Classes/Spiritmaster
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- From Classes of Camelot
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Description
Spiritmasters are the traditional pet caster of Midgard. They get an Intercepting pet that will absorb some of the hits for the caster. The pet's chances to intercept are improved when it has been fully buffed, most notably needing Dex and Dex/Qui. Other buffs can help in increasing the pet's Hit Points and AF reducing the amount of damage it takes. Spiritmasters get the highest damage spell in the game in their Suppression spec line.
Character Creation
Quickness is nearly useless for Spiritmasters, so unless you plan on meleeing a lot, initial points given should be put into Piety, Dexterity and Constitution.
As far as race selection goes, a Frostalf will hit a little harder and have a larger power pool and a Kobold will be able to cast a little faster. There's no compelling reason to go with a Norseman (or Norsewoman), but realistically the differences at 50 will be relatively minute that any race will work. (However that extra 15 points of Pie can equal an extra PBAE or two in terms of power pool, depending on +pow pool% bonuses)
| Race | STR | CON | DEX | QUI | CHA | EMP | INT | PIE |
| Frostalf | 55 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| Kobold | 50 | 50 | 70 | 70 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Norse | 70 | 70 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
Specializations
As with most cloth casters it is best to focus on one spec line over any other for a Spiritmaster. The three speciines available are Suppression, Summoning and Darkness.
Suppression gets the highest damage PBAE in the game in their spec line. Suppression is also a secondary CC spec line, so they get a mesmerization and demez spell too, although those aren't used as often. The line is further fleshed out with a AE Str/Con Debuff
Darkness will reduce damage variance and increase damage in the Darkness baseline DD, and a Lifetap spell within the specline, however Lifetap spells are more likely to be resisted. Also within the specline are AoE and PBAE Mez spells, and a AoE Dex/Qui Debuff. This spec is more common on the Blue Servers.
Summoning is the Spiritmaster's Pet Focussed spec. Its also seen as the best spec for a purely focus pulling character, although focus pulling is the only way within the spec to do damage. There also is pet buffs and a resurrect within this spec.
Class Comparison
Aside from Spiritmasters specced in Suppression (by far the most common specialization line on Gaheris), three other classes have similar PBAE DD lines available to them: Wizards (Ice), Enchanters (Mana), and Eldritches (Mana). Warlocks (Hexing) have access to a similar delve PBAE, but subject to special restrictions and a substantially different playstyle. Numerous other classes have lower-delve, pet-based, or "pulsing" PBAE damage spells that are generally not analogous to the "traditional" PBAE classes.
The Spiritmaster distinguishes itself from the other "traditional" PBAE classes with a number of key advantages:
- Intercepting pet. The Spiritmaster is the only caster in any realm with access to a pet that can intercept blows directed at the caster. The pet intercept ability provides a distinct and noticeable advantage in both solo and group play.
- Spirit damage. Spirit damage is generally considered one of the least-resisted damage types in PvE, while Cold (Wizard) and Energy (Enchanter, Eldritch) damage resistance appears to be more common. Many types of mobs commonly encountered in the endgame (elementals, most undead, many demons) are also vulnerable, often severely, to Spirit damage.
- 331 delve PBAE. The Spiritmaster's PBAE, at 49 spec, has the highest damage delve of any PBAE in the game. The slightly higher level of the spell (48 spec for other PBAE classes), in theory, also results in slightly lower outright resist rates on high level opponents. In practice, neither advantage is particularly noticeable during typical play.
- AE Str/Con debuff. Spiritmasters and Eldritches gain access to an instant, AE Str/Con debuff in their PBAE specline (the Eldritch's having a slightly higher delve value), which has the effect of decreasing the damage absorption of PvE opponents. Opponents suffering from this debuff take noticeably more damage from all sources, including the caster's own PBAE.
- Mesmerise/Cure Mesmerise. Spiritmasters are the only PBAE class with access to these two abilities, which can prove useful in certain key situations.
Obviously, Ice Wizards, Mana Enchanters, and Mana Eldritches have access to abilities that provide advantages over the SM. Perhaps the most notable among these, for PvE purposes, is the Enchanter's Focus Damage Shield (FDS). Because the Enchanter's PBAE DD and FDS are in the same specialization line, the Enchanter is the only class in the game with access to both a fully-specced FDS and fully-specced PBAE (although Necromancers gain similar, less damaging versions of these two abilities in their Death Servant line).
[Section originally posted by Rynas 11/29/05]
Effects of Attributes and Equipment
Suppression Spiritmasters, like most direct-damage cloth casters, usually assemble their equipment and attributes to inflict the most damage in the shortest time possible. Some key notes and definitions regarding spell damage, based on observations from the general DAoC community (note that these generally apply to all direct-damage cloth casters):
- Damage cap: Refers to the maximum damage a spell can inflict on any target. Generally understood to be equal to [damage delve * 3] and is completely unaffected by attributes and specialization level. There are only two known ways to increase damage cap: the Mastery of Magery realm ability, and items with bonuses to spell damage (the latter capped at 10%).
- Acuity: Piety for Spiritmasters. Higher acuity has the following known effects: - Increases power pool - Increases damage dealt to non-damage-capped opponents (subject to damage cap). In addition, many players believe that higher acuity lowers outright resist rates on high level opponents. However, no testing is currently available to confirm this, and Mythic has not been forthcoming with accurate documentation regarding outright resists.
- Dexterity: Higher dexterity increases casting speed. The general consensus appears to be that casters gain 1% casting speed for every 10 dexterity from 50 to 250, and 1% casting speed for every 20 dexterity above 250. (See http://www.camelotherald.com/more/403.php) There are currently no known ways to increase casting speed aside from dexterity and items with bonus to casting speed (the latter capped at 10%).
- Realm Abilities: The three realm abilities that affect spell damage against typical opponents are Wild Power, Mastery of Magery, and Augmented Acuity (with Augmented Dexterity affecting DPS via increased casting speed). Considerable debate surrounds the overall efficiency of each, but it can generally be agreed that:
Wild Power significantly increases the chance to kill an opponent in the fewest casts possible, and adds more to average damage over time than equal levels of either Mastery of Magery or Augmented Acuity, at least at lower levels.
Mastery of Magery aids both Wild Power and average damage over time, and is the only means by which a caster can raise damage cap, apart from equipment.
Augmented Acuity, compared to Mastery of Magery, has less effect per level on spell damage, but the damage gained per realm skill point may be equal or slightly higher when Mastery of Magery is already above Augmented Acuity. Augmented Acuity has the added benefit of increasing power pool.
Redh_armor has developed an often-referenced chart detailing average damage gain per realm skill point invested in the three realm abilities above. Note, however, that the chart was developed with player-versus-player combat in mind. Some key differences in PvE:
a) Spell criticals (increased by Wild Power) range from 10%-50% of spell damage in PvP, while they can inflict up to 100% of spell damage in PvE.
b) The effect of Acuity on spell damage is not well understood, and is certaintly not a flat bonus to all damage, as is the case with Mastery of Magery. Damage bonuses from higher acuity are subject to damage caps (and thus, only apply to non-damage-capped targets), while the Mastery of Magery damage bonus is not. Augmented Acuity thus has no effect on damage against very low level opponents, and some believe it has an augmented effect against high level (orange+) opponents.
[Section originally posted by Rynas 11/29/05]
Suggested Specs
49 Suppression/22 Darkness/5 Summon. This gives the Spiritmaster the highest damage spell in the game and a -66 Str/Con Debuff which are the Supp SM's standard tools, also in this spec are a 67 second Mez, a demez spell, and a Life Transfer, which aren't used as commonly. This would be the spec most recommended for Gaheris.
50 Summon/20 Suppression. For a focus puller who is determined to use a Spiritmaster. The combination of the 33.9 dps Focus Shield and the 8.2 dps 60s duration damage shield give this class more damage on their focus pulling then any other class. The addition of buffs in the spec means that the Spiritmaster could potentially duo with a Healer instead of a spec buffer, giving them more flexibility, however on Gaheris a Cleric is hands down the best bot for a pet caster.
47 Darkness/26 Suppression/5 Summon This gives the Spiritmaster stronger DDs and a 176 damage PBAE spell. However in PvE the PBAE would have a harder time landing on higher levels monsters because of the low level of the spell. This spec is more common on Blue Servers.
PvE Utility
Traditional PBAE classes on Gaheris are not nearly as distinct as main tank or spec buffer classes, where Paladins and Shamans hold obvious leads in popularity. However, probably due in part to the advantages mentioned above, Spiritmasters appear to be slightly favored over other PBAE classes for group play - especially where massive pulls are expected - while Enchanters seem to be slightly preferred by players who intend to solo using FDS. In any case, PBAE classes of any type are always highly sought after, and at least one is usually included in most endgame groups.
