I figured I'd get back into dungeons and maybe try some trials given the recent changes to Cyro. All my toons have loadouts for tooling around (overland, rnds etc) but they're really optimised for pvp. Using the heroes reforged event to convert them to pve set ups. From browsing the various build sites, most of it seems pretty straightforward but there's a few points where I found myself wondering so I thought I'd ask what other's do. Any advice appreciated.

General qus
- mag toons in general: now concentration and prodigy aren't capped at 5 pieces, I'm wondering if people are still running 5-1-1 or switching to 7 light in pve? There's a post about medium (where I think it's always been 7 medium for pve) but couldn't see one on magika. (More specifically, if 5 - 1 - 1 is still meta, I was wondering how badly 5 light 2 heavy would hurt: it looks like I have just about every piece of medusa *except* the inferno staff. Duh. So I'd have to go chest pants NRR or something).

- stam toons in general: I've always thought the strategy with stam dps was to stack weapon damage for the +20 major brutality + bonus from med armor + bonus from slotting fighter's guild abilities. I can't help but notice though that my crit seems to be awfully low now though. Like 38, 40%. Is there a rough rule of thumb like get to 50% crit then stack wpn dmg - Or is it wpn dmg all the way? I think the stamblade and warden are running hundings + briarheart at mo. I was going to try out leviathan on at leasts the stamblade this am but hey, the server's down so I thought I'd ask.

- jewelry: it looks like bloodthirsty is BIS now, but I've read a few comments elsewhere that bloodthirsty is more for trial bosses and infused might be better for all round use and in particular small group work. Asian god seems to have them not that far apart anyway, but that may be old info. What do most go for who are doing regular content (ie vet dungeons, and maybe the odd trial rather than high end score pushing stuff)

Class specific qus
Magdk: a) I know molten whip is the "pve morph" of flame lash but it also seems to be a spammable that.... you shouldn't spam. Because you lose the stack when you do. (Huh?) Do people just spam it, do they build up a stack then hit it, or do they just stick it on the bar and.... just run crushing shock.
- b) eruption worth it? Or just run mystic orb. Looks good on paper but wondering about the odds of a boss staying in a 5 metre circle for 19 seconds. and it's damn expensive.
- c) for bonus points - is it still true that only one player in the group can run talons? I don't think I'd be running it for a pure dps set up, but one of those things I've been meaning to ask at some point anyway

Stamblade: a) I know 2h's not as good dps as dual but I like it. Obv uses d-swing at the moment with concealed blade on the backbar for manoevre. I've basically now got a choice of wrecking blow vs surprise attack. What do most pve stamblades use nowadays? Or is it a mixture? I was pondering whether I should use surprise attack for solo (for the armor passive) and wb for group dps (for the empower). I'm assuming that with gcd, the cast time on wb wouldn't actually reduce spams per minute / dps. b) incapacitating strike vs flawless dawnbreaker? I'm guessing former for stdps latter for aoe but 300 weapon damage for 20 seconds....

Necro: I thought I'd turn this guy into a tank. *** hum. We'll see... 3 quick questions:
- a) looking at the guides most seem to recommend boneyard over caltrops for group debuff; I'm guessing that's simply to preserve stam but it slightly surprised me - I may be wrong, but I thought caltrops gave 14 seconds of breach so it fitted rather well with wall of elements. It's also got an 8 meter radius rather than 6. Am I missing something else vs boneyard- the synergy?
- b) alcast has you running pestilent colussus as offensive ulti. I thought warhorn was pretty de rigeur for tanks. Did it get nerfed or is colussus just that good?
- c) alcast, dottz etc go with deaden pain. I've alway run mortal coil. I get the 3% damage reduction + major protection while channelling - which sounds great but if I'm reading it right you only get 2 seconds of channel per corpse. Mortal basically gives me a free vigor every time spirit guardian goes down plus stam return. Again, am I missing something here?

Magtemp: a) alcast recommends ele weapon as spammable. I can't face grinding psyjic on another toon just yet. I'm guessing crushing shock is probably no.2 But *I think* they changed the burning light passive again, which takes me back to jabs/ So, best spammable if you don't have psyjic yet?
b) if I was running jabs, is jabs still an AOE? - If so I'd be inclined to run shock rather than fire staffs? And I actually have the medusa shock staff....

I think the mage and warden seem pretty straightforward and I'm conscious that's a wall of text as it is. Blame server downtime! Anyway, appreciate people may not be able to answer all of those, but if anyone has an insight on one or other points, would appreciate any input you have

cheers

Larc