What if you don't want to be an Evil Shaman?

[loramin]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You do know shaman can convert mana into hp (and other effects!) too, Lora? [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Indeed, that's very true ... when you have time and things are going smoothly. But here's the thing: higher stats don't matter the 95-99% of the time that things are going smoothly. The only time higher max stats do matter is when the shit hits the fan, and when it does a little extra HP can mean being able to run for your life. A little extra mana with no HP just means you die.

Originally Posted by DinoTriz [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The Wiki debunks this.

It's actually Wisdom > Stamina.

The wiki does no such thing. What the wiki actually says is:

For pure Mana consideration, a higher WIS *dramatically* beats out over a higher STA

(Emphasis mine.) And that's true: for pure max mana Wisdom is clearly better.

But again, it's not about how the numbers crunch under ideal situations. Under ideal situations a Shaman with 150 Wisdom or Stamina is functionally identical to a Shaman with 250 Wisdom or Stamina. The only time higher max stats matter in EQ is when they give you a buffer, like when you accidentally pull two mobs instead of one and the extra HP from higher Stamina gives you a buffer that lets you survive.

Originally Posted by SiouxNation [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You can max stamina via buffs. No meaningful wisdom buffs exist

No meaningful wisdom buffs? Enlightenment gives 22, and Form of the Great Bear gives another 10. Now of course Riotous Health gives 50 Stamina, but still 32 Wisdom is far from meaningless.

Personally self-buffed I have 225 Wisdom and 223 Stamina. I've played here for four years and I've raided (though not at the A/A level). You can see my gear in my Magelo (link in signature): it's not terrible, but it's certianly not maxxed either.

If you're in Aftermath or Tempest or whatever and/or if you're getting raid buffed then sure, maxing Stamina (and probably Wisdom too) isn't that hard. But non-top-tier raiders won't be hitting their maxes when soloing/grouping for a long time ... if ever.