Max Tattoo level, NCB and FFs (in General)

This time round, I'm finding the hardest teams to beat (and this isn't a whine!) are those based around FFs. The only reason I can think of as to why these are causing me so much trouble (when most other mages are tackled by my AMF) is the rate at which a charcaters Max Tattoo level grows.

It grows faster than the charcater. At the moment my MPR is 29,908 while my max tattoo is 37,320.

Why does this make such a big deal with a FF?

If you have a FF larger than your Max (Which if you plan on creating a NCB character, you should have a large tattoo, or be able to get hold of one...), until your max tattoo catches up to your FF level, it will always grow faster than your character.

It will also grow faster than the other characters around your level. For example, a Single FB mage can't grow as fast as a FF atttached to a signle minion (whatever that minion is...).

By the nature to max Tattoo growth, a FF larger than this allows you to fight far higher than a normal grown character.

The other types of tattoos don't help as much with this.

I think what I'm really trying to say is that if you start a NCB character, the best strat possible is to use a FF until your max surpasses your tattoo level. Nothing else comes close.

One way of dealing with those FF's is to equip ranged. Obviously if you don't the only damage you do to them is through AMF, which means, unless your AMF is huge, you won't be doing much damage to them. And, also obviously, the UC evasion is completely useless. But, if they are single mage/ff you'll be more likely to kill the familiar in ranged, which leaves the usually much smaller mage to be taken care of in melee. Remember, while that FF might be larger due to the max tattoo, so is your ToA, so you're stronger than a normal character would be, with a bigger weapon thanks to UC and the pr weight of Helms.

But it's no surprise this time round that mage teams are stronger than UC. I guess we have to grin and bear it!

:) I know I'm set up optimally to take out Mages (even FB Mages) but AMF won't help.

I can't grow an AMF (even if I put 100% of my xp into it) that can keep pace with a FF, as it's grows faster than my charcater can.

And even with ranged, if the FF is behind (can you still do this? Do you have to have no DD/weapon on the minion?) the minion wearing the tattoo, I now need seekers to take it out. Far too expensive! ;)

Familiar behind unarmed minion, in front of armed (weapon/dd spell) minion.

Seekers are not only expensive but very fought over in auctions too! There are several teams around I can beat with seekers where I am. But only with seekers. And due to their demand it really isn't a good idea to rely on those!

Still, you've got the comfort that those FF's will be growing very very fast. (not)Cold comfort indeed.... ;)

:)

So for someone thinking to make another NCB character, use a single Enchanter, make sure you don't train a DD or equip a weapon and stick a large FF on him.

the contention that you can't keep a single FB mages DD above max tat is silly,
I've had a FB larger than my max tat most of the time.

The trick here IMHO is, all tattoos above the max tattoo operate more efficiently and with more impact. Anyone who uses a tattoo less than their max tattoo is leaving power on the table. I made a big post about it, but basically speaking at equal MPR, equal strats, two teams one above and one below max tattoo will have greatly different power, AND most likely the additional PR added by the bigger tattoo will not be significantly higher than an average level equipped tattoo. I think it is just easy to see how much more effective the max tattoo is when in use by a damage dealing familiar, when in reality, all tattoos operate better when above max tattoo in comparison to your peer group.

something I'm wondering would a FF be behind a UC person or not, they don't have a weapon equipped, but they do use their hands as a weapon, so would it be behind or in front of the single minion UC

in front