Shade's best friend?

[Ajeukkwra]

Hi, so I'm planning on levelling a shade whem I need some downtime from my MP and was wondering this - if you had a to roll a shade from scratch, and had an sl account to level a buddy on, what prof would you take as a helper?

3 options sprung to mind, but as I'm unfamiliar with a shade's levelling capabilities or how much he'll rely on healing I'm not sure what to go with.

Obvious option was doc, to pop a heal when needed. 2nd choice was another mp, afk heals, extra damage and buffs. Finally an adventurer, going 1he to help across the board but requiring a little more alt-tabbing I'd imagine. More importantly though, what did you ferl your real strengths and weaknesses were levelling up if you'd rather loom at things that way?

[Awikun]

Anoher MP is bad idea, adv is not so great so I would chose Doc.
However low level shade is not so strong so be prepared for a slow and difficult early levels.

[Dysfunction]

At higher levels a crat makes a shade quite powerful. The init debuffs and inherent evades along with -init proc makes it a pretty solid choice

[Ajeukkwra]

Did think of crat as I've had fun with them previously but ideally want some form of healing available.

Could always go 2he with doc during lower levels for a bit of extra dd if shades don't start out too fast - if docs going to make life easier. Alternatively, would a fixer be a good shout for the hots and to assist with tanking duties, maybe even a keeper for similar reasons?

[hokutonoken]

Why not just put shade on "/follow" and create a xp/tanker? enforcer or ma...or even go back to crat to calm/root and kill mob while shade just leech the xp fun ^_^!

[Ajeukkwra]

True, but I might as well roll an nt and kite it if looking not to use shade while levelling - is the damage that bad to start with?

[DigitalBath]

i'd say shade+doc can make it fairly well through the leveling process. Early shade survival is a little lacking but the doc should help that along nicely..

Predator's / Nippies can make your shade fairly insane, especially with the doc around.. but those are something you'd have to camp/buy beforehand.. can't say another MP would be the best bet as the point is to take a break from the first one

just my 2c (I do have a shade and a doctor, but I didn't level them together so can't really get much more specific on advice )

[Ajeukkwra]

Cheers for the info. Already got a set of predators saved up somewhere just waiting on a decent price for nippy. How's the SE kyr weap in comparison to the nippy would you say?

[DigitalBath]

SE Kyr should replace it, but with Nippy being bumped down to TL2 in req I don't think they'll compete much anymore as far as level ranges go
Don't have an extra set of pred, but I'm sure someone will chip in (no idea on what prices that or nippy go for nowadays)

[Ajeukkwra]

Oh no I meant I've got some banked from when I levelled an MA a while back. Will the FFBs carry me till I can get a couple of nippys on or will I need some rapiers at some stage in between do you think?

Asked a couple of guys that I used to play with about the tag-along toon and they're both saying 2he trox doc for a long term partner (switching to 1he IS blades when equipable) or 1he trox avdy otherwise for tanking and "just about enough" healing.

Think I may have to flip a coin lol...

[DigitalBath]

Hmm.. Think you should be fine with something like noob area weapons -> illegal ofab(subway) -> FFB -> nippys.
As far as the melee doc goes.. I'd likely go with MA if it's a SL doc (symb support and no need to obtain weapons).. but you could go with just about anything and have a good time as the shade will do most of the visible damage anyway
Keep those init debuffs handy!

[Wakizaka]

SE Kyr should replace it, but with Nippy being bumped down to TL2 in req I don't think they'll compete much anymore as far as level ranges go
Don't have an extra set of pred, but I'm sure someone will chip in (no idea on what prices that or nippy go for nowadays)

They're going back to their original TL3 req, and not being dropped all the way to TL2.

[DigitalBath]

They're going back to their original TL3 req, and not being dropped all the way to TL2.

Oh, my mistake. Should still be fine, TL3 is level 50.

[Notcrattey]

They're going back to their original TL3 req, and not being dropped all the way to TL2.

Not that it matters, it's absolutely impossible at TL2 unless you're exploiting.