I'm a high-lvl bishop. I'm still sporting B/C gear, and have managed to amass a sum of money by training bots and assistance from my clan/ally. My plan was to get a tallum robe set, but on my server it's absolutely hell to get a-grade helmet (most helms cost 100-150m on the market, and the quest is pure icky). So, I've come to terms that I'm never going to be able to get this helmet (can't even raid for it with RB farmers non-stop around the clock). The tallum robes aren't going to be as effective as my BW for PVE (due to the extra mana and mana regen of the BW, and better % rez with the extra WIT bonus) anyway; it was mostly going to be my PVP robe-set, what with the nice cast speed and mdef bonus.
So here's what I have:
BW robe set
just under +0 BO jewelry set (got some B/C stuff with various +'s on 'em)
+2 homunkulus/acumen
I've got 85m to spend, but I can't seem to think of any way to make my performance any better, since I rely on everyone else for the damage. Seems the best option would be to get majestic robes for pve and hold on to my BW when I need to rez people, but that costs like 200-250m. M.atk barely has any effect on heals, the only thing that would do for me is helping when I try to land sleep or hold undead, but I almost never worry about that, since there's generally an attack-type-wizard in-party.
I was looking into getting a soul bow (I would be needing one for my subclass eventually) for the times when I'm in self-sufficient parties (ones that I don't really need to heal, and am at full mana except for at buffs when I need to do BoA/prayer and sometimes acu/zerk) so that I could provide a little better use of that mana and do some supplementary damage. However, I then heard that in C5 mages would get -15% cast speed (or more) for using bows/duals/2hswords (which would be -30% cast speed on me, since I'm used to having +15% off of acu), and that kind of turned me off.
So, what should I do? I kind of think I should be concentrating on getting the stuff I'll need for my subclass, since it (a HE) will be more dependent on equipment for better exp'ing. However I'm growing sick of having had the same gear for 8 months, and there's still probably another 3-4 months till I'm 75.
However, I then heard that in C5 mages would get -15% cast speed (or more) for using bows/duals/2hswords (which would be -30% cast speed on me, since I'm used to having +15% off of acu), and that kind of turned me off.
Just to correct you there, mystics only get - cast speed & accurancy with polearms and bows, not with duals or 2 handed swords..
I'm going HE too. Equipment is not a concern for me though.
BW robes, believe it or not, have slightly faster casting speed than majestic. I have 513 casting speed in majestic (base). I have 516 in BW. The stun resist of majestic is godly in PVP IMO and the regen is more noticable than in BW. But BW is still millions and millions less than majestic.
I personally wouldn't get a bow but then again I have -7 STR. A carnage with mana up at least benefits your bishop, a soul bow provides nothing. You're still better off with a cheap homu with acumen(8-9 mill) , or maybe an SoV.
If you are going on the cheap there is nothing wrong with BW robes, homu with acumen but definitely get yourself at least +3 BO everything.
I think Im going necro. I always wanted one even before I ever came to retail so its not that their uber its just cause I like the class. Theyre getting nerfed soon so its not like they will still be Overpowered when it comes time for me to sub.
Nonetheless...
Any Below 66 Bishop should have the following weapons to be effective. (The SAs are the main point here)
Crystal Staff (Mana Up)
Big Hammer (Health)
Homunkulus (Acumen)
Dual Swords/Two Handed/Daggar etc. (Dependant on your playstyle)
The crystal staff is mainly for grouping. You equip it before the party begins so that you have a large mana pool to play with while buffing BoA etc. You bascially keep the Mana up weapon out until your mp drops to below the bonus (if it doesnt your not working hard enough ;) ). Then you switch out to the Duals or whatever for pve. This way you can help keep up the damage. As your mp begins to regen be ready to switch to the mana up weapon occasionly (especially as buffs run out). Just play with it till you get comfortable.
The Acumen weapon should always be in your inventory. For those ocasionally times where your party is doing so well your pulling multiple rooms to keep the lvling going. For those parties when the noob gets zerged and you need the extra casting speed to keep him alive. And for pvp/seige where keeping many peoples hp up at the same time is key.
The Health weapon is more of a seige/pve thing when your at war and steal agro ofter. Its basically to give u a better chance at staying alive.
When your 66+ (OMG I CANT WAIT TO GET TO 66)
Your Mana Up weapon should become a conversion weapon.
Homunk (Conversion)
Homunk (Acumen)
Big Hammer (Health)
Favourite DD Weapon.
Thanks to Benediction you can now keep a converion weapon out instead of your mana up weapon. When you notice that your party is getting zerged and believe its an apropriate time for the skill. Spam your mp bonus away and then switch out to the health weapon. Just like that your in a perfect position to use Beneditcion.
Thats basically what im going to do and I cant wait. Ive already ammassed a nice sum (for me) thanks to the DSS market. :)
Most bishops go up to -8 STR to survive in PVP and PVE better and add +4 CON, and +4 DEX. I don't have all those weapons even at 75. With -7 STR sorry I'm not helping DD and no one asks me to.
Not sure how benediction saves your butt while being crazy with a conversion weapon. You have to be extremely low on HP to use benediction and it casts SLOW. Like, so low 1-2 more hits and you're dead. I would ONLY use conversion when going to a raid, where if you get aggro you're dead anyway so who cares. Anytime I've ever used benediction I've almost been out of mp in the first place (it's a last ditch effort spell) and I've been a few seconds away from dying myself.
At A grade I've never used mana up. I had a conversion weapon but it rotted in warehouse for months until I finally sold it. Never had use for it. More mp just means more downtime IMO.
Thats your opinion. Its not my fault you dont wanna help create damage and any damage is good damage. benediction isnt going to save your but its going to save your parties but. The combined effects of both conversion and a health weapon place you at enough hp to use the skill therefore you dont have to be agroed to use it. And btw: I am going - 8 str too. Like i said, any damage is good damage, the trick is to maximise it. Theres only about 4 lvls, 5 if you count 61 that you would be a grade and still have mana up (which i still recommend). resting is not a good thing, it screws up your whole xp gain/hour factor. One of the main points of being in a party is to mimise downn time. More mp gives you more of a chance to avoid down time while still having a nice mana poll to keep for emergencies.
Reserve mana and pay attention to your mp renegeration rate per buff round. If your not full of mana by the time buffs roll around, alternate BoA and focus only on healing. Dont waste your mana regeneration though and if your getting close to full mana (really close) and someones hp is not full (yes i dont recommend healing if its close to full but this is mana regen were talking about here) heal the guy. More mp renegen now means less spamming later.
You're welcome to your opinion, but we're talking about A grade equipment here, I see you haven't hit that yet. I don't know a single 70+ bishop that uses mana up. Bigger mp pool just means more downtime to regen it. If you don't have downtime in the first place, wth do you need it for?
wat did i just say... 66+ = conversion. :( doesnt matter. And dont diss my experience I was a lvl 64 bishop before just so you know ;). Ive been healing for a long time, this is the group of weapons that I have always wanted to get. Nontheless its a matter of playstyle. As long as no one dies the healer is doing its job. Can we agree on that Ellie =D
Yeah sure but that doesn't make conversion any less crazy. In fact tonight I put on BW with a ghoul staff to do Baium and I instantly missed the casting speed of the acumen weapon. The OP can do whatever they want though just like you can.
Too many people can't think outside the box. There are many different play styles for each character type. Thanks for sharing your playstyle its always interesting to hear new ways of doing things. :D
As for jewelry, go for Majestic and try to enchant it up to +3. Overenchanting is a great impact for your pursue, so I'd not recommend it.
Also, enchant your BW up to +3 on each piece. It will add some to your PDef - always good for pvp and will add some for pve.
As for weapon choice... Till C5 the best choice for casting speed lovers is Sword of Valhalla. It costs a lot, but you can craft it saving up to 50% of its price. Don't rush the craft and it will be all good.
Not only SoV works better for sleep/root/hold undead. It provides slight decrease in spirit shots costs. Also you'll need less spiritshots for the same amount of time (x1 bbsps is much better than x3 bcsps). You'll be able to hold few greater CP potions al the time without any weight penalties.
You can think of Hell Knife or Sprite's Staff with SA Magic shield for pvp purposes in case of SE/EE/Prophet absence. Probably you'll be able to buy/craft one for the rest of your money.
Alternatively you can use Hell Knife SA Mana up. It will provide some bonus mana for the case of long rests or raids. The good thing here is you don't need separate spiritshots for your two weapons (SoV and Hell Knife).
There is a possibility for combat bishop. But be aware, it comes handy in small/relaxed groups where you don't need quickest heals.
I personally have +4STR/-5CON tatoo and from time to time come to groups in Plated Leather with melee weapon like Tallum Blade or Crystal dagger SA focus. In PL with +3SoM I have like 650PAtk fully buffed (it's more than my fellow SwS has). It adds quite a bit to overall party damage . But don't be eluded by numbers - it's pure PvE set up or the one for 1vs1 pvp against low-lvl mages.
As for Carnage... I'd say, wait... You'll be able to upgrade top B weapon for low A weapon in your subclass quest. There you'll get your desired low a grade weapon if you really want it.
I'd like to add that soulfire dirk >> crystal staff. A soulfire also has mana up, and allows you to use a shield (which you can't with crystal staff). I think there's a 1-handed blunt of similar value that does the same thing. I got my soulfire dirk at about level 42, and am still using it (albeit at +7 now, equal matk to SoV) at level 63.
I was in a similar situation to you (but with 20 million instead of 80). I farmed animal bones for weeks on my spoiler and have put together most of a majestic jewelry set now. I'm still not sure it was worth it, the advantage over BO is tiny. But at least its affordable.
Too many people can't think outside the box. There are many different play styles for each character type. Thanks for sharing your playstyle its always interesting to hear new ways of doing things. :D
ty :)
As for jewelry, go for Majestic and try to enchant it up to +3. Overenchanting is a great impact for your pursue, so I'd not recommend it.
Also, enchant your BW up to +3 on each piece. It will add some to your PDef - always good for pvp and will add some for pve.
As for weapon choice... Till C5 the best choice for casting speed lovers is Sword of Valhalla. It costs a lot, but you can craft it saving up to 50% of its price. Don't rush the craft and it will be all good.
Not only SoV works better for sleep/root/hold undead. It provides slight decrease in spirit shots costs. Also you'll need less spiritshots for the same amount of time (x1 bbsps is much better than x3 bcsps). You'll be able to hold few greater CP potions al the time without any weight penalties.
You can think of Hell Knife or Sprite's Staff with SA Magic shield for pvp purposes in case of SE/EE/Prophet absence. Probably you'll be able to buy/craft one for the rest of your money.
Alternatively you can use Hell Knife SA Mana up. It will provide some bonus mana for the case of long rests or raids. The good thing here is you don't need separate spiritshots for your two weapons (SoV and Hell Knife).
There is a possibility for combat bishop. But be aware, it comes handy in small/relaxed groups where you don't need quickest heals.
I personally have +4STR/-5CON tatoo and from time to time come to groups in Plated Leather with melee weapon like Tallum Blade or Crystal dagger SA focus. In PL with +3SoM I have like 650PAtk fully buffed (it's more than my fellow SwS has). It adds quite a bit to overall party damage . But don't be eluded by numbers - it's pure PvE set up or the one for 1vs1 pvp against low-lvl mages.
As for Carnage... I'd say, wait... You'll be able to upgrade top B weapon for low A weapon in your subclass quest. There you'll get your desired low a grade weapon if you really want it.
I dont agree with the tatoos. I agree there is a possibility for a Battle Bishop. I just think Con is too important to pvp. Nonethless im a pvper. I dunno what tickles ur fancy. Just stating that -COn isnt good for pvp (so everyone knows). The Pdef/Hp/Resistance/etc. Is too good to get rid of.
+dex - str
+con - str
+wit - men
still floats my boat. :) (pvp setup)