SL 100 Str/Int Build (Item Spoilers)

http://tinyurl.com/8v5no8m

Any critiques or tips for this? I'm new to PvP so i'm pretty clueless... I just want some variation of str/int. I usually go dex so i wanted to mix it up a bit and also use some of the new spells. Not too sure how str + manus cat effects dark magic but i've heard good things.

Also, how bad is mid roll for PvP? that's what i'm worried about the most really.

Thanks guys!

This looks pretty good. I'm wouldn't be so sure because I'm a PS3 user waiting for the DLC, but I'm under the impression that the Prepare to Die edition features a decent mid-roll.

looks good, i would use the msgs though since youre gonna need something with a little better reach and a little faster than the GA. med roll is viable but try to block as much as you can thoug since the med iframes kinda suck and you will get hit if you try to roll away.

The med ROLL got better with the patch/dlc however you still walk slower which is the more concerning issue. The MSGS has pretty good arcs for stopping BS fishing which is one of the bigger issues with the slow movement and would hurt one helluva lot with GMW

This looks pretty good. I'm wouldn't be so sure because I'm a PS3 user
waiting for the DLC, but I'm under the impression that the Prepare to
Die edition features a decent mid-roll.

I hope so. I had the xbox version without live and couldn't even stand midroll for PvE

looks good, i would use the msgs though since youre gonna need something
with a little better reach and a little faster than the GA. med roll is
viable but try to block as much as you can thoug since the med iframes
kinda suck and you will get hit if you try to roll away.

Thanks I was going to ask about the wep. maybe i should get a higher stab shield

The med ROLL got better with the patch/dlc however you still walk slower
which is the more concerning issue. The MSGS has pretty good arcs for
stopping BS fishing which is one of the bigger issues with the slow
movement and would hurt one helluva lot with GMW

MSGS it is then.

Is this any better? http://tinyurl.com/8cac5rf
Trading havels for FAP. I lose about 15 poise but I think the extra stam and hp might be useful.

Thanks

Currently, you have very low Magic Adjustment which is the factor that determines the actual effectiveness of the spell. Mid-roll in PtD is viable, but you'll need to be careful, and if you like to use Dexterity weapons, you are going to find the change to a much slower pace very jaunting. The Manus Catalyst is more of a novelty than anything serious, but if you really want to use it, then this is the build I'd use for it. You have 27 Strength, which means you have maximum effective AR when two-handing it when you'll need to hit something. As well, you have on the off-hand, the Moonlight Butterfly Horn which allows you to put some pressure on mid-range. As a last resort, you can use it as shield, remember! It comes with a Chaos Dagger to allow you to do a backstab if the situation arises. However, with the Horn, and Dark Beads, you won't find yourself needing to often. Then again, there is no reason not to have the option available.

In terms of spells, it features the Dark Beads, and the Black Flame. You'll really be using the Dark Beads most of the time, and you essentially need to have 2x the castings as the Manus Catalyst will half the number of times you can cast a spell with it out. As expected from a shotgun-style blast, it is very effective at hitting things that are close to you. Ideally, you'll use it when you expect a parry attempt, or they are rolling at any level other than DWGR towards you. It will do immense damage if all the beads land, but most of the time it will do moderate. It also features Black Flame to keep with the Dark Sorcery motif, and should you find yourself out of Beads, or they are just too close for comfort, the Flame might be a good response. Ideally, you'll use the Flames with your Chaos Dagger out, as the half-castings effect carries over to even magic not cast with it if! The most fitting use for the Flame will be as a wake-up to a backstab you have done; your Catalyst will have already been put away, and you can set yourself up very close.

McPenor wrote:

This looks pretty good. I'm wouldn't be so sure because I'm a PS3 user
waiting for the DLC, but I'm under the impression that the Prepare to
Die edition features a decent mid-roll.

I hope so. I had the xbox version without live and couldn't even stand midroll for PvE

looks good, i would use the msgs though since youre gonna need something
with a little better reach and a little faster than the GA. med roll is
viable but try to block as much as you can thoug since the med iframes
kinda suck and you will get hit if you try to roll away.

Thanks I was going to ask about the wep. maybe i should get a higher stab shield

The med ROLL got better with the patch/dlc however you still walk slower
which is the more concerning issue. The MSGS has pretty good arcs for
stopping BS fishing which is one of the bigger issues with the slow
movement and would hurt one helluva lot with GMW

MSGS it is then.

Is this any better? http://tinyurl.com/8cac5rf
Trading havels for FAP. I lose about 15 poise but I think the extra stam and hp might be useful.

Thanks

Well, you should be aiming for 53 poise, since that's the cutoff for greatswords. Having 46 is the same as having 31, which is enough to stop asian weapons and halberds.

Currently, you have very low Magic Adjustment which is the factor
that determines the actual effectiveness of the spell. Mid-roll in PtD
is viable, but you'll need to be careful, and if you like to use Dexterity weapons, you are going to find the change to a much slower pace very jaunting. The Manus Catalyst is more of a novelty than anything serious, but if you really want to use it, then this is the build I'd use for it. You have 27 Strength, which means you have maximum effective AR when two-handing it when you'll need to hit something. As well, you have on the off-hand, the Moonlight Butterfly Horn which allows you to put some pressure on mid-range. As a last resort, you can use it as shield, remember! It comes with a Chaos Dagger to allow you to do a backstab if the situation arises. However, with the Horn, and Dark Beads, you won't find yourself needing to often. Then again, there is no reason not to have the option available.

In terms of spells, it features the Dark Beads, and the Black Flame. You'll really be using the Dark Beads most of the time, and you essentially need to have 2x the castings as the Manus Catalyst
will half the number of times you can cast a spell with it out. As
expected from a shotgun-style blast, it is very effective at hitting
things that are close to you. Ideally, you'll use it when you expect a
parry attempt, or they are rolling at any level other than DWGR towards you. It will do immense damage if all the beads land, but most of the time it will do moderate. It also features Black Flame to keep with the Dark Sorcery motif, and should you find yourself out of Beads, or they are just too close for comfort, the Flame might be a good response. Ideally, you'll use the Flames with your Chaos Dagger out, as the half-castings effect carries over to even magic not cast with it if! The most fitting use for the Flame will be as a wake-up to a backstab you have done; your Catalyst will have already been put away, and you can set yourself up very close.

Awesome. I really don't like blocking too much so this seems like more my style. Also, I didn't realize the catalyst was an effective melee weapon.

Do you have any idea exactly how str modifies manus cat. + dark magic? The wiki just says that it does but not by how much.

Thank you!

McPenor wrote: Awesome. I really don't like blocking too much so this seems like more my style. Also, I didn't realize the catalyst was an effective melee weapon.

Do you have any idea exactly how str modifies manus cat. + dark magic? The wiki just says that it does but not by how much.

Thank you!

Actually,the Strength scaling affects the damage the Manus Catalyst does physically. It does not change the Magic Adjustment, which is what makes spells lethal. Here is an image set of the Catalyst swing, and here is a video of the main-hand swing in action. The weapon is pseudo-effective; it should never be used by itself, and doesn't have a running attack, nor rolling attack. However, being able to cast spells from it, if you choose a good load-out, more than makes up for it. Odds are you'll find it hard to use the Catalyst for quite a few matches before you get the hang of it, and the spacing. This is the sort of thing you'll have to learn in a Trial-by-Fire; you'll need to want to try at all sorts of situations, even when you think there might be a better way, till you understand how to space, and how to read with it. No one will be able to really give you meaningful tips about using it, and instead you'll need to develop your own characteristic breath for it. Expect to fail a lot till you got a good grasp of what it is capable of.