Templar Discussion Thread

[Hitoshura]

Very surprised I haven't seen one yet, fellow Templar's report. How are you loving the class so far? What level are you? Any recommended builds for Stigma's and Manastones? Personally I usually mix my manastones and stats up fairly well. A combination of Physical Crit, HP, Shield Defense.

[Grey Jorildyn]

Just hit 27 earlier this evening and upgraded to Sura's armor set. Up until now I had tried the mixed sets of HP/Block, etc. This time around I chose to spend a little extra to get the Sura pieces at the Broker that had HP/Block on 'em where I could get it and decked out every manastone slot with Crit+8 stones. After about 30mins of playing with this rig I am killing a bit faster. Difficult to tell if it's due to changing targets for more challenge or what but I am killing Kentari at 27 about as fast as I was killing Sparkies at 26 so I think it's a noticeable difference (Crit rating went from 74 to something like 188? don't quote me on that). I have not even stepped foot in the Abyss although I have access. Perhaps I should try that tomorrow.

Overall I like the class. The Stigma stones add some nice options for solo/party play being allowed to mix them as you wish. Right now I had Holy Shield and Divine Fury on for solo play but I have IJ in the Warehouse if I ever go full party tank. The game design is alright. Not a whole lot of options outside of abilities. Past that, there seems to be a decent emphasis on skill, albeit that's really just how well you can cycle your CDs anyway. Looking forward to the enmity testing as well.

Game seems flat all around imo, but has a lot of the kinks I found in XI ironed out pretty well. Unsure how long I'll stick with it personally. I'd like to try a mage class eventually, maybe even a scout character. So far it's not exactly challenging but meh, it wastes time while I look for a job/wait for callbacks and do schoolwork. Fun times I guess. PIcking up some peripherals to help play the job more effectively as well (G13/Razer Naga).

[Arcana]

I'm enjoying templar, rolling a HP/Crit build currently, not hit abyss yet as im still attempting to get full blues before going in, i notice a decent kill speed as critlar with a sword and board, some say that using a great sword is much better, though i dont see it.

[Lebzile]

28 Templar(still) and I say at 30, the stigma set I'll be rolling with is Divine Slash, Inescapable Judgemnt(duh) and cycling between Divine Fury and Provoking Roar depending on situation. Whether it is Solo PVE/P or Group PVE.

At 50 though, I'll be going with this personally. Still interchanging the same two skills though.

[Drex]

Did my first training grounds run today and it went well, but they seemed disappointed I didn't know how to brand, and the sorc ended up doing it. It does seem like something the tank should be doing, so I'd like to know if any of you other temps have tips. What macros/key combos do you use for branding? What brands do you use? How can I quickly tab around between targets without targeting my damn party all the time?

As for OP's questions:

26.5 temp here. I use crit manastones on my GS, block manastones on my sword and shield, and HP+attack manastones on my armor itself, with +HP and +crit on my accessories. I use g.s. most of the time for solo play, and sword+shield for group stuff. To be honest I haven't given sword+shield I fair chance for DDing because I haven't invested in a good sword yet - I just haven't seen any that stand out around my level without being 3mil.

For stigmas I use IJ and Divine Fury. I wish I had swapped to roar for the T.G. run but didn't have my shards on me and didn't know where a stigma npc in the area was. Still new to the abyss Been grinding the easy golems for my XP, think it's supposed to last until 28 or so.

I definitely think DD templar is the way to go for the time being. I was tanking yellow-orange elites in T.G. with the only +block coming from my sword+shield and had no issues at all with hate or damage taken, even on the boss. As for crit vs attack, I haven't really done a lot of testing on which is better, I just know that crit manastones sell fast for a lot more than other manastones, so I unload those on the broker for cash and use +attack on my armor personally. YMMV.

Another question - what's so great about holy shield? My understanding was it doesn't reduce the incoming damage at all, just makes the mob take damage when you block. With how short the duration is, that seems extremely meh to me, even if I full-timed sword+shield. Am I missing something?

[Fallyn]

Did my first training grounds run today and it went well, but they seemed disappointed I didn't know how to brand, and the sorc ended up doing it. It does seem like something the tank should be doing, so I'd like to know if any of you other temps have tips. What macros/key combos do you use for branding? What brands do you use? How can I quickly tab around between targets without targeting my damn party all the time?

As for OP's questions:

26.5 temp here. I use crit manastones on my GS, block manastones on my sword and shield, and HP+attack manastones on my armor itself, with +HP and +crit on my accessories. I use g.s. most of the time for solo play, and sword+shield for group stuff. To be honest I haven't given sword+shield I fair chance for DDing because I haven't invested in a good sword yet - I just haven't seen any that stand out around my level without being 3mil.

For stigmas I use IJ and Divine Fury. I wish I had swapped to roar for the T.G. run but didn't have my shards on me and didn't know where a stigma npc in the area was. Still new to the abyss Been grinding the easy golems for my XP, think it's supposed to last until 28 or so.

I definitely think DD templar is the way to go for the time being. I was tanking yellow-orange elites in T.G. with the only +block coming from my sword+shield and had no issues at all with hate or damage taken, even on the boss. As for crit vs attack, I haven't really done a lot of testing on which is better, I just know that crit manastones sell fast for a lot more than other manastones, so I unload those on the broker for cash and use +attack on my armor personally. YMMV.

Another question - what's so great about holy shield? My understanding was it doesn't reduce the incoming damage at all, just makes the mob take damage when you block. With how short the duration is, that seems extremely meh to me, even if I full-timed sword+shield. Am I missing something?

1. Get Yadamonerk's Sword from "[group] eliminating a suspect", its a pretty decent damage rating, has crit+ already on it, is a green so has 3 manastone slots and is free. the mob is also a joke, just get a cleric/chanter and a DD or 2 and pull him from behind.

2. Branding is really easy, i wasnt comfortable with using it at first, but after doing a few krall runs i can now lead them easy as hell. Same with NTC, i didnt brand the first run i did, but once i watched one run and its pull pattern, i had no problem branding. Personally, i just stick the "1" and "ZZZ" brand somewhere on my hotbar for the duration of the group, and just click mobs with them when needs be. Also, using tab to cycle through mobs i find is pretty reliable and will usually target the mobs only (i dont know if this is actually the case) when engaged with them, just be careful to look at what target you are on if you are tabbing back n forth using hate abilities. The other thing about branding is that because of the brands showing up next to the mob names up the top with ther HP, as long as you take a split second to realise which brands are there, you should have no problem with targeting the wrong mobs.

3. Do NTC every single time you can. It's atleast half a level full of exp at 25~27 and for like an hour or 2's work, is alot better than you can grind. Also possible drops, branding experience, etc.

4. Holy Shield i was told os pretty good, but after using it a fair bit i kinda agree that it's a bit meh. Along with the fact that as its a stigma it doesnt level up and you carry on doing just 46dmg to the mob every time it hits you for 10 seconds, i personally scrapped it last night when i got provoking roar drop. Roar+IJ combo is pretty faultless for the time being imo.

-----

I have a question myself; i haven't actually tried gsword when soloing alot, because i find the equip swapping a bit... well i swap weapons and then it takes a slight second or 2 to actually swap, and by that time the move i had to stun has already been and gone. i also like to just use all my stuns and stuff when they pop up, instead of like going to S+S and hoping i block, then fire the shield skills, then back to gsword. It might be my lack of agility to press the buttons fast enough, but i personally havent bothered with the gsword myself.

[Hitoshura]

I actually took Holy Shield II out just now for Incite Rage II instead, don't get me wrong I love it but it is just outweighed when I can get more hate tools instead.

[Lebzile]

For those who know of it; what weapon are you getting at 40 from the Xenophon Quest line?

I'll probably go mace because it is extendable since the sword isn't. <3

[Purrrfect]

28 Templar(still) and I say at 30, the stigma set I'll be rolling with is Divine Slash, Inescapable Judgemnt(duh) and cycling between Divine Fury and Provoking Roar depending on situation. Whether it is Solo PVE/P or Group PVE.

At 50 though, I'll be going with this personally. Still interchanging the same two skills though.

Sirry Leb, if you wanted to use a gsword you shoulda been a gladiator.

For the branding, I have branding shortcuts on the hotbar on the side of the screen so I can target and then click those to brand. The only ones I've used up to 31 were Zzz, 1, and 2. There are also shortcuts you can put on the hotbar to auto target whatever has brand 1 or whatever.

[Lebzile]

GSword is for solo only and it makes killspeed so much faster. I'll take my back-to-back 1900 crits np

[Koul]

Yeah, with Divine slash gsword soloing is pretty awesome. With switching weapons though I get a delay as well. I try and bust everything out and then anticipate the mob using a special so I switch to s/b and stun it then get back to Gsword.

My rotation is usually opening with IJ > Divine slash > shining slash > weak strik~combo > then our 3 combo move. forgot name. then I change to s/b and stun if I need to. switch back to Gsword and repeat combos

I was leveling with a friend who quit hurrddd... stuck at 29 and don't know where to go to level. Got mabye 6 quests for Eracus temple but they're all group. hopefully will have better luck tomorrow. Kinda feeling burnt out since quests are becoming dry but... we'll see. Needa explore some more. Trying to con my friend to play with me again but he doesn't like the grindyness of the game =/

overall I'm liking the class.

oh and I use full crit stones except for shield block ones in my junky shield.

[Weltall]

I use full crit stones @ 33.9

Loving the class so far. I love when 2-3 people try to gank me and cannot, lol.

[LurkaKitty]

Did my first training grounds run today and it went well, but they seemed disappointed I didn't know how to brand, and the sorc ended up doing it. It does seem like something the tank should be doing, so I'd like to know if any of you other temps have tips. What macros/key combos do you use for branding? What brands do you use? How can I quickly tab around between targets without targeting my damn party all the time?

As for OP's questions:

26.5 temp here. I use crit manastones on my GS, block manastones on my sword and shield, and HP+attack manastones on my armor itself, with +HP and +crit on my accessories. I use g.s. most of the time for solo play, and sword+shield for group stuff. To be honest I haven't given sword+shield I fair chance for DDing because I haven't invested in a good sword yet - I just haven't seen any that stand out around my level without being 3mil.

For stigmas I use IJ and Divine Fury. I wish I had swapped to roar for the T.G. run but didn't have my shards on me and didn't know where a stigma npc in the area was. Still new to the abyss Been grinding the easy golems for my XP, think it's supposed to last until 28 or so.

I definitely think DD templar is the way to go for the time being. I was tanking yellow-orange elites in T.G. with the only +block coming from my sword+shield and had no issues at all with hate or damage taken, even on the boss. As for crit vs attack, I haven't really done a lot of testing on which is better, I just know that crit manastones sell fast for a lot more than other manastones, so I unload those on the broker for cash and use +attack on my armor personally. YMMV.

Another question - what's so great about holy shield? My understanding was it doesn't reduce the incoming damage at all, just makes the mob take damage when you block. With how short the duration is, that seems extremely meh to me, even if I full-timed sword+shield. Am I missing something?

Not a temp, but there is no Sorc discussion thread. I branded for almost all my NTG runs as Sorc. I have NumPad 1 2 3 and 4 for make brands and alt-NumPad 1 2 3 and 4 for select respective branded target.
As a sorc I use..
NumPad 1 = 1
NumPad 2 = Zzz
NumPad 3 = 2
NumPad 4 = ⇓

1 for the target I want the group to go after first. Zzz for the mob I am Sleeping (since I can sleep it again before it wakes up, I can usually keep this mob asleep forever.) The 2 mob (if we pulled three mobs) is what I`d prefer the grup go after secondly, since I CC it with tree and root, though usually after the first mob the targeter/tank goes after whatever he feels like. The ⇓ mob I usually use as a warning like "Hey look out for this mob that wanders around omgdontgooverthereyoulinkedit!"

Hope I helped maybe

[aers]

I use full crit stones, I think I'd die of boredom without the large crit numbers to entertain me when grinding, lol.

@Leb: I took the sword because I didn't realize the mace was extendable. TBH since I don't like switching to GS that often it's probably the better choice for me.

0/alot on plate gear dropping from rare mobs in Heiron :<

[Gryffes]

Q: With a gold 25 or 30 shield that you get to +10 enhancement ( 65% damage reduction ) is there any blue shield at any point that becomes superior?

[Saxon]

Well since I'm bored, and there is EU maint atm, Imma post my gear and ask for some advice.

Aion™ Online :: Character & Legion

I only started using Crit stones at Lv23, and I don't like how I block less with my shield when soloing Rednamed mobs. But for PvP, not really done any yet, just random duels in towns, I should use more crit or hp? I never saw the point in HP because I could just use Shield instead and lower my dmg taken. Oh and I always have pots because I hate losing and will do anything to win even if it is a waste of money D:!

[RKenshin]

I'm at 34 now, likely will be 35 within the day.

I'm full crit manastones riding at about 31% crit, and the damage/kill speed is extremely noticeable. Occasionally I find a good player to duo with (preferably a cleric/chanter) and the speed at which we can grind is really insane. When solo, mobs my level usually die before or during my second round of of chains (so about 12-18s?).

One word of advice that I don't think many people know though, using an ability in this game resets your swing timer. Especially when using a 1h weapon, you really want to time your abilities to happen at the exact time you swing to minimize the amount of your swing timer you cut off. It feels wierd/slow at first, but I've found it to be better damage output over time.

I have the inescapable judgment, provoking roar II, and incite rage glyphs. Provoking roar is really weak enmity from my experiences thus far, but I guess it's good for an initial pick up on any link/agro. I had divine slash and a few GS swap macros, but didn't find it worth it. Kill speed was more or less the same because of all the weapon delay resets, extra damage taken, and loss of more frequent shield abilities. So I've just stuck with sword+shield. I'd always forget to use divine fury so I just scrapped it, and holy shield is pretty crap.

I'm still using the level 28 worthy noble durable set right now though. I made 3 pieces of the worthy noble 33 set, but think I'm opting to sell them to finish up 400 armorsmithing and possibly just skip to making expert level 33 or 38 worthy durable adamantium... but we'll see. I'm probably just being too OCD.

[Lebzile]

Welcome to a real man's class Ruke, thanks for the input. I like GSword just for the fact that you can almost get the same amount of survivability through the use of constant parries. Not to mention have a SS/Rupture-like combo on Templar is always nice. Using Shining Slash then Divine Slash is always putting a smile on my face to see double 1600s or 1800s. But for PVP, S&B so much better then gsword, can't live without those shield stuns.

[Arcana]

Well since I'm bored, and there is EU maint atm, Imma post my gear and ask for some advice.

Aion™ Online :: Character & Legion

I only started using Crit stones at Lv23, and I don't like how I block less with my shield when soloing Rednamed mobs. But for PvP, not really done any yet, just random duels in towns, I should use more crit or hp? I never saw the point in HP because I could just use Shield instead and lower my dmg taken. Oh and I always have pots because I hate losing and will do anything to win even if it is a waste of money D:!

This is the gear i've been using since 23/24: Templar

You'll notice alot of my gear has bonus HP on it, i deliberatly went this way to avoid having to put too much HP sockets into my gear, put 5 on anyway, if your going to do the same get the highest possible level stones your going with to put into it, less HP you stone the more there is for crit.

I've had no problems with threat really, i wouldnt say that having a block rating of just over 1000 hurts my tanking ability either, i think the crits are begining to far outweigh the blocking at the moment, and if i reeeeeally need to block, i have my stances.

Provoking shout, i find this ability too useful to give up, having it on a rotation of provokes is so useful, and i can only see it getting better, but then again i've not been into NTC with a gladiator yet so i've had no accidental CC breaks, but again, even on CC'd targets i use my provokes so it wouldnt necessarily be a problem.

[Hitoshura]

I'm at 34 now, likely will be 35 within the day.

I'm full crit manastones riding at about 31% crit, and the damage/kill speed is extremely noticeable. Occasionally I find a good player to duo with (preferably a cleric/chanter) and the speed at which we can grind is really insane. When solo, mobs my level usually die before or during my second round of of chains (so about 12-18s?).

One word of advice that I don't think many people know though, using an ability in this game resets your swing timer. Especially when using a 1h weapon, you really want to time your abilities to happen at the exact time you swing to minimize the amount of your swing timer you cut off. It feels wierd/slow at first, but I've found it to be better damage output over time.

I have the inescapable judgment, provoking roar II, and incite rage glyphs. Provoking roar is really weak enmity from my experiences thus far, but I guess it's good for an initial pick up on any link/agro. I had divine slash and a few GS swap macros, but didn't find it worth it. Kill speed was more or less the same because of all the weapon delay resets, extra damage taken, and loss of more frequent shield abilities. So I've just stuck with sword+shield. I'd always forget to use divine fury so I just scrapped it, and holy shield is pretty crap.

I'm still using the level 28 worthy noble durable set right now though. I made 3 pieces of the worthy noble 33 set, but think I'm opting to sell them to finish up 400 armorsmithing and possibly just skip to making expert level 33 or 38 worthy durable adamantium... but we'll see. I'm probably just being too OCD.

I use to do the same thing, I would time my chain attacks so that he would hit in between. But with Ferocious Strike's timer/Rage's being a lot shorter I find myself just spamming all kinds of chains, especially combinations of the severe blows. I only time my hits normally if I am using a mace though because the mace hits multiple damage consistently.

Agree on Holy Shield, I dropped that for Incite Rage, I found myself needing a lot more hate tools for group shit.