What to do with the S-Needles? :S

[NetNomad]

At some point in the not-too-distant future, I'll be trading for a custom S-Rank Needle (I have one person who needs only c1 and c5, still). Before anyone asks, I don't do ep2c because (a) I'm not a glutton for hard things, and (b) I don't generally have the time it takes to whip up a team for it.

Anyway. My three Ultimate-level rangers might be able to use some needle specials, but I can't decide which yet... except for Loaded Die, for whom I will get a Geist Needle. Why Geist? Because she burns a good amount of TP berserking (melee berserking, not gun berserking) and healing, which is a big part of her strategy.

For the others, I can't decide which special goes where. My restrictions are these:

• I will not under any circumstances get Berserk on a needle, end of story. It has far too much potential for misuse.
  
• Same with Demons.
  
• Zalure MIGHT work, but it depends on the character. Gorgotron (my RAcast) might be able to make use of it, but on Will (RAmar), I'm hesitant; I don't want to make him too powerful, which is the entire reason for my above two restrictions.
  
• I don't want to use the same special on the same weapon on two characters. I just find that boring.

I'm thinking of using Zalure on Gorgotron if I ever get a third traded needle, but in the meantime I'm trying to decide what to do with the first needle, for Will. So what do we have left if we rule out those big three? Not too much:

Jellen: Not of much use except maybe on Gorgotron when soloing, but I don't want to give up his paralysis power for that.
Hell: I have an S-Rank Blade with Hell and it works a little... I'm sure this would work a lot better in ep2 than in ep1, but I'm wondering how much good it would do me on Will.
Arrest: How much better is unreduced Arrest than unreduced Seize? Enough to justify the S-Rank? Either way, having a "paralysis special" appear from your needle makes it look just like a Spread Needle... so, no.
Spirit: Has just as much potential for misuse as Berserk, really.
Gush: Useless on Will; Gorgotron has his S-Mechs for that.
Geist: Planning to use it on Loaded Die, so this one is out.
Kings: I've considered this one, but Will wouldn't be able to make as much use of it as Gorgotron could (I think...)
Burning: 99% useless.
Tempest: 98% useless (for shock value).
Blizzard: Actually, I've considered this. It's essentially the same as Arrest, right? Since they both have to do with the enemy's ESP. On the other hand, this might not freeze the enemy as long and there's no potential for "re-stunning" while the enemy is in the ice. Still, it's a bit tempting to get this for style reasons.
HP/TP recovery: It's really slow, isn't it? Either way, boring.

So at the moment, it's a toss-up between Hell, Kings, or Blizzard... or Zalure (if I were to choose something else for Gorgotron, but this is unlikely).

Any opinions from someone who's used these specials on an S-Rank before (or else understands what they could do)? (don't tell me all of you are addicted to zerk S-Ranks ;[ )

[Hrith]

Jellen: Not of much use except maybe on Gorgotron when soloing, but I don't want to give up his paralysis power for that.

Yeah, paralysis is much better, unless you solo online mode.

Hell: I have an S-Rank Blade with Hell and it works a little... I'm sure this would work a lot better in ep2 than in ep1, but I'm wondering how much good it would do me on Will.

I know Hell Laser/Raygun works well in Ep2 (well, namely Seabed), but I find that even more of a hogger's special than Demon's.

Arrest: How much better is unreduced Arrest than unreduced Seize? Enough to justify the S-Rank? Either way, having a "paralysis special" appear from your needle makes it look just like a Spread Needle... so, no.

The difference is very clearly noticeable between Seize and Arrest, but on a Needle, it would be too similar to regular Needle. But Arrest on S-Rank Slicer/Shot is definitely awesome, and works better than Spread Needle, even if the latter has hit%.

Spirit: Has just as much potential for misuse as Berserk, really.

Sissies

Gush: Useless on Will; Gorgotron has his S-Mechs for that.

I'd like to try one, once, on my RAcaseal, I doubt it's worth it.

Geist: Planning to use it on Loaded Die, so this one is out.

I hadn't thought of what you explained above, because I carry difluids and trifluids, and I have never run out of TP for healing my berserking.

Kings: I've considered this one, but Will wouldn't be able to make as much use of it as Gorgotron could (I think...)

This owns on androids, but it's a very bad multiplayer weapon.

Burning: 99% useless.
Tempest: 98% useless (for shock value).

lolz

Blizzard: Actually, I've considered this. It's essentially the same as Arrest, right? Since they both have to do with the enemy's ESP. On the other hand, this might not freeze the enemy as long and there's no potential for "re-stunning" while the enemy is in the ice. Still, it's a bit tempting to get this for style reasons.

Nope, Arrest works a lot more often than Blizzard, I remember Sounomi explained why, but I forgot. What I remember is that Blizzard very rarely works, so it sucks.

HP/TP recovery: It's really slow, isn't it? Either way, boring.

Yeah, very slow.

I doubt you will be able to get one Needle with a special that works on different classes, so you should get several =/

[NetNomad]

I know Hell Laser/Raygun works well in Ep2 (well, namely Seabed), but I find that even more of a hogger's special than Demon's.

Generally I stick to FS, Yas9k, my S-Rifle, and occasionally Yami/MKB if I'm feeling bold, in Seabed. Needle isn't great in Seabed anyway. But I almost forgot about the Yami Will carries... wow, getting Hell on a Needle would make the Yami more useles... :S

I hadn't thought of what you explained above, because I carry difluids and trifluids, and I have never run out of TP for healing my berserking.

Nor do I, but I dislike using Trifluids unless I have to (and she burns all her difluids very quickly). I'm just a TP efficiency nazi.

This owns on androids, but it's a very bad multiplayer weapon.

For what reason? Lack of damage? I'd get it, but the exp steal would generally be less than 80 per monster, wouldn't it? Far less, even... even with unreduced.

Nope, Arrest works a lot more often than Blizzard, I remember Sounomi explained why, but I forgot. What I remember is that Blizzard very rarely works, so it sucks.

Aww... so lame. And I was seriously thinking the Blizzard would look nice against Will's Aura Field. XD

Maybe it has something to do with ESP and EIC together, making the chance lower?

I doubt you will be able to get one Needle with a special that works on different classes, so you should get several =/

Oh, I certainly plan to. I don't switch items between characters unless it's going to be at least semi-permenant. Moving items between characters on a daily basis is just one step above simply duping them to save yourself time, as far as I'm concerned.

[Hrith]

King's does amazing damage cancel, and prevents other players from hitting the monsters consistently, this applies to any leeching special, anyway. Never use a leeching special on a multi-target weapon (slicer/shot/needle) when there are meleers around, they'll hate you for it.

[whiteninja]

Since I know you specifically do not want several of them specifically... Here's a good opinion on the rest which I think would suit you:

Kings: Online, a Bartle gives 80 EXP with the special; it does mooch EXP like crazy. Though it will not steal any from other players, they will not be too happy that the big ole' Racast is doing less damage than the lil' melee Fonewearl.

Zalure: Very usefull for online soloing on either the Ramar or Racast, and pretty usefull offline. If there is a FO in the game though, it's really lost all of it's purpose.

Spirit: Not a whorable as Beserk because you are limited on Difluids, and I wouldn't see you using the special all that much anyway... Useless on the Racast though.

Hell: Only major use would be PW3, and I don't think you do that one too much... and in that quest, it would steal alot of kills, which is something I know you do not want.

Arrest: Don't you have a 40h Spread Needle? >_> Slap that and a Zalure Needle on Gorgotron. Not overpowered, but extremely safe and effective.

Edit: HAY, NOMAD! EMPTEE UR PEE EM BOCKS PLZ. EETZ PHULL. LOLQ.
I sent a PM to your inbox on the "unofficial server message boards," since that is the only other place you are active. Reply to it on Ragol Forums please.

[NetNomad]

Ah, so it's damage cancel on Kings, is it? Hmm. Actually, since the people I tend to play with don't really care how fast the monsters die (I'd actually be doing them a favor by letting them get more hits in), that might actually be a GOOD idea for me... *ponders*

And sorry, I just now cleared my PM box. I wish I had noticed the "download entire box as txt file" option. You oughta use it too next time you need to clear. I believe I told you though, I don't go to their forums from work. Just paste your reply and send again here if you want, or I'll just reply to it there tonight.

[whiteninja]

I sent the PM again. Thank you.

With Kings, if you really do use it, it will cancel ALOT, and I think even your friends would mind that.

Edit: How about Demon's on the Racast?

[Saiffy]

All those specials really aren't too powerfully useful in teamplay. The only semi-decent ones would be gush and kings, and those would only work while soloing. If you catch me online, I'll let you borrow my kings needle. I can't remember exact numbers, but when I do ruins with my RAcast, the exp I get, is, well, lots. But it's useless online, so I never use it(Unless to piss off people)

If you want a spread needle subsitute, arrest s-rank needle isn't worth it. I've found my arrest scythe very helpful, can't say much for slicer/j-cutter or shot, though How good is it, Kef? I have been considering putting arrest on my RAcasts j-cutter(I should probably make use of droids paralyze ability)

I'd just say go with berserk :/ Needles need the extra damage they can get, and I found with spirit, your TP drains far too quickly to be worth it(On a needle, anyways). S-needle just isn't a very team friendly weapon, in terms of choosing specials.


demon's on needle fails, you will damage cancel far too much. Shame droids get reduction, heh

[whiteninja]

demon's on needle fails, you will damage cancel far too much. Shame droids get reduction, heh

He does not want a strong special. Demon's on a Racast would not be nearly as strong as it would be on a Ramar. For NetNomad, I think this would work nicely.

[NetNomad]

I actually have considered that for Gorgotron. What's the reduction again - 3/8? 5/8?

I'll have to give it some more thought, the Kings is looking really nice for Will at the moment.