Fencer Archive
Thread: Thinking of going to Fencer
One of the Four Horsemen of the Smuggler Apocalypse! 
Longbough wrote:
I'm thinking of going into fencer, I just wanted to know what tree should climb up first? Should I wear Ubese or Composite armor? Any other tips would be great too.
Thanks,
Well, I'm not a master or anything - too casual a player for that, but pretty much everyone suggests Footwork first. There are some very valid arguments to spreading out in the trees a little before making x/4/x/x, though. Body Hit 2 in Techniques one is a nice special, for instance. The +12 defenses from Stances and Grips 1aren't bad - and you get Scatter Hit which is the only special that hits mind and action.
As for armor, Ubese should work for you. I just don't feel right having to buff/spice/eat to get into Composite armor. With Ubese, I still have half my secondaries left for regen.
Getting into Fencer can be a bit dull, though. You can't really do adventure planets very well below a first tier Fencer. Even with doctor buffs, they still tear through your mind until you get a few boxes to improve your defenses. However, starter planets start to betoo easy by the time you achieve first tier fencing skills. So there's a kind of "fun gap" right around One-Hand 4/Novice Fencer. I ground it out with scyk missions out of Anchorhead (missions spawn inside 1000m from the terminal frequently)
if i was going to wear armor, i would wear advanced ubese. an average set of advanced ubese gets 60-70% kinetic resistance. these suits are a tad pricey though, as the advanced armor segment for ubese requires some very specific resources
i only went up 1 tree, and i was already a TKM when i did so the leveling comparatively much easier for me than for most, so i am really not qualified to give any leveling advise 
i would *think* that speed needs would trump defense needs, besides, aren't the +dodge mods in the footwork line too? when i advanced through TK i used unarmedhit2 the whole way. i'd suspect that onehandhit2 could carry you the distance as well.
if worst comes to worst though, you can usually find a pick-up group at the science outpost on dathomir. that's always a good way to grind xp
Well I'm not a master either but i been here since the beginning so i have a good deal of exprience. First off choice of weapon is most important. Until you reach footwork II i recommend a vibroblade sliced for damage. Its speed armor piercing and HAM make it a very well rounded weapon.Once you hit footwork start trying to find a speed sliced baton. Does alot more damage than the butter knife on unarmored foes. Still keep the vibroblade around as it has it uses. Also i pick a stun baton asap after qualification as it is very helpiful againist alot of armored enemies. However dont use outside of those encounters.
As for which skills to get it's really well rounded. Getting footwork maxes your speed gives you bleedsand cob giving you more damage and protection. However for cob to work properly it needs a good dodge modifer. That requires techiniques. Techiniques gives you your two best staple attacks, body hit 2 and body hit 3.plus loads of dodge. All grips and styles gives you really is those high melee and range modifers as scatter shot not really helpiful in solo situation as body hit can take down a single ham bar quicker. At least get the entire first row before deciding what tier to go up as it will give you a better idea and round out your character.
As for hunting tatooine is great place for first level tier skills. However by the time you reach second level tier you can get more xp and have easier battles fighting huurtons on dantooine. Just stick with the regulars for a while but by the time you have footwork III or body hit III you should be able to take the matron or howlers no problem however be careful of adds.
Thats all i can think of right now
I'm thinking of going into fencer, I just wanted to know what tree should climb up first? Should I wear Ubese or Composite armor? Any other tips would be great too.
Thanks,