The Engineer's Survival Guide

[bronislav84]

I see.

Ok post respec I like this:
6 Empathy
1 Res
1 Force Shield
5 Protection
5 Transference
1 Pain

I'm not 21 yet, nor will I be so before beta ends and level cap goes up soon after, but would probably max Transference with that point. I find I only get to use one DOT before stuff dies from my party members pounding it, so I figured I'd only get the strongest one, and it heals. The only time I solo is helping others on considerably lower level stuff, so I don't need anything else. I can kill stuff, but unlike my Mage I designed my Engineer to lean more toward support for now. Engineer desperately needs an instant cast AOE, as very often by the time I cast one skill (Usually transference or Pain) stuff is dead before I could cast a second, or it's not worth the time so I auto attack instead. Would be nice to be able to help clear stuff out better. We need a good instant cast AOE, but I realize that might be counter to the theme.

Set 1: Pain, Transference, Empathy
Set 2: Res, Protection, Force Shield

Some tips:
I typically go into a fight with Set 2 open, cast anything I need to, then switch to Set 1. This works for me because although I use the first one more often, going in with the second one visible means I can buff when a fight starts then heal throughout while still being able to use attack skills. If I miss I have a problem, but usually not. Really wish all the skills could be shown at the same time.

Protections stacks ONLY if people have different ranks, otherwise they just retime each other. I have 5 because most people max it, so in a party with me and another Eng, we are almost guaranteed to have at least 2 of it.

Suppression and Pain might be good complementary skills at some point when there's more skill points to throw around. Currently this seems to be the most viable "combo" if SL ever gets combos. Think about it. Suppress three to five guys, then use Pain on one. Pain explodes unopposed because it stuns the main target and they all take damage. Nobody wakes up because main Target is stunned (Wakes up but can't attack) and others don't wake up until Pain explodes so it will not break Suppression too early. Repeat, and if you get good at this you can avoid taking damage at all. Solo strategy of course, and will remain useless in parties forever because people are impatient. Doing this in 1v1 PVP might have some utility, and expect Suppression and Pain to get nerfed at some point if people get too good at doing this. Except for cooldowns, there's no way for the opponent to not be stunned or asleep.

Speaking of which, Pain deals a small amount of undocumented damage when it is first applied. This is easiest to notice on enemies with low health, like if you go to Dynastar. Dunno if this initial damage goes up with rank, but somebody feel free to test it and report back.

Hope this is useful for the guide.

[Horsethe]

I see.

Ok post respec I like this:
6 Empathy
1 Res
1 Force Shield
5 Protection
5 Transference
1 Pain

I'm not 21 yet, nor will I be so before beta ends and level cap goes up soon after, but would probably max Transference with that point. I find I only get to use one DOT before stuff dies from my party members pounding it, so I figured I'd only get the strongest one, and it heals. The only time I solo is helping others on considerably lower level stuff, so I don't need anything else. I can kill stuff, but unlike my Mage I designed my Engineer to lean more toward support for now. Engineer desperately needs an instant cast AOE, as very often by the time I cast one skill (Usually transference or Pain) stuff is dead before I could cast a second, or it's not worth the time so I auto attack instead. Would be nice to be able to help clear stuff out better. We need a good instant cast AOE, but I realize that might be counter to the theme.

Great build! I've been tweaking my Engineer using ideas in this guide as well as experimenting my own. Your build is identical to the one I am currently running. I also agree with the added point in transference at 21. It is by far our best damaging spell, with the bonus of a heal.

EDIT: I think transference is an instant cast AoE, it just doesn't do as much damage as were used to in PL with an enchantress. Personally I think its better though because of the heal effect.

[noneo]

I see.

Ok post respec I like this:
6 Empathy
1 Res
1 Force Shield
5 Protection
5 Transference
1 Pain

This is a very nice looking build, I will have to try it out.

The only thing I am hesitant about is the 1 point of Force Shield. This seems a little pointless IMO since FS (Force Shield) only gives you the buff/armor when it is active. The second a mob hits you and you loose the shield, it goes away, and with higher leveled mobs they can take the level 1 shield away in one hit.

I upped my force shield to 6 for 2 reasons; First, it doesn't matter what any other character is, it always stacks on top of all other buffs with a +20 armor per level (up to 120, which is larger than BOTH level 5 and 6 protection skill combined). Second, it provides you "invincibility" for as long as the shield is up. If you are a high level, the shield can take FAR more damage, and remain up longer, in turn giving you a better armor buff than protection ever could. Also, most other players have Protection maxxed/lvl 5, so even if you had protection 5 or 6, it would be useless in a run for others already give you the buff for that level.

These are just my thoughts, and I am in no way trying to bash your build, just trying to have experienced conversations to better the class

Currently this seems to be the most viable "combo" if SL ever gets combos. Think about it. Suppress three to five guys, then use Pain on one. Pain explodes unopposed because it stuns the main target and they all take damage. Nobody wakes up because main Target is stunned (Wakes up but can't attack) and others don't wake up until Pain explodes so it will not break Suppression too early. Repeat, and if you get good at this you can avoid taking damage at all. Solo strategy of course, and will remain useless in parties forever because people are impatient. Doing this in 1v1 PVP might have some utility, and expect Suppression and Pain to get nerfed at some point if people get too good at doing this. Except for cooldowns, there's no way for the opponent to not be stunned or asleep.

This is incredible! I never thought of it like that, and will be used hardcore in PVP, and in turn cause a whole new generation of complaining that "Engineers are overpowered ZOMG, make them easier to kill!!11". Until then, awesome observation

I will add this to my guide, thanks!

[Horsethe]

This is a very nice looking build, I will have to try it out.

The only thing I am hesitant about is the 1 point of Force Shield. This seems a little pointless IMO since FS (Force Shield) only gives you the buff/armor when it is active. The second a mob hits you and you loose the shield, it goes away, and with higher leveled mobs they can take the level 1 shield away in one hit.

I upped my force shield to 6 for 2 reasons; First, it doesn't matter what any other character is, it always stacks on top of all other buffs with a +20 armor per level (up to 120, which is larger than BOTH level 5 and 6 protection skill combined). Second, it provides you "invincibility" for as long as the shield is up. If you are a high level, the shield can take FAR more damage, and remain up longer, in turn giving you a better armor buff than protection ever could. Also, most other players have Protection maxxed/lvl 5, so even if you had protection 5 or 6, it would be useless in a run for others already give you the buff for that level.

I have tried force shield at 6 points and even then, while the extra armour is significantly higher, the amount of damage it could withstand imo was quite poor. The reason I place 1 point into force shield atm is to gain that 1 regen per second in between fights. Stack that with the revive buff and the need to use potions during a run is minute. While the amount of armour gained from Protection is less, it has 2 advantages, the first being that it is a party buff, then second being that it lasts for the entire duration of the buff, with no chance of removal.

NOTE: I currently run with the same build that bronislav84 listed.

PS: This is also just my thought, it's fun to debate and learn different ideas and ways of thinking.