17 replies to this topic

[Malphirhalith]

Hye, i'm just trying to craft my first rare warrior set (gladiator set it seems)

I play with mace/axe and a bow as a second weapon. I was wondering which couple of characteristic i should choose :

• Power + critical
  
• Toughness + vitality
  
• Power + precision

Do you have any idea what suits best for a warrior ?

Thanks, and have a nice day

[NachyoChez]

I'd need a LOT more info to make an accurate assessment, but if you have plenty of Karma you could pick up 'Soldier's' which gives Tough/Vit/Pow, or buy/make 'Knight's' for Tough/Pow/Pri.  Both are fantastic sets, and very flexible.

Soldier's wins in condition heavy areas if you've no removal handy
Knight's wins if you can keep conditions away and just plow through things.

[Malphirhalith]

NachyoChez, on 08 November 2012 - 07:51 AM, said:

I'd need a LOT more info to make an accurate assessment, but if you have plenty of Karma you could pick up 'Soldier's' which gives Tough/Vit/Pow, or buy/make 'Knight's' for Tough/Pow/Pri.  Both are fantastic sets, and very flexible.

Soldier's wins in condition heavy areas if you've no removal handy
Knight's wins if you can keep conditions away and just plow through things.

Thanks a lot for your answer

In fact i'm only level 31, so with soldier set i think i can't afford yet ?
My craft level is only 130, so it would be a problem too ?

Edited by Malphirhalith, 08 November 2012 - 09:35 AM.

[Siroso]

I would seriously suggest waiting until you reach level 80 to purchase a full rare (or by then, exotic) set.
Even if you were to try and avoid levelling, you would quickly out level your lovely new gear, making it utterly useless.
It would be far better to have the gold, karma, badges, tokens etc. saved up so you can craft, or purchase, a suitable set a 80 (i.e. Knights or soldiers, as NachyoChez suggests).

Try keeping up to your level in blue gear, with runes on each piece (I think at your level you can use major runes, so put 6 different kinds of runes that support the stat you want in your gear). If you still feel underpowered, purchase some blue jewellery for your level and eat food that buffs the stats you want to focus on.

If you are desperate for new gear try upgrading with some of the masterwork weapons and armor you get from the karma vendor in WvW.

[Dulci Ti]

Siroso, on 08 November 2012 - 09:02 PM, said:

I would seriously suggest waiting until you reach level 80 to purchase a full rare (or by then, exotic) set.
Even if you were to try and avoid levelling, you would quickly out level your lovely new gear, making it utterly useless.

I will disagree based on my experience leveling a Thief. I decided to grab a rare set upon reaching level 35 and then would continue leveling until 10 or so levels later. I would then go through the same process. I did that all the way to level 80. On a rare occasion, I would find a piece that would complement what I had and go with it. The nice thing about this tactic is that the 10 levels will go by quickly because you will be nicely geared. This tactic also allows you to sell gear that you find either to a vendor or to the TP. The gear you find and sell will help you pay for the gear you will be buying.

[Enscheff]

I went with Knights for the Pow/Prec/Tough because I also took 30 points in Tactics which already gave me a ton of Vit.

Below level 80 it really doesn't matter. Just run with the best armor you come accross, a few signets on your skill bar, and 10 points in Tactics and you will decimate everything in your path.

The most important thing is to always have the best weapon you can at your current level. They are so cheap you can easily grab a new one off the trader every 5 levels. You should be able to always have a masterwork set of weapons that are no more than 5 levels below your current level.

The more damage you churn out the faster things die. The faster things die the faster you get exp and more loot.

Edited by Enscheff, 08 November 2012 - 09:58 PM.

[NachyoChez]

Dulci Ti, on 08 November 2012 - 09:35 PM, said:

I will disagree based on my experience leveling a Thief. I decided to grab a rare set upon reaching level 35 and then would continue leveling until 10 or so levels later. I would then go through the same process. I did that all the way to level 80. On a rare occasion, I would find a piece that would complement what I had and go with it. The nice thing about this tactic is that the 10 levels will go by quickly because you will be nicely geared. This tactic also allows you to sell gear that you find either to a vendor or to the TP. The gear you find and sell will help you pay for the gear you will be buying.

This is what I did with my warrior.  30-50-65 were my big levels for upgrades, and it wasn't that expensive.

Malphirhalith, on 08 November 2012 - 08:49 AM, said:

Thanks a lot for your answer

In fact i'm only level 31, so with soldier set i think i can't afford yet ?
My craft level is only 130, so it would be a problem too ?

Ah, given that you're leveling I would stick to 'knight' or 'valkyrie'.  The BEST deal is to find someone who can craft it for you (most guilds do it for free, or a kind soul might do it just for the cost of mats), otherwise TP isn't too bad.  Note, though, that my preference is to wait until level 35 for the first set of rare.  Prior to that the game is kind of in 'learning mode' and gear isn't that important!!

[Alduin_x]

Dulci Ti, on 08 November 2012 - 09:35 PM, said:

I will disagree based on my experience leveling a Thief. I decided to grab a rare set upon reaching level 35 and then would continue leveling until 10 or so levels later. I would then go through the same process. I did that all the way to level 80. On a rare occasion, I would find a piece that would complement what I had and go with it. The nice thing about this tactic is that the 10 levels will go by quickly because you will be nicely geared. This tactic also allows you to sell gear that you find either to a vendor or to the TP. The gear you find and sell will help you pay for the gear you will be buying.

I do the same with my current Warrior. It's not that pricey and if you sell off gear you don't need you end up paying for the higher grade armors anyway. I just got a full set of rares doing this. Armor makes a huge difference when you're playing PvE so I always try to get the absolute best gear at the highest level I can, use it till I'm able to get something better and rinse and repeat. Works wonders and I've rarely been without gold or karma to spare.

[Malphirhalith]

Thanks to you all for your answers, it's very nice

I think i'll so wait until level 35 to buy a new set of armor. By TP you mean toughness power ? Now i have 1gold and 66silver, think it(s pretty nice for my level ?

[SpelignErrir]

Malphirhalith, on 08 November 2012 - 11:30 PM, said:

Thanks to you all for your answers, it's very nice

I think i'll so wait until level 35 to buy a new set of armor. By TP you mean toughness power ? Now i have 1gold and 66silver, think it(s pretty nice for my level ?

TP is trading post. Also, don't listen to the people who have commented for you to buy soldier's or knight's or valkyrie's gear - those items won't be available until much later. I'd recommend not buying rare sets for leveling  it's only a few stats better than masterwork armor and costs much, much more than they are worth. Also, you'll outlevel them extremely fast so you won't get your money's worth on them.

[NachyoChez]

SpelignErrir, on 08 November 2012 - 11:48 PM, said:

TP is trading post. Also, don't listen to the people who have commented for you to buy soldier's or knight's or valkyrie's gear - those items won't be available until much later. I'd recommend not buying rare sets for leveling  it's only a few stats better than masterwork armor and costs much, much more than they are worth. Also, you'll outlevel them extremely fast so you won't get your money's worth on them.

Apologies; I would advise 'Hearty' as the the stat (forgot stat changes).  As for not buying it because you'll outlevel...
I bought 4 sets of armor while preparing for the end.  Lvl 35, Lvl 50, Lvl 65, and Lvl 80.  Each lasted me 15 levels (about 1-2 weeks , depending on leveling speed), except the lvl 80 set which I got masterwork while getting ready for full exotics.

It makes a difference.  A pretty good difference too.  I'm not suggesting you buy trinkets/weapons, but if you have the materials there are plenty of crafters who would make the gear for you out of your own materials and if you can get that there's no reason NOT to gear up.

[Malphirhalith]

Thanks, i think i'll buy or craft something when level 35

Edited by Malphirhalith, 09 November 2012 - 09:52 PM.

[Shoros]

Sorry, but rare is simply not worth it before lvl80.
I just checked the TP. As an example, I looked at ~lvl35 prices for heavy armor.

Going for Power/Prec/Crit (if available), total stats for lvl35 RARE armor and prices (took the least expensive available piece) at TP:

(Defense/Power/Prec)
Boots: 59/10/7 - 17.3s
Chest: 117/29/21 - 18.7s
Gloves: 59/10/7 - 17s
Helm: 39/13/9 - 17s
Legs: 78/19/14 - 18.6s
Shoulders: 39/10/7 - 17s

Total Stats:
Def: 391
Pow: 91
Prec: 65

Total cost of 1g 5s 60c

Now let's look at total stats for lvl38 MASTERWORK armor and prices at TP:

(Defense/Power/Prec) [first set bonus]
Boots: 59/10/7 - 1s
Chest: 117/29/21 - 1.3s [+10 Healing]
Gloves: 59/10/7 - 0.9s [+10 Power]
Helm: 39/13/9 - 1s [+5% Magic Find]
Legs: 78/19/14 - 1.2s [+10 Toughness]
Shoulders: 39/10/7 - 1s [+10 Vitality]

Total Stats:
Def: 391
Pow: 101
Prec: 65
Healing: 10
Toughness: 10
Vitality: 10
Magif Find: 5

Total cost of 6.4s
So super secret advice from me: wait 3 levels, get better armor for 16 times less money!


If you have the materials, that's great, but you could still sell them. It's just not worth it in my opinion to get better gear for 3 lousy lvls for such a huge price difference.
And hey: if you want to spend more money, you could replace your complete masterwork armor every 4 lvls or so and still get away with more money in the end...

Edited by Shoros, 09 November 2012 - 11:41 PM.

[NachyoChez]

Shoros, on 09 November 2012 - 11:32 PM, said:

A bunch of relevant and accurate info.

Ok, I was a die hard 'start rares at 35' kind of guy, but Shoros, you provided information that made a better case.  Upgrading using greens every 4 levels is CHEAPER and MORE EFFECTIVE at gearing.  Thanks to the TP system it's not even that tedious...
You sir, have earned a triple meme.

That'll do pig, that'll do.
Clever girl.
Cowabunga

[Shoros]

Just wanted to add:
As I am currently leveling a Warrior and went through levels 30 to 40 over the weekend, I have even better news: most of the masterwork armor (at this level range, haven't looked at higher levels) is currently selling for nearly vendor price. I bought a set of green armor for ~1s a piece (as described above) and as I replaced the pieces later I could vendor them for 90-95c...so it's nearly free, compared to 1g+ every 10 levels.

[Formana]

My best tip is when you get to 80, make/buy a full set of these items.

Armor - Knight's (Rare)
Weapons - Knight's (Rare)
Accessories - Emerald (Masterwork)
Backbrace - Level 78 Story Reward

If you want Power/Tough/Vit, keep running AC + HotW thrice a day and you will all your exotic Armors and Weapons in no time by spending the Tokens you get here and the Karma you get on Orr temples. The only gold you have to spend is for the Accessories and you should buy the Emerald (Exotic) version.

Hope this helps.

Edited by Formana, 12 November 2012 - 11:30 AM.

[NachyoChez]

Formana, on 12 November 2012 - 11:29 AM, said:

If you want Power/Tough/Vit, keep running AC + HotW thrice a day and you will all your exotic Armors and Weapons in no time by spending the Tokens you get here and the Karma you get on Orr temples.

Another trick is to DO YOUR DAILIES.  Combined with the +Karma booster (the keys you get from story should be enough to net you a few) you only need ~20 jugs of Karma (easy enough to get if you save them for the right time) to buy a full set of Temple Gear (minus the 1 piece they don't have for Tough/Vit/Power) when combined with the karma you've been saving all this time!  (Nothing like full exotics on your first day as an 80!)

[Malphirhalith]

Thansk for all your answers

It's been very priceful. I haven't been able to play for the last days, been very busy
Level keeps going, i'll try to be careful when buying the next stuff

Have a nice day all