I've never tried to use a melee character in UO. Back in the day pre-trammel/Felucca most everyone was a mage and had swords to do run bys after an explode/ebolt but thats about my experience.

So anyone have suggestions on what to use for both single target bosses and champ spawns? I need a way to AE at champs but I need survivability at single bosses. I assume the armor will basically be the same. But what weapons should I start looking for or trying to make? I assume its highly dependent on their special moves coupled with bushido. As of right now I have a toxic smithy hammer to make a weapon or 2.

I think that weapon choice is a matter of preference.   Do you want to use maces, fencing weapons, swords, archery, or throwing?   You will find a variety of viable artifacts and craftables for each discipline. 

Spend your ingots on crafting weapons, artifact armor seems to be superior to anything craftable (I'm new but I think this is accurate)

Check the wiki for more info too...  http://uoevolution.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page  its been a life saver for me.

I've been reading through the wiki. I guess I'm just at a loss on peoples "tactics" when I see them killing champs or bigger bosses/paragons.

For example I watched a guy on a horse go through and rape the dragon champ spawn where I thought I was doing pretty good keeping my cu alive. Another guy saw me trying to kill an Ancient Wyrm paragon. For 5 minutes I took it down maybe 5% and he killed it in seconds.

From what I have seen the whirlwind attack is great for champs. So I think I need a radiant scimitar?

Also I know the crafted weapons you level seem to be the best once they are max level. But whats the best material? Valorite or should I go higher? I doubt I'll see a valorite smithy hammer so I want to use the 10 I have on the toxic wisely.

I've been reading through the wiki. I guess I'm just at a loss on peoples "tactics" when I see them killing champs or bigger bosses/paragons.

For example I watched a guy on a horse go through and rape the dragon champ spawn where I thought I was doing pretty good keeping my cu alive. Another guy saw me trying to kill an Ancient Wyrm paragon. For 5 minutes I took it down maybe 5% and he killed it in seconds.

From what I have seen the whirlwind attack is great for champs. So I think I need a radiant scimitar?

Also I know the crafted weapons you level seem to be the best once they are max level. But whats the best material? Valorite or should I go higher? I doubt I'll see a valorite smithy hammer so I want to use the 10 I have on the toxic wisely.

If you are fighting a single mob, I would suggest honoring the target at the start. Also use Enemy of one, and keep concecrate weapon up so you hit the targets lowest resist. As stated above life leech and mana leech are both good, and stamina leech is also nice to have against some mobs. Hit lower defense will help you hit more if you have it on a weapon and hit lower attack will help you survive longer. Also if you have a higher skill in whatever weapon you are using (swords, mace, etc.) you have a better chance of hitting the mob. Tactics and anatomy can also increase damage and lumber jacking can for axes. Finally if you can use discordanance on the mob it really helps, I know the ancient wyrm paragon can be discoed. Also make sure your Hit chance increase, defense chance increase and damage increase are capped if you can.

My main problem with wither is I think I need more cast recovery and lower mana cost. 2 casts and I am spent and I cant cast fast enough for it to go through anyways.

I figured if I could melee decently well I could do peerless and go for the armor from them as a nice suit of armor. But as of right now I am hunting around for armor to use in either case and a way to make weapons for champs and such.

My main problem with wither is I think I need more cast recovery and lower mana cost. 2 casts and I am spent and I cant cast fast enough for it to go through anyways.

I figured if I could melee decently well I could do peerless and go for the armor from them as a nice suit of armor. But as of right now I am hunting around for armor to use in either case and a way to make weapons for champs and such.

I've been researching where to find the mirror shield. Still coming up empty on where it is. I appreciate the help!

Is the virtue armor set active? I tried to find the quest NPC in heartwood but had no luck. I see there are other quests you can obtain the armor in.

This set was introduced in stages: the Cloak of Humility was introduced with Gareth's Quest in Publish 40; the Gauntlets of Valor and the Helm of Spirituality were introduced as 8th Anniversary gifts (they are still available from Heritage Tokens); the Gorget of Honesty was introduced with the Seeker of Truth quest in Publish 43; the remaining pieces were introduced, and all but the Cloak were re-introduced, as Virtue Artifacts with the 10th Anniversary content in Publish 47.

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Are these active?

The Virtue Armor is dropped for me while doing Champs atleast, I dont think its worth the trouble though but Im not sure, currently Ive dressed my vendor in it since I have better myself. You are probably better off trying to get the Astro Deamon set to begin with and then work towards even stronger pieces.
 
Antiquity Gloves are really good and often sold on vendors.
Mirror Shield
Tactical Mask or Thick Neck are good starter gorgets.

virtue armor drops in the anti virtue dungeons.

Never even heard of that dungeon? Is that the same set found here?

http://pfold.paradisefounduo.com/quest3.htm#VirtueArmorquest

that is custom for that server. that armor isnt very good on this server. all it does is max out your resistances.
http://www.uoguide.com/Anti-Virtue_Dungeon
http://www.uoguide.com/Virtue_Artifacts
i have never seen a 10th aniversary sculpture but someone told me they drop somewhere else. never seen an ankh necklace.

I understand and thank you. Its hard to find information sometimes with so many custom shards!

yea. feel free to ask away. forums and in game chat are the best places to find answers. i would also highly recommend using Team speak. you can learn a ton just listening in while you play.

So what would you say I should look out for? Bearing in mind I only play a couple hours a day. I have some toxic runics to make weapons. I have a bunch of boD's but nothing that could complete a LBoD to try for augment deeds. I guess my main concern is there is no way I could kill a peerless, ancient dragon, not even the ninjas for belts. One hit from a Hiryu and I am running scared. So what is some cheap, easy to attain gear I can look for so I could start taking hits at champs and such and work my way up towards the big boy gear?

Should I try and get some runic tailoring kits and get lucky?

Train up necromancy if you haven't already. Vampiric embrace and wraith form are your friends when it comes to PVM. Your gonna need some money first off. Best place for that is champ spawns. Even if you can't finish them the first couple levels are worth doing for the gold and tokens. If all you have is a LRC fortune suit then use wraith form and wither. Deku shield and kikori knife are easy to obtain and give you 70 SDI I think. Eventually you wanna get your hands on a whirlwind weapon. Start making gold that way and can buy some better gear to survive killing the magi dragon and collect magi gear.

I have a toxic double axe I am using for WW. I could make something else, or perhaps try to make something better but I am unsure which color ingot to use to make them. I have a few valorite hammers and toxic hammers to make weapons. The one I currently wield is DI and Life Leach. Problem is I can't have to many things hitting me so I cant really use that yet.

I'll look into the dagger and shield. Thank you!

Toxic runics are good to use. obviously platinum would be ideal. but toxics are a dime a dozen and are still capable of producing good weps. as far as materials. dont use anything that uses physical damage. and dont add any hit physical area when leveling the wep.






Here a post i made a while ago to someone else. seems it might give you some clarity as well enjoy ::::



some kind of bad ass double axe or radiant scimitar with mana leech(a must), life leech (ideal), Stamina leech (have all 3 leeches and your a lucky guy) hit area spells, and hit spells, SSI and DI

If the axe is bad ass enough change it to 1H with ED and use a mirror shield.

Skull of vecna or cpt. johns hat.
necklace of genesis
chest of the magi
green tunic
arms of the magi
antiquity
pirate pants or doom leggings
pharoh sandals
cloak of the magi
shroud of the magi
archeology half apron or ninja belt.
Crytalline ring, or dougs circlet
bracelet with magic or combat +10, or a grizzled clasp
magic fancy shirt with magic or combat +10
magic kilt with magic or combat +10
talisman of the moon
you wont be at 100%lrc but carry a reg key, add LRC with ED or where a lrc ring or bracelet.

get all your combat and necro skills to 120 and get your hands on a +50 stat scroll.  have fun being a god.

dont feel that you have to only use these items. there are tons of combinations of armor and weapon to make you a beast. this is just to help you have some direction.

Thanks meta. I'll keep an eye out and see where these items come from. I appreciate the help!

I checked out the magi dragon area and he wasn't up. Is it safe to assume this guy is very camped and the chances of finding him up are about as rare as finding the mirror shield guy?

yea just keep checking it often. i stopped farming it a while ago so i cant remember how often it spawns, but its fairly often. however when he does spawn hes not there for long. during peak hours you should enter through the back way. i think its the sparkle portal on the right next to the baracoon spawn in despise. if you come through the front door during peak hours your probably gonna take a dirt nap. if you havent trained up a good pet yet, now is probably a good time. id reccomend using one on this mob at your level. there is a an ancient wyrm paragon that spawns next to the magi dragon. so a pet it useful to keep him busy while you take out the magi dragon. or just in general to speed up the killing process so you can get out of there quicker. its a PVP hot spot. i recommend using a level 30 cu sidhe. they can heal have a decent amount of HP and you can ride them if you're an elf. i used to ride a cu and used a macro that dismounted then "all guard". that was you can run in the heat of battle swinging. also make a good Vet macro to keep your pet alive. UOSteam hasd a built in bandage system. you just have to set it up. good luck

I would suggest trying to start out with an Astro Demon set for armor. The magi dragon, mirror shield guy and green tunic guy are farmed quite a bit, you just have to keep checking back and hope he's up.

I have a level 30 cu. He isn't quite strong enough to handle an AW paragon without me bandaging like crazy. but I'll start checking the spawn and see what I can come up with. Thanks guys!

heres a link with details about the astro set.

http://uoevolution.com/forum/index.php?topic=5664.msg13086#msg13086