Getting a JBB at 54, worth it?

[Rkelly]

Hey all,

Just got my Child's Tear, so will have epic soon, and am about a yellow away from level 54. I think I have enough money saved up to afford a JBB if I spend a little time selling in EC. Is it worth the expense at level 54?

Thanks!

[Yumyums Inmahtumtums]

I personally don't have one so I'm biased against it but here is my experience:

Solo'd lots from 54+ with epic. I am currently a 59 Barb shaman with rubicite Bp (little league regen). I can effectively lock down 4 mobs and epic dot down without LOSING mana meaning I am effectively between 80-100% mana throughout the duration of the fight.

My main mana usage is root (PE) so in that sense I don't really feel the need to cast spells that take 8 seconds to cast and have a chance at breaking root then damaging me (hp=mana). The only times I've felt it would be useful is if I'm doting the last 10% of the enemies health and that time would be better spent moving on

I suspect it would be extremely useful from 45-56 and then again at 60 when you can solo farm summoning mobs. Aside from that I can't think of many times id rather cast an 8 second nuke versus medding/canni/casting something else.

[radditsu]

Good to finish off mobs...but not really worth it. Save for torpor.

[loramin]

I personally don't have an epic, but I do have a JBB and (at 56 myself) I use it constantly. I don't even bother DoTing because DoTs take mana and the JBB doesn't. That really speeds up my leveling and I get like 4-5% an hour (vs. maybe half that without the JBB).

If you get your epic that might change things (as you can then root/rot tons of mobs at once), but otherwise I'd highly recommend getting a JBB. It will help you get to 60 faster, and once you do you can sell it to get Torpor plat.

[Exmo]

I personally don't have an epic, but I do have a JBB and (at 56 myself) I use it constantly. I don't even bother DoTing because DoTs take mana and the JBB doesn't. That really speeds up my leveling and I get like 4-5% an hour (vs. maybe half that without the JBB).

If you get your epic that might change things (as you can then root/rot tons of mobs at once), but otherwise I'd highly recommend getting a JBB. It will help you get to 60 faster, and once you do you can sell it to get Torpor plat.

Sell your JBB and buy your epic. You'll thank me later.

[loramin]

Sell your JBB and buy your epic. You'll thank me later.

Heh, well I'd hoped to get one via my guild, and then I'd have both. Unfortunately my guilds (Supremacy, Illuminati) keep disbanding before that happens :(

[Daldaen]

There are several well established guilds on this server that regularly clear fear. But if your sole intent is to use a guild to attain your epic, they probably wouldn't be too keen to help you. But if you are seeking a guild im sure you can find one that suits your needs. Fortunately shamans are OP and it's tough to have too many on a raid.

[loramin]

There are several well established guilds on this server that regularly clear fear. But if your sole intent is to use a guild to attain your epic, they probably wouldn't be too keen to help you. But if you are seeking a guild im sure you can find one that suits your needs. Fortunately shamans are OP and it's tough to have too many on a raid.

No, getting my epic is not my sole intent :) But Illuminati just broke up, and I don't want to wind up somewhere where I'm the 4th Shaman on raids (we may be OP, but a raid only needs one maloser, one slower, and maybe one crippler, and because we're OP the server already has a lot of Shaman).

I'm sure I'll find a new guild eventually though, and I'd just rather wait for that (and level in the meantime) than farm some item endlessly to try and get enough plat to pay for an epic MQ.

As it is I'm sure I'll be farming soon enough to try and get Torpor ...

[Rkelly]

I personally don't have an epic, but I do have a JBB and (at 56 myself) I use it constantly. I don't even bother DoTing because DoTs take mana and the JBB doesn't. That really speeds up my leveling and I get like 4-5% an hour (vs. maybe half that without the JBB).

If you get your epic that might change things (as you can then root/rot tons of mobs at once), but otherwise I'd highly recommend getting a JBB. It will help you get to 60 faster, and once you do you can sell it to get Torpor plat.

What is your soloing strategy with JBB? Slow it, spam JBB while dog eats it, repeat?

[loramin]

What is your soloing strategy with JBB? Slow it, spam JBB while dog eats it, repeat?

Pretty much that (plus a root at the end to stop runners), except that I tank the majority of the time since:

A) I have a BSH (not that it really adds that much DPS, but it's something)
B) The giants I've been fighting really don't do much damage when slowed
C) If I tank I don't have to keep re-casting root

But the dog heals a lot faster, so I do let him take some.

I know I could finish fights faster if I threw EBolts in, but it seems like the time an EBolt saves < the time it takes to med the mana for another EBolt.

[Rkelly]

Got my epic tonight! It's crazy, I was soloing 4 Kelethin guards at a time and lost maybe 15% mana total. Bumping this thread for more opinions on whether a JBB is necessary (or even just very useful) at 54.

[Lyrith]

It's a fun toy, but honestly look at your response. You're doing just fine without it and excited with how much faster you are killing. It's the flip of a coin honestly. Fungi/Torpor are WAY more important.

[lecompte]

It's a fun toy, but honestly look at your response. You're doing just fine without it and excited with how much faster you are killing. It's the flip of a coin honestly. Fungi/Torpor are WAY more important.

Never saw the need to get one, myself. In a group setting they have more value but solo, meh.

[Yumyums Inmahtumtums]

Got my epic tonight! It's crazy, I was soloing 4 Kelethin guards at a time and lost maybe 15% mana total. Bumping this thread for more opinions on whether a JBB is necessary (or even just very useful) at 54.

So continue forward with this logic - you can keep 4 down with recasts using enstill before having to re root. When would you cast your jbb?

I suppose it opens up a bit with PE but fwiw, after you kill 4 and you've used 15% mana you're going to want to do 4 more etc... Personally, my fastest leveling sessions have been finishing off 4 and then starting on a new group of 4.

The biggest thing you're going to find when using your epic is how well you time your roots and more importantly your re roots. I don't use GameTextTriggers so I usually rely on gut instinct (my feels) or, a better measure is consistently rooting and doting and then figuring out at what point during your tic you need to start over the cycle. This relies on trying to place the mobs in a specific order or, simply keeping track of which ones you started with and moving in an order that makes sense to you.

Once you figure all that out, you then realize that the one thing that truly fucks you up are early root breaks as it completely messes your rotation. So now you have to ask yourself - is my 250 damage dd and 8 second casting time with a chance of breaking root worth fucking my perfect cast/med/canni rotation that I have going or am I better to deploy it in another scenario.

This is how I came to my conclusion.

[Rkelly]

Haha, those are all good points, thanks for the advice. Should I put the money I've saved up towards a Ceremonial Iksar Chestplate and sell it when I can afford a Fungi/Torpor?

[lecompte]

How fast do you level? If you are 54 now and started in March of 2014, I would save all money and JUST money camp to 60 until you can afford torpor, you'll be there soon. Do crypt...

[Yumyums Inmahtumtums]

Haha, those are all good points, thanks for the advice. Should I put the money I've saved up towards a Ceremonial Iksar Chestplate and sell it when I can afford a Fungi/Torpor?

I have a rubi Bp and found it helps lots. I believe you are a troll shaman so already your innate is higher than my innate+gear. More regen is better but you'll survive without it.

I'm not knowledgeable enough about Velious gear to know how it will affect the market. If you think you're going to get 60 in the next month then I would say go for it. If not, well....

[BlkCamel]

So continue forward with this logic - you can keep 4 down with recasts using enstill before having to re root. When would you cast your jbb?

I suppose it opens up a bit with PE but fwiw, after you kill 4 and you've used 15% mana you're going to want to do 4 more etc... Personally, my fastest leveling sessions have been finishing off 4 and then starting on a new group of 4.

The biggest thing you're going to find when using your epic is how well you time your roots and more importantly your re roots. I don't use GameTextTriggers so I usually rely on gut instinct (my feels) or, a better measure is consistently rooting and doting and then figuring out at what point during your tic you need to start over the cycle. This relies on trying to place the mobs in a specific order or, simply keeping track of which ones you started with and moving in an order that makes sense to you.

Once you figure all that out, you then realize that the one thing that truly fucks you up are early root breaks as it completely messes your rotation. So now you have to ask yourself - is my 250 damage dd and 8 second casting time with a chance of breaking root worth fucking my perfect cast/med/canni rotation that I have going or am I better to deploy it in another scenario.

This is how I came to my conclusion.

And the Student becomes the Master. :D



Also Rkelly check out my challenge copy and pasted from my Evil Shaman Solo Guide (http://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126844), Respond there if your interested. Sounds like 56 in 2 weeks won't be a problem!

Good morning, Mr. Kelly. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves following "The Guide" and getting to level 60 ASAP. As always, should any member of your family find out you are playing P99EQ, this Shaman will disavow all knowledge of your actions. This mission will self destruct in 5 weeks, do you accept?:D


P.S. If you can hit level 56 within 2 weeks let me know and I will publicly disclose my personal favorite solo'ing spot to level from 56 to 60 in less then 2 weeks, with step by step guide.