Vampiric weapons killing ME?!?!

Trucker

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jul 2005

W/Mo

Hi all, I'm a newbie here. Excuse me if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find it in the archives.

I am playing in pre-searing Ascalon and recently got a "Vampiric Foehammer of Shelter" from one of the Brennin (sp?) quests. I ID'd it and customized it. But the first time I used it (against a little wolf) I noticed that he took out about half my HP (and he normally wouldn't dent me). Then I noticed that my HP was continuing to drop! It kept dropped until I unequiped the hammer.

Needless to say, it was very disconcerting to have my own weapon trying to kill me.

Is this some sort of cursed weapon or something? Did I miss something or use it incorrectly? Does this have something to do with it's "regeneration -1, lifestealing 2" attributes?

Thanks in advance for any info.

-Trucker

Aniewiel

Aniewiel

Smite Mistress

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Land of AZ, USA

Rt/E

When you use a vampiric anything, there is a life degeneration while you're holding it but a life gain when you are attacking/hitting. The best thing to do would be to have 2 equipment slots activated and switch back and forth. When you're running around, have the non-vampiric equipment on your character then, when you are attacking, switch to the vampiric to offset any damage you're taking from the bad guys.

Boubou

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quebec, Canada

L'ordre [LO]

Mo/W

The health degeneration (as it said) will decrease your health over time. The benefit of this kind of weapons is the life stealing property. Every time you will hit a foe with this weapon, you will steal 2 HP from him.

What I would suggest is set a 2nd weapon slot without your weapon with degeneration and when entering in a fight, switch back to that weapon (if you want to use it).

Aniewiel

Aniewiel

Smite Mistress

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Land of AZ, USA

Rt/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boubou
The health degeneration (as it said) will decrease your health over time. The benefit of this kind of weapons is the life stealing property. Every time you will hit a foe with this weapon, you will steal 2 HP from him.

What I would suggest is set a 2nd weapon slot without your weapon with degeneration and when entering in a fight, switch back to that weapon (if you want to use it).
Whoa, Boubou! Great minds sure do think alike. Thanks for adding your thoughts too! I guess he'll get the point, huh?


Trucker

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jul 2005

W/Mo

Wow, that was fast! Thanks for all the great info, guys. This is a very helpful forum!

-Trucker

free4all

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Mainly vampiric weapons are used for the guarunteed damage. Max vampiric sword/axe will always add 3 damage. Max vampiric hammers will always add 5 damage. It may not seem like a lot, but when you add it up, you'll see vampiric mods are sometimes worth it, even if they aren't keeping your health up.

Lynnrose

Lynnrose

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

SoF Victrix [SoF]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trucker
Hi all, I'm a newbie here. Excuse me if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find it in the archives.

I am playing in pre-searing Ascalon and recently got a "Vampiric Foehammer of Shelter" from one of the Brennin (sp?) quests. I ID'd it and customized it. But the first time I used it (against a little wolf) I noticed that he took out about half my HP (and he normally wouldn't dent me). Then I noticed that my HP was continuing to drop! It kept dropped until I unequiped the hammer.

Needless to say, it was very disconcerting to have my own weapon trying to kill me.

Is this some sort of cursed weapon or something? Did I miss something or use it incorrectly? Does this have something to do with it's "regeneration -1, lifestealing 2" attributes?

Thanks in advance for any info.

-Trucker
Sell that weapon to the merchant and move on. No matter how you slice it, a hammer with a 2:1 vampiric mod on it is bad news for your health. Hammers don't attack with nearly enough frequency to make up for the health degen at a 2:1 level. In pre-searing, when your HP are low to begin with, a 2:1 vamp mod can be a dangerous thing . . . .

Iceciro

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Surface Warfare and Tactics

E/N

Yeah, I notice lately you can find crazy hammers in presear... Found an 10-15 hammer in a hidden stash in presearing my first 5 mins in, allmost convinced me to make my necro N/W and play with that a bit.
Went N/Me in the end, though... the massive degen add-up just rules.

teny10

teny10

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

Servants of Fortuna

W/Mo

So, vampiric weapons do add your dmg. I was wondering about that for a while.

samarium

samarium

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2005

Pillers of Darkness [Dark]

N/Mo

Just keep in mind that 1 degen equals out to 2 hp per second, so if you hit one time per second you're just breaking even. Once you can find a -1 +3 or above, it starts to become more useful.

-sam

Fye Duron

Fye Duron

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

Chico, CA, USA

Dragon Fang

To add to what sam said... There is a 1.75 refire rate on hammers Which means everytime you swing it will be almost 2 seconds before you swing again. That means you will lose 4 life and gain 2. Unless you really need the extra damage or run the mend I would leave all vampiric weapons alone unless they are 4:-1 or 5:-1

In addion- Swords and Axes have a 1.33 refire rate. There max Vampiric is 3:-1. Which can be very nice when paired with several of there skills.

Darkest Dawn

Darkest Dawn

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Ohio, USA

W/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fye Duron
To add to what sam said... There is a 1.75 refire rate on hammers Which means everytime you swing it will be almost 2 seconds before you swing again. That means you will lose 4 life and gain 2. Unless you really need the extra damage or run the mend I would leave all vampiric weapons alone unless they are 4:-1 or 5:-1

In addion- Swords and Axes have a 1.33 refire rate. There max Vampiric is 3:-1. Which can be very nice when paired with several of there skills.
Sound advice worth heeding!

Laetitia of Yenemi

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

R/Me

A 3:-1 Vamp Axe is a great thing though when you cyclone axe a large group. Good for soloing with my warrior/monk using mending.

Algren Cole

Algren Cole

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fye Duron
To add to what sam said... There is a 1.75 refire rate on hammers Which means everytime you swing it will be almost 2 seconds before you swing again. That means you will lose 4 life and gain 2. Unless you really need the extra damage or run the mend I would leave all vampiric weapons alone unless they are 4:-1 or 5:-1

In addion- Swords and Axes have a 1.33 refire rate. There max Vampiric is 3:-1. Which can be very nice when paired with several of there skills.

unless it's a Vamp String. 3:1 vamp strings can be super efficient if you are coupling it with Dual Shot or Barrage.

Laetitia of Yenemi

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

R/Me

vamp string can go up to 5:1 also, so with dual shot or barrage or using frenzy with r/w or w/r class can make a difference.

Ronin_Tms

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

Just a quick question since there seem to be alot of knowledgeable people around here:

I was told that the extra vampiric damage isn't effected by armour. That would make it relatively good versus those heavely armoured fighters late game. Is this true?

Lynnrose

Lynnrose

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

SoF Victrix [SoF]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronin_Tms
Just a quick question since there seem to be alot of knowledgeable people around here:

I was told that the extra vampiric damage isn't effected by armour. That would make it relatively good versus those heavely armoured fighters late game. Is this true?
Yes, it's true. Vamp damage is added to the damage that occurs from the weapon's standard attack. For example, if you make an attack with a 3:1 vampiric axe and the base attack of the axe would have resulted in 12 damage to your enemy, the ultimate damage is going to be 15 (12+3). Hope this helps.

samarium

samarium

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2005

Pillers of Darkness [Dark]

N/Mo

Thanks for posting the exact refire rates; I didn't know them, but thanks for completing my argument

If you REALLY want vampire damage, get yourself a necromancer. Have him spam Order of the Vampire and keep him well-healed.

Vampiric stuff: -1 hp regen, 5 hp steal per hit
OotV: -0 hp regen, ~13 hp steal per hit

And since vampirism ignores armor, this skill picks high-defense stuff like Golems to shreds. Just make sure the majority of your up-close fighters are running weapons that do physical type damage.

-sam

Iceciro

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Surface Warfare and Tactics

E/N

Yeah, those pretty Fiery Dragon Swords don't trigger OotV - they aren't physical damage anymore. Reasons like that are why Warrior armor is over-rated. In most situations, Ranger Armor, with it's bonus versus elements, is better.

suzumebachi

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

New Mexico

Mas Chingon [VATO]

R/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Laetitia of Yenemi
A 3:-1 Vamp Axe is a great thing though when you cyclone axe a large group. Good for soloing with my warrior/monk using mending.
hell yes. and add to that +15% while enchanted and you've really got yourself something.