Casting in MA

[apziro]

I've been spending a lot of time casting in MA, mainly while soloing.
Is it feasible? Definitely. Is it optimal? Well, possibly. That would depend on the tactics used,... are you almost constantly taking hits, or is it an occasional blow when root breaks, etc.?

As for optimal combinations - Either pure MA or pure LA, depending on the situation. I don't remember the exact numbers from the top of my head, but let's say pure LA is 0 malus, 25% absorb, and pure MA is 30 malus, 40% absorb.

Now, there are two options: EITHER, the advantage of 15% extra absorb outweighs the drawback of 30 extra malus, OR, it doesn't.

If it does, then the advantage of 7.5% extra absorb will also outweigh the drawback of 15 extra malus, and as such, full MA is better than 50/50, and vice versa.

The easiest way to determine whether it's clever or not is to consider extremes. Following the above example, we assume that replacing LA with MA generally adds 2 malus per 1% absorb (later, you can redo the calculations with the numbers that apply to your gear).

So, extreme case is:
75% absorb needed to reach full absorb (since you start from 25% with LA). That brings 150 malus.

Consider that for a minute. Full immunity to damage at the cost of 150 malus. (Yes, I realize you won't actually achieve full immunity and 150 malus, but this is the scenario to consider when determining viability of replacing your gear). Whether or not this is desireable depends on average damage received contra average hp/sap used to pay spell costs, which both depend on the tactics used.

The entire concept of "optimal armor type ratio" is fundamentally flawed.

[gillest]

I would be curious to see if extra HP given by MA are higher than extra Hp cost due to malus on a full HP credit 250 double cast.

interesting but i am too lazzy to experiment

[tengheau]

The entire concept of "optimal armor type ratio" is fundamentally flawed.

Thank you, it's obvious to me now that you are right. I asked because I couldn't wrap my brain around how to arrive compare the two on the same basis. I mean they are both in play during the course of a combat as are, say, speed and damage. It's attractive to consider them connected in the same way but the reason it was being so hard is that they aren't connected . :)

Thanks,
Calevin


When you believe in things that you don't understand, Then you suffer, Superstition ain't the way -Stevie Wonder

[sidusar]

The entire concept of "optimal armor type ratio" is fundamentally flawed.

True, unless your opponent is aiming for particular bodyparts, but as far as I know no mobs or npcs do that.

Generally, MA over LA will give 12.5% protection for 25% malus, and HA over MA will give you 25% protection for 95% malus.

I would be curious to see if extra HP given by MA are higher than extra Hp cost due to malus on a full HP credit 250 double cast.

Well, the malus is 24%, so for the extra HP to be higher it has to give the player 24% more health. The HP bonus of a q250 MA is 625, so it's only higher if the player has less than 2600 health in LA.

A level 250 elementalist in full q250 LA health gear would have 3400 health. So then no, the extra HP cost is higher than the HP bonus on MA.

[jennaelf]

I use medium armor when on treks. But ONLY when I am not the main healer or the main tank. It allows me a kind of versatility that I can't experience with heavy or light armor.

I can step in between a young homin (generally the ones being escorted/trekked), and whatever toothy-mawed beast wants to eat them, at least until the Tank does a 360 and does their job. *grins* Alternately, I can blast the crap out of said toothy-mawed beast at the same time/afterward.

Sure, there's malus, and it hurts a little, but not so much when you are in a support role anyway. You play mediary between the light armored/weaker members of the group, and the tank. When the tank fails his job, you can at least compensate long enough for the tank to recover.