Fencer Archive

Now, I was considering going Master Pistoleer/Fencer for the following reasons.

1) It just fits. Pistol. Sword. 2+2=4.

2) It seems that Pistoleer and Fencer defenses stack, so that would be a rather hefty bonus.

3) Pie.

Then I started looking at Carbineer and Rifleman. Carbineers get agreat KD, which would obviously be a big help for a Fencer, but other than that Carbineers suck. Assuming that most of my damage would be inflicted by my sword and I only use my carbine for the knock down, would Carbineer be a better choice than Pistoleer? And what of Rifleman? Is there something I'm not seeing there?

I did do a search for this, but most of the discussion on this topic is pretty old, so I wanted a more up to date answer. Also, I'm not interested in going all melee, so please don't tell me to master TKA/Fencer or something. I'm pretty set on my ranged/melee hybrid ways.

I don't think anything fits 'best', but I can tell you what I'm planning to do...

I'm currently 'mixing' Fencer, Smuggler and Pistoleer, and I must say that I'm very satisfied with it.

My goal is:

- Master Fencer

- Smuggler (0/0/4/0)

- Pistoler (4/0/0/0)

This gives you the Smuggler's Dirty Fighting (Feign Death in combination with 4 stacking Health Bleeds, a ranged Knockdown, a ranged Delay Shot, and one of the most damaging Pistol styles available: Last Ditch). Plus you get some of the Pistoleer's Defensive Mods and the DX2 cert which is an excellent pistol (AP 1 with Acid Damage).

You still have 75 skill points left to distribute. I will go for Master Smuggler and Novice Scout (4/0/0/0) for the Terrain Negotiation.

Gilban Darkwater
Nexus Stellar
Scylla

your dodge only works with pistols or one-handed weapons equipped.

you get dodge from both.

rifle gives block, carbine gives counter.

I'd stack the dodge.

if you want a KD, lead with dizzy until it sticks, then use a posture change.

Oh yeah, and pistols are cool for levelling 1-H because you can apply HS1&2. Then wade in with your sword and voila, all 1-H xp. No Pistol xp

Moy

Plus healthshot1&2 stack with Healthhit1&2, for 4 bleeds!

Almost exactly my thoughts Gilban!

Pistoleer is the best marksman profession to couple with fencer in my opinion.

Above and beyond the valid points you listed, there is also the deadly 4 health bleeds fencer and pistoleer can combo from Novice Pistoleer and Master Footwork tree from Fencer. On that same train of thought, both Pistoleer and Fencer target the health pool directly or even indirectly (see the post on fencer specials for more infor). This makes it much easier to keep your attacks focused on one HAM bar as compared to splitting the attention. Carineer and Rifleman are still great classes, with awsome utility, but you will be splitting between health and Action, or health and mind with either of them respectively. or them, going Pikeman/Carbineer, or Heavy Swordsman/Rifleman would be better served in my mind.

Smuggler mixed in adds an even deeper skill set to use between the two. the feign death skill is a BOON when fighting PVE, especially now with item decay implemented on even an INSURED death. One of my tried and true hunting tactics is to open with Sap Shot and Sap Blast (pistol health bleed 1 and 2), switch immediately to my one hander, and after they close in, land Shiim and Shiim Shak (Fencer health bleed 1 and 2). After this, I immediately swithc to whatever weapon I wish to gain exp in, be it leave the fencing one equiped, or in my case, switch to unarmed or pistol. The exp is awareded to you in whatever percentage you dealth "actual damage" , i.e., regular melee or ranged damage. The amount of exp will be the same that you would have received from taking on the thing straight on, but only solo. Mixing bleeds with other players attacks will only net you both less exp than if you both took the thing on. But I digress! After this, immediately feign and wait for the bleed to take em to 1 health point, stand up, and finish em off This sounds like a lot, but all told, it takes me perhapse 5-10 seconds to get this set up...and bout 1-2 minutes for the thing to bleed completely, depending on the creature.

With this configuration of skills, I have easily soloed on Endor and Dantooine, etc. For me it is more a personal thrill to know I can solo on these planets devoid of any medic or CH skills. I cannot yet attest to this format's usefulness in PVP, since I am waiting to get closer to master in Fencer and at least in Dirty fighting to attempt head on PVP, but I will keep you filled in

Please remember, this is what works for me, there are hundreds of configurations in this game, and any one of them has their ups and downs.

Kudos, and Forever RAR!

Rooksarii, Smuggler and Fencer of the Watchkeepers, Radiant

Thanks for the great replies. I think I'll stick with Pistoleer/Fencer.

im playing a fencer / pistoleer now for the second time . i swaped severs and like my first guy so much i went the exact same way . IMO this is the best combo to use with fencer

im curently novice fencer novice pistoleer a little medic and ranged combat 4 for the posture chage shot.

A question. A Master Fencer/Master Pistoleer gets +180 Dodge. Does this really work allowing you to dodge just about everything?
There is a nice combo for both PvE and PvP - Master Fencer/Master Pistoleer/Smuggler 0-0-4-0 (for fd in PvE and the power in PvP)/
0 Skill points left. The only downside - you need about 12 million xp for this =)

Actually masters of both will get +210 dodge, I am a master pistoleer/almost master fencer and all I can say is that I might as well be invisible cause no npc can hit me. Creatures for some reason hit me a little more often, but ive been seen taking 14 high level tuskans at once and the only sound you hear is the whoosing of their weapons missing.

For really good combat exp if you need that, try using the 4 bleeds then getting up and finishing with a grenade. You get all exp in combat exp. Crazy.

...

Andoryu, you are my hero.

Glad to help but, be careful with the grenade. If you use it at close range it can hurt you too. They generally do like 800ish damage so you might incap yourself by mistake!