In recent days the fencer has been getting a lot of flack for not really having much of an identity amongst the other proffessions of the game, especially amongst the other melee professions. However, in reality the fencer is a very strong profession. As a fencer you get advantages over 2hand swordsmen in speed and defensive mods as higherlevel tiers are reached, as well as specials that deal out plenty of damage to a variety of different HAM bars to compete withwhatever your enemy has to offer. I've beaten plenty of TKs and 2Handers in duels and it really all comes down to knowledge of your character and knowledge of your opponent. Oftenin a melee duel, inmost duels in fact,the two players will generally start off face to face within range of eachother, making the duel no more skillful than a roll of the dice, both opponents mash their most effective specials in hopes of getting the first hit off which usually decides the entire battle. It's just a matter of who ganks who, and that can apply to every profession match up in the game, regardless of whether it's melee vs. melee, ranged vs. ranged, or melee vs. ranged. Whoever hits first will win unless he/she makes a mistake or has an extremley inferior character level wise. Something I've started doing, and many of the people I've dueled in this manner found it more appealing than the typical mash-and-gank style of duels, is starting my melee duels at a distance. This at least seems to add some more entertainment to duels, and maybe even adds a bit more strategy. It puts meleers, KD or no KD, on a more even playing feild.
As far as the fencer's role in normal PvP goes, he is just as strong as the other melee proffessions if not stronger for his unique playstyle. He musthowever be playedwith his limitations in mind tobe effective...PvP in cities where range can be reduced more easily, go inside on raids where nobody with a gun can shoot you from afaror have group members cover you with ranged KD's as you close in onyour targets, don'tsimply let a TK run up and knock you down...watch for them and when you see them coming LUNGE which happens to extend range...is a TK or Polearm user with a KD going to run at you and lunge? Not very likley, he is hoping to run up and knock you down before you can do anything about it...surprise him with a lunge and get him on his knees before he can even hit you with his elementary knockdown skills, follow it up with a skullstab and let him fall on his arse as he struggles to regain his footing or proceed to chop him up while he remains kneeling confused about what is going on, whichever you prefer. The fencer is strong, fast, and quite unique in his ability to adapt to various situations both in PvP and PvE. Play your fencer with his limitations and strengths in mind and you will be quite satisfied.