Mage epic --- game changing?

[Ripqozko]

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

People have brought up some good points. The epic pet mostly just lets you solo the same stuff faster/easier than before. It isn't just a vanity item however, it is definitely a step up from the other pets. You don't need it though, focused air or water pet is just fine. The biggest advantage is being freed from the struggle of summoning a max level/hit pet. If you're looking for an epic for solo play it's not really worth the cost or time investment as others have said.

The epic is more of a raid upgrade really...even as just a stat stick. Having an on demand 67 Max hit pet is the other real benefit. If you are a serious raider than it may be worthwhile to you, it's one of the best pieces of kit you can get, albeit an expensive one. Sadly because of game balence Mages really need clickies and kit to be relevant in raiding.

I recommend going after a Manna robe and Z heart instead, these are must haves for Mages in my opinion. I haven't worn my epic much since getting my Z heart, it's just so good. Both of these items are cheaper than an Earth staff plat or dkp wise. Getting some MP Regen to go along with it is even better.

All that is fluff, all that matters on raid side is can you quad mage? if you cant you are failing your 1 job. the rest bots can do.

[Snaggles]

No it's not a gamechanger unless your game is farming green cons or duoing with it as your tank.

Higher DS, more hps, stun proc, higher melee hits. A pretty no-brainer for that stuff. It seems to always come out the same level hitting for 67's too where the water pet can take half a dozen summons or so to get a 60'hitter. The earth pet is quite durable, non-focused hits for 60 tops and bashes, and is the only one with a root proc that lands on all sorts of stuff. So in short our pets are great and one is simply the best all-around performer.

I don't have the mage epic but a lot of my guildies do have it. I have done a LOT of parsing with the focused water pet. I'll usually bring the mage instead of my ranger just out of curiosity to small group kills. Fay, Uulump, Lhranc, Miragul, Xenvorash, etc. With proper positioning for backstabs the water does about 10% more on red cons that won't get hit with the pet's spell damage. I expect on on stuff that the spells land on it's closer to equal (I can't see other spell dmg parses). With horrid positioning, the epic pulls ahead because it's not reliant on backstabs.

Compared to players, on stuff like Vindi, it falls mid-tier for DPS; out of say 30 people meleeing it's often in the low teens. That's more a testament to how bad most melees parse though than how good a water pet is. I spent a couple of hours in seb and my water pet was trading coin flips with our 57 rogue on who was doing more DPS, and that was without a proper tank knowing where to aim a mob. It was doing consistently about twice the dps of our 55 ranger.

If you see the mage as a +1 DPS and are ignoring COTH, Mala/sini, nukes, and the DS it's still a great class. The pet on normal grind stuff performs far better than the average melee and never pulls aggro. On red cons like Vindi, it still holds up ok (and again never pulls aggro). What not having the epic does cost you is a ton of stats and the annoyance of having to recycle pets for a "good one" when you need to help out.

Would I love the epic? Sure, hell yea. I might end up with an earth staff someday if the stars align. I don't personally feel I'm lacking anything though. Put velocity on the water pet and get good at changing its position and quickly re-attacking. Just pretend you arent a warmbody rogue and even a filthy casual mage can keep up.

[Troxx]

Doh wrong thread

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Yeah generally speaking putting a swarmcaller on a summoned pet isn't worth the cost, with the exception of Vulak as Ripqozko points out.

The biggest benefit you get from Mage Epic is the ability to corpse free pets. If you had like 30 corpses in a single zone, a Bio Orb, Swarmcaller, and root nets, you could probably do some solo artist stuff. That would mostly be for fun though, I doubt you would make the plat back hehe, unless you got a really nice item from one of the mobs.

[sajbert]

TLDR: No you cannot solo stuff like seb crypt unless maybe you’re gonna do it as a challenge type of deal with lots of hassle, consumables and whatnot.

I honestly have no idea who pays 700k+ for an Earth Staff. It’s not worth it unless that is your one p99 goal: To have a mage Epic. Even then I’ll bet you’ll be feeling pretty empty afterwards.

[loramin]

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

Even then I’ll bet you’ll be feeling pretty empty afterwards.

Yup ... vs. every other "magic pixel" one can acquire on P99 ... all of which leave you feeling so fulfilled [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[sajbert]

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

Yup ... vs. every other "magic pixel" one can acquire on P99 ... all of which leave you feeling so fulfilled [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Eh. Some items open up for new options and alter how you play without 8283993hrs of camping hate. E.g. Jboots, goblin gazhugi ring, several of the other class epics, fungi tunic, jbb etc

[Toxigen]

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

Eh. Some items open up for new options and alter how you play without 8283993hrs of camping hate. E.g. Jboots, goblin gazhugi ring, several of the other class epics, fungi tunic, jbb etc

Z heart

[Crede]

Best answer is to just not raid. Farm pp with mage to buy shit as needed. Focused air and water pet are good enough.

[Ripqozko]

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

Best answer is to just not raid. Farm pp with mage to buy shit as needed. Focused air and water pet are good enough.

thats why i suggested the wc cap to change to your better char awhile ago.