Thursday, October 16, 2008

Death Dealer

Death Dealer is an offensive skill available to players level 500 and above.
Here's the official description :

For every 5 kills in a row, without dying, you gain +0.01% extra damage per point (Max 20% and vs. creatures only).

Since all players level 500 will probably have 100% Fury Casting, a player buff will almost always be a level 175 buff.
This buff is also available as potions.
The "Potion of Lesser Death Dealer" provides a level 25 buff and can be invented from plants and bottles bought from stores, except the Blood Bloom Root. However, the Blood Bloom plant is generally extracted for its flowers, so this potion is sort of a by-product and sold for a relatively cheap price.
There is also a "Potion of Life Stealer" that provides a level 40 buff.

The introduction of this buff, together with that of counter attack means you can possibly 1-hit some creatures that used to require 2 hits. However, this buff is a little tricky, since it depends on your kill streak. If you fail and die, your kill streak will be reset to 0, and the buff will provide no additional damage at all. If you have a long kill streak, you can get up to 20% more damage, and that can put you above the damage required for 1-hitting. So what's the difference between the player buff and potion buff? Well, the difference is the streak required to get 20% damage.

Kill Streak Level 175
Level 40 Level 25
0 - 4 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
5 - 9 1.75% 0.40% 0.25%
10 - 14 3.50% 0.80% 0.50%
15 - 19 5.25% 1.20% 0.75%
20 - 24 7.00% 1.60% 1.00%
25 - 29 8.75% 2.00% 1.25%
30 - 34 10.50% 2.40% 1.50%
35 - 39 12.25% 2.80% 1.75%
40 - 44 14.00% 3.20% 2.00%
45 - 49 15.75% 3.60% 2.25%
50 - 54 17.50% 4.00% 2.50%
55 - 59 19.25% 4.40% 2.75%
>=60 20.00%

100 - 104
8.00% 5.00%
150 - 154
12.00% 7.50%
200 - 204
16.00% 10.00%
>= 250
20.00%
250 - 204

12.50%
300 - 304

15.00%
>= 400

20.00%


For the level 175 player buff, you only need 60 kills to get the 20% extra damage. For the level 25 potion buff, you will need 400 kills to get the 20% extra damage. But regardless of your attack, you can still miss (2% chance), and creatures can also have dodge capability. So if you can have armor/defense and still 1-hit, that'll be ideal. If you cannot, going suicidal will mean that you will probably lose your streak, unless you get defensive buffs to protect you from dying when you miss. Force shield and last ditch can give you a chance of surviving when you miss, but shield imp will definitely protect you and your kill streak.

If you don't have a long kill streak, but need the extra damage, you can do a few things. But in this scenario, you'll want the player buff, not the potion. First, if you are walking from relic to hunting grounds, you can kill a few easy creatures on your way. You don't have to kill 60 if you don't need 20% damage. Use the table above, if you only need 10%, you can just kill 30. You can also get a Counter Attack buff (see my previous blog entry), for extra damage, and then turn it off when you have enough on your kill streak.

If you have a kill streak of 400 or more, you can use the potion since it is likely to be cheaper than a player's buff.

And finally, if the death dealer does not give enough damage, you should also consider using both the death dealer and counter attack.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Ethereal Pillars and Portal

Ethereal Pillars is a relic. My guild (Panic), usually try to capture and defend it. But we will not go to the extend to claim that it is our relic. I think guilds whom make claims like "Owners of Krul Pyramid" are just too arrogant.

Most members go to the relic to defend it after their hunt. So the first question becomes, how many stamina does one need to reach the relic? So let us count.
Instant Teleport back to Krul Island : 25
Enter Mountain Path : 1
(2,2) - (25,4) : (6D, 9R, 4U, 14R) : 33
Enter Ethereal Gateway : 1
(2,2) - (7,7) : (5R, 2D, L, 3D, R) : 12
Total = 25+1+33+1+12 = 72

That means in general if you get 4x doubler or higher, you should have enough stam to reach the relic after a hunt. That was not what prompted me to write this blog entry.
After sitting at the relic and stamina is full, you're now ready to hunt. Where's the nearest portal? I've got various answers, so let's see what they are :

Option 1 : Krul Island Teleport, walk to portal at Cathedral Ways (not recommended)
Instant Teleport back to Krul Island : 25
Enter Mountain Path : 1
(2,2) - (8,16) : (12D, 6R, 2D) : 20
Enter Cathedral Ways : 1
(6,10) - (6,2) : (8U) : 8
Total = 25+1+20+1+8 = 55

Option 2 : Krul Island Teleport, walk to portal at Varas Dungeon (not recommended)
Instant Teleport back to Krul Island : 25
Enter Krul Beach Forest West : 1
(2,2) - (7,9) : (R, 4D, R, 2D, L, 2D, 4R, U) : 16
Enter Varas Dungeon : 1
(17,17) - (9,8) : (R, 4U, L, 5U, 2L, D, 6L, U) : 21
Total = 25+1+16+1+21 = 64

Option 3 : Walk to portal at Cathedral Ways
(7,7) - (2,2) : (L, 3U, R, 2U, 5L) : 12
Enter Mountain Path : 1
(25,4) - (8,16) : (14L, 4D, 3L, 8D) : 29
Enter Cathedral Ways : 1
(6,10) - (6,2) : (8U) : 8
Total = 12+1+29+1+8 = 51

Option 4 : Walk to portal at Ethereal Graveyard
(7,7) - (2,6) : (L, U, 4L) : 6
Enter Ethereal City : 1
(2,2) - (3,15) : (5R, 5D, R, 7D, 5L, D) : 24
Enter Ethereal Graveyard : 1
(2,15) - (14,4) : (R, 6U, 9R, 5U, 2R) : 23
Total = 6+1+24+1+23 = 55

Surprisingly (or not), the fastest way is NOT to use the Instant Teleport. Option 3 walking to the Cathedral Ways is shortest. But the portal prices are more expensive in the Cathedral Ways. Walking to Ethereal Graveyard is only 4 stam more. How do the prices differ?

Destination Level Price at
Ways
Portal
Price at
Ethereal
Portal
Azlore Plains 100 15,000 3,400
Meyra Coast 206 30,900 7,004
Rhoi 301 45,150 10,234
Xinderoth 400 60,000 13,600
Teotal 511 76,650 17,374



So if you take the difference, and ask yourself, will you sell a 4 stam buff for that price, that'll help you decide which option to take. For destinations not show above, use the formula below :

Price at Ways Portal = (Destination Level) * 150
Price at Etheral Portal = (Destination Level) * 34

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Counter Attack

Counter Attack is defensive skill available to players 400 and above.
Unlike other skills, putting the maximum skill points on this one is not necessarily good.
Here's the official description :

Uses 0.25% extra stamina (per point) to add 0.25% to both attack and damage. (Both values are rounded up, vs. creature only)

Without doubler, that simply means 2 stamina per round of attack. That means this buff is completely useless without a doubler. Since it also means it uses extra stamina, this buff is useless if you are already 1-hitting without the buff. It is only useful when the extra attack/damage allow you to 1-hit, when without the buff you would be 2-hitting. However, selecting the level of the buff you will want can be tricky.

3x doubler
With 3x doubler, up to a level 133 CA, 1 extra stam is used, making each round of attack using 4 stam instead of 3. With a level 165 Wither, you have almost a 1/3 chance of 1 hitting, so that makes it an average of 5 stam per attack (2 attacks will use 6 stam, while 1 attack will use 3 stam). This means this buff is still very useful if it can convert the 2-hit into a 1-hit. But the extra 33.25% attack/damage must allow you to 1-hit. Since the level 165 Wither is 5 stam per attack average, that makes level 134 or higher CA quite useless.

Level 1-133 CA : 4 stam / round of attack (Level 133 = 33.25% extra attack/damage)
Level 134-175 CA : 5 stam / round of attack (Level 175 = 43.75% extra attack/damage)

Compare ::
Level 165 Wither : 5.01 stam average / creature
Level 350 Wither : 3.9 stam average / creature

4x doubler
With 4x doubler, up to a level 100 CA, 1 extra stam is used. 5 stam per attack, compared to a level 165 Wither which will use 6.68 stam on average. Even using the level 350 Wither potion is still inferior because that averages 5.2 stam per creature. Above 100 CA, 2 extra stam means 6 stam per attack, still better than a level 165 Wither.

Level 1-100 CA : 5 stam / round of attack (Level 100 = 25% extra attack/damage)
Level 101-175 CA : 6 stam / round of attack (Level 175 = 43.75% extra attack/damage)

Compare ::
Level 165 Wither : 6.68 stam average / creature
Level 350 Wither : 5.2 stam average / creature

7x doubler
7x doubler comes from the Super Doubler Potion. These potions were dropped by creatures found in Scavenging (I cannot remember the name of the creature). These potions can be traded.

Level 1-57 CA : 8 stam / round of attack (Level 57 = 14.25% extra attack/damage)
Level 58-114 CA : 9 stam / round of attack (Level 114 = 28.50% extra attack/damage)
Level 115-171 CA : 10 stam / round of attack (Level 171 = 42.75% extra attack/damage)
Level 172-175 CA : 11 stam / round of attack (Level 175 = 43.75% extra attack/damage)

Compare ::
Level 165 Wither : 11.69 stam average / creature
Level 350 Wither : 9.1 stam average / creature

10x doubler

10x doubler comes from the Potion of Supreme Doubling. These potions are sold in the Auction House under 'Special'. These potions once bought are bounded and cannot be traded or given away. Now, this gets tricky, as you will want to determine how much extra attack/damage you will need to 1-hit.

Level 1-40 CA : 11 stam / round of attack (Level 40 = 10% extra attack/damage)
Level 41-80 CA : 12 stam / round of attack (Level 80 = 20% extra attack/damage)
Level 81-120 CA : 13 stam / round of attack (Level 120 = 30% extra attack/damage)
Level 121-160 CA : 14 stam / round of attack (Level 160 = 40% extra attack/damage)
Level 161-175 CA : 15 stam / round of attack (Level 175 = 43.75% extra attack/damage)

Compare ::
Level 165 Wither : 16.7 stam average / creature
Level 350 Wither : 13 stam average / creature

11x doubler
11x doubler comes from the Potion of Acceleration. This is a potion you can make from a recipe. Many level 400 players opt to get level 36 counter attack, making this setup probably the most useful, especially if that 9% extra attack/damage allow you to 1-hit. Also, note that since you will be 1-hitting, you can consider the suicidal setup and forgo defence and armor, but do remember, you can still miss (2%) or creature can dodge, and you can die. But the 1-hitting vs 2-hitting pay off is so great that usually it is worth the risk, especially if you can find some place to stash the gold as you hunt.

Level 1-36 CA : 12 stam / round of attack (Level 36 = 9% extra attack/damage)
Level 37-72 CA : 13 stam / round of attack (Level 72 = 18% extra attack/damage)
Level 73-109 CA : 14 stam / round of attack (Level 109 = 27.25% extra attack/damage)
Level 110-145 CA : 15 stam / round of attack (Level 145 = 36.25% extra attack/damage)
Level 146-175 CA : 16 stam / round of attack (Level 175 = 43.75% extra attack/damage)

Compare ::
Level 165 Wither : 18.37 stam average / creature
Level 350 Wither : 14.3 stam average / creature

16x doubler
16x doubler comes from the Potion of Greater Doubler. This is a potion comes from scavenging, and it used to be 11x. HCS made a recent change and it is now 16x.

Level 1-25 CA : 17 stam / round of attack (Level 25 = 6.25% extra attack/damage)
Level 26-50 CA : 18 stam / round of attack (Level 50 = 12.5% extra attack/damage)
Level 51-75 CA : 19 stam / round of attack (Level 75 = 18.75% extra attack/damage)
Level 76-100 CA : 20 stam / round of attack (Level 100 = 25% extra attack/damage)
Level 101-125 CA : 21 stam / round of attack (Level 125 = 31.25% extra attack/damage)
Level 126-150 CA : 22 stam / round of attack (Level 150 = 37.5% extra attack/damage)
Level 151-175 CA : 23 stam / round of attack (Level 175 = 43.75% extra attack/damage)

Compare ::
Level 165 Wither : 26.72 stam average / creature
Level 350 Wither : 20.8 stam average / creature

21x doubler
HCS gave a bounded item, Christmas Present 2008. It is a level 1000 doubler with 240 mins duration.

Level 1-19 CA : 22 stam / round of attack (Level 19 = 4.75% extra attack/damage)
Level 20-38 CA : 23 stam / round of attack (Level 38 = 9.50% extra attack/damage)
Level 39-57 CA : 24 stam / round of attack (Level 57 = 14.25% extra attack/damage)
Level 58-76 CA : 25 stam / round of attack (Level 76 = 19.00% extra attack/damage)
Level 77-95 CA : 26 stam / round of attack (Level 95 = 23.75% extra attack/damage)
Level 96-114 CA : 27 stam / round of attack (Level 114 = 28.50% extra attack/damage)
Level 115-133 CA : 28 stam / round of attack (Level 133 = 33.25% extra attack/damage)
Level 134-152 CA : 29 stam / round of attack (Level 152 = 38.00% extra attack/damage)
Level 153-171 CA : 30 stam / round of attack (Level 171 = 42.75% extra attack/damage)
Level 171-175 CA : 31 stam / round of attack (Level 175 = 43.75% extra attack/damage)

Compare ::
Level 165 Wither : 35.07 stam average / creature
Level 350 Wither : 27.3 stam average / creature

Now that we have so many different doubler level, I thought we should have a table that compares them. Comparing stam is unnatural, so we have to divide that by the doubler multiplier, since the xp given is multiplied by that. That'll give us the xp per stam compared to straight 1-hit. I also added comparisons for staying back one level, for those tough levels that may require high level of CA.

Buff \ Doubler 3x 4x 7x 10x 11x 16x 21x Bonus
CA19





1.05 4.75%
CA25




1.06
6.25%
CA36



1.09

9.00%
CA38





1.10 9.50%
CA40


1.10


10.00%
CA50




1.13
12.50%
CA57

1.14


1.14 14.25%
CA72



1.18

18.00%
CA75




1.19
18.75%
CA76





1.19 19.00%
CA80


1.20


20.00%
CA95





1.24 23.75%
CA100
1.25


1.25
25.00%
Back level (1-hit) 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 NA
CA109



1.27

27.25%
CA114

1.29


1.29 28.50%
CA120


1.30


30.00%
Wither 350 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 NA
CA125




1.31
31.25%
Back level (CA25)




1.33
NA
CA133 1.33




1.33 33.25%
CA145



1.36

36.25%
Back level (CA36)



1.36

NA
CA150




1.38
37.50%
CA152





1.38 38.00%
CA160


1.40


40.00%
Back level (CA50)




1.41
NA
CA171

1.43


1.43 42.75%
CA175 1.67 1.50 1.57 1.50 1.45 1.44 1.48 43.75%
Back level (CA72)



1.48

NA
Back level (CA75)




1.49
NA
Back level (CA100)




1.57
NA
Back level (CA109)



1.59

NA
Back level (CA125)




1.64
NA
Wither 165 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 NA



So what's really better? Is it better to use 11x or 16x doubler? I've been asked this question quite a lot, so perhaps I should write it down here. My typical hunt usually use about 1800 stam in hitting, and 150 stam in walking while using 11x doubler. Yours may differ. If CA is not needed, then clearly, the 16x doubler is better. I would have used only 103 stam in walking, saving 47 stam. If CA is needed, and CA25 works, then I would have used CA36 and 1964 stam hitting, while CA 25 will use only 1913 stam, saving 49 stam (in addition to the 47 stam in walking). If CA 36 is not enough, and CA 50 works, then clearly 16x doubler is better again. Now, the tricky part comes when CA 25 is not enough, but CA 36 is enough. With 11x and CA36, I'll still be using 1964 stam in attack, but with 16x and CA50, I'll be using 2025 stam in attack. So I use 61 stam more with 16x, minus the 49 stam saved in walking, I still use 12 stam more. But wait, there's one more saving grace. I would have hit fewer times with 16x, so I will use less blocks on an imp. I'll say I use 1 block less, worth 8 stam, so I am down 4 stam. Unless all my levels are as such, that 4 stam probably don't justify the cost of changing doubler potion between levels. Another intangible on the 16x doubler is the time you need for your hunt is reduce by 30%. That could mean to some, no rebuff, or fewer rebuffs.