Post by Shino on Jun 2, 2006 7:45:14 GMT -5
SuicideGrl
Server: (Xian)
Level: 6X
Guild: [BlackHand] (co-leader)
Character: fire/light spear hybrid nuker
NOTE: This thread is NOT a battleground between hybrids and pure builds. It is someplace for hybrid players to come for advice, to help people, or to share their experience. If you're posting negativity - or god forbid flaming - in my thread directed towards any individual or hybrids in general, it will be nuked. Thanks for your coooperation.
Creating a Hybrid Character on SRO
Table of Contents
* What exactly is a hybrid build?
* Why would I want to make one? Aren't "pure" builds better/stronger/faster/etc.?
* Ok, so I've decided to go hybrid. Now what the heck do I do?
* What skills do I need to have as a hybrid?
* What the heck should I wield and wear?
* So I wanna be a (nuker/tanker). Can I still do this effectively as a hybrid?
* Hey SuicideGrl, what is your approach? What skills and things do you use?
What exactly is a hybrid build?
(from Webster.com)
hy' - brid: n. a person whose background is a blend of two diverse cultures or traditions.
In SRO, there is a lot of talk about the "best" build(s). People naturally want their characters to be strong, and preferrably as strong as - or stronger than - everyone else. Many players on both the Korean and International servers have come up with builds that are extremely good at what they do. Most of these builds are "pure" builds: the player has put ALL of his/her character's stat points into EITHER str OR int. There's no arguing that these characters are killing machines and that, with the right gear and skills, they can own just about anything they touch.
But what about the rest of us who want something different, something other than a Xerox or cookie-cutter build?? One answer to this question is creating a hybrid character. Hybrids, as you probably know, have put stat points in BOTH str AND int. This approach has many advantages: it gives the character more HP and more physical dmg than than a pure int character, and it gives it more MP and more magical dmg than a pure str character. However, these boons come with their disadvantages as well: hybrids will never have as much HP/MP or do as much phys/mag dmg as their pure counterparts.
Why would I want to make one? Aren't "pure" builds better/stronger/faster/etc.?
Hybrids are the true utility characters. They may not excel in anything, but they're good at virtually EVERYTHING. Hybrids kill fairly well in PvE and use less pots than pure chars. They are good at all jobs and can have a very diverse skill set. They are decent PvP charactrers. If you are the type of player who likes ALL the elements of SRO and wants to be pretty good at all of them, a hybrid build might be the one for you.
Besides, one of the main draws for me in creating a hybrid character was the fact that it's different. I didn't want another pure str fire glaive. SuicideGrl is unique, and it's one of the reasons I love her so much.
Ok, so I've decided to go hybrid. Now what the heck do I do?
Experiment. The beauty of being a hybrid is the freedom to choose different skills, playing styles, and tactics that may or may not be the smartest way to go for a pure character. Wondering how a certain buff will improve your game? Get a few ranks in it. Curious as to whether you'd make a decent nuker? Throw a few points at it and see. Curious as to what it's like to hunt with a bow rather than the glaive you started with? Try it out, see what works for you. If you make a mistake, you can always undo a rank or two, but ultimately the more different kinds of skills you have, the more rich your hybrid experience can be.
There are three basic types of hybrids: 1:1 hybrids, in which the character's str and it are kept as close as possible; "int heavy" hybrids, in which int is favored above strength at a 2:1 or sometimes 3:1 or more ratio; and "str heavy" hybrids, in which str is favored in the same way as above. Each of these commands a different style of play. An int hybrid will be an effective nuker but won't tank as well. A str hybrid will be able to load up their front end dmg but probably should leave nukes alone. A 1:1 hybrid is probably the most challenging, as they don't have any obvious strengths but also lack some of the obvious weaknesses. Think about how you want to play and apply your stat points as necessary. Also, remember that this build type is about experimentation. Feel like your physical attacks need a boost? Pump all 3 points next lvl into str. Do what feels right.
What skills do I need to have as a hybrid?
Being a hybrid is about more than just how you spend your stat points. It's a holistic style of play. Hybrids are the jack-of-all-trades of the SRO world. The person in your guild who has maxed res? Probably a hybrid. The random person you see grinding who's doing big dmg with both nukes and physical attacks? Almost DEFINITELY a hybrid. But what about the trader you click on as he's trundling by and see that he's lvl2 in ALL 3 JOBS? Even if he's a pure build, that guy's a hybrid, in a manner of speaking. So is the guy in your guild who has maxed bow AND spear skills. A hybrid can be thought of as anyone who doesn't specialize in any one thing, but branches out to be a more broad character.
However, there are some very important skills to have if you're going to be a hybrid. First of all, the motto of hybrid play is every little bit helps. You're going to wanna think about geting every passive skill you can, especially Heuksal's "Cheolsam Force" (which raises your HP) and Force's "Force Increasing" (which does the same for MP). You're also going to want to max your imbue and the appropriate buffs for your character (obviously a blade user doesn't need a bird buff, nor does a glaive user need a shield blocking buff). For physical attacks, concentrate on the ones that do the most dmg, as these will be your most important skills for close combat. If you're an int hybrid, getting your nukes and other ranged attacks as high as possible is also important. As before, do what feels right. These aren't rules, just suggestions.
What the heck should I wield and wear?
As a hybrid, your choice of weapon should be based, again, on your preferred style of play. Glaive/spear hybrids do big dmg, sword/blade hybrids have flashy moves and the ability to block attacks, and bow hybrids can kill from afar. You can even choose to use more than one weapon. A member of an alliance guild has maxed his sword AND bow techniques and is deadly with both.
Armor type is another personal choice which depends a lot on style of play. Armor is good for some hybrids because it reduces physical dmg, which is a plus due to a hybrid's lower average HP compared to, say, a pure str. Armor is a good choice for hybrid players who are mostly interested in PvE, since statistically fewer mobs use magical attacks than physical ones. Garment reduces magical dmg, which is a plus in PvP and against certain mobs. It also grants a MP usage bonus, which is useful due to a lower average MP, and a speed boost, which is useful no matter WHO you are. Protector gives the best of both worlds, in my opinion. You get higher physical dmg reduction than garment and higher magical dmg reduction than armor, while still retaining bonuses to MP consumption and speed, albeit not as high as garment. Protector is, in my opinion, the ultimate hybrid gear, as it truly is a hybrid itself. But as before, do what feels right for your style of play.
WHATEVER you pick, you're going to want to chose gear that adds bonuses to your stat of choice, or both stats when possible. SuicideGrl's gear adds a whopping 17 to her int and 7 to her str. 17 points of int makes her nuke as if she was almost 6 lvls higher than she is. This is an amazing plus to any hybrid. if you can find gear that adds to your stats at a good price (and sometimes a little sacrifice is worth it), buy it. You WILL notice a difference in how effective your character is.
So I wanna be a (nuker/tanker). Can I still do this effectively as a hybrid?
Yes. However, remember that "effective" doesn't mean "pwnage". SuicideGrl is an int-heavy hybrid, and she DEFINIETLY puts up big dmg numbers. However, she'll never nuke as well as a pure build will. She kills fast and efficiently and owns in PvP, but that's only because I play her very smart. If you want to be successful at a hybrid build, you're gonna have to engage your brain a bit (sorry to all the mindless hack-and-slash types out there). Remembering that your dmg and HP/MP are lower than a pure build means that you have to know your character's own strengths and weaknesses and play around them. If you know that you have a few really fast attacks that put up a lot of dmg, or if you know that you have the ability to hit your opponent several times before he/she gets close enough to whack you one, you need to plan your attacks around this strategy. If you know you can take a few hits, then use this to your advantage. Anything is possible if you're smart about it.
Hey SuicideGrl, what is your approach? What skills and things do you use?
As I mentioned above, SG is an int-heavy nuker. She was 1:1 until around lvl30, and since then has been mostly 2:1. She's now lvl60, and her mastery lvl is 58. She's lvl3 thief (6%) and lvl2 hunter (21%). Her main forces are Fire (lvl58) and Lightning (lvl50), and her weapon is Heuksal, which is lvl49 (working on getting it to 56). She uses a lvl60+3 int+1 str+1 crit 6 spear and full 7th degree protector and armor sets, all of which is plussed and adds to her int and most of which adds to str as well. currently, her gear adds +21 int and +8 str.
SG is a nuker. As such, most of my skills at this point are in pursuit of massive magical dmg numbers. I have all 5 fire and light nukes: book 1 fire at lvl7, book 2 fire at lvl 2, book 3 fire at lvl1, book 1 lightning at lvl9 (max) and book 2 lightning at lvl 1. I have lvl1 book 3 of the Piercing Force buff, which is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for any int build. My fire imbue is book 3 lvl1. My most often-used skills are tbook 2 fire and light nukes, Flying Dragon-flow (maxed book 1 lvl9), Ghost spear-Prince (book 2 lvl4), and Soul spear-Truth (book 2 lvl6). I use the Flame Body-Power (book2 lvl1), Speed-Piercing Force (book3 lvl1), Divine Fire Protection (book2 lvl1), and White hawk (book 1 lvl4) buffs. My Grass walk-Flow is lvl11. I have Ghost Rebirth art (res) up to lvl 59 (book2 lvl5), and have delvled my Harnony Therapy due to SP constraints. Planning on raising it again once i hit cap and start SP farming. I recently delvled 42 total lvls of ice (masteries and skills) to free up SP and make way for more important masteries. I use Large HP/MP pots and pills.
I can kill any mob my lvl or under in 2 hits or less, almost always before they get a chance to whack at me. I have killed every type of mob up to a Blind Mole solo. I have killed people in PvP while hunting/thiefing as high as lvl66 while zerked, lvl63 without zerk.
All thanks to SuicideGrl.
Server: (Xian)
Level: 6X
Guild: [BlackHand] (co-leader)
Character: fire/light spear hybrid nuker
NOTE: This thread is NOT a battleground between hybrids and pure builds. It is someplace for hybrid players to come for advice, to help people, or to share their experience. If you're posting negativity - or god forbid flaming - in my thread directed towards any individual or hybrids in general, it will be nuked. Thanks for your coooperation.
Creating a Hybrid Character on SRO
Table of Contents
* What exactly is a hybrid build?
* Why would I want to make one? Aren't "pure" builds better/stronger/faster/etc.?
* Ok, so I've decided to go hybrid. Now what the heck do I do?
* What skills do I need to have as a hybrid?
* What the heck should I wield and wear?
* So I wanna be a (nuker/tanker). Can I still do this effectively as a hybrid?
* Hey SuicideGrl, what is your approach? What skills and things do you use?
What exactly is a hybrid build?
(from Webster.com)
hy' - brid: n. a person whose background is a blend of two diverse cultures or traditions.
In SRO, there is a lot of talk about the "best" build(s). People naturally want their characters to be strong, and preferrably as strong as - or stronger than - everyone else. Many players on both the Korean and International servers have come up with builds that are extremely good at what they do. Most of these builds are "pure" builds: the player has put ALL of his/her character's stat points into EITHER str OR int. There's no arguing that these characters are killing machines and that, with the right gear and skills, they can own just about anything they touch.
But what about the rest of us who want something different, something other than a Xerox or cookie-cutter build?? One answer to this question is creating a hybrid character. Hybrids, as you probably know, have put stat points in BOTH str AND int. This approach has many advantages: it gives the character more HP and more physical dmg than than a pure int character, and it gives it more MP and more magical dmg than a pure str character. However, these boons come with their disadvantages as well: hybrids will never have as much HP/MP or do as much phys/mag dmg as their pure counterparts.
Why would I want to make one? Aren't "pure" builds better/stronger/faster/etc.?
Hybrids are the true utility characters. They may not excel in anything, but they're good at virtually EVERYTHING. Hybrids kill fairly well in PvE and use less pots than pure chars. They are good at all jobs and can have a very diverse skill set. They are decent PvP charactrers. If you are the type of player who likes ALL the elements of SRO and wants to be pretty good at all of them, a hybrid build might be the one for you.
Besides, one of the main draws for me in creating a hybrid character was the fact that it's different. I didn't want another pure str fire glaive. SuicideGrl is unique, and it's one of the reasons I love her so much.
Ok, so I've decided to go hybrid. Now what the heck do I do?
Experiment. The beauty of being a hybrid is the freedom to choose different skills, playing styles, and tactics that may or may not be the smartest way to go for a pure character. Wondering how a certain buff will improve your game? Get a few ranks in it. Curious as to whether you'd make a decent nuker? Throw a few points at it and see. Curious as to what it's like to hunt with a bow rather than the glaive you started with? Try it out, see what works for you. If you make a mistake, you can always undo a rank or two, but ultimately the more different kinds of skills you have, the more rich your hybrid experience can be.
There are three basic types of hybrids: 1:1 hybrids, in which the character's str and it are kept as close as possible; "int heavy" hybrids, in which int is favored above strength at a 2:1 or sometimes 3:1 or more ratio; and "str heavy" hybrids, in which str is favored in the same way as above. Each of these commands a different style of play. An int hybrid will be an effective nuker but won't tank as well. A str hybrid will be able to load up their front end dmg but probably should leave nukes alone. A 1:1 hybrid is probably the most challenging, as they don't have any obvious strengths but also lack some of the obvious weaknesses. Think about how you want to play and apply your stat points as necessary. Also, remember that this build type is about experimentation. Feel like your physical attacks need a boost? Pump all 3 points next lvl into str. Do what feels right.
What skills do I need to have as a hybrid?
Being a hybrid is about more than just how you spend your stat points. It's a holistic style of play. Hybrids are the jack-of-all-trades of the SRO world. The person in your guild who has maxed res? Probably a hybrid. The random person you see grinding who's doing big dmg with both nukes and physical attacks? Almost DEFINITELY a hybrid. But what about the trader you click on as he's trundling by and see that he's lvl2 in ALL 3 JOBS? Even if he's a pure build, that guy's a hybrid, in a manner of speaking. So is the guy in your guild who has maxed bow AND spear skills. A hybrid can be thought of as anyone who doesn't specialize in any one thing, but branches out to be a more broad character.
However, there are some very important skills to have if you're going to be a hybrid. First of all, the motto of hybrid play is every little bit helps. You're going to wanna think about geting every passive skill you can, especially Heuksal's "Cheolsam Force" (which raises your HP) and Force's "Force Increasing" (which does the same for MP). You're also going to want to max your imbue and the appropriate buffs for your character (obviously a blade user doesn't need a bird buff, nor does a glaive user need a shield blocking buff). For physical attacks, concentrate on the ones that do the most dmg, as these will be your most important skills for close combat. If you're an int hybrid, getting your nukes and other ranged attacks as high as possible is also important. As before, do what feels right. These aren't rules, just suggestions.
What the heck should I wield and wear?
As a hybrid, your choice of weapon should be based, again, on your preferred style of play. Glaive/spear hybrids do big dmg, sword/blade hybrids have flashy moves and the ability to block attacks, and bow hybrids can kill from afar. You can even choose to use more than one weapon. A member of an alliance guild has maxed his sword AND bow techniques and is deadly with both.
Armor type is another personal choice which depends a lot on style of play. Armor is good for some hybrids because it reduces physical dmg, which is a plus due to a hybrid's lower average HP compared to, say, a pure str. Armor is a good choice for hybrid players who are mostly interested in PvE, since statistically fewer mobs use magical attacks than physical ones. Garment reduces magical dmg, which is a plus in PvP and against certain mobs. It also grants a MP usage bonus, which is useful due to a lower average MP, and a speed boost, which is useful no matter WHO you are. Protector gives the best of both worlds, in my opinion. You get higher physical dmg reduction than garment and higher magical dmg reduction than armor, while still retaining bonuses to MP consumption and speed, albeit not as high as garment. Protector is, in my opinion, the ultimate hybrid gear, as it truly is a hybrid itself. But as before, do what feels right for your style of play.
WHATEVER you pick, you're going to want to chose gear that adds bonuses to your stat of choice, or both stats when possible. SuicideGrl's gear adds a whopping 17 to her int and 7 to her str. 17 points of int makes her nuke as if she was almost 6 lvls higher than she is. This is an amazing plus to any hybrid. if you can find gear that adds to your stats at a good price (and sometimes a little sacrifice is worth it), buy it. You WILL notice a difference in how effective your character is.
So I wanna be a (nuker/tanker). Can I still do this effectively as a hybrid?
Yes. However, remember that "effective" doesn't mean "pwnage". SuicideGrl is an int-heavy hybrid, and she DEFINIETLY puts up big dmg numbers. However, she'll never nuke as well as a pure build will. She kills fast and efficiently and owns in PvP, but that's only because I play her very smart. If you want to be successful at a hybrid build, you're gonna have to engage your brain a bit (sorry to all the mindless hack-and-slash types out there). Remembering that your dmg and HP/MP are lower than a pure build means that you have to know your character's own strengths and weaknesses and play around them. If you know that you have a few really fast attacks that put up a lot of dmg, or if you know that you have the ability to hit your opponent several times before he/she gets close enough to whack you one, you need to plan your attacks around this strategy. If you know you can take a few hits, then use this to your advantage. Anything is possible if you're smart about it.
Hey SuicideGrl, what is your approach? What skills and things do you use?
As I mentioned above, SG is an int-heavy nuker. She was 1:1 until around lvl30, and since then has been mostly 2:1. She's now lvl60, and her mastery lvl is 58. She's lvl3 thief (6%) and lvl2 hunter (21%). Her main forces are Fire (lvl58) and Lightning (lvl50), and her weapon is Heuksal, which is lvl49 (working on getting it to 56). She uses a lvl60+3 int+1 str+1 crit 6 spear and full 7th degree protector and armor sets, all of which is plussed and adds to her int and most of which adds to str as well. currently, her gear adds +21 int and +8 str.
SG is a nuker. As such, most of my skills at this point are in pursuit of massive magical dmg numbers. I have all 5 fire and light nukes: book 1 fire at lvl7, book 2 fire at lvl 2, book 3 fire at lvl1, book 1 lightning at lvl9 (max) and book 2 lightning at lvl 1. I have lvl1 book 3 of the Piercing Force buff, which is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for any int build. My fire imbue is book 3 lvl1. My most often-used skills are tbook 2 fire and light nukes, Flying Dragon-flow (maxed book 1 lvl9), Ghost spear-Prince (book 2 lvl4), and Soul spear-Truth (book 2 lvl6). I use the Flame Body-Power (book2 lvl1), Speed-Piercing Force (book3 lvl1), Divine Fire Protection (book2 lvl1), and White hawk (book 1 lvl4) buffs. My Grass walk-Flow is lvl11. I have Ghost Rebirth art (res) up to lvl 59 (book2 lvl5), and have delvled my Harnony Therapy due to SP constraints. Planning on raising it again once i hit cap and start SP farming. I recently delvled 42 total lvls of ice (masteries and skills) to free up SP and make way for more important masteries. I use Large HP/MP pots and pills.
I can kill any mob my lvl or under in 2 hits or less, almost always before they get a chance to whack at me. I have killed every type of mob up to a Blind Mole solo. I have killed people in PvP while hunting/thiefing as high as lvl66 while zerked, lvl63 without zerk.
All thanks to SuicideGrl.
