What are the best attribute settings for a pure MA, and why?

**EndlessVoid**

Everyone has their own opinion on this issue... I'm interested in hearing some of them.
(And no, my attributes are already where they are - completely even.)

- Void

Maleficous

ive got perception at base 50 and the rest in beleif.

**AnXieTy**

the way attribute points work for perception and focus is on a 10/1 ratio. For ever 10 points you put into either perception or focus, you'll get 1 point of Melee Combat Tactics if you go for perception, or you'll get one point of Ranged Combat Tactics if you go focus. So every 10 points you put into either catagory you'll get one point, (*note the first 10 points down count, only after 20, 30, 40, etc...) Once you reach lvl 50 you can buff any attribute for a total of 17 pts, so to have a high perception the ideal numbers are 43 and 53 for base numbers because with the 17 bonus pts, you can buff up to 60 or 70 and even number. to have a few spare points in either catagory is pointless as its not going to help you, so if your total perception comes out to be like 63 with buffs, you've wasted 3 points you could have spent somewhere else. But after you get to either 43 or 53 for a base, put the rest into belief.

**krytical**

Perception and Belief.

**Fen**

I split my points evenly between Perception and Focus. And according to the "bonus" screen, abilities max out at 51.

Charlenna

If you're looking for Focus to help you out as an MA... good luck...
you won't get much aside from a small viral deflection bonus which won't do
much of anything for you anyway. It USED to give an overall combat tactics
bonus, but that changed long ago, only adds to range combat tactics
now, which is only good if you're combining your MA w/ Duelist, which
many don't consider as MA, largely because of ct stacking thus it is
the high rolling addition from Duelist seeing you through fight, not MA
itself.

I'm primarily belief with a dash of perception, when i max out
everything my belief is 51 and perception 32, I absorb over half dmg
done to me, and when kick in Aikido toughness buff, attacks from that
point on just tickle. With 32 perception my average roll is only 281,
but does that +3 or 4 that the full perception people have on me matter in
PvP? Nah', any MA worth their salt knows a way around it, on top of
which because they're full perception they have a major glass jaw, no
defense. I'll go belief before any other stat for any class any day.

Message Edited by Charlenna on 10-19-2005 04:50 AM
Message edited by Charlenna on 10/19/2005 03:50:56.

NanoHaxiaI

Focus or Belief.

1)The MCT from Perception isn't worth it.

2)The VD from Focus isn't necessary, but can help, and will definitely help in the future.

3)The DR from Belief is very good against MKT/ER/SMG.

4)The DMG Resis from Belief can be useful for non Soldier classes.

5)The SJ from Belief can be used with Beta HJ for more distance/height.

6)RCT from Focus allows an MA to allow be more effective with guns, or with other builds.

Reason-Useless for everyone.

Vitality-Useless for everyone.

Perpception-Less useful than Focus/Belief.

**nephillim**

I'd have to disagree with the statement that Vitality is useless. I used to have 77 perception buffed and I switched it all to vitality. I now have 60- something buffed and love the 580 pt health boost. The perception boost helped but since I can get toughness and resistance fairly easy, and the MCT too, I stick with the Vit and pretty much never lose an MA duel. I mean...have you ever seen a Howitzer with 3580 HP? Anyone else can try to prove me wrong in a duel but until then, if I get my RSI hack, i'm probably not going to use it.