The Vissidal Melee, Solo
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 4:19 pm
I learned how to die again on Vissidal Isle. Figure there's no harm in sharing the wisdom I painfully gained. When I say melee, I mean it. No hybrid here, no life magic to speak of other than that bestowed through Arcane Lore.
Firstly, Niffis and Remorans are bad. I'm lvl 151 with spec magic D, believe me, they're bad. Supposedly niffis are vulnerable to acid. I don't know what remorans are vulnerable to. Personally I find they're both not worth the trouble to either confirm or find out. Both of these critters have a respectable aggro range, especially for the odd vuln, so give them plenty of distance whenever you've got the option.
Reedsharks hit fast, often, and on occasion, for around 20+ pts through 350+ armor and shield. They're easy to take down if you can keep them in front of you. Even easier if you use the rock pillars to cover 2/3 of your flank. I use a critter de-buff to draw them in if the area is thick with things I don't want to fight, or if I have a good defensive position to hold. Use Pierce to maximum effect.
Moarsmen are tricky. They tend to really swarm you. Their Fire attack can really sting, even through a shield. If a niffis has nailed you with fire-vuln, you're likely going to die. However, the moarsmen also comparatively easy to kill. As above, if you can have your flank reasonably covered by terrain you're in for a much easier time. If not, make sure you retreat from the swarm and limit yourself to 3 or 4, or however many you can keep your shield between. I'm not kidding when I say their fire attack hits hard. They're vulnerable to Slash. Much better XP/hr than the reedsharks, and more fun (challenging) to kill.
Golems are again melee food. All of those bubbling blue beasts are worth the time to kill. They tend to hit mostly with streak-type spells, and frequently forget to vuln you. Even then, an Aegis shield is very effective at mitigating the damage. Their bane is Lightning, and they fall very fast to it. At 1.1Mxp per, they're well worth the time. Be careful though, they will vuln you to acid, which is VERY bad if you wind up fighting moarsmen before it expires. The loot stinks, but they're very much worth the effort when you consider how easy they are to drop vs. the reward.
In a nutshell, don't let anything get behind you, keep your shield between you and your opponent, niffis and remoarns aren't worth the time, effort, or risk. If you're going to die, don't corak on a spawn spot; lure the MObs away and take them on your terms. Watch your back, frequent random spawns can really surprise you. Be sure to pack plenty of Stam rations, & Health philters or Salted meat (from quest). Always have a handful of Stillness gems for those times when Murphy's Law takes control.
If you don't yet have your Aegis Shield, get one. To be really effective you need Slash, Pierce, and Lightning. You can do with slash alone, but Golems will be off your menu.
I have a lot of fun on Vissidal Isle. It's challenging and rewarding. The salvage and loot aren't really that great, but the experience more than compensates.
Good Luck! Hope to see you out there.
>NC
Firstly, Niffis and Remorans are bad. I'm lvl 151 with spec magic D, believe me, they're bad. Supposedly niffis are vulnerable to acid. I don't know what remorans are vulnerable to. Personally I find they're both not worth the trouble to either confirm or find out. Both of these critters have a respectable aggro range, especially for the odd vuln, so give them plenty of distance whenever you've got the option.
Reedsharks hit fast, often, and on occasion, for around 20+ pts through 350+ armor and shield. They're easy to take down if you can keep them in front of you. Even easier if you use the rock pillars to cover 2/3 of your flank. I use a critter de-buff to draw them in if the area is thick with things I don't want to fight, or if I have a good defensive position to hold. Use Pierce to maximum effect.
Moarsmen are tricky. They tend to really swarm you. Their Fire attack can really sting, even through a shield. If a niffis has nailed you with fire-vuln, you're likely going to die. However, the moarsmen also comparatively easy to kill. As above, if you can have your flank reasonably covered by terrain you're in for a much easier time. If not, make sure you retreat from the swarm and limit yourself to 3 or 4, or however many you can keep your shield between. I'm not kidding when I say their fire attack hits hard. They're vulnerable to Slash. Much better XP/hr than the reedsharks, and more fun (challenging) to kill.
Golems are again melee food. All of those bubbling blue beasts are worth the time to kill. They tend to hit mostly with streak-type spells, and frequently forget to vuln you. Even then, an Aegis shield is very effective at mitigating the damage. Their bane is Lightning, and they fall very fast to it. At 1.1Mxp per, they're well worth the time. Be careful though, they will vuln you to acid, which is VERY bad if you wind up fighting moarsmen before it expires. The loot stinks, but they're very much worth the effort when you consider how easy they are to drop vs. the reward.
In a nutshell, don't let anything get behind you, keep your shield between you and your opponent, niffis and remoarns aren't worth the time, effort, or risk. If you're going to die, don't corak on a spawn spot; lure the MObs away and take them on your terms. Watch your back, frequent random spawns can really surprise you. Be sure to pack plenty of Stam rations, & Health philters or Salted meat (from quest). Always have a handful of Stillness gems for those times when Murphy's Law takes control.
If you don't yet have your Aegis Shield, get one. To be really effective you need Slash, Pierce, and Lightning. You can do with slash alone, but Golems will be off your menu.
I have a lot of fun on Vissidal Isle. It's challenging and rewarding. The salvage and loot aren't really that great, but the experience more than compensates.
Good Luck! Hope to see you out there.
>NC