-------------------------------------------------- Ragnarok Online - Professor / Scholar Guide -------------------------------------------------- Version 1.0 Author Battousai X / Christen Email battousai_x2k@yahoodotcom pRO Chara Syril.Endevas Send me some ASCII art will ya? ^_^ -------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents -------------------------------------------------- [1] Disclaimer [2] Version History [3] Changing to a Professor [4] What is a Professor? [5] Status Bonuses [6] Professor Skills [7] Professor Builds [8] Professor vs Other Classes [9] Professor Strategies for WoE [10] About me and this FAQ [11] Credits You can skip to later sections by using the find function. Use the number enclosed in brackets to jump to that certain section. -------------------------------------------------- [1] Disclaimer -------------------------------------------------- This FAQ is for personal use only, you may not distribute this FAQ in printed form in any way. You may use this FAQ in your site but please inform me as much as possible so I would know where this FAQ is being hosted. I will only post my most updated copy in GameFAQs because maintaining too many submissions proved to be troublesome. So if you want to keep your copy updated, download my latest version at GameFAQs. And oh yeah, FAQ plagiarists die! -------------------------------------------------- [2] Version History -------------------------------------------------- v1.0 11/24/2005 - First release. Woe section under construction -------------------------------------------------- [3] Changing to a Professor -------------------------------------------------- If you already don't know how to become an advanced class, here's how: 1. Create a Sage and build it up to Base Lv99. 2. Unequip everything you have and put your whole inventory in your storage. You musn't have anything in your inventory and anything equipped. 3. Have someone hold your money for you. Take only 1,285,000z with you. 4. Go to Juno and look for Metheus Slyphe. He will ask you to donate 1,285,000z to be able to read the book. Pay him and make sure you have 0z left. 5. Read the Book of Ymir located just above the NPC. You should be able to read the text unlike when you haven't paid the donation yet. 6. Proceed south and downstairs and find the Heart of Ymir. It's a maze of portals but not hard to get there. Once you've found it, click the center (it should have a "talk" mouse icon) 7. You're now in Valkyrie, proceed north and talk to the Valkyrie. If you've followed my instruction about having no zeny, inventory and equipment, she will change you to a High Novice at Base Lvl1 and give you a Knife[4] and Cotton Shirt[1]. And now you're a trancsendent class. Level up your High Novice up to Job Lvl10 and return to the Mage Class NPC to be changed into a Mage High. Afterwards, level up your Mage High to at least Job Lvl40 and go back to Valkyrie. Talk to the Scholar to be changed to a Professor! I highly suggest you change to a Professor at Mage High Job Lvl50 because it is worth it. You will have trouble with skills if you change at an early job level. -------------------------------------------------- [4] What is a Professor? -------------------------------------------------- The Professor (or Scholar) is the transcendent class of Sages. Sages proved to be powerful as a party member specially in guild sieges. The professor takes the power of sages a few notches higher. When properly used, it can prove to be one of the most powerful classes in the world of Ragnarok Online. If you want to know more about the Sage class, read another FAQ because I will only be elaborating the Professor class in this FAQ with only a few references to the sage class. I found Calx Zinra's guide to be most useful! ^^ If you want to know how to use Sages, consult that FAQ. It really rocks. -------------------------------------------------- [5] Status Bonuses -------------------------------------------------- So before we dive deeper into what the teachers do, we'll take a look into their status bonus. Let me remind you that I didn't list the complete bonus tree as that will just confuse some of you. I've only written the levels with multiples of ten. Job Lv STR AGI VIT INT DEX LUK 10 1 1 1 2 1 0 20 2 2 1 4 3 0 30 3 3 2 6 5 1 40 4 4 3 7 7 1 50 5 6 3 9 8 1 60 6 8 3 10 10 1 70 6 9 4 13 11 2 As you can see, professors have high int/dex bonuses. This leads us to a few ideas for what build you can use. -------------------------------------------------- [6] Professor Skills -------------------------------------------------- Skills unique to this class are mostly supportive. But they are very formidable spells. Soul Burn Req: Cast Cancel 5, Magic Rod 3, Dispel 3 Max Lvl: 5 Reduce target's SP to 0 and inflict damage depending on lost SP. If it fails, the caster is the one to suffer the effects. Damage done by this spell is reduced by MDEF. All spells have fixed cast delays except for level 5. Chances: Lvl 1 40% chance 100% damage Lvl 2 50% chance 100% damage Lvl 3 60% chance 100% damage Lvl 4 70% chance 100% damage Lvl 5 70% chance 200% damage This is the professor's most formidable spell provided you use it correctly. The only weakness of this spell is the long cast delay. If the first fails, you have other spells to provide you with backup. HP Conversion Req: Increase SP Recovery 1, Magic Rod 1 Max Lvl: 5 Trades your 10% of your HP for SP. Conversion rate depends on skill level. Cast delay also increases with level. Trade off rates: Lvl 1 SP = 20% of HP used (2% of your actual HP) Lvl 2 SP = 40% of HP used (4% of your actual HP) Lvl 3 SP = 60% of HP used (6% of your actual HP) Lvl 4 SP = 80% of HP used (8% of your actual HP) Lvl 5 SP = 100% of HP used (10% of your actual HP) It is definitely worth maxing out this skill. If you're going to be a soul burner, you need this as a backup spell incase your soul burn fails. It is also one of the reasons you should be a VIT type. Soul Exhange Req: Magic Rod 3, Spell Breaker 2 Max Lvl: 1 Exchange SP with target. SP gained cannot exceed max SP for both. If cast on a monster, caster will gain 3% of SP instead. On normal maps, this spell can be cast on party members and in PVP/Guild maps, anyone. This is both a good offensive and supportive spell. Offensive in a way that if you happen to have low SP, target the nearest enemy Wizard you can find. Supportive in a way that, as long as you have a Priest beside you, you can supply other party member with SP with this spell, use HP Conversion, and let the priest heal you. ^^ Wall of Fog Req: Violent Gale 2, Deluge 2 Max Lvl: 1 Creates a 5x3 area of fog around targeted ground. All players within this area are inflicted with Blind and if they leave the area, they would still be inflicted with that for a few more seconds. Any long range attack from outside will have 75% chance of missing. Physical attacks will have reduced damage and hit rate. This is a risky spell but can turn tides if you know how to use it. This spell will have increased duration if cast over Deluge. Do not cast this if you have no way of curing Blind. If you remain inside after you cure the status, you won't have Blind inflisted on you again. Mind Breaker Req: Increase SP Recovery 3, Soul Burn 1 Max Lvl: 1 Summing it up, it's like a Mage's Provoke. It reduces target's MDEF but increases their MATK. It also makes monsters aggresive. But unlike Provoke, it has a chance to fail. Effects: Lvl 1: MATK+20% MDEF-12% 60% chance to hit Lvl 2: MATK+40% MDEF-24% 65% chance to hit Lvl 3: MATK+60% MDEF-36% 70% chance to hit Lvl 4: MATK+80% MDEF-48% 75% chance to hit Lvl 5: MATK+100% MDEF-60% 80% chance to hit Use this spell when you have immobilized the target, specially on mages. This spell is definitely strong against Knights since they don't really have use for MATK. Memorize Req: Advanced Book 5, Free Cast 5, Auto Spell 1 Max Lvl: 1 Reduces your next 5 spells casting rate by half and casting delay. This spell also stacks with other casting time reducing effects (cards, Suffragium). However this spell has 5 sec casting time and unaffected by DEX. This spell is great for combining skills. But cast it only when you're sure everything is safe or you have protection. And make good use of those 5 spells. This section will only elaborate on professor skills. If you would want to learn about Sage skills, consult another FAQ. Spider Web Req: Dragonology 4 Max Lvl: 1 Requires 1 Cobweb to cast. It installs a trap on target ground (even if an enemy is in it). An enemy caught in it would have 50% reduction to flee. Fire element attacks would deal 2x damage except for Alchemist skill Demonstration which would do 2.5x damage (ouch). Upon hitting, trap would be removed. Lasts 8 secs in normal maps and 4 on PVP/Siege maps. You can only have 3 at a time. This skill can prove to be useful specially for immobilizing opponents. You can even combine this with Stone Curse for increased fire damage. The only problem is the high preqrequisite (Dragonology requires Advanced Book 9) -------------------------------------------------- [7] Professor Builds -------------------------------------------------- There's no definite build in RO as we know it. Therefore, I'll only summarize the builds I very well know for professors. 1. Melee Professor Stat Build Priority STR > DEX > AGI/VIT > INT Key Skills Free Cast, Auto Spell, Advanced Book The first build is what would I say the least effective in utilizing the capabilities of a professor. You'd be using a Book type weapon and pump up your melee stats (STR, DEX). Going AGI or VIT type is entirely up to you. You may use the high AGI bonus of the professor but suffer from a low HP. As a melee type, you'll be relying on your Auto Cast skill. A Phen Clip would also be useful so you can use Freedom of Casting effectively. You may also opt to learn Soul Burn which may render any incoming adversary empty of SP. 2. Full Support Professor Stat Build Priority DEX > VIT > INT Key Skills Soul Burn, HP Conversion, Zone Spells (LP,Vol,etc..) This build proves to be the best build if you plan on playing your professor on guild sieges. It renders almost all classes useless in a siege provided you use it properly. Handling a professor is difficult but correct handling can devastate opponents. The skill Soul Burn is a very powerful spell. In the case it fails, you can always get help from your HP with your high VIT using HP Conversion. So there, in my opinion, being a support professor is the best. 3. Full Offense Professor Stat Build Priority DEX > VIT > INT Key Skills Soul Burn, HP Conversion, Zone Spells (LP,Vol,etc..) This build is almost identical to the full support build with only the difference in skills. When in this build, you may opt to not learn Land Protector which you won't use much with this build. -------------------------------------------------- [8] Professor vs Other Classes -------------------------------------------------- Professors have the natural ability to neutralize the other classes provided you use them properly and win in speed. Let's elaborate on how we will neutralize the other classes: Lord Knights Use Wall of Fog and Soul Burn. This will prevent them from using Berserk or any other strong attacks. You should have enough HP to last any normal attack. But you can also immobilize them (Frost Diver, Stone Curse) for your other teammates to be able to neutralize them quickly. Paladins They suck without SP so use Soul Burn. High Wizards The professor is built as an anti-mage. Use Soul Burn on them. If it fails, cast HP Conversion and try to use Soul Exchange. A successful attack is devastating. ^^ Professors Going against a professor could prove to be hard. It's a matter of who goes first. The opening spell would likely be Soul Burn. Cross your fingers on who wins the magic battle. Assassin Cross You're not likely to meet a hidden assassin so don't worry. Cast Soul Burn on them and Wall of Fog. They're way easier than Lord Knights. Stalkers They could be a problem with their perfect hide. Cast a Safety Wall on yourself to be sure. A Wall of Fog would be useful too. Clowns / Gypsies Again, Soul Burn is a must. Cast a Wall of Fog on yourself so they won't be able to hit you easily. Snipers A Wall of Fog would minimize hits from the Sniper. Whatever you do, you cannot come to their range without protection from other team mates or you wall of fog. Once they're preoccupied, cast a Soul Burn on them to force them to use single attacks. High Priests Again, Soul Burn plays it's role. The only threat they pose is their Lex Divina. Before they cast it on you, take them out quickly. Champions The one hit kill wonders can be stopped by your Soul Burn. Nuff said. -------------------------------------------------- [9] Professor Strategies for WoE -------------------------------------------------- ** Under Construction ** -------------------------------------------------- [10] About me and this FAQ -------------------------------------------------- I will: 1. Accept corrections and/or suggestions. 2. Accept tips. 3. Accept additional info. 4. Accept constructive criticism 4. Be nice to nice people. I won't: 1. Reply to your mail as soon as I can. 2. Accept spam. 3. Answer you ingame if I'm busy (if you also play on pRO) If you're going to e-mail me about the FAQ, please include "Prof FAQ" in your subject. I get far too many spam in my inbox and I don't intend to mistake your e-mail for spam. -------------------------------------------------- [11] Credits -------------------------------------------------- GameFAQs for hosting this FAQ Calx Zinra for the Sage FAQ. ^^ Gravity for Ragnarok Online Lee Myoung-Jin for Ragnarok Online Various RO sites for the info on Professors My friends for playing with me The Lord for everything and YOU!!! - for reading this FAQ and correcting my mistakes (if you ever did ^_^). Thanks also to everyone else who contributed to this FAQ. This FAQ is copyrighted © 2005 Christen. All Rights Reserved