Advice picking a new skillset

• rinaek wrote on 2015-03-27 09:12
  After years of being a pure mage, I've finally decided to expand to a different skillset. Are there any recommendations for a non-music talent to rank that complements magic well? I don't have much gold and have no NX to spare, so something not dependent on end-game equipment/reforges/enchants is preferred.
  
  Thanks!
• Osayidan wrote on 2015-03-27 13:23
  I'm personally going mage+fighter+bard, using merlin knuckles. I think it's the best combo usable with a single weapon for people that are primarily mage. As long as your current gear is not heavy armor your only up front investment would be merlin knuckles, though for ranking up fighter you can just use disposable shop knuckles.
  
  
  -- sent via mobile
• ironwoman wrote on 2015-03-27 17:07
  Rand warrior, strength skills, gunner, then bard.
  
  Gunner will pretty much allow you to clear things almost instantly.
• Zyrus wrote on 2015-03-28 13:30

  Quote from Osayidan;1269155:

  I'm personally going mage+fighter+bard, using merlin knuckles. I think it's the best combo usable with a single weapon for people that are primarily mage. As long as your current gear is not heavy armor your only up front investment would be merlin knuckles, though for ranking up fighter you can just use disposable shop knuckles.
  
  
  -- sent via mobile

  
  
  Seconded.
• Krymez wrote on 2015-03-28 13:39
  You seem to know a lot about the game. I would like to ask you a few questions.
  
  1. Any tips on Puppet skills and if is good? i was thinking Puppet/archer or gunslinger.
  2. Race? i really like giants look but if seems humans are the way to go if you plan to be a long time player.
  3. Starting skill to choose? i really want to be a puppet master and bard late game but is it better to go martial arts or Close combat early game?
  
  And thanks for taking the time to read/ answer if you do
• Citrusjuice wrote on 2015-03-28 14:57

  Quote from Krymez;1269269:

  You seem to know a lot about the game. I would like to ask you a few questions.
  
  1. Any tips on Puppet skills and if is good? i was thinking Puppet/archer or gunslinger.
  2. Race? i really like giants look but if seems humans are the way to go if you plan to be a long time player.
  3. Starting skill to choose? i really want to be a puppet master and bard late game but is it better to go martial arts or Close combat early game?
  
  And thanks for taking the time to read/ answer if you do

  
  
  puppet gun is like extremely late game for people like ironwoman and other pros who have like capped almost every stat.
  Giant is somewhat overpowered and humans are meh.
  Its nice to start warrior and for the path of puppets its usually Warrior -> Archery (r1 every skill) -> shit tons of life skills -> Master bard then puppets
  orat least that's what I've been told.
• Krymez wrote on 2015-03-28 15:43
  what makes you say giants are overpowered?
  I thought they were bad at magic and archery, making the end game balanced with humans
• revdb wrote on 2015-03-28 15:52
  Giants can get a ton of strength, they get Vales Shield that can block everything, they can wear heavy armor for everything, use a shield with a lance (alch+lance anyone?), they can still get a ton of int and can use guns effectively.
• Krymez wrote on 2015-03-28 16:03
  hmm, i might go giant then, not because they are op but i prefer the look of them, not looking like a child.
  Everyone told me human was the way to go.... i feel dumb now....lol
• Oensong wrote on 2015-03-28 16:29
  As wiki as my backing(Not that its always correct...):
  
  Humans end with: 979
  
  Giants end with: 1,012
  
  This is a 33 Strength difference which equals an exact 13 Max Damage difference.
  
  Giants can get some interesting enchant set ups for Strength, though, there are better enchants for max damage that surpass Strength Enchants that are shared by both Giants and humans.
  
  13 Max damage difference isn't too "overpowered." Movement speed is essentially the only "advantage" Giants have, outside the ability to single wield two handed weapons, until the Melee update comes into play.
  
  Source: ....wiki.mabi.....com/view/Stats_and_Skills#Strength
  
  (Not sure the rules on posting links, but I thought I would do a broken link.)
• Krymez wrote on 2015-03-28 16:39
  looking over that link, it would seem humans are the best since they are balanced.
  If giants are op, why are there so few of them?
• Oensong wrote on 2015-03-28 16:56
  After the Melee update, Giants get a boost with the use of Javs.
  
  However, humans and Giants get more strength. Only makes sense, right? lol
• Burningsky wrote on 2015-03-28 17:18

  Quote from Krymez;1269276:

  looking over that link, it would seem humans are the best since they are balanced.
  If giants are op, why are there so few of them?

  
  
  Based off of pure stats,
  
  Giants have the highest STR and Will, so have an edge on Melee, lance, fighter, ninja, and gunner, and make decent mages (though they have increased mana cost on spells)
  
  Humans Have slightly lower STR but much higher DEX, making them more balanced (balance increases average dps, but you can run balance enchants on giants to make up for low dex). Humans have a slight edge on puppetry, but are not outstanding at any other skillset.
  
  Elves have a slight edge in DEX, giving them an edge in archery, but their low STR makes them average puppeteers, and gives them a slight disadvantage in melee, lance, and gunner, and their lower will makes them slightly worse at fighter.
  
  TL;DR damage number comparison assuming equal ranks, equipment, and levels.
  Transformation skills, and age-level up stats, and talent level-up bonuses are ignored for simplification
  
  LANCE: Giant > human (elves can't lance)
  RANGE: Elf > human (giants have their own version of range, javelin toss, elves have shorter mag cooldown, humans aim faster on RA, elves have FS/Mirage, humans have AR)
  MELEE: Giant > human > elf (Giants have taunt, stomp, and windguard to supplement melee, humans have FH)
  MAGIC: Elf > human = giant (mostly negligible. 20 int is 4 MATK)
  FIRE ALCHEMY: Giant > Human > elf
  WATER ALCHEMY: Elf = human >giant
  WIND/EARTH ALCHEMY: Giant > elf = human
  FIGHTER: Giant > Human > elf
  BARD: Giant = human = elf
  PUPPET: Human > Giant > elf
  GUNNER: Giant > human > elf
  NINJA: Giant >human >elf
  
  TL;DR 2-Almost everything is STR-scaling so Giants, which have the most STR do most damage in ~5 skillsets.
  
  The reason why there are so few giants is (probably) because the design of the game favors starting starting on a human (players get three characters via assistant cards for free, and only one if they pick an elf/giant)
  
  After this point, usually a lot more work is done on the main account, and the alts are ignored for awhile. Unless a player REALLY likes playing as another race, they usually default to human. Not to mention, a lot of the current players are veterans who existed before elves/giants were released.
• Krymez wrote on 2015-03-28 17:34

  Quote from Burningsky;1269279:

  Based off of pure stats,
  
  Giants have the highest STR and Will, so have an edge on Melee, lance, fighter, ninja, and gunner, and make decent mages (though they have increased mana cost on spells)
  
  Humans Have slightly lower STR but much higher DEX, making them more balanced (balance increases average dps, but you can run balance enchants on giants to make up for low dex). Humans have a slight edge on puppetry, but are not outstanding at any other skillset.
  
  Elves have a slight edge in DEX, giving them an edge in archery, but their low STR makes them average puppeteers, and gives them a slight disadvantage in melee, lance, and gunner, and their lower will makes them slightly worse at fighter.
  
  TL;DR damage number comparison assuming equal ranks, equipment, and levels.
  Transformation skills, and age-level up stats, and talent level-up bonuses are ignored for simplification
  
  LANCE: Giant > human (elves can't lance)
  RANGE: Elf > human (giants have their own version of range, javelin toss, elves have shorter mag cooldown, humans aim faster on RA, elves have FS/Mirage, humans have AR)
  MELEE: Giant > human > elf (Giants have taunt, stomp, and windguard to supplement melee, humans have FH)
  MAGIC: Elf > human = giant (mostly negligible. 20 int is 4 MATK)
  FIRE ALCHEMY: Giant > Human > elf
  WATER ALCHEMY: Elf = human >giant
  WIND/EARTH ALCHEMY: Giant > elf = human
  FIGHTER: Giant > Human > elf
  BARD: Giant = human = elf
  PUPPET: Human > Giant > elf
  GUNNER: Giant > human > elf
  NINJA: Giant >human >elf
  
  TL;DR 2-Almost everything is STR-scaling so Giants, which have the most STR do most damage in ~5 skillsets.
  
  The reason why there are so few giants is (probably) because the design of the game favors starting starting on a human (players get three characters via assistant cards for free, and only one if they pick an elf/giant)
  
  After this point, usually a lot more work is done on the main account, and the alts are ignored for awhile. Unless a player REALLY likes playing as another race, they usually default to human. Not to mention, a lot of the current players are veterans who existed before elves/giants were released.

  
  
  So would you recommend new players to roll a giant? I dont plan on using archery, i like Puppet, Bard, Alchemy, martial arts.....
• Zyrus wrote on 2015-03-28 17:42
  I've spent 20k ap in this game. If I was starting over I would probably go elf for 1 reason and 1 reason only. Elf hide + Hydra master lol. So overpowered combo. Can solo anything.
  
  That being said Giant with Vales shield would be the easiest character to start with.