plat, so if by "twink yourself up" you mean hunted, traded up, and cash farmed to get decent gear, then yeah. I don't owe you an apology for expressing my opinion, even if it is in dissent of the all-knowing circle of elites you claim to be a member of.

Glad to see you online last night, too, so I could get the spelling right on your name for my ignore list.

You're one of those crybaby bitches that whines and moans about people polluting /general. Ignore me. Seriously. I am inviting you, encouraging you, and begging you to do so.

Then you won't have to develop a sense of humor. "

/smirk ... no please continue dont let my amusement spoil your fun.

[Lylith]

I agree that DP and Run5 are valuable, but I think their value is situational. My ideology in buying aa's has always been to buy the ones that will help me get more aa's faster first. As I have had zero need in my exp grinding to FD, and seldom grind in indoor areas where Run5 was a necessity, I can't personally make a recommendation to place those above any other aa's that would improve exp grind efficiency.

That said, it is quite clear that others have found those aa's critical to their play style, and they would recommend them highly.

So, I guess like most things, it comes down to a combination of play style, personal choice, gear, and level.

Who knows; I may recant after I purchase Death Peace. I may plaster this board with threads about it's wondrous bounty.

wow.

instant FD vs. cast that can be interrupted
run V so you can outrun mobs when snare fails

If you don't see the worth of those 2 things that reduce chance of death on a bad pull, I can't help ya. It seems pretty logical to me: less chance of death= faster leveling

I'm just really glad I read these boards and there's a ton of good necros on BB (imo) in class chat, specifically Lashden, Pharren and Voodoman who answered some questions I had at times about AAs etc. and of course Darkeeyes who I met through these boards when asking about FPOk spell.

[encephalitis]

wow.

instant FD vs. cast that can be interrupted
run V so you can outrun mobs when snare fails

If you don't see the worth of those 2 things that reduce chance of death on a bad pull, I can't help ya. It seems pretty logical to me: less chance of death= faster leveling

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

Let me boldface it this time, so it is clear:

I see the value of both Run 5 and Death Peace aas.

I simply have not experienced the same dire need for either as expressed on this board. Fabled JBoots (clicky run5) and knowing the mob I'm killing and its likelihood to resist snare and then adjusting my strategy accordingly (such as memming FD -- which never has fizzled at a bad time for me) have just minimized the "OMFG I've gotta have it!!!" aspect of these two. I agree 100% with all the other critical lineup though (dot crits, gom/gorm, etc). But when it comes to these two, I have to say: I've done just fine without them. I'm sure they're great, but they wouldn't help me, and therefore when giving my advice, that's exactly what I say.

Edit: Also, I'm not the one asking for help, Lylith. I simply ask not to be shouted down by the powers that be and their sycophants simply because my opinion is different than theirs. It has worked for me, I promise you that. I never claimed it to be the end-all be-all strategy for all necros.

[Xislaben]

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
...
FD -- which never has fizzled at a bad time for me

I think you must be taking crazy pills! :P

[Lylith]

Edit: Also, I'm not the one asking for help, Lylith.

from your posts though, maybe you should be? lol


Fabled JBoots (clicky run5)

Ever get it dispelled? I'd be curious. Plus, limiting yourself to only outside kills would suck. Kiting 2 -3 mobs in close quarters inside a dungeon is a big thrill. It's tempting death and proving yourself to be it's master/mistress.


I simply ask not to be shouted down by the powers that be and their sycophants simply because my opinion is different than theirs. It has worked for me, I promise you that. I never claimed it to be the end-all be-all strategy for all necros.

Yep, and I'm just saying everything you are posting is contray to what I've been told and seen as well. I'd prefer those seeking advise not be lead down the garden path to death, misery and slow development... unless I get plat or souls, I'm open to either.

And thanks for the bold, I lol'ed

Misfiring feign deaths were responsible for the majority of my platinum and experience deficits. That and summon kiting things that shan't be summon kited. And Xislaben ;)

screen pic please, hehee :)

[encephalitis]

from your posts though, maybe you should be? lol

Nope, doin' just fine. Thanks for your unsolicited concern.


Ever get it dispelled? I'd be curious. Plus, limiting yourself to only outside kills would suck. Kiting 2 -3 mobs in close quarters inside a dungeon is a big thrill. It's tempting death and proving yourself to be it's master/mistress.


No. Junk buffs and SV++ ftw.


Yep, and I'm just saying everything you are posting is contray to what I've been told and seen as well. I'd prefer those seeking advise not be lead down the garden path to death, misery and slow development... unless I get plat or souls, I'm open to either.


Everything I'm posting, huh? I'm pretty sure at least half of what I posted *acknowledged* the validity of what has been polarized into the "other side" of this endless back-and-forth in which I am now somehow entangled.


And thanks for the bold, I lol'ed


Not just for you. Trying to end this by re-asserting that I'm not "flying in the face of conventional wisdom".

What I find hilarious is the implicit presumption on this thread that without those two aa's, a necro is doomed to 'death, misery, and slow development'.

Also what I find hilarious is that the same self-important arrogance surfaces very quickly on these types of threads as those in which a certain "not-to-be-named" wizardress whore-fatty rears it's putrid head on this or any other board.

Instead of "You have no voice because you're guild isn't end-game and you're not a wizard", I'm hearing "You have no voice because you're not a 75 with 1600+ aa and 500+ days /played."

I'm 75. I play maybe 10-20 hours a week. I do just fine. My being on FV doesn't really do anything for me that being in a mid-grade raiding guild wouldn't do for anyone else. Hell, I have 4 pieces of Praetorian gear. I have no anguish gear. Etc. I'm not this "too uber for the rules to count for me" guy.

This thread is about efficiency when soloing. That, to me, does not include trophy hunting, tap-tanking, summon-kiting, or many of the other reasons people have given for purchasing DP and R5 early on.

I will buy them. I will buy them both. But as I said, I have never come to a point where I'm just dying left and right from FD fizzling. Hell, I didn't even mem FD for most of the 60-70 run. Just not necessary if you know what you're doing, and you're hunting in the right spots. Efficiency. Not flexibility or utility. See?

I'm no 15k/15k necro either. I'm what I would consider upper middle class of the necro world. Better than group gear, but any raid gear I have is from several several expansions ago.

So let me amend my original statement to be more clear: If you find yourself getting eaten while kiting, buy Run5 and Death Peace as soon as they are available. I didn't have to. I still don't have them. I will get them someday because they are worthwhile.

[flishtaco]

Glad to see you online last night, too, so I could get the spelling right on your name for my ignore list.

My favorite part and when I realized it wasnt worth trying to help you understand our class.

My name is

LARKS

You had to see me online to spell that right? Really?

I mean its not a hard name to spell where there could be some oddball variation like say ....

enciphilitis.

Larks

[Felicite]

So let me amend my original statement to be more clear: If you find yourself getting eaten while kiting, buy Run5 and Death Peace as soon as they are available. I didn't have to. I still don't have them. I will get them someday because they are worthwhile.
Wow.. I did not read this thread 'cause I retired.

But being the kind of person that likes to write "How would you spend your first 100 AA" threads (I have written 3), I must say that I would rate Run5 and Death Peace as my most used AAs. Soloing. Over the 2+ years I did.

Of course your mileage may vary.

From the first day I had a Feign Death spell, it was bound to my 1 key. Traveling, exploring, pulling.. it's a first reaction to a (nasty) "surprise". The Death Peace AA, if nothing else, allows me to not tie up a spell slot allowing me to mem another DoT, Root, a Debuff, something. That is more efficient.

Run5.. in kiting speed is life. Not having to rely on buying pots or outside buffs is more efficient.

How can you say these two AA are anything but efficient for the soloist?

P.S. "I don't have to?" - yeah, I could solo kite naked, too. Doesn't make it more efficient.

P.P.S. You never split anything? Death Peace takes no mana (ok 1) and does not tie up your spell recast timer (because it's not a spell).. that's direct efficiency soloing.

Just curious..

Edit: Sigh. Went back a page.. almost wish I hadn't. Yeah, FV is fun for the buyablity of otherwise no drop items. I sometimes tripped and based general advice on them. Like this case here. Yeah, if you are always outside using FabledJs I suppose Run5 seems silly. I didn't even buy/farm FabledJs. I was always at the buff limit and I had Run5.. so, why bother? Just another button to deal with.

[Lylith]

Nope, doin' just fine. Thanks for your unsolicited concern.



No. Junk buffs and SV++ ftw.



Everything I'm posting, huh? I'm pretty sure at least half of what I posted *acknowledged* the validity of what has been polarized into the "other side" of this endless back-and-forth in which I am now somehow entangled.



Not just for you. Trying to end this by re-asserting that I'm not "flying in the face of conventional wisdom".

What I find hilarious is the implicit presumption on this thread that without those two aa's, a necro is doomed to 'death, misery, and slow development'.

Also what I find hilarious is that the same self-important arrogance surfaces very quickly on these types of threads as those in which a certain "not-to-be-named" wizardress whore-fatty rears it's putrid head on this or any other board.

Instead of "You have no voice because you're guild isn't end-game and you're not a wizard", I'm hearing "You have no voice because you're not a 75 with 1600+ aa and 500+ days /played."

I'm 75. I play maybe 10-20 hours a week. I do just fine. My being on FV doesn't really do anything for me that being in a mid-grade raiding guild wouldn't do for anyone else. Hell, I have 4 pieces of Praetorian gear. I have no anguish gear. Etc. I'm not this "too uber for the rules to count for me" guy.

This thread is about efficiency when soloing. That, to me, does not include trophy hunting, tap-tanking, summon-kiting, or many of the other reasons people have given for purchasing DP and R5 early on.

I will buy them. I will buy them both. But as I said, I have never come to a point where I'm just dying left and right from FD fizzling. Hell, I didn't even mem FD for most of the 60-70 run. Just not necessary if you know what you're doing, and you're hunting in the right spots. Efficiency. Not flexibility or utility. See?

I'm no 15k/15k necro either. I'm what I would consider upper middle class of the necro world. Better than group gear, but any raid gear I have is from several several expansions ago.

So let me amend my original statement to be more clear: If you find yourself getting eaten while kiting, buy Run5 and Death Peace as soon as they are available. I didn't have to. I still don't have them. I will get them someday because they are worthwhile.

Dude, reading your posts, the only problem you have is your personality. Seriously. You're like the make up counter lady skit on Mad TV all those years ago "/plugs ears and says LA LAAAAAAAAAA... " But, she was funny ~ not sure, maybe you dress up like her too? /ponder

You make me laugh, because life will always be you fighting the world. Enjoy the fight! I already now how it's gonna end! lmao.

[Xislaben]

It's ok, I was not a staunch believe of the FD AA until I got it either iirc.

[Felicite]

It's ok, I was not a staunch believe of the FD AA until I got it either iirc.
What is this, an Archivist dare?

[Xislaben]

What is this, an Archivist dare?

Somebody's gotta keep you busy! :P

[Rorthoz]

encephalitis, what a douche

[winchester20]

Ow.....

My head hurts

Seriously ya'll, I think the message got across. 98% of us agree one way for solo-er's AA. There's always gonna be a few who differ, regardless of what the subject is. It's not a bad thing to have someone who took the "road less traveled," is it? The OP knows how the majority thinks and what it recommends. If nothin else, debate is healthy, if for no other reason than that it gets the juices flowin. If we all agreed all the time on everything, it'd be a pretty damn boring place around here, wouldn't it?

Can't we let it go at that and just agree to disagree?

This thread has gotten too Kela-esque for my comfort. Even though she's gone it feels like she's left a bad side-effect around. Didn't she have the same effect on another board and by so doing ended up getting it closed down? I don't want the same thing to happen here.

[Lylith]

You mentioned she who cannot be named by NAME!!! Infidel!!! =D

hey, I made 1 little post then nancy-pansy got his panties in a twist. But, that same poster was already in a flamest with someone else *boggle* I felt left out /cry

[Sivas]

One AA that made a huge difference for me is the insta-invis AA, Cloak of Shadows. If you don't have the pre-nerf CoS then I highly recommend it. It's one of those AAs that doesn't seem like a big deal but just makes your life so much easier and can save you in many situations. You can FD in the midst of a bad pull and stand up after 2 minutes and invis even if they're camping your corpse. Plus it makes traveling easier since the invis is fixed length so you can just start running and cast it as you run. If you see someone bringing a train, insta-invis. No need to carry invis potions or memorize a spell when you need it. It's one of the AAs that I use multiple times every night and now take for granted.

I thought I'd mention it since I didn't see it (though I admit I started skimming).

Sivas

[flishtaco]

Aye Sivas that is a really good one. Your probably right it should be moved up to top 100 it is that valuable. I admit I got that one real late AA wise but then it didnt come out until I had a lot of AA.

[winchester20]

Yeah, the insta-invis AAs rule. Reg and undead versions. My wife, who plays a chanter, has a bit of class envy over that AA. Ticks her off everytime I'm off like a bat outta hell and she has to stop and mem hers.

[Venjenz]

I think there's a reason that minus one person, everyone gets RS3 and the Death Peace AA. Seems to me that AAs should be purchased according to how often they would be used and how useful they are to the day to day necro playstyle that the vast majority of necros all seem to employ.

I got RS3 when I dinged 51. Once I grind to the upper 60s, I'll go back and do some AA farming to get the essentials, and yeah, Death Peace will definitely be in the first 100 points spent. Besides RunSpeed, what could be more useful than freeing up a spell slot and still having your "get out of beating free" card on tap? It opens up so many different possibilities.

Again, I think there's a reason everyone minus one person agree on it.

[encephalitis]

I think there's a reason that minus one person, everyone gets RS3 and the Death Peace AA. Seems to me that AAs should be purchased according to how often they would be used and how useful they are to the day to day necro playstyle that the vast majority of necros all seem to employ.

I got RS3 when I dinged 51. Once I grind to the upper 60s, I'll go back and do some AA farming to get the essentials, and yeah, Death Peace will definitely be in the first 100 points spent. Besides RunSpeed, what could be more useful than freeing up a spell slot and still having your "get out of beating free" card on tap? It opens up so many different possibilities.

Again, I think there's a reason everyone minus one person agree on it.


As the "minus one", I'd just like to reiterate that I think both RS5 and DP are valuable aa's. I'm at 300+ aa's now, however, and still have never thought "man I wish I had RS5 as opposed to RS3 and DP". Could be my play style. Could also be my addiction to buying DPS aa's before anything else as those help me in my play style to gain more aa's quicker.

With DP2 coming out, you can bet that I will be purchasing DP1 soon. I will still have to think about RS5, though I may just drop the 10aa for that as well.

[Raspur]

I'm going to have to agree with most people here that some critical AAs to get as you are leveling up are:

1. RS5
2. SCM
3. Nuemonic Retention
4. Death Peace
5. DoT Crits

I'm also going to add in a couple more that aren't critical to level, but are very handy and open up the areas that you can safely level at:

6. Avoidance AAs
7. Natural Durability
8. Willful Death
9. GoM

Also handy and think about getting:

10. Pet disipline
11. Pet Heal
12. Stability AAs
13. Criticals (both in lifetaps and in DD spells)

Anything I'm forgetting?

[flubuk]

I think the poster above re:run5 and FD reminds me of being similar to CoS envy that we used to listen to (as in everyone who had it , loved it, those who didn't said it was useless)

It's easy to fail to see the value in something you don't possess or have any experience of.

Firstly, Run5 requires no further explanation, you will run faster everywhere, inside, outside, buffed, unbuffed, the lot, you will be able to pull room from a mob on a snare resist easier.

It's an absolute given and a permanent boon to a class who will continue to earn 95% of your solo Xp kiting.

Secondly, FD AA, this again, is so important, and so fundamental to our class now that a failure to place it in top5 aa's to get shows gross misunderstanding of it, and the class.

This will save you mana, save you deaths, save you agrro on raids and groups (no refresh tied to spells so you can dot, FD , dot , FD and lose no effectiveness)

It also saves you a spell gem , hell if you want to be pedantic, mem DA in the new "spare" spell gem if you want the lifeline it gives you.

Anyway, back on topic

As a necro you have 3 ways to increase your solo'ing potential

-make your mana last longer
-make the mobs die faster
-ensure you survive more often when it "goes wrong" (and it will occasionally)

Spell Casting Mastery covers the first part
DoT crits and to a (much) lesser degree nuke/and pet crits do the 2nd
FD AA/Run5/avoidance/mitigation AA's cover survival

From a "roadmap" perspective i'm going to break with tradition, and suggest you dont *max* dot crits straight of the bat.

Yes they are great
Yes I have them
Yes you should get them (ultimitely)

BUT the % reward per level at the higher ends, simply aren't worth it to a sub 250aa necro (even more so with SoF AA costs) it's dimishing returns, and the AA would be better spent elsewhere.

I also don't think 9th spell gem is a "killer app" for a solo necro, just run your 4 or 5 highest DPM dots, and utilize OOC effectively.

With pet haste lasting an hour now, you don't really need it perma memmed like we used to.

So my suggestion....

-Run5
-FDAA
-ScMastery
-DoT crits until you're getting into the 7aa per rank territiory
-WTD (army) this will be a nice little dps boost for free, and the stuns they do are nice for buying kite space
-Natural durability (more HP 4tw)
-ID5/LR5 (ID/LR give BIG returns on the first 5 levels, less so after)
-pet hold
-pet CH
-insta invis/ivu (if you have no CoS)

Then perhaps buy a few "fun" things to amuse/reward yourself like skelly archers, 9th gem etc etc

then knuckle down to finish dot crits and the new destructive fury for dots

the worlds your oyster after this core few hundred AA are done.

Those will get you going, and reap nice investment rewards.

Enjoy

Q

[solithan]

Well spoken Flubuk, I agree with you on almost all points. I would include GoM as a must have right up there with FD aas.

Looking back to a previous debate on this thread I was contemplating a reply as I do not have run5. I have run3 but never bothered with the other ranks. I think you summ'd it up very well in 1 line:
"It's an absolute given and a permanent boon to a class who will continue to earn 95% of your solo Xp kiting"
And the reason I never bothered getting run5 and could probably have never taken run at all and never noticed is that I earned 95% of my xp grouping and root roting. Yep I agree I'm a freak.

[Vinge]

No, you're not a freak, Solithan, you are making a point that I want to underscore, there IS NO one answer. Throughout this thread, particularly the less shrill sections, a number of things have been mentioned repeatedly, one may assume that these then are close to the "right" answer for the "average" necromancer.

I can't resist but to mention Run 5, which I wasn't going to bring up. There is a story of two guys that were walking in the woods when a bear started to chase them. As they ran one said to the other "Do you think we can out run that bear?" To which the other replied, "I don't have to out run the bear, I just have to out run you."

Death Peace AA? If you don't keep Feign Death memorized and get along fine, well then great, don't bother with Death Peace. If on the other hand you DO keep it memorized that AA will free up a spell slot for another DoT which means faster kills. Same reason I would put the extra spell slot from Mnemonic (sp?) Retention on the "must have" list, more DPS potential.

One thing that has been mentioned several times but not really highlighted is the Gift of Mana line. It was "on my list" for some time but I didn't get it until I had over 700 AAs spent. Wow, this fires regularly for me and can save a bunch of mana along the way. I keep an eye out for it to fire and often alter my DoT sequence if it fires and I have a big mana spell coming up soon.

I would also strongly recommend getting Pet Dicipline ASAP. Being able to put your pet on hold will save your pet pretty regularly (or at least does mine), which in turn saves you the need of stopping and casting/buffing a new one. And if you raid, or aspire to, you will probably be required to have it.

In the "not critical, but nice" category I would mention the invisibility AA's which I use all the time, the Suspend Minion which I use all the time, and Wake the Dead/Army of Dead which you can use about every second or third pull when soloing. But do your friends a favor if you plan to use WtD when grouped and give warning otherwise you can really freak a group out when a bunch of "ADDS!!!" come charging in.

Finally the Critical Affliction line; this is a Necromancer's bread and butter, DoTs are what we do. I would strongly recommend getting each rank as they become available and any of the other abilities mentioned in this thread that seem like they would be useful to your play style. Then get back to level grinding until the next rank becomes available.

[Winmancer]

do your friends a favor if you plan to use WtD when grouped and give warning otherwise you can really freak a group out when a bunch of "ADDS!!!" come charging in.

A warning is a good idea, but the reactions can be priceless. A jittery Druid can get you evac'd also.

[encephalitis]

I'm born again. I have Run5 and Death Peace now (first rank as I'm still working aa's and haven't bothered to exp to 76 yet).

Both are very very very handy.

The difference between Run3 and Run5...maybe not "night and day", but I am a fan of clickies, and having FD permanently at my disposal with no mana cost is invaluable.

[Lylith]

In the "not critical, but nice" category I would mention the invisibility AA's which I use all the time


at 12 AAs, free invis sounds very nice. i'm sick of flipping to my book to mem my invis spell, lol. 12 AAs are not that hard to get, 1 day long play session or 2 nights for me.

After I finish CA 18, then ranks 7-10 willful death, it's next ~then level to 76.

[Khyandys]

I'm pretty much in agreement with convential wisdom on this, but I'd also like to toss in another that I didn't see mentioned - Blood Magic.

Honestly, I almost didn't buy BM because it seemed to be aimed at raiders/high-end people and I was afraid my HP pool was too gimpy to make use of it. When I finally got it, I found that the HP penalty is not so unmanageable as I thought. I frequently use it while soloing and find it more useful than I anticipated - great for LotD burns if nothing else. Consider it after you've gotten the basics and a good amount of lifetap/DD crits out of the way. I'd rate this above some of the other AAs I bought before it - like Swarm of Decay.

[Fazzeel]

A warning is a good idea, but the reactions can be priceless. A jittery Druid can get you evac'd also.

Seriously? In this day and age if an idiot in your group can't tell the difference between mobs named "A Bloodmoon Shaman" and "Fazzeel's Pet" then they are a true moron (and of course, a druid, but I repeat myself).

[Sarnath Creed]

Another thing to consider, And this was one of the major things I looked at personally when getting my first aa's was:

After dot crits, run5, and death peace, I worked on my hp regen aa's so I would make sure i gained more hps then lich drained, having to tap is a waste of mana, and if you can out-regen lich, then your heading towards a good direction.

I made a list of all the aa's i could purchase, and sepparated them into different categories and then prioritized based on my needs, and soon my 100aa's turned into 200, then 400, then 1000, now i have over 1600 and they just flow in.

Go at your own pace, Try to find a groove that works for you, and see where your lacking, and spend aa's in that direction.