Okay, so one of my friends, having heard from me that Glomdoring is now somewhat more on it's feet, was thinking about trying to get it on it some while he waits for Gaudiguch to come out. However, he's leery of having to put too much money into starting to fight. Thus, working from the basic idea of a Blacktalon demesne user - though I'm open to other ideas - what's the cheapest way to effectively get into combat?

Generally.. trans guild can get you into combat.. would also recommend training discipline to focus mind at Fabled or so.. two ranks before trans.

BT Druid? Get Druidry to fabled 75%. That's all you need to fight reasonably well against most people.

About how many credits would that be, do you know?

Remember, this is the absolute minimum to be effective. Druids have it easy since sap is so amazing.

This is what I consider the absolute minimum for a druid. Note that this includes no Crow, no third skillset, no realitycheck, no shieldparry.

1197 lessons of nature/druidry (sap)
178 lessons of totems (cloak)
16 lessons of discipline (insomnia)
178 lessons of discernment (thirdeye)
89 lessons of planar (teleport)
61 lessons of environment (percieve)
----
1719 lessons total (203 credits) before taking into account lessons from leveling.

Assuming level 60: 150+(5*60)+(6*90)=990. 1719-990=729. 729/8.5=86 credits.

He would have to get to level 60 and acquire 86 credits for the lesson plan listed above. 86 credits isn't hard to achieve through IC means with today's credit market prices.

Shorlen, I now love you in a very platonic way.

How many lessons needed in combat for shieldparry then?

Shieldparry is at Gifted level Combat which makes it 289 lessons to get. Assuming you have no bonus lessons that makes it 49 credits. With the bonus lessons it'd be closer to 35 credits.

Oh, and note that this also doesn't include Thornrend. Thornrend is very nice in groups of druids, but takes another 201 lessons (24 credits) to learn, and sap is also nice in groups in general.

What about cudgel? Oi. They hurt with the bleeding. Staff is 0% Mythical, and is Cudgel the same?

Cudgel is 50% Fabled, the skill just before sap. Thus, I tell people to get Sap first and foremost, as it also gets them Cudgel.

50% Fabled, just before Sap.

Swarm in druidry. Ger in runes. Thirdeye, perceive, the BT novice requirements. It's not the greatest setup, but it's sufficient. Alternatively, sap in druidry, desertsmudge in ecology. Dreamweaving will require a higher credit investment. You'd be amazed at how much you can do with a strong offense that bypasses the need for a solid defense.

EDIT: And actually, if you're really strapped for credits, you can skip perceive and tiptoe around other demesne holders.

It's not so much strapped for credits as wary of too large an investment.

Thanks for your help, everyone. I'll see if I can drag him in.

Well, realize that no matter where he ends up going -after- being a BT, all the non-guild skills are going to remain useful. So credits spent there aren't really an issue, right?

For offense, yes, but Dreamweave Control (learned just 11cr in) is so utterly amazing for fighting wiccans, spiritsingers, and dreamweavers.

Not as in not liking BT but as in not liking Lusternia.

...I suppose it's really my fault for convincing him to make one of his first characters a viscanti in early Celest. Made for an...interesting experience...