This has probably been asked before but what's the best trade skill trans item?

I currently have alchemy, but I'm considering switching to tailoring for the splendor robes.

Purely based on the trans skill for hunting purposes (ignoring any use of the rest of the skillset) what do people reckon is best? The sip bonus, the defence from the robes, or some other skill?

I like bookbinding since the tome acts like a virtually unlimited healing scroll, so I can use it in addition to sipping.

Hmmm magic tome, am I right in thinking that thing has protection against some damage types too if enchanted?

it has protection against all types of damage when it's not fully charged. which just means waste some charges if it is.

I don't think so, it'd be news to me. It does have protection against some demesne effects, though.

EDIT 'cos of what Krellan said: Does it really absorb damage? There were rumors but it wasn't tested, I thought.

It offers 10% resistance to... fire, cold, magic, and poison? Maybe one other? Whatever type of attack charges the tome, that's what it provides resistance against, so long as it isn't fully charged.

i tested it with Shiri and it definately does. He notices it all the time bashing with me too. it gives physical absorption to which charges the healing scrolls in it.

Ooooh, neato.

Hmmm well keeping it not fully charged doesn't sound too difficult. I think I'm liking the idea of a magic tome.

Splendor supposedly blocks 20% of fire, cold, magic, and electric with the proofs, plus the physical armor... don't get tome just for the resistance

it's not a straight 20% it's that weird method that makes it less

Like... 20% of what is not already blocked?

Well think of it like this; What would best suit your hunter?

Venoms: Will offer an immunity to one venom of your choice (Charybdon not included)

Herbs: You get faster herb balance and can get 20 puffs from a pipe

Tailoring: Splendor Robes

Bookbinding: Tome that absorbs stuff

Jewelry: Nothing really useful for PvP or Bashing

Forging: Fullplate ( But I am assuming you are a hunter/ecologist, not a tracker)

Artisian: Able to make an object you can teleport to (from anywhere I think)

Alchemy: I am not sure what the trans skill is to that or if it can be useful at all as a hunter.

I know I must be missing something other than Enchantments, but you can't take Enchantments anyways.

he's a moondancer. Alchemy gives a philosopher stone level 1 sip bonus

Magic tome is by far the best trans tradeskill item I ever had (with the possible exception of the magicrown). Always having a healing scroll on hand is more useful than I thought probable.

ok so what I'm thinking now is, from an elfen perspective, a level 1 sip bonus is less worth health wise than damage reduction from the tome, plus being able to use it as a health scroll in addition to sipping would make the tome much better. I'm sold! Thanks.

I'm quite looking forward to getting my magic tome. I worried at first that I wouldn't be able to wield it because of my staff...because I've gotten so used to WoW where a staff is a two-handed item.

You forgot cooking, for herofete, which is not all the useful for a hunter anyways.

(/necro)

Splendor is REALLY WEIRD. It's supposed to be +10% resistance to fire, cold, magic, electricity (since proofings on it offer 20% resistance instead of the usual 10%), but the extra resistance doesn't fire on certain attacks. Maelstrom is one example of this. Vs Maelstrom, which is 25% fire and 25% electricity, Splendor proofings pretend to be normal proofings and only offer 10% resistance.

Splendors also give about +20/+20 cutting/blunt defense over Greatrobes. I'm not sure how much this is numerically.

So, tomes are likely to be more defense, in addition to their special ability of "unlimited" scroll uses. The only downside to tomes is that you need to hold one, so they're not as good for PvP unless you have a shield rune. For bashing though, that isn't an issue, since shields do nothing while bashing.

You sure? I thought they lowered damage a little.