Hello I'm Debo (Aka Nugeki)
I play on the IRO Restart Server which is the original IRO content, but with Renewal Mechanics in place.
We are currently on 2nd Classes only, and the upcoming March Update we will be receiving Transcendent Classes (Paladin, Lord Knight, Bio Chem etc.)
The Strongest most reliable skill on this server for a Crusader is Holy Cross, It does double Damage with a 2 Handed spear equipped, is affected by racial cards, and scales well with a High attack weapon & Increase attack items.
GC is also a A solid skill as long as you have a High attack Weapon, and 80+ Int (We use this to level on Anubis until level 99)
But with the Release of the Paladin class, a third option Opens up: Rapid Smiting
Rapid Smiting On Classic Mechanics were quite simple:
Str , Racial Cards, Provoke level 10, Shield Refinement, and Shield Rate all did a wonderful job of making the skill a solid option in leveling, and easy to understand.
Rapid Smiting On Renewal Mechanics we are not so sure off:
Did the damage formula change?
Do racial Cards still effect the skill at all?
Does weapon Damage effect the skill greatly? I.E.: (Is a quad racial weapon better, then a High Attack double racial weapon)
The only thing I know is, that The weight of the Shield, and the Refinement level of it still play a big role in determining damage, but I have no clue if Attack factors more into the damage, (as alot of renewal skill do), or if it still favors 4 Socket card setups more.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, because the Renewal Community knows there stuff..... We are helplessly lost on the IRO Odin Server, because Renewal Mechanics were never in the game when Trans Classes first came out.......If Rapid Smiting Turns out to be terrible in Renewal Mechanics, we will stick to using Holy Cross, Grand Cross, and Martyr Reckoning.
Thanks so much for the future reply. Once Our server catches up to where you guys are at we will have plenty of information to look to, but as of right now were heading down a path that has never been explored in the IRO community.