Monday, November 17, 2008

Buff Master

Buff Master is a skill under the Specials Skill Tree.
It has a dependency on Brew Master, meaning that at least 10 points must be placed into Brew Master before you can have any points in Buff Master.
It is available to players of level 500 or higher.
Here's the official description :

0.2% per point chance to half the stamina cost (rounding up) when casting skills on other players. (Does not work on self!)

First to note, that does not mean that a player cannot cast the Buff Master buff on himself.
It means that the chance to half the stamina cost does not apply when the player with the buff cast skills on himself.
Since the skill is available to level 500 players, it is safe to assume that players will this skill will have it at the maximum level (which is level 175, with maxed Fury Casting).
That means there is a 35% chance to half the stamina cost.
Ignoring rounding, it is saving 17.5% of the stamina.

The buff itself cost 10 stamina and has a duration of 60 minutes (90 minutes with maxed sustain).
So if you are a level 500 or higher with the buff, and casting more than 60 stamina of skills on other players (within the duration of the Buff Master), you should first cast this buff on yourself.

If you need to buy this buff, then you have to figure out how much your stamina worth, vs how much are players charging you for this buff. The same ratio of 17.5% savings apply if you buy a level 175 buff. That means, if you will be using 100 stam in buffs (on others), you will be saving 17.5 stam. If you will be using 150 stam in buffs, you will be saving 26.25 stam (which is a little more than 1 fsp worth in stam). The going rate at the time of writing this blog appears to be 1 fsp to get this buff from a level 500 player.
There is also a Potion of Skills Master which you can buy from the Auction House.
That potion has a minimum price of 25,000 gold. Which I have often seen it as not being purchased at all. Maybe things will change after players read this blog, or maybe not.
That potion is a skill level 100 with a duration of 60 minutes.
That means it is a 10% savings in stamina.
So now, consider the following ::

100 stams used in buffing others
Option 1 : Buff yourself, 17.5 stam saved on average, 10 stam used on buff, 7.5 stam total savings.
Option 2 : Buy the buff, 1 fsp. 17.5 stam saved on average. (Not good, better to use the fsp to buy 25 stam).
Option 3 : Buy the potion, 25k. 10 stam saved on average. (Good deal, probably better than option 1 even for level 500 players).

150 stams used in buffing others
Option 1 : Buff yourself, 26.25 stam saved on average, 10 stam used on buff, 16.25 stam total savings.
Option 2 : Buy the buff, 1 fsp. 26.25 stam saved on average. This is better than using the fsp to buy stam.
Option 3 : Buy the potion, 25k, 15 stam saved. (This is a better savings, since it is cheaper than 100k/25stam rate. Level 500 players are probably better off using option 1, saving more stam without paying the 25k).

250 stams used in buffing others
Option 1 : Buff yourself, 43.75 stam saved, 10 stam used, 33.75 stam total savings.
Option 2 : Buy the buff, 1 fsp. 43.75 stam saved on average. (Assuming rate of 1 fsp = 25 stam, you saved 18.75 stam).
Option 3 : Buy the potion, 25k, 25 stam saved on average. (Assuming rate of 100k = 25 stam, 25k = 6.25 stam, you saved 18.75 stam) (This is the breakeven point if you use the current buff buying rate vs potion rate, as well as stamina valuation, and that means above 250 stams used, option 2 is probably the best option for players below level 500 or without the skill).

What if the price changes?
What if I value stamina differently?
This is especially true since it is 25 stamina is really worth less than 1 fsp (or 1 stamina is worth less than 4k). Players still buy stamina with fsp, but usually only when they are fully buffed. It makes sense to save the stamina and then to use it all in a bigger block. It is this same argument that players hunt with full stamina insted of daily. Consider selling buffs at 1 fsp per 25 stamina, that's like banking your stamina into a reserve, as you can buy the stamina at a more convenient/strategic time. Now, if the stamina bank allows you to withdraw only 25 stamina for every 30 stamina banked, will you do it? Maybe. But if you will, then the value of stamina just went down to 3.3k. Everyone will measure this differently, since at different stage of the game, you may want more fsp (for upgrades, equipment or otherwise), or more stam (when hunting and so close to finishing off that tough level and you're all buffed up).

So here are the variables :
Value of stamina = V(measured as gold per stamina, above examples were using 4k/stam)
Price to get the level 175 buff = B (in gold)
Price to buy the level 100 potion = P (in gold)
Amount of stamina used on others = S

Option 1 : 10 stamina used, .175 * S saved. Total savings = (.175 * S - 10)*V
Option 2 : Buy the buff, B. .175 * S saved. Total savings = .175 * S * V - B
Option 3 : Buy the potion, P. .1 * S saved. Total savings = .1 * S * V - P

Now you can plug in your own values and decide which option you use. Option 1 may not be available to everyone. Have fun buffing.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

New 1-hit setup

Previously, players were limited to 2-hitting after level 186.
However, the introduction of death dealer and counter attack changes the game play.
Let's compare the 2 most common setups.

Wither setups
In this setup, the player require 2 hits to kill a creature.
However, when wither activates, the creature's HP is halved, and it can be killed in 1-hit.
Because the highest level of wither one can get is level 350 using a potion, there is at least a 30% chance that 2-hits will be required.
As such, the setup will require armor or defense.
The armor setup was preferred primarily because it was garanteed to be safe.
However, creature enhancements now take effect and can do piercing strike, so now, the choice of armor or defense becomes quite subjective. It will also depend on the creature's attack and damage.
But I digress. Using such a setup, and with the wither 350 potion, the average number of hit is 1.3. That number might be a little lower with deathwish.

1-hitting setups
Death dealer introduces a new method that could be more efficient. With a high enough kill streak, one can get 20% more damage. That usually is sufficient for most levels to 1-hit if the maximum damage gear is used. DC potions and Keen Edge are nice buffs for creatures that require more attack. Counter Attack is added, but only as needed. So here's a simplified procedure to determine what you need. Finally, you'll need shield imp to protect the kill streak and keep Death Dealer at 20%.
0. Have a kill streak of at least 60. If not, kill some lower level creature without doubler to build up the kill streak, perhaps on your way from relic to portal.
1. Equip gears to maximize damage (ignore defense and armor).
2. Buff up with Berserk/Fury/Enchant Weapon/Enchant Armor.
3. Use spreadsheet link below to determine Dark Curse level needed.
4. If level needed exceeds 225, get a Keen Edge buff.
5. If level needed still exceeds, switch an item to increase attack. (In my case, I usually switch my rune to the Rune of Gamwala).
6. Use spreadsheet link below to determine if Counter Attack is needed.
7. If level is 0, no Counter Attack is needed. You can use any doubler level.
8. Use the chart below to determine which potion is needed and amount of extra stam used.

CA Level Doubler potion recommended Extra stam used
0 Any none
1 - 36 Potion of Acceleration (level 500) 1
37 - 40 Potion of Supreme Doubling (level 450) 1
41 - 72 Potion of Acceleration (level 500) 2
73 - 80 Potion of Supreme Doubling (level 450) 2
81 - 109 Potion of Acceleration (level 500) 3
110 - 120 Potion of Supreme Doubling (level 450) 3

Finally, if the extra stam needed is 3 more than the previous level, it'll be better to hang back at the previous level instead.

Update : With the Google Spreadsheet, the formula was repeatedly deleted/overwritten.
Instead, I wrote a Google Gadget to do the calculation instead.
You can view the gadget here.

FAQ
After posting this blog, there were a few frequently asked questions, so I thought I'd post them here with answers of course.
1. Must I use the 10x or 11x doubler potion? Can't I use the 4x or 3x doubler buff?
Shield imp is more expensive than those doubler potion. Assuming you get hit 2% of the time (can be more due to dodge and nullify), each shield imp with 6 blocks last 300 attacks (in my experience, it is more like 200 attacks average), then with a 3k stam run will only require 1 buff with 10x/11x doubler, but will need 3 buffs for 4x doubler, and 4 buffs for 3x doubler.

2. Is the Death Wish buff useful in the new setup?
Death Wish can reduce the chance of misses due to no combat. But at 4.5% chance (assuming level 150) to save a block (which is about 8.33 stam), you need to have missed 22.2 times to save the 8.33 stam. But the buff cost 20 stam, so you need to have missed 53.333 times to break even on stam. Again assuming the 300 attacks, you need to have done 16000 attacks, or burn 160k stam to break even.
Short answer : No, not useful.

3. Is the Wither buff useful in the new setup?
Wither however triggers more often. A level 150 wither triggers 30% of the time. But it does not protect against the 2% misses nor of dodge. It does protect against Nullify, or if you don't quite have enough damage. Hard to know if it was a real save, but if you have 6 hits where the creature does not die in your run, then you should have used wither.
Short answer : Maybe, but only if creature has Nullify, or if you are a little short on damage.

4. Is the Force Shield buff useful in the new setup?
Shield Imp activates before Force Shield. Only in the vary rare event of you missing twice when you only have 1 block remaining on the imp will it have a chance to be useful.
Short answer No, not useful.

5. Is Shockwave useful in the new setup?
Shockwave activates only if you hit. So it does not protect against misses, but can protect against Nullify, much like Wither. But it activates only 15% of the time at level 150. It cost 10 stam, also less than Wither. Using the same Math, if you have 8 hits where the creature does not die in your run, then you should have used Shockwave.
Short answer : Maybe, but only if creature has Nullify, or if you are a little short on damage.

6. Is it better to stay back one level if I need to use CA?
When you kill a creature a level below you, you take a 20% xp penalty. This translate to you needing 25% more stam to gain a level. Now, if you need to use CA72 vs no CA for the previous level, CA72 uses only 18.2% more stam, so you should use the CA. However, if you need to use CA109, you will be using 27.3% more stam, so you're a little better off killing the lower level creature, xp wise. But you are killing more creatures (25% more) and therefore gets more gold. What about CA109 vs CA36 on previous level? You'll be using 36.4% more stam vs 27.3%, you should use the CA109. CA145 uses exactly the same 36.4% more stam. So CA145 vs CA36 is the same xp wise, but killing the lower level creature has the bonus of getting more kills and hence more gold.

7. OK, so what gears should I use to get the maximum damage?
I'm going to assume you have enough stam (about 4k is my guess for breakeven) to make it worth the while for buying a Potion of Truth (EW1000), and that you will be getting a level 175 Enchant Armor buff. All items listed will be considered as fully forged, and if perfect crafted if craftable. I'll start listing from level 186, what was previously considered the level where you can no longer 1-hit. I could be wrong, so feel free to message me if you find a better setup. I have never used some of these setups, since the buffs that allow for this were not available then. Berserk and Fury buffs are not considered, since they depend on your level up stats, not your gears. (Thanks to Tangtop for alerting me on my error with Ragnok set. Inferno Hammer + Witches Catseye Shield is better, and the Inferno Hammer alone has Elite Hunter 100).

Level 186 : Cu Sith set (1322) + Banshee Helm (222) + Axe of Brettal (406) + Marpolo Armor (313) + Iron Ring of Fenaz (435) + Boots of Pelacroz (333) + EW (406) + EA (54) = 3491
Level 200 : Lezhal set (658) + Feral Gauntlets (333) + Banshee Helm (222) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Marpolo Armor (313) + Witches Catseye Shield (352) + Iron Ring of Fenaz (435) + Boots of Pelacroz (333) + EW (599) + EA (54) = 3898
Level 210 : Lezhal set (658) + Feral Gauntlets (333) + Helmet of Phoal (330) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Marpolo Armor (313) + Witches Catseye Shield (352) + Iron Ring of Fenaz (435) + Boots of Pelacroz (333) + EW (599) + EA (54) = 4006
Level 225 : Feral Gauntlets (333) + Helmet of Phoal (330) + Red Spine Amulet (515) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Armor of Swalhaven (314) + Witches Catseye Shield (352) + Iron Ring of Fenaz (435) + Boots of Pelacroz (333) + Glowing Diamond of Kozyu (374) + EW (599) + EA (54) = 4238
Level 227 : Feral Gauntlets (333) + Helmet of Phoal (330) + Red Spine Amulet (515) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Armor of Swalhaven (314) + Witches Catseye Shield (352) + Iron Ring of Fenaz (435) + Boots of Hellmoor (428) + Glowing Diamond of Kozyu (374) + EW (599) + EA (54) = 4333
Level 235 : Steep Nojor set (1337) + Helmet of Phoal (330) + Red Spine Amulet (515) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Iron Ring of Fenaz (435) + Boots of Hellmoor (428) + Rune of Validar (385) + EW (599) + EA (23) = 4651
Level 245 : Steep Nojor set (1337) + Helmet of Xenix (565) + Red Spine Amulet (515) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Iron Ring of Fenaz (435) + Boots of Hellmoor (428) + Rune of Validar (385) + EW (599) + EA (23) = 4886
Level 255 : Steep Nojor set (1337) + Helmet of Xenix (565) + Red Spine Amulet (515) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Ring of Ignoal (438) + Boots of Hellmoor (428) + Rune of Validar (385) + EW (599) + EA (23) = 4889
Level 274 : Steep Nojor set (1337) + Helmet of Xenix (565) + Amulet of Laugeh (538) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Ring of Ignoal (438) + Boots of Hellmoor (428) + Rune of Validar (385) + EW (599) + EA (23) = 4912
Level 275 : Steep Nojor set (1337) + Helmet of Xenix (565) + Amulet of Laugeh (538) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Ring of Ignoal (438) + Green Spine Boots (533) + Rune of Validar (385) + EW (599) + EA (23) = 5037
Level 276 : Gloves of Servala (501) + Helmet of Xenix (565) + Amulet of Laugeh (538) + Inferno Hammer (599) + Armor of Shoratal (541) + Witches Catseye Shield (352) + Ring of Ignoal (438) + Green Spine Boots (533) + Rune of Validar (385) + EW (599) + EA (94) = 5145
Level 280 : Destroyer set (2218) + Gloves of Servala (501) + Amulet of Laugeh (538) + Armor of Shoratal (541) + Ring of Ignoal (438) + Green Spine Boots (533) + Rune of Validar (385) + EW (115) + EA (94) = 5363
Level 300 : Destroyer set (2218) + Sabertooth set (1362) + Lord Valks War Gauntlet (575) + Armor of Shoratal (541) + Green Spine Boots (533) + Rune of Libitalia (440) + EW (115) + EA (94) = 5878
Level 325 : Sabertooth set (1362) + Lord Valks War Gauntlet (575) + Helmet of Xenix (565) + Sword of Ursa (815) + Armor of Shoratal (541) + Witches Catseye Shield (352) + Green Spine Boots (533) + Rune of Libitalia (440) + EW (815) + EA (94) = 6092
Level 339 : Sabertooth set (1362) + Lord Valks War Gauntlet (575) + Helmet of Xenix (565) + Sword of Ursa (815) + Armor of Shoratal (541) + Witches Catseye Shield (352) + Green Spine Boots (533) + Rune of Kanthos (525) + EW (815) + EA (94) = 6177
Level 350 : Sabertooth set (1362) + Octo-Spine set (1686) + Lord Valks War Gauntlet (575) + Helmet of Xenix (565) + Sword of Ursa (815) + Armor of Shoratal (541) + Green Spine Boots (533) + EW (815) + EA (94) = 6986
Level 380 : Sabertooth set (1362) + Octo-Spine set (1686) + Lord Valks War Gauntlet (575) + Sphynx Helmet (895) + Sword of Ursa (815) + Armor of Shoratal (541) + Green Spine Boots (533) + EW (815) + EA (94) = 7316
Level 390 : Octo-Spine set (1686) + Crushing Fist set (2204) + Sphynx Helmet (895) + Sword of Ursa (815) + Armor of Shoratal (541) + Green Spine Boots (533) + EW (815) + EA (94) = 7583
Level 399 : Octo-Spine set (1686) + Crushing Fist Gauntlets (745) + Sphynx Helmet (895) + Dazmorr Amulet (908) + Sword of Ursa (815) + Armor of Shoratal (541) +Ring of Arzmil (654) + Green Spine Boots (533) + EW (815) + EA (94) = 7686
Level 400 : Octo-Spine set (1686) + Crushing Fist Gauntlets (745) + Sphynx Helmet (895) + Dazmorr Amulet (908) + Sword of Ursa (815) + Argus Armor (590) +Ring of Arzmil (654) + Argus Boots (685) + EW (815) + EA (103) = 7986

8. What if I cannot get Green Spine Boots (or any other items)?
Well, above is for the maximum damage setup. You may not need all of them to 1-hit. You may require a higher level CA if you don't have enough damage. For me, from level 350-379, I hardly have to use the Green Spine Boots, and have been using Boots of Hellmoor. Just use whatever highest damage equipment you can find for your level.

9. Do I always use the highest damage gear?
No. What is listed above is highest damage. But sometimes, you need to trade damage for attack. eg. Saurus Shield vs Witches Catseye Shield, Boots of Hellmoor vs Green Spine Boots.
Sometimes, I trade a high attack boots too, like Boots of Styillpon for the Green Spine. The highest damage gear set is just a reference.

10. Is there a checklist, so that I know I have got all I need?
Checklist :
1. Death Dealer buff/potion and kill Streak (60 for level 175 buff, 400 for potion)
2. Summon Shield Imp buff
3. Dark Curse buff (use the gadget link above to determine the level needed)
4. Counter Attack buff (use the gadget link above to determine if needed and if so, which level)
5. Holy Flame buff (check also that creature is undead)
6. Nightmare Visage buff (check that this buff is not activated)
7. Unbreakable buff (not needed, but very highly recommended if using crystalline items)
Other offensive buffs show up on your profile, check those numbers are good against what you entered in the gadget.