Teras Kasi Archive
Thread: To VK or not to VK
Page 1 of 2
Rocke_Tyenogon
Sat Nov 27, 2004 2:21 am
#1
Greetings,
Maybe this is something that has been discussed before... if so, i apologize. I couldn't find a thread on it.
I've been a TKM for some time now, andfind that I rarely use my VKs. I have done mostlymid-level PVE, so the Mind drain seems to outweigh the extra damage. I know that different situations call for different tactics and different weapons (types of VK), but I was wondering what your general experience has been....
Do you find yourself more frequently using VKs or not??
Thanks for the help!!
Scirocco
Atama
Sat Nov 27, 2004 2:28 am
#2
This isn't even a question. The damage gain you get from even a halfway decent VK is so huge that you'd be crazy not to. With properly migrated stats, a little food, and some discretion with your special abilities you can get by just fine with minimal drain. Even without a VK it's not like you can spam the powerful specials without worrying about running out of HAM.
One alternative, if you really have concerns about HAM costs, is to ask a weaponsmith to make you a VK that has reduced HAM costs. It won't have the best damage rating but it will be a whole heck of a lot better than going without. I do at least 50% more damage with a VK than without, and that's against unarmored enemies. It's even more dramatic against players, NPCs, and creatures with armor because your damage is cut in half simply by not having any AP in your weapon.
One alternative, if you really have concerns about HAM costs, is to ask a weaponsmith to make you a VK that has reduced HAM costs. It won't have the best damage rating but it will be a whole heck of a lot better than going without. I do at least 50% more damage with a VK than without, and that's against unarmored enemies. It's even more dramatic against players, NPCs, and creatures with armor because your damage is cut in half simply by not having any AP in your weapon.
Durinthiam
Sat Nov 27, 2004 5:40 am
#3
Use VK in combination with - Canape/Ahrisa/Synthsteak - With my stats migrated to mind pools and this mixture, I take no damage from specials (Covered by Canape and Ahrisa) and damage mitigated by Synthsteak. Or if you dont want to mess around with food - Primary/Secondaries entertainer buff and brandy 
Always works (plus it will pop your mind up to about 3k)
Always works (plus it will pop your mind up to about 3k)
Rocke_Tyenogon
Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:35 am
#4
Thank you.
I appreciate the responses.
Maybe i'm not doing things right, but here is the reason for the question. I'm not exactly new at TKM. I understand using VKs in PVP, which i do participate in a little. But when doing PVE with VKs, you do indeed need to be careful with the specials. It can be done as mentioned with buffs and food, but care is still needed.
However, when not using VKs (but still with buffs and food), i can pretty much spams the specials as much as needed, and not really worry about the mind drain. I've done a lot of testing, and I have come to the conclusion not to use the VKs. Many Mokk sacrificed their all to assist in this testing. You obviously don't hit as hard, but you stay alive just fine and finish them off with little difficulty,
Was just wondering how other TKs are doing things...
Well, again, thanks!!
Scirocco
EsclavoTKM
Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:54 am
#5
Before I used to go without VK's most of the time, but now I always have them equipped. I get buffed and stuff myself with drink (brandy doubled up) and food (synthsteak is my addiction). I've been trying harder to push myself to do some things that I probably shouldn't be doing solo... so the VK's help a lot.
Tarquinas Galaxy ~ Teras Kasi Master/Master Doctor ~
Porinjikerri
Sat Nov 27, 2004 7:11 pm
#7
I don't bother using vks when grinding janta missions or killing other low to medium mob types. The way I figure it, I only like buying really nice vk's to begin with, so I'd rather not waste their condition on npcs who don't offer me any challenge. The difference in time is usually negligible, because their ham and resists are so low, and I usually tend to spam unarmedheadhit1 to bring them down quickly. I'm speed capped, and I can do about 1000 dmg headhitting without a vk, maybe 1600 with. Against a critter with 10k ham, that's 10 hits to take him down using just fists, compared with 7 with the vk. As I hit once per second either way, I'm not worried about losing 3 seconds.
Also, I feel it adds to the roleplaying aspect of my character. I'm an unarmed specialist, so when the situation does not demand me to use a vibroknuckler because the critter's i'm facing are truly tough, it's good to rely solely on my my fists to make my point. In kind, I'll often hunt without armor. It puts the challenge back into the game, as you must now consider how best to keep yourself alive. This challenge can pay off well when engaging in higher level mobs and PvP play, becuase in those cases tactics make a big difference between walking home or waking up in the cloners.
Moria Gen
volta
Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:57 pm
#8
Use a VK ! Extra damage and AP1..
Mind cost? Just use brandy and Ahrisa.
The_Mandalorian316
Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:16 pm
#10
For roleplaying purposes i personally dont like to, but my character's logic is different from mine. In battle, Gaidden would never be stubborn, he'd use it if it helped him and he wouldnt if it didnt. So the right VK, i'd use it.
Rocke_Tyenogon
Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:09 am
#11
Thanks to everyone who took the time to help!!
The answer is clearly - YES. I sincerely appreciate your input.
Good luck, all.
Scirocco
ShadowoftheVoid
Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:05 am
#12
Rocke_Tyenogon wrote:
Greetings,
Maybe this is something that has been discussed before... if so, i apologize. I couldn't find a thread on it.
I've been a TKM for some time now, andfind that I rarely use my VKs. I have done mostlymid-level PVE, so the Mind drain seems to outweigh the extra damage. I know that different situations call for different tactics and different weapons (types of VK), but I was wondering what your general experience has been....
Do you find yourself more frequently using VKs or not??
Thanks for the help!!
Scirocco
its all personal taste...if you get the right balance on the hams/stats/buffs then using them wont effect you
for me...i dont use them if i dont have to....why grind down a prefectly good VK on mokks? especially if my fishing pole works just as well?? 
(besides lunge2 with the pole is a hoot lol)
and i have vks for different occasions to...(got bored and friend is MWS lol) i have high wound vks (high freq motors) that ill put on if some1 feigns death in pvp...i have standard vk's for everyday PvE use...and my nym vks (lowest damage sliced one is 210...spd i give out to ppl grinding tk lol) are for PvP ...or when i get stupid and fought those crowds of 10 or so Sith Shadow last phase solo...
thing is...talk to a MWS and work with one to find what hams are best for you...and which are acceptable for your stats (or stats + brandy)
for me (mind1.1k/focus700/will700) 1400 subs means 2mind cost on UH3 with my 33mind cost VK's...but none on my 31M cost Nyms...*shrug* but thats something you can play with as long as you can work with a MWS.
Vrond
Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:58 am
#13
For me its more of a roleplay thing but I tend not to use VK on low end stuff. I have a niffty BE suit and unbuffed and unarmored I have a bit of fun both dueling and killing off the local swoopers in it.
Page 1 of 2