I was thinking the Brigandine set might be best - checking stats in armory - but :
- is it ?
- where does one acquire it ( vendor doesn't seem to sell it ) ?
- what is total cost ( including shield to get the extra HP ) on average ?
All top D weapons/armors, and then everything on from there (C grade, B grade, A grade, S grade) is only available either via crafting or from other players, you cannot buy them from NPCs.
Total cost depends and varies from server to server.
As far as different types of armors go:
If you plan on making a tank (DA or Paladin), your top options are (all are heavy):
D grade - Brigandine Set + Shield
C grade - Full Plate Set + Shield, ++Samurai Long Sword with Focus SA
B grade - Doom Set + Shield, ++Damascus Sword with Focus SA
A grade - Nightmare Set + Shield (or Dark Crystal Set + Shield), ++Dark Legion's Edge with Health SA
S grade - Imperial Crusader Set + Shield, ++Forgotten Blade with Health (or Focus SA).
If you plan on making a Gladiator, your top options are:
C grade - Fullplate Set, +4 Spirit*Raid Duals for Criticals
B grade - Blue Wolf Heavy Set, +4 or higher tsu*sls for Criticals
A grade - Tallum Heavy (OR Majestic Heavy depending on your playstyle/setup), +++tsu*sls OR +++Keshenberk*Keshenber for Haste, OR +4Keshanberk*Damascus for Health, OR +4 Damascus*Tallum Blade for Haste
S grade - Imperial Crusader Set (if you are actively PVPing), +4 Dark Legions Edge*Tallum Blade for max CP/HP/MP.
None of these armor sets or weapons are available via the NPC, only thru others players, or crafts (or thru weapon trading from the Blacksmith of Mammon).
I was planning to go paladin as 2nd class transfer . One question left though : can you even solo properly as tank ( I'm thinking of that "other MMO" where tanking precludes solo-questing ,hehe ) ?
I was planning to go paladin as 2nd class transfer . One question left though : can you even solo properly as tank ( I'm thinking of that "other MMO" where tanking precludes solo-questing ,hehe ) ?
If you have a OOP Buffer and set up like a DD and not a tank then yea you can solo pretty good.
I was planning to go paladin as 2nd class transfer . One question left though : can you even solo properly as tank ( I'm thinking of that "other MMO" where tanking precludes solo-questing ,hehe ) ?
you can solo as a tank, will take a little longer that expected. if you choose Dark Avenger, it'll be a little easier compared to the Pally, cuz of your panther summon.
if you are willing to go paladin, then i'd suggest that you hunt undead mobs when soloing. once you hit high Cs, Low Bs, you'll find them in abundance. once you hit LvL61 (A grade), I suggest you live and die in 'Forest of The Dead' until you hit S grade (yes you'll get sick of the place, and yes each and every hill and tree and crevice and road of that zone will burn into your brain but it probably is the best option for soloing, unless some1 recommends elsewhere). That entire zone is undead heaven for a paladin. Lastly, depending on your server, FoTD is also a highly contested grind zone, major clans have put a lock down on some high xp areas, as long as you act normal and humanly, and treat others the way you'd want to be treated as, you'll find areas to grind. If FoTD seems daunting, try the upper areas of Blazing Swamp, not undead but good XP for soloing.
Paladin, good tank class. Still a long way to go but come LvL78, you are a nightmare to deal with.
For the cost vs Clan Oath from a clans acadamy the performance difference solo or in party is minimal, I would get the usually nearly free clan oath set from a clan acadamy, they are not hard to join, otherwise if thats not an option go brig.
C grade - Full Plate Set + Shield, ++Samurai Long Sword with Focus SA
Yes.
B grade - Doom Set + Shield, ++Damascus Sword with Focus SA
Everyones facination with doom armor on tanks is amazing and ******ed, why would you recomend a DD speced sword with an armor set that - your strength?? Doom is the LAST armor choice especially if you are going paladin as the Paladin has no cat to supliment your DPS with the -str. If you want a more defenseive based armor go Avadon, its pdef is nearly the same, with same shield boost and HP without punishing your str for more con(which con is uneeded at this level and arguably higher up). Id also recomend for the solo paladin to go +str -con tats, or +dex, but str will serve you better for DPS while soloing, zubei or BW are even options for faster exp.
A grade - Nightmare Set + Shield (or Dark Crystal Set + Shield), ++Dark Legion's Edge with Health SA
Dark Crystal is garbage unless you PvP alot of necros, dont waist the adena, Nightmare is good, but if you want to EXP the most efficient get Tallum. In FoTD where you will be spending most of your time as a paladin bleed resist is a must, as well as the 8% attack speed and more STR will let you kill MUCH faster than NM. Health is a decent choice as there isnt a Focus SA weapon in A grade, you might also Consider a sword that has SA haste, Tallum or Sirris blade to speed up the EXP.
S grade - Imperial Crusader Set + Shield, ++Forgotten Blade with Health (or Focus SA)
I would recomend Focus, I am currently in Tallum with a Focus sa, running +5dex +1str -6con, focus sa and pve is much easier, PVP im more effective against archers and mages and daggers, but any warrior class just destroys me with little challenge due to reduced HP and no shield blocks on their skills, Saving for some IC but its stupid expensive.
half plate pwns all in D grade heavy. half plate IS the Top D heavy armor, and HP's shouldn't really matter that much if your pdef is high enough, I have all 3 for alts but if i want to tank a raid boss i always use half plate. for day to day grinding though really doesn't matter oath/brig/half plate all work without noticable differnce. (oath being the cheapest of the 3 probally your best bet for cost)
C grade is kinda limited options FP or comp comp is nice and better looking but FP just has to many benifits to not use it if you can afford it.
B grade BW heavy will get you through to A grade faster then any other armor.
A for normal xping Tallum heavy would probally work best but NM heavy if you want to be a true tank.
for weapon SA's focus all the way for xping.
if you want for raid then i'd use a high mdef weapon (mage sword) (but it's useless for xping and is basicly only if you are very rich)
and for pvp health sa
I was thinking the Brigandine set might be best - checking stats in armory - but :
- is it ?
- where does one acquire it ( vendor doesn't seem to sell it ) ?
- what is total cost ( including shield to get the extra HP ) on average ?
The cheapest serviceable armor for a human knight is Mithril Heavy available from most shops. It 'set completes' with a hoplon shield that is also store sold.
In D-grade your armor DOES NOT MATTER.
Tura is right (as usual) and clan oath is a great set generally free for the new academy member--if you can get it you should.
If you can't then go mithril heavy and you'll be fine.
Brig is a 'good' d-armor and everyone uses it--but it completes with a craft-only helmet that is around 5 million adena most of the time!!!!!
The brig shield will generally cost you about 400k to buy (also craft only) and you will finish the brig set with shop boots and gloves. Only a fashion pimp worries about brig boots and gloves since they are not part of the set-complete and nothing special.
My advice is don't automatically assume you need top (half plate) or popular (brig) in D-grade.
Likewise in C-grade.
Until about 52+ (b-grade) you won't be in situations where it matters that much anyway.
Finally, tanks solo just fine till after A-grade. As you approach 70 it slows down a lot. You have awhile before worrying about that.
A tank is a support toon. Your job is to manipulate situations to keep others alive and doing what they do--period. You won't be Mr. Uber PvP and you won't solo Antharas as a tank.
Tbh, you won't even be particularly welcome or appreciated (lol).
I think tanking is a mind-set. I also think it's not for everyone. If the class looks intriguing to you then give it a shot and good luck!
Just a li'l detail regarding your first reply to the OP Lucyfur :)
He's got a human knight, They can never become a gladdie :)
Human fighter -> human knight ->the 2 tank classes ->3rd change
Human fighter -> human warrior -> Gladdie/WL ->3rd change
A li'l late, i'm aware, lol.