General Knightly Questions

Jaxeus

How do forging runes work? How many may one have applied at once? How long do they last?

I've read a lot of posts about how knights have to spend more credits to be viable in combat than the other archetypes. After those credits are spent, how do they fare? What are well played knights particularly good at? The archetype seems to lack some of the breadth and utility that the others have, I'm just wondering what they got in trade.

Which skills should I focus on if bashing to demigod, as a knight, is my immediate intent?

Which poisons are usually used by pureblades and why?

Thanks gang.

Kio

Jaxeus said:

How do forging runes work? How many may one have applied at once? How long do they last?

I've read a lot of posts about how knights have to spend more credits to be viable in combat than the other archetypes. After those credits are spent, how do they fare? What are well played knights particularly good at? The archetype seems to lack some of the breadth and utility that the others have, I'm just wondering what they got in trade.

Which skills should I focus on if bashing to demigod, as a knight, is my immediate intent?

Which poisons are usually used by pureblades and why?

Thanks gang.

Lots of touchy questions here.

Forging runes are applied to your weapon using a coal commodity.  You can have one of each rune on your weapon(s) and armour/helm.  They last somewhere around a day and a half.  Try to always have all the coal runes on your weapon(s) and armour/helm.  Other forgers can apply them as well, so as long as you know who to ask, they're an advantage you shouldn't be without.

I do not agree that knights have to spend more credits to be viable in combat than other archetypes, especially if you're Pureblade.  PB has a timed instakill, which you can and will be using in group combat.  The real truth here is that warriors have to a hefty larger sum of credits to reach their maximum potential than a caster does (warriors have more rune options to buy and they are more expensive at the higher levels of runes).  If you ever want to solo fight another warrior, runes will be probably be necessary.  However, even without runes, you can stand on your own feet.  It will take a lot practice, skill, and a bit of coding practice to do, though.

Warrior utility (excluding Cavalier, which is incredibly utility heavy) is more combat specific then what you might be considering as utility.  Warriors excel at keeping someone pinned down for other people to kill (through high-end afflictions such as tendons and amputates) and netting kills for themselves in groups (as your opponent cannot stance or parry your attacks if they are proned - something that will be almost constant should they be the main target).  If you choose tracking, though, your utility (and popularity) will skyrocket.

For bashing, trans your spec.  The higher your skill, the less you miss.  Afterward, things will depend on how many credits you'll be putting into your character.  A Rune of Absorption is amazing for PvE, as a Beastmastery Bodyguard.  Surge in Athletics is also well worth the investment.

Poisons will vary depending on who you ask and your own playstyle.  Until you get more familiar with the combat system, stick to dulak (stupidity) and mantakaya (paralysis).

Karlach

Just a quick follow up, coal runes last 3 days.

Enyalida

Trackers are very useful for finding tricky objects that are tedious to otherwise track down. In combat, they are very good group fighters, using pits and springtraps to isolate enemies and hold them in the room (under some specific conditions, entirely preventing them from leaving by any common means). That and the bond clamp ability (plus tendons and the related prones) makes them pretty decent group fighters.

The thing is that not all rituals specs were created equal, with respect to how much use a warrior will get out of them. The one actually on the table changes the discussion a lot. Sacraments gives a lot to a group fighter, for instance - between the group healing abilities, inquisition, the extra timer kill, and the revival/comeback abilities, it offers a lot to a warrior looking to fight in a group. On the other hand, I'd say that aeonics probably provides less. A passive aeon you can't really capitalize on, a smattering of mild defensive abilities with a few pretty great defenses, not overall as strong (for warriors)

I don't think the tracking bond can attack denizens, no.

Jaxeus

Kio said:

If you choose tracking, though, your utility (and popularity) will skyrocket.

Why is this? I was told to go the rituals route if I wanted to do group combat and hunting if I wanted to solo. Also, can a tracking bond animal attack denizens?

Thank you for the great answers.