Brawler Archive

I'm currently MBE/TKM, and am thinking about dropping TKM for either Swordsman or Pikeman. Any advice? Note that I could use a few skill points elsewhere as-is, and am working on the FS trees (just picked up a box of Melee Speed), so I may not wish to quite master (after the first little while).

...has mastered the Pilot profession

Kryxal Lightsky - Radiant - Cancelled Dec. 7
Kagami Lightingdark - Radiant - Cancelled Dec. 7
Kikuko Inoue - Starsider - Cancelled Dec. 7
Momoko - Radiant - Cancelled Aug. 22

all depends on what you are trying to do and what you like to play as, if you are working on getting xp for FS quests, get swordsmen hands down. if you want PvP stick with TKM, either way if I were you i would hang onto meditate IV or at least meditate II..

Hrm. Thats a tough choice. TKM is an ideal profession for those who can only afford a single combat profession mastery. Granted, it lacks the out and out damage of a Swordsman or a Pikeman, but it's other benefits make up for that.

If you choose either swords or pike, I seriously suggest you plug in enough SPs into Medic to grab Pharma IV and FA II.

Over all, I would have to say that Swordsman is your best bet, as it gives you more toughness, speed and accuracy than Pikes, unless of course, you have the funds to scour your galaxie for Pike Speed tapes, and DOT or High-Damage LVAs and VLs. I say DOTs because they aren't just for PvP. Fire DOT lances are great in the Corvette and the DWB and of course, Fire/Disease/Poison DOTs work great in PvE, despite all the PvPers moaning about wasting them on NPCs and mobs.

I am both a swordsman and a pikeman, and over all, I enjoy pikeman more. Bear in mind, I have the above-said High Damage and DOT weapons and I am speed capped in both. As such, I can outdamage any swordsman I know, unless he is using some Uber Legendary 2k dam weapon.

Regarding Meditate...I say dump it. It's only useful AFTER a battle. The idea is to keep yourself alive durring the battle. Meditating off disease and poison is nice, but you have to run away to do that. PowerBoost doesn't last all that long and FOW...well, I have had to use it when I was a TKM. Much better to spend those SPs on medical skills, especially if you ever want to join a group going out after Nightsisters or down into the DWB.

I ended up starting the shift to Swordsman, and I don't really have many points to work with. I have my own vendor (24 points) and need the best Explore I can manage. It's actually a choice between Explore 4 and mastering the combat profession ... and it will get worse as I add FS boxes. Therefore, Meditation goes ... and with the meds I have, that isn't such a problem, though I can'tcure disease. Medic 2004 would be nice, but I can't afford it. I may as well just accept that bleeds and diseases will be a bit of a problem (when buffed) and I won't be soloing NS elders.

...has mastered the Pilot profession

Kryxal Lightsky - Radiant - Cancelled Dec. 7
Kagami Lightingdark - Radiant - Cancelled Dec. 7
Kikuko Inoue - Starsider - Cancelled Dec. 7
Momoko - Radiant - Cancelled Aug. 22

do swordsman for the DOT fotm will go away soon. BLAST is a powerful aly too

-who lightdust