How I got Zumryn to build a statue of my character: A Battlegrounds Guide

[DonMoody]

Mod EDIT:
These three posts come from this thread (http://www.srythforum.com/showthread.php?t=1565).

Now this new thread could be used to give specific advice for Zumryn's Battlegrounds, correcting or adding to DonMoody's advice.


aka
DonMoody’s Minor Strategy Guide for Zumryn's Battlegrounds
Part One (of Three)

This is a bit more rambling than I planned but it is (finally) complete.
Perhaps I will review/revise it later (perhaps with input/feedback from those who read, use and comment on this guide).
Congratulations to Badstench on level 95 (and apologies for highjacking his thread - moderators: feel free to relocate this to a more appropriate thread).


Here is a compiled list of some tips/tricks I have figured out and/or been told to help achieve new (personal) record level achievements for the challenges.
Hope you find them as useful as I have.
Note: Though at times I have run them more frequently, I currently do not run the challenges very often. And when I do, I am not always looking to improve my record. When I am trying for a new personal best record level, I try to follow as many of these suggestions as I can.
And (though I know of no run where I followed them all) doing so has significantly improved my score (to the point where "I got Zumryn to build a statue of my character").

Remember: Chance comes into play as much as battle awareness, though you are unlikely to get a new record with just the former and little of the latter.
Use everything you have, even if you don't think it'll work.
Usually, there is no harm in trying (more on this below) and repeatedly making sound combat choices combined with a few lucky breaks will see you reach new heights on the leadership board.
See you in the challenges!


PREPARATION
Be as prepared as you can be, a sound foundation is the best beginning for building your score to its highest level.
Ideally you would like to have all of Weaponry, Weaponry (subskill of your main weapon), Restoration (for maximum healing), Diviniation (for improving your MR) and Destruction (for blasting) at level 100. It appears there is a strong opinion that Necromancy does more damage vs Undead than Destruction; so Necromancy (for The Bone Horde Challenge) at level 100 may also be a good idea.
Yeah, that is asking a lot (and yeah, I am not at level 100 on any skill or power, let alone all of these and realistically, am many months away from being there – yet Zumryn made me a statue so …).
So while that might be ‘more of a goal’, the following can be done without having such skill/power levels:
- make sure you have the Hale Blade
----- an entire post could be written about when to use and when to not use the Hale Blade; though infrequent, its 'full heal' ability is unmatched; a weapon with NV might be a better option at first then switching to the Hale Blade once doing so would not reduce available NV
- make sure you have the three Blessing of Protections you are allowed to have
- [if you have it,] make sure the Wand Of Dragonfire is available for use
- [if you have it,] make sure the Finger Of Dread is charged and available for use
----- at the higher levels of the challenges, the amount of Stamina Points of each Foe can dwarf the damage these items can do (i.e. they will not outright kill any higher level foe); nonetheless, you should use everything you have, even if you don't think it'll work and these items are two of ‘everything you have’ (every little bit helps)
- if you have a Quickstone, make sure both of your Quickstone heals are available
----- once you have a good handle on how long it will take you to run a challenge (e.g. to get into the upper 200s and complete the Bone Horde challenge with my main character, it takes me about one hour, i.e. 60 minutes) and *if you can do it*, consider beginning a challenge towards the end of a server day (MidNight Eastern Time Zone; aka UTC minus 5 hrs during standard time, and UTC minus 4 hrs during daylight saving time) so you have two Quickstone heals at the beginning of your attempt on the challenge then **two additional** two Quickstone heals when the new server day begins; this schedule might be tough for many but if you can do it, like above, this can be part of ‘everything you have’ (and every bit helps)
- Equipment: eventually, any character will have more than one choice of item for many of the available item slots; equip the highest NV item in each slot (and make sure you ‘rest’ or ‘Quickstone AutoRest’ at a Save location so your SP and NV are at full); later as you run the challenge, the high NV equipment will be switched out for the lower NV yet higher MR/SP equipment (see below)
- and speaking of equipment, make sure your customizable items (i.e. The Bowl of Blood, Wisp Of Black Mist) are set to MR, check (if you have it) that Glittering Ice Shield is frozen and that your Phantom Armour is indeed attached to an item (i.e is indeed connected providing its bonus - with all this swapping, it is best to check that it did not get ‘unconnected’)
- make sure you have bonuses from the Fogbough Forest locations (A Deep, Shimmering Pool; A Tangled Maze of Thorny Vines); you can spend a lot of time ‘resetting your bonuses (every 1 or 2 hours, respectively), what bonus is ‘good enough’ is a matter of debate; I prefer MR but NV is also useful (I think SP bonus is the least of the options)
- with the addition of The Well of Blades, if you plan to use a slashing weapon at any time during your run through the Battlegrounds, make sure to visit Trithik and toss one in before heading to the Battlegrounds.
----- at the moment, it is uncertain if the value or quality of the slashing weapon makes a difference in the amount of 'help' the Well provides.
- Luridor and his services: this is a choice which must be made before you begin a challenge; see below where this option is covered separately


Parts Two & Three are next

DonMoody

P.S. Credit where credit is due department …
Very early this year, I solicited some off-forum advice how best to tackle the Challenges.
The members were open and polite (which is quite standard for this – if not every – forum).
Here are the names of a few of the members which graciously replied, either confirming methods I was using and/or providing additional tips (or hints to tips).
While I may have compiled the above, this guide would be less than it is without their comments & input:
racey
Oldschool
Badstench
thingirl
Mrcrowley

My apologies to any I've forgotten to mention.

[DonMoody]

aka
DonMoody’s Minor Strategy Guide for Zumryn's Battlegrounds
Part Two (of Three)

This is a bit more rambling than I planned but it is (finally) complete.
Perhaps I will review/revise it later (perhaps with input/feedback from those who read, use and comment on this guide).
Congratulations to Badstench on level 95 (and apologies for highjacking his thread - moderators: feel free to relocate this to a more appropriate thread).


RUNNING THE CHALLENGE
- Remember, while MR is King, NV is also royalty; your goal is to get as far as you can using as little NV as you can
- a good MR will keep the ‘to hit’ numbers low for quite a while (which will reduce the damage you incur) but eventually you will meet foes where the only way to beat them is by using powers which means in most cases, you will be using NV for attacks (or to boost your attacks)
- so the more (total) NV you have, the farther you are likely to go
- and the less NV you use for healing, the more NV you will have for blasting and the farther you are likely to go
- use the Hale Blade; this is a *must*; I cannot stress this enough; the Hale Blade will provide free healing, sometimes even full heals; the importance of this on achieving the highest possible level you can should not be dismissed nor underestimated; it *will* be the difference in achieving a new record or not because every heal from the Hale Blade is NV which you did need to use on healing, which is then NV you can use to blast a foe or get even more healing
----- if you have a weapon with a good NV bonus, you can consider using it initially (using some NV for healing) then when your NV total is down to where it would be without the weapon’s NV bonus, switch to the Hale Blade
----- if you do try using an NV bonus weapon initially (I have – I used to always use Trielra’s Staff and even tried a couple of runs with the Copper-Emblazoned Broadsword when it was available at Tally’s for a while), consider that when you switch to the Hale Blade you may be no better off than if you had used the Hale Blade from the beginning (this is currently my view though when I do try to improve my record, I still do this anyways – you have to use everything you have, even if you don't think it'll work, because every little bit helps and you just never know what will be the difference between getting close to your old record or doing better & making a new record)
- use the Hale Blade until the foes are 4+, 5+ or even 6+ to hit; only then consider switching to your main weapon (whose MR bonus should bring the enemy back to 3+ to hit)
---- SPECIAL The Lords of Ogredom note: Every 5th level, you have three combats, first two combats are against rather weak guardians then you fight the ‘named ogre boss’. Even if you are using your main weapon, equip the Hale Blade when you fight the two weak Ogre guardians. They will still be 3+ to hit and you may pick up some free healing (maybe even a free full heal!). Just remember to switch back to your main weapon before fighting the Boss!
---- ANOTHER SPECIAL Hale Blade note: Once the foes get into the high teens to hit (i.e. once you are using power attacks to defeat them), consider switching back to the Hale Blade. The foe is too tough to hit anyway, why not hope for some free healing?
- try not to use *any* NvR on Restoration unless it is absolutely necessary; though it really sucks getting killed because you tried to save an NV & took a small risk then got killed (been there, done that) when it could have been avoided
----- accept that (especially at the lower levels) you will start fights wounded; hope for an orb or the Hale Blade to help improve your SP situation; fight until you are at c.50 SP or a touch less (I have not diligently kept track but I do not ever remember getting hit for 50+ SP damage in a single round though I have been hit for 30-something many times)
----- especially at the lower levels where the foes are 3+ to hit with the Hale Blade, do not be afraid to flee a combat, heal up a bit (just an NV or two’s worth) then return to the fight; this may often be (NV use wise) the more frugal option; remember, in almost every case, to reach a new record level, NV will be needed for power attacks against the last foes
- generally try to save the Wand Of Dragonfire & Finger Of Dread for the higher SP foe who you are close to finishing off but has knocked you a bit (or not so bit) down in the SP; this is a good way to finish off a level and reduce risk
- using the three Blessing of Protections follow similar lines; use them to ‘guarantee’ you can flee without getting killed or to prevent a ‘close to death’ foe from hurting you while you (hopefully) finish that foe off
- since Quickstone Heals can be used during combat, that is the best way to use them; to fully heal (and thus prevent yourself from getting killed) during a fight that you know you can finish but perhaps not without risking dying
----- all of the above items can only be used once (each) during the challenge; these are best used to help reduce the risk of getting killed; when trying for a new record, here is little worse than being 80% of the way towards your current record level then getting killed because of playing it too close to the edge because you were trying to save resources; Don’t ‘waste’ them but don’t be afraid to use them if you feel you need it.
- always watch your SP levels and gauge the risk you are willing to take; after a few successful attempts at reaching a new personal record, you will have a better handle on this aspect
- similarly, “Run a Quick Combat” may not always be the best option at higher levels; selecting it might just result in incurring more damage than you would have otherwise; and when fighting outside Quick Combat, choose carefully whether to fight Aggressive, Defensive or Normal (e.g. fighting Defensive until you ‘rage’ then fight Aggressive until the ‘rage’ ends can prove useful)
- Equipment Swap; remember under preparation we talked about equipping high NV items? That will give you (overall) more NV for the challenge; yet once you have used enough NV, it is time to swapping those higher NV items for lower NV items with higher MR/SP; swap the items that best improve MR/SP before items with less improvement; for this, I strongly suggest you plan ahead; know what the NV difference is for each item slot and decide in advance which order the equipment will be switch out in
----- For an Example, here are two pairs of head and wrist items, plus four rings which will be swapped around; the other two rings slots have Varkyn's Ring Of Motley Wonder and (+8/+8/+8) and Runeskin's Ring (+5/+5/+5), which will not be switched (parenthetical numbers represent +MR/+SP/+NV):
Kozuron's Hood (0/+4/+5) vs Iakor's Crown (+3/+9/0)
Emerald Bracelet (0/+1/+5) vs Assassin's Bracelet (+3/+2/0)
Ring Of Mystic Ability (0/0/+5), Sorcerer's Band (0/+1/+4) vs Band of Gruljasa (+5/+5/0) and Spectral Flame Ring (adjustable but set to +7/+1/+1)
For swapping order we decide to go first with best MR improvement, which means switching the Ring Of Mystic Ability for the Spectral Flame Ring. Even though the SFR provides a +1 NV bonus, rings cannot be ‘swapped’ – you have to unequip one then equip the other; so we wait until the NV reserve is down 5 points, then the RoMA is unequipped and the SFR is equipped. Next swap will be Kozuron's Hood for Iakor's Crown (+3 MR, +5 SP net improvement); once NV reserve is down another 4 (five total since the first swap, 10 total since beginning), we simply ‘swap’ the head items. Next is the other ring pair, after yet another 4 NV is used (Sorcerer's Band for Band of Gruljasa) and last is the wrist item (Emerald Bracelet for Assassin's Bracelet) after another 5 NV is used. In this example, out hero was able to have 18 more NV that without this equipment swapping! And that was just four items swapped.
----- Yes, all this (tracking and) swapping is a pain and I only do it when I am trying for a new record (not just when I am grinding the challenges hoping to find the Ghost Lady)
----- Even though now (due to equipment upgrades) I no longer wear the Spectral Flame Ring as part of my ‘standard’ equipment, I still use it for equipment swaps during the challenges (though with the SFR bonuses readjusted to +1 MR, +1 SP and +7 NV – that +7 NV is a great choice here)
- the Orbs! No guide would be complete without some comment on the blue and black orbs; getting one (especially a black one) at the right moment can be a game changer; as stated above, especially when battling the 3+ to hit foes, avoid using NV points to heal unless you are below 50 SP; instead try to push on and hope for an orb or the Hale Blade to kick in
- finally, if you haven’t used every Blessing of Protection, if your Wand of Dragonfire or Finger of Dread hasn’t been used, if you still have some NV left, if there is a Quickstone (or Luridor’s Stone) heal unused, you may not be through; yes, it might be a long shot but take that last Blessing of Protection and that last Quickstone heal and see if lady will smile on you and you can beat another level. Don’t take silly risks but use everything you have, even if you don't think it'll work, remember: every little bit helps and you never know what will be the difference between defeating that one more level or having to retreat and call it a day


Part One is above & Part Three is next

DonMoody

P.S. Credit where credit is due department …
Please see Parts One or Three - I hit my 10K character limit with this post!
While I may have compiled the above, this guide would be less than it is without their comments & input:
racey
Oldschool
Badstench
thingirl
Mrcrowley

My apologies to any I've forgotten to mention.

[DonMoody]

aka
DonMoody’s Minor Strategy Guide for Zumryn's Battlegrounds
Part Three (of Three)

This is a bit more rambling than I planned but it is (finally) complete.
Perhaps I will review/revise it later (perhaps with input/feedback from those who read, use and comment on this guide).
Congratulations to Badstench on level 95 (and apologies for highjacking his thread - moderators: feel free to relocate this to a more appropriate thread).


LURIDOR
What to do about Luridor's services?
You can acquire Luridor's Stone at the cost of a ‘never-to-be-seen-again’ AT (and 500 gold, but the gold is the easy, readily-renewable part).
Yes, it is just one AT but that is an AT you will *never* see again.
That said, Luridor’s Stone will provide 10 full heals during your run through the challenges.
That is a lot of healing, which should mean less NV used for Restoration so more NV available for blasting foes (with Destruction or Necromancy).
And it can be used during combat, which is one of the better times for a use.
Still, I cannot disagree with anyone who says ATs are too hard to come by to spend on the challenges.
As of this writing, I have twice paid for Luridor’s services – 2 ATs gone forever.
Yet (due in part to recent ‘power creep’ – magical plume anyone? – neither of my current challenge scores was achieved using that magical Stone.
And it may ultimately make no more difference than a couple or so levels (while I of course do not know, the Stone would have had to save me a few dozen NV to improve either challenge score by more than a level or two).
But this is another one of those ‘everything you have’ and you never know what will make the difference between just matching (or not quite just matching) your old score and setting a new record.
As you can see from these comments, I am torn on the use of the Stone.



as for achieving level 95... ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies.

I believe Bad Stench is referring to a trick that is not specifically mentioned in the above yet is a combination which I believe can be inferred from the above (if it is what I think it is, I am aware of it yet have never had a chance to use it since I ‘figured it out’).
Another one of those ‘use everything you have, you never know what will make the difference’.
(I’ve repped and PMed him – I’m expecting confirmation but if not, then he gets another trick and maybe he’ll ‘trade’ …)


Parts One & Two are above

DonMoody

P.S. Credit where credit is due department …
Very early this year, I solicited some off-forum advice how best to tackle the Challenges.
The members were open and polite (which is quite standard for this – if not every – forum).
Here are the names of a few of the members which graciously replied, either confirming methods I was using and/or providing additional tips (or hints to tips).
While I may have compiled the above, this guide would be less than it is without their comments & input:
racey
Oldschool
Badstench
thingirl
Mrcrowley

My apologies to any I've forgotten to mention.

[Badstench]

I can find no faults with any part of Donmoody's guidelines... maybe a few 'provisos', but no biggies.

Use of the Hale Blade is a good idea at low challenge levels, but only if your preferred weapon of choice doesn't also include NV bonuses which might get 'lost' by the exchange of weapons. An example of this lies with the Shadowfire weapons, which bestow an NV bonus and possess healing capability.

As DonMoody pointed out, NV points are valuable. Do not squander them needlessly with restoration every time you lose a fistful of SP. There's nothing worse than using 3 or 4 NV to restore health and then meeting up with a healing orb... sometimes, the risk of starting a battle with low SP might be rewarded in just such a way. (and if it does turn to custard, you can always employ that Quickstone or Luridor's Stone.)

[psychoadept]

Granted I am not a top champion in the battlegrounds, but especially with the recent tweaks to restoration, I find that healing in combat as needed is much more effective than healing between combats, at least vs the Bone Horde. Since you have a chance to see if you got an orb and still heal up in Ogredom, it's less helpful there. This is with Restoration 90, for the record.

[Badstench]

You are right, Pschoadept. The tweaking of Restoration has changed the dynamic of power use. I just ran through the Bonehorde and found it better to use my NV points on Restoration during a battle rather than offensive spells.

And for the record, I bettered my last level by three. I know I can do better.

That's my warning to the high rankers... Judge Fury is gunning for you!