Thread: My guard seems to be significantly below average...

I used the tool in this thread:
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.p...38#post6243638

It shows that my guard is over 450 points below average in VIT and lagging in other areas as well. I don't have top-level gear as I don't raid, but I expected to be closer to average. I will be closer if I fully deck out in Great River gear and jewelry, but am I missing something else?

I'm not sure if my.lotro.com is having issues since it tells me you don't have anything slotted for your shoulders.

Regardless, being below average will apply for half of all players so don't be put off by that too much. Instead focus on what you're trying to accomplish. Are you able to enjoy the game with the gear you're using already? Or are you trying to run harder and harder content, requiring higher levels of gear (i.e. end-game group content, raids, etc)?

If you find you need to gear up to have fun I'd focus on getting the GR jewelry and run some skirmish raids for other jewelry pieces that drop in there. Another route is to purchase some crafted teal stuff from the AH. You can also purchase crafted teal shields/armor pieces to get you going for that ToO set. If you can get to the point where you can run a full ToO T1 run you'll unlock the ToO armor sets, which are barterable via currency that drops from 3- and 6-man content (as well as the raid, naturally). The ToO sets will do your stats a lot of good (assuming what I'm reading in my.lotro.com is accurate).

Good luck.

Maybe you should post the gear you have so people can suggest which areas need improvement.

Anyway, I don't know what gear you could have access to, but you should be able get to 1500 vitality easily.

- Armour: If you have seals/medallions, you can barter 4 out of 6 pieces from the Dragon set. If you don't do Draigoch, you can get crafted helm and shoulders.
- Cloak: The Draigoch cloak is the best one, but for start http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Armou..._Th%C3%A9odred could be good enough if you can't get better one.
- Shield: http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Armou..._Th%C3%A9odred 3rd best guard's shield in the game. Better ones are one that drops in Orthanc T2C and another which is crafted from single use recipe that also drops in Orthanc (both T1 and T2).
- Jewelery: The Martyr GR/LG jewel set + some other jewels that can be easily obtained.
http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Item:...gth_Remembered
http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Item...lace_of_Morale
http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Item:..._Th%C3%A9odred
lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Item:Ring_of_the_Ox
For the other bracelet there are several options, you can choose one based on which stats you think you need most. Either vitality or might/agility.

Relics also play important part of your build. My current build on both weapon and belt is:
http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Reli...g_of_Stability
http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Reli...ry_Gem_of_Hope
http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Reli...une_of_Mending
http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Item...ce_of_Vitality (in lack of a real tanking crafted relic)

Virtues: Zeal, Valour, Loyalty, Discipline, Fidelity, Tolerance, Innocence, Honour. Combine them depending of what you are expecting to tank (what damage type you expect to take).


Again I will say that I made this post based on no knowledge about what content you do and what gear you have access to. This is a starter lv 75 gear and should easily get you to 1500+ vitality as well as boosting other important stats.

If you are interested in farming instances and skirmishes, or if you are doing Orthanc, just say and I will make some other suggestions.

Thanks for the responses. No, to date I haven't done any raiding, and I expected to be a bit below average I was just shocked to see how low my VIT was compared to others. Interesting that my.lotro doesn't show my shoulder guards, but I SHOULD be wearing:

http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Item..._of_Deflection

If not, then something is very wrong. To answer some of your general questions, no I'm not really having problems with any of the content I'm doing at the moment, but I want to stick my toe in the instance pool and will likely begin with some Moria runs. Being 75 I should be statted just fine for those instances, but as I hopefully move up to more on-level stuff I don't want to be a drag on the group. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm slowly and surely buying up better equipment on the AH, but most of the good stuff is going for around 20G and it takes me a little time to grind out that cash as I don't care for crafting. I recently starting farming North Downs rep items in Angmar, and that seems like it will be a very lucrative business for me.