Newbie SK 1H/2H gauging DPS / efficiency

[milanojay]

Yes I know we aren't all about DPS and should be a minor concern.

Often, though, I'm soloing or duoing - rarely in a full group.

I don't think I have noticed any difference when I'm using 1h/shield or a 2h whether it be solo/duo/group or anything - and looking for some perspective.

Currently almost 31 using Ebon Mace / Crustacean Shield, and my 2H is Axe of the Lost Souls (30/40 thing).

People say 1h/shield for tanking/grouping, 2h for solo/duo etc. But I'm not noticing much between the two. I'm all about efficiency so curious if someone might be able to break those down in terms of DPS.

I do somehow feel the Ebon Mace does a little bit more damage because it swings much more, and missing with the 2H really sucks. And the DMG feels weird, sometimes consistent 60/65 damage with the 2h and the odd (or lucky) 100-115 damage hit, but those are rare. And again I feel like I miss a lot and the recovery takes awhile.

I've got on SCHW for haste if that helps anything.

Thoughts? In my head a 1H 19/24 seems like an awesome ratio over a 30/40... but then there are talks of 2h damage bonuses and other stuff, and mathematical equations on some forums that are often argued against or incorrect - so who knows.

[Expediency]

At low levels there are damage caps that alter the formula. Its not just a matter of damage/delay. 2h weapons, unless very fast and low damage like the silver swiftblade, are not worth it because of this cap. Once all caps are removed you will see more returns on the slow, hardhitting 2h weapons.

[bum3]

2h weapon dmg/delay bonuses doesn't start till 50. I think the cap is gone at 30 but the bonuses aren't applied until 50.

With your setup and no lag the ebon mace is better.

I think the reason people say 2h for solo is due to fear kiting and latency. You can be out of range even thought it shows your not. By cycling on/off your attack and practicing the range you can lower your out of range non-attacks. a 2hr higher delay allows you to lose less attacks this way. Also spell casting. You lose less attacks when casting spells with a 2h. Before if you were casting during a delay end and missed your attack you had to wait a full round before it attacked again. I think velious made it so once your casting was done the attack went through, which helped the situation. But you still lose some attacks over time with this method as well.

[eqravenprince]

You can use the chart on this page http://lucy.allakhazam.com/dmgbonus.html?setcookie=1 to determine how much to add to your 1h and 2h weapon for bonus. It depends on your level, at level 50 ebon mace has better ratio, at level 60 30/40 weapon is better. Assuming the chart is accurate.

At level 50
ebon mace would be 19+8/24 = 27/24 = 1.125
30/40 two handed weapon would be 30+14/40 = 44/40 = 1.1

At level 60
ebon mace would be 19+11/24 = 30/24 = 1.25
30/40 two handed weapon would be 30+34/40 = 64/40 = 1.6

[milanojay]

And this calculator is up to date with our version/patch in Velios right now? If so, that's handy!

[koros]

You can use the chart on this page http://lucy.allakhazam.com/dmgbonus.html?setcookie=1 to determine how much to add to your 1h and 2h weapon for bonus. It depends on your level, at level 50 ebon mace has better ratio, at level 60 30/40 weapon is better. Assuming the chart is accurate.

At level 50
ebon mace would be 19+8/24 = 27/24 = 1.125
30/40 two handed weapon would be 30+14/40 = 44/40 = 1.1

At level 60
ebon mace would be 19+11/24 = 30/24 = 1.25
30/40 two handed weapon would be 30+34/40 = 64/40 = 1.6

That's the wrong way to do this. Average hit (before damage bonus) is not 1x weapon damage. Also the damage bonuses on lucy aren't in effect until we're in Oct 2001 on the timeline

[eqravenprince]

That's the wrong way to do this. Average hit (before damage bonus) is not 1x weapon damage. Also the damage bonuses on lucy aren't in effect until we're in Oct 2001 on the timeline

You're right lol. Bonus is more like the minimum hit, I forgot. I don't know the current chart, no reference to it that I could find. If there is no 2h bonus, then Ebon Mace is better than a 30/40 no matter what. With the 2h bonus and using that chart, here is my new math. Let me know if this is also incorrect =).

At level 50
Ebon mace would hit for 8-38 every 24 delay. If you take the mid point, it would be a 23/24 weapon.

30/40 weapon at level 60 would hit for 14-60 every 40 delay. If you take the mid point, it would be a 37/40 weapon. Ebon Mace is better.

At level 60
Ebon mace would hit for 11-38 every 24 delay. If you take the mid point, it would be a 24.5/24 weapon.

30/40 weapon at level 60 would hit for 34-60 every 40 delay. If you take the mid point, it would be a 47/40 weapon. 30/40 weapon is better.

[Danth]

It should be no shock that a moderately expensive 1-hander can out-perform a cheapo 2-hand weapon. Spend a similar amount on a 2-hander as you spent on the 1-hander and shield and the 2H option will deal more damage per minute. You can likely get a 30/35 2H for 5K or so, and might be able to haggle down one of the uglier 32/36 versions for not much more than that. 2-handed weapons are always the most cost-effective option since they're in lower demand.

Danth

[Lhancelot]

It should be no shock that a moderately expensive 1-hander can out-perform a cheapo 2-hand weapon. Spend a similar amount on a 2-hander as you spent on the 1-hander and shield and the 2H option will deal more damage per minute. You can likely get a 30/35 2H for 5K or so, and might be able to haggle down one of the uglier 32/36 versions for not much more than that. 2-handed weapons are always the most cost-effective option since they're in lower demand.

Danth

A fairly cheap 2h weapon is carved dragonbone spear, it is 25/30 and is 2-3k. The 30/36 to 30/40 2h weapons are 2k or less, but when you get to the 32/36 ratios the price jumps big time up to 11-15k.

Really I think for the money he will be hard pressed to find a better weapon than his ebon mace for his sk, for quite some time.

[koros]

You're right lol. Bonus is more like the minimum hit, I forgot. I don't know the current chart, no reference to it that I could find. If there is no 2h bonus, then Ebon Mace is better than a 30/40 no matter what. With the 2h bonus and using that chart, here is my new math. Let me know if this is also incorrect =).

At level 50
Ebon mace would hit for 8-38 every 24 delay. If you take the mid point, it would be a 23/24 weapon.

30/40 weapon at level 60 would hit for 14-60 every 40 delay. If you take the mid point, it would be a 37/40 weapon. Ebon Mace is better.

At level 60
Ebon mace would hit for 11-38 every 24 delay. If you take the mid point, it would be a 24.5/24 weapon.

30/40 weapon at level 60 would hit for 34-60 every 40 delay. If you take the mid point, it would be a 47/40 weapon. 30/40 weapon is better.

You're pretty close. And the outcome is the same either way. Right now 2 handers have a better bonus than 1 handers, but not much (and less than 1 handers on a per-delay basis). Ebon mace is currently always better than a 30/40. That should change with the upcoming patch when a 40 delay damage bonus jumps to 34.

Rule of thumb is usually weapon damage x 2 (this number is arguable and can be parsed, it depends on class/atk/mob level/etc) + damage bonus (which is always static and will increase max hit along with min hit as it raises) and then divide that by delay.

[milanojay]

Thanks all. I'll stick with the Ebon Mace. Having lots of fun with it anyways. I'm not all about 'best DPS', just wanted to kinda see how to gauge ratios going forward as weapons come and go. Instead of a better 2H I will most likely work on getting a better shield than crusty, and just go with Ebon/Crusty until I get over 50 and get some small-raid or no-drop plane stuff.

[Skinned]

It should be no shock that a moderately expensive 1-hander can out-perform a cheapo 2-hand weapon. Spend a similar amount on a 2-hander as you spent on the 1-hander and shield and the 2H option will deal more damage per minute. You can likely get a 30/35 2H for 5K or so, and might be able to haggle down one of the uglier 32/36 versions for not much more than that. 2-handed weapons are always the most cost-effective option since they're in lower demand.

Danth

I picked up a 30/35 lance for my warr for ~2k tunnelquesting. Cheap 2handers are proliferating because of Velious, and I couldn't be happier.

Haste is only 2k now with SCHW. Good time to play a melee.