How to flesh out Zenmai?

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

I've never played an assassin, and have no particular desire to. So I have next to no Assassin skills at this time.

What would be some good ways to flesh out Zenmai's skill bar for the minimum investment? I have a few Balthazar faction points I can spare, and I could always get more if I had to ...

I'm generally a fan of sticking with only two attributes, but I'm not an extremist about that.

She starts with:

* Dash
* Death Blossom
* Jungle Strike
* Resurrection Signet
* Return
* Shadow Refuge
* Unsuspecting Strike

I do have some basic warrior skills unlocked -- the basic prophecies skill trainer/Ascalon ones, basically.

I don't mind going out and capping random elites; that's about the only title I'd be proud to display at a low level. I haven't gotten all the way through Factions yet, however (basically just to the point where you have to start building up Kurzick or Luxon faction).

Phoenix Arrows

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

With many other ugly people

We Are All Pretty [ugly]

R/

That skillset isn't bad. I would switch out Unsuspecting for Leaping Mantis Sting though. Perhaps give the Assassin Wild Blow somewhere. An Elite is not necessary.

Lets Get to Healing

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

You want see?

True Gods of War [True]

Mo/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phoenix Arrows
That skillset isn't bad. I would switch out Unsuspecting for Leaping Mantis Sting though. Perhaps give the Assassin Wild Blow somewhere. An Elite is not necessary. Why wild blow when they can use Wild Strike?

And I hope you dont plan on using her through Cantha, she 's kinda bugged there O_o.

Golden_Mean

Golden_Mean

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

Clan of the Dark Dragon [CDD]

R/N

Quote:
Why wild blow when they can use Wild Strike? 1. Wild Strike still has the chance to miss (block,evade)
2. Wild Strike needs to have a prerequisite lead attack, and if the target used a stance before you started your chain, you once again have a chance to miss.
3. Wild Blow, on the other hand, can't ever be blocked or evaded. It also results in a critical hit which can be useful in keeping up Critical Defenses for an assasin's longevity in a fight. You can use it before you use your attack chain to make sure each attack hits.

--Back on topic though, I agree with Pheonix. You don't really have to change anything out of her skillbar. I would probably take out Dash because, well, it's not really necessary for PvE. If you are going to make her Warrior secondary you can maybe put in "Watch Yourself!" instead. If you want her to pack some extra punch on a single target, put Twisting Fangs instead of Death Blossom. Oh, and Wild Blow can be infinitely useful in Elona. There are so many monsters who like to use evasion stances (Kournans come into mind). Just helps you mow them down faster

Captain Arne Is PRO

Captain Arne Is PRO

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

Barrage.

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Thanks for the ideas, guys!

I haven't actually done the "Sunspears in ... " quests yet. I was thinking of doing Kryta with at least one character. For that, having her available seems like a good idea -- assuming she's not bugged there too! Obviously, for Sunspears in Cantha I could just use henchies ...

Good idea on Wild Blow! If you don't need the adrenaline anyway, there's not much of a drawback.

gestalt

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2006

I don't think the hero/hench really manage ShadowStep that well. So I personally do one of the following with Zenmai:

-make her a crit barrage
-make her an A/D with crit and a weapon skill and use dervish defenses from earth prayers, use dagger or scythe your call
-go for a crit defenses build with Way of Assassin as elite, many variations on this I like to back it up with Dervish mystic regen (6-10 regen perpetualy is nice) for extra staying power. Various other crit based things bleeds, condition removal, heal on crit etc. Again daggers or scythes your choice. sharpen dagger + scythe can give aoe bleed which is nice.

Main idea is since shadowstep can be problematic either keep her away as a ranger crit barrage, use crit defenses, or use the very nice Dervish defense/offense enchantments. Always get Critical Strikes nice and high for extra energy and it can work rather nice.

All in all Dervish is a very nice secondary unless you really need something from somewhere else. And crit scythe hits hard. But the main thing is to give her some way to stay alive decently if you don't go crit barrage. Assassin itself is fairly limited without shadowstep for that so I do one of the above usually.

Silk Weaver

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Hong Kong

Romantically Lethal [RoLe]

R/Mo

Use A/R

Way of the Assassin
Critical Eye
Sharpen Daggers
Disrupting Arrows

Keen Arrow
Distracting Shot
Savage Shot
Rez Sig

I hope you know what critical percentage that is...

ShadowbaneX

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2006

Heroes of the Horn

A/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silk Weaver
I hope you know what critical percentage that is... True, but there's something even better.

Imagine A/P with Way of the Assassin, Critical Eye, Sharpen Daggers and "Go for the Eyes!", toss in a res sig, and 3 spear attacks of your choice (Spear of Lightning, Vicious Attack & Disrupting Throw) and you'll be cranking out alot of critical hits.

Stats would probably be:
Crit 9+3+1 (to keep crit eye and sharpen daggers up all the time)
12 Spear
9 Command

Weapon, probably add a Zealous Spearhead. Combined with Crit @ 13 & Critcal Eye you'll be getting back 5 energy per crit. Also Fort mod to recoup some of the HP lost to the Sup Rune.

If I could just find a way to add in poison, it'd be a real Diablo2-esque javazon.

Hollerith

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

You're really going to need to experiment with Zenmai. I've tried all sorts of my builds with her, and she just doesn't get them. She rarely ever uses the hexes I give her, even with full energy, however she spams the hell out of Epidemic.

Next I'm giving her Temple Strike & Epidemic & let her have fun with that.

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

I like the Crit/Barrage idea. For one thing, my wife used to play that build before she deleted her assassin. For another, Barrage is an easy cap in Factions.

Thanks!

kitsune23

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Green Bay

Slightly Inebriated

Myself and a guldie run Zenami as a crit barrage/interrupt and she does a wonderful job of it. You can get a 15% while enchanted recurve for 5 heket tongues and mod to suit.

Skill bar usually is:
Barrage
Savage Shot
Distracting Shot
Sharpen Daggers
Critical Eye
Rez

She manages quite well with it. Also, I sometimes give her burning arrow instead of barrage. The low fire rate makes up for the energy use.

IMO, she's just too squishy to use a dagger bar without being a strain on the monks.

Silk Weaver

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Hong Kong

Romantically Lethal [RoLe]

R/Mo

The thing is that with A/R she interrupts, and not just deal damage. An Assassin with a bow won't be dealing a lot of damage, even if it crits half the time. Go For the Eyes for the sole purpose of buffing one character is useless, and I don't trust zenmai to spam it either. Way of the Assassin means most hits will interrupt, no more healing yay.

]SK[

]SK[

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2006

Nottingham, UK

GV

W/

I gave mine a pretty standard build. Seems she can't understand the meaning of using a lead attack before a Off-hand etc.

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

I like the Crit/Barrage idea even more, now that I discovered an unused Graygore's (Zealous) bow in inventory. I may have a spare Zealous string or two as well, actually; I haven't thoroughly checked my ranger mule for a while.