A couple days ago, since I couldnt log into SRO, I decided to fool around with the character builder found here:
http://bobtheveg.dyndns.org/SRO/Char_Build_Applet/, and explore this hybrid idea.
Anyway, what I wanted to see intially was what the earliest level one could reach 90% balance for STR or INT and, incidentally, if 100% naked balance was even possible for either.
I chose a figure of 90% because I dont think a number lower than this is viable for the hybrid I had in mind. The idea was to reach 90% naked INT and maintain that figure and dump whatever is left into STR. After all, its very easy to bump 90% up to 100% with at least +3 INT on four pieces of jewelry.
Heres the final level 70 figures I came up with:
(90% naked mag bal obtained at lv23, maintain and dump 1 in str where possible)
lv70
str 107 - hp 4195
int 278 - mp 10900
phy 56% - mag 90%
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Now compared to a normal pure INT:
lv70
str 89 - hp 3489
int 296 - mp 11606
phy 52% - mag 96%
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Not a whole lot of difference apparently. Now, what I need to know from you guys; just how much difference would that 6% make in the big picture?
I tested this on my in-game character who has the naked 90% INT balance and bumped it up to 100% using +INT jewelry and saw only about a 20 pt affect on my magic damage figures. Is this the same ratio I would see at the 6x level? I know the trade off appears to be worthless either way, 700something hp for 20something damage. Beyond the hp figure, I have no real-world evidence for what the extra STR would affect in this scheme.
What Id really like is a hybrid build idea I can get behind. I dont think a naked balance under 90% is any good, not unless one has some alchemy heavy gear ready, I suppose. Seems to me, a better plan is to do the usual pure build and alchemize like crazy for the lacking attribute. +3 STR on all your gear would add up nicely.
(BTW, I tried an all-out 2:1 and it was garbage by level 70. I didnt save the figures. I dont know how people manage them in the game, alchemy I guess.)
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For the heck of it, here are the STR numbers following the same method:
(90% phy bal obtained at lv15, maintain and dump 1 in int where possible)
lv70
str 262 - hp 10273
int 123 - mp 4822
phy 90% - mag 39%
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Normal pure str
lv70
str 296 - hp 11606
int 89 - mp 3489
phy 97% - mag 28%
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Edit: Forgot to add, 100% naked balance is not possible for either stat by level 140.