Carbineer Archive

I am looking o revamp my build and have heard many mixed things about Carbs. The people that like it, seem to REALLY like it, while the other 95% of the people just don't seem to understand it. I am part of the "don't understand it" crowd, but one of the few that think there may be more going on here than meets the eye. Kinda like Transformers, lol.

Anyways, atm I am a melee stacker, I like PvP, but am more of a Lone sword as it turns out. So I end up doing alot of high-end PvE. I was looking for a list of what the strengths and weaknesses of the Carbs profession for both PvP and PvE. I would like to retain Swords, and realize that the counterattack would stack up nicely, Sure this caps at 125 like everything else, so probably not a good single reason for the prof. I can not do rifles, in case anyone were to suggest. I am a Mon Cal and our minds are just too weak to make an effective Rifleman.

With all this being said, I would love for some input as to what sorts of Carbineer builds are good. I would like to keep swords, as I love it to death. But am open to any suggestions. I do like the melee/ranged mix, and have another toon that is BH like, so would not want to overlap any BH skills w/ this toon.

Hopefully I have given a somewhat clear idea here.

Again, thank you to all the read and respond.

As you suggested, 95% of people don't understand it very well, which is why we put up an extensive FAQ. I pretty much just copy/pasted this from it:

• Excellent variety of Specials with equally great utility.
  
• All of the Carbineer Specials but maybe one or two have a useful purpose.
  
• Numerous State attacks which are very important, both in PvE and PvP.
  
• Wide selection ofCone Effect/Multi-Target attacks.
  
• Access to one of the best all-around weapons in the game: Laser Carbine.
  
• Very strong in low- to mid-level PvE content.
  
• Awesome titles. Perhaps some of the best in the game.

• Very highHAM costs.
  
• Slowest of the 3 Ranged classes.
  
• Damage types available (energy, acid and heat) are common and highly resisted. Many high-end targets are immune to these damage types.
  
• State effects are not applied to high-end mobs removing any distinction or contribution to high-end content.
  
• Very weak in high-end content.
  
• Low defenses. Among the worst of the elite combat classes.
  
• Main defensive skill, Counterattack, is broken. It does not "trigger" often and does not "counter" the attack.
  
• Very poor PvP performance because of low damage, slow speed, high HAM, and easily resisted damage types.

In short, there are 'better' professions other than Carbineer, like Rifleman, which would help you significantly in high-end PvE. Our mind costs are almost as bad as those of a Rifleman, and we lack their damage output and defenses. By far, the best PvE balanced template is still Rifleman/Swordsman.

One of the biggest issues mentionned is Speed, much like Swords. Master Carbineer requires +30 additional speed (for a total of 90) in order to speedcap standard 4.0 speed carbines. Without some form of additional enhancement past SEAs, this is not possible. The FS melee speed along with the new Carbine stims are new ways to go about doing this, but most have to rely on getting speed slices, using speed powerups, or using specially-crafted carbines with lower speeds. Some people even change their build entirely and add the BH Carbine line to compensate for this inherent pitfall.

In other words, using just Master Carbineer for high-end content is difficult, and can be expensive. Once you do speedcap, however, it's very strong. Elders as you know are not very resistant to Energy damage, and most creatures/NPCs suffer greatly from an AP2 Energy weapon with a speedcapped 7.5x damage modifier (crippleshot.)

The melee/ranged mix is by far the most balanced, and you'd be looking at Master Swordsman / Master Carbineer at the very least. I'd recommend Pistoleer 0040 and Medic 0040 as well, with the remaining 3 skillpoints spent on the FS melee speed line, which will help you both as a Swordsman and as a Carbineer. You might even consider dropping some pistoleer/medic skills for that additional last box in FS melee speed, requiring you at the very most to acquire about +18 Carbine Speed in SEAs.

That said, this profession is a lot of fun and requires a lot more thinking than spamming 2hheadhit3 and intimidate, for example You'll be using 5-6 specials at the very least and possibly more if you fancy. There's a great FAQ dedicated to the Carbineer profession which should address ALL your questions:

Addy | 'Addy
ex-Photographer
Forever Carbineer

Wow, Addy. As a carbineer I didn't realize a lot of stuff in your post. Thanks!

It is all in the FAQ baby

Iebas Feania
Former Correspondent of the Former Profession, CARBINEER

I keep the FAQ VERY UPDATED and we easily have 30-40 contributors in it too.

Iebas Feania
Former Correspondent of the Former Profession, CARBINEER

Nice response, Thank you for the input. I did browse the FAQ, but sometimes find them lacking, out of date, or assembled by just a few w/ similar views. I am def. interested in Carbs. When I did BH, many many lives ago, I didn't really use it much, something I now regret. I had the bh/pistoleer combo and used that heavily. I do agree w/ theyou, that swords/rifles is a killer combo and atm my alt if a rifles/cm, so i do know the wonders of the rifleman prof. That being said, I tried rifes, granted only a few boxes into iton a mon cal. Just didn't work that well, Mons mind stats even w/ buffs are just so damn weak.

At this point, I think i may start to migrate my cm/rifles toon over to BH which he was intended to be, and make a stop off to master carbs. I think seeing it at it's best and w/ all the bonuses might make me appreciate this profession. I did very much like the state changes from even the master marksman attacks with carbs. And I do have a boat load of AAs for Acc ans speed. Thanks for he input. Depending how I like it with my alt, as I migrate him towards his final build, i will attempt that template you suggested. Atm I have the FS melee acc/spd and FS ranged/melee def trees completed. I will play around a bit and report back on my success or failure.

Thank you again to everyone that read and/or responded to my post.

If you have another view or feel something was left out, or just want to put in your 2cents, I encourage you to do so.

Thanks again

Sweet. I am def going to do this, gonna include the BH tree too. I can't atm do the FS trees b/c of the work and waste of SPs that they are towards Jedi. Not that I have any plans to go that route, but just alot of work I would rather avoid. Thanks again for the input.

My thoughts so far... I LOVE the states that carbs, even master marks lvl gives, granted I am not thrilled about the limited dmg types, but coming form a Melee background as of late, i can deal.

Thanks again. WOW I have alot of prof grinding in the next few weeks, lol

I love my 59-603 3.1 Krayt Laser...

Why are you two not on my server? I want to play w/ those guns, lol

Lodo Ektatu - Bloodfin
Co-Leader of the Entertainers (ENTS)
Proprietor of the Drunken Jawa in Gardens of Heaven, Lok
Master Musician, Dancer, Image Designer, and Entertainer

Jherek (Imperial) - Bloodfin
Captain of the Gardens of Heaven Militia
Master Carbineer and Smuggler