Bio Engineer Archive

My opinion - Melee

Why? Because if you're agro'd by a creature while sampling, chances are you're already too close for a ranged weapon to be used ideally. And running back to getideal range will only give the creature free hits on your backside.

My current template is TKM/BE/novice CH (so I can tame and grow some of the pets I make) It works quite well for me.For instance, while sampling a TMB lair pn Endor today, I succeeded twicebefore getting agro'dby the third TMB. With the help of myBE'd kaadu (6k ham) and my own KD/warcry I was able to walk away from attack and live to keep sampling. (It was when the other two agro'd me that I took the clone train trip back to the outpost)

So far, TK with BE has been very successful for me. The only problem with it is sampling social creatures. You can wipe out thespawn and not get any samples if you don't run and peace. (Btw, force of will is wonderful to have on those agro's that db if you succeed and can burst run out of there)

I'd love to hear what other type of combat classes other BE's have taken and how it works for them. The choice is yours to make though Onesiku, and it depends on your play style.

neither. they take up skill points better spent on:

artisan. you need to survey for flora. you'd probably benefit from a vendor.

scout. get explore 4 for the maskscent bonus (it'll hit +95 with the right tissue-mod clothing). get master scout for a natural +100, or +125 with mods. master scout also shows CL on /examine.

ranger. tracking 3 shows special1 and special2 on /examine, plus the CL from master scout. if you're with a group, you'll also rip more meat from corpses... and you need more meat.

creature handler. you've got hunt 4, you ought to get explore 4... you're qual'd. using a pet that you craft won't replace combat skills, but it costs a lot less skill points... and with master CH, you can train all your creations for customers.

medic. you're going to get pounded out there.

change your /sampledna key to: /peace; /sampleDNA. WALK or crawl prone to creatures. forget combat. keep your speeder nearby, and be ready to hop in and blast off. to be a good BioE, you're going to need to sample CL50+ critters... and without a SIGNIFICANT expenditure of skill points in combat professions, you can't meet the threat of these creatures with force.

/peace and run.

that said, I've heard boasts of first-tier 2handers that can solo rancors. I've used marksman 0003 to spam warning shot as I run the opposite direction (this won't work with the bigger critters out there).

avoid combat. you don't have the skill points to spare, and you'll get pounded. spend your skill points on evasion and support.

Melee

I am only 0,2,1,2 fencer and I rarely die when sampling Mutant Rancors, etc..If theyaggro Ijust Lunge1 them and run (not burst run) and they will eventually give up, then turn around and sample them some more.

lunge1, whether it is unarmed, 1-hand, 2hand, or polearm, is a novice brawler skill. a posture down attack can buy you a little time, but full-on /peace with a ready speeder and a planned escape route will seldom fail you, whereas defending yourself against attack will pull BAF... and should you get a single hit in, you'll get repeat incaps (due to the new AI).

it hurt to do it, but I dropped all my combat skills with my BioE... and you CAN use avoidance and escape as viable alternatives to combat.

Mtka is good for that unarmed toughness, but like the guys so above, this combat skill only buys you time more or less. No point in fighting it even if you can cause you either kill it, or you get killed. I am not to sure what I am going to do as I am a master TKA and only 2 blocks from MBE which I can grind in a few hours. I have not decided. Reading posts like this is helping me out.

if you're really set on combat as a complement to BioE, look into smuggler... panic shot might buy you 10 seconds of escape, and /feigndeath might be just the trick you're looking for.

whichever you choose, remember that these skills cost skill points. zero combat skills frees up a lot of points, which you can spend on other skills (survey, vendor, master scout/ranger, etc) that can save your hide outside of combat... or let you avoid it in the first place. you can also use traps to slow a critter while you get away...