Pistoleer Archive
Thread: The Pistoleer Grinding Guide ver 1.0
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Randonb
Mon Apr 26, 2004 6:27 pm
#1
For some, the game isn't so much about the journey as it is about the destination. Others are on a fast track to the best possible template, and thirst only for the PvP action at the end. Still others don't feel that they are playing wisely unless they are playing efficiently. Whatever the reason, many players choose to power through professions as quickly as possible. To that end, my fellow Pistoleers and I have painstakingly compiled a variety of tips and pointers. You won't find lengthly essays and descriptions here, only what you need to achieve your goals. After all, isn't that the point?
This is very much a work in progress. This guide will be updated from time to time as more information becomes available. In addition, you may well find it worth your while to read through the posts that follow. This guide assumes basic combat proficiency on the part of the player (you've had SWG out of the box for more than a week, even if you have no pistol skills). For basic combat advice, head to the Game Guides forum.
"All I've got with me is a Survival Knife and a CDEF Pistol. I don't mind a grind, but SOE'd better issue some hardware."
Lucky you, Weaponsmiths are all masters these days. Powering through the Marksman levels isn't half as hard as it used to be. That CDEF is fine for awhile, but it won't be long before substantial upgrades are opened up to you. You'll probably have to drop by the Bazaar to find a weapon you are certified to use, as Weaponsmith vendors seldom stock newbie weapons. Keep an eye out for the DH-17 Pistol (beware, there is also a DH-17 Carbine). As soon as you can, the DL-44 Metal is a suberb newbie weapon.
Proceed to kill the riff raff that spawns outside most major cities. Gubburs, Thugs, various butterfly things, whatever. They respawn quickly and die even faster, earning you themostefficientexperience possible. When these stop paying good experience, proceed to kill random missions on any non-adventure planet. You'll need the cash.
"The unplanned organism is a question asked by nature and answered by death. You are a different kind of question, with a different kind of answer."
Great, now you're a Novice Pistoleer. Better start planning what tree to go up first. You've got 3 choices, really. The 4th line you spend Combat Experience on whenever you can, as soon as you can.
It isn't really a question - your first priority is to get Fan Shot in the Techniques line. It's in the 4th box, so you might have a hard time waiting that long to spend your Pistol Experience, but it's worth it. Fan Shot is a high-DPS area effect special. It fires in a cone startingat your position, branching out at about 20º.
Next, get some basic Accuracy. 2 boxes from Marksmanship should suffice before you start climbing the Grips line for some Dodge. After all, the more you hit, the faster you kill. Things are going to get rough if you don't invest in some accuracy now.
"Youdroids may have copper wiring to re-route your fear of pain, but I've got nerves of steel."
No matter how confident you are in your own abilities, it's a simple fact that a set of buffs and a suit of armor will make this grind go infinitely faster. It's a little sad, given that we were told prior to release that not everyone would be wearing armor, but for the time being, it's the best way to play.
If you can't afford a suit of Composite, a suit of Kinetic-layered Ubese will do nicely. If you are dirt poor, get some Chitin off of the Bazaar. Get some 3-hour buffs from your local Master Doctor (frequently found at major Starports such as Coronetand Theed) and head to your grinding location of choice. Your experience bar will thank you, and the rate at which you complete missions will turn the price tag into a profit.
"What are you, some sort of assasin?"
"When necessary."
What to kill? There are a great many opinions on this matter.
Low levels
MidLevels
High Levels
3Final tips:
"We've had to endure much, you and I, but soon there will be order again. A new age..."
Okay, so Pistoleer has some problems and the fixes could take awhile. But there is some further advancement you can take to alleviate your struggle. You might try Smuggler or Bounty Hunter. If you pick up Novice Commando, you can get the Launcher Pistol and use it with Pistoleer specials to devastating effect. For some real template help, click here.
And of course, read below for additional tips that Pistoleers have added. Some of them will be edited into this post.
Message Edited by Randonb on 04-28-2004 01:50 PM
biwan:
Kevie
Tue Apr 27, 2004 12:26 pm
#2
also i noticed while grinding unarmed, droids and non-creature handler pets helped me, perhaps to newbie aspiring pistoleers, they will also help
also grab yourself a mount (creature or vehicle), it'll make the trip to your missions much faster
use kip up or roll shot until you get fanshot, it will be your highest DPS shot until you get some decent speed
and pistol whip (pistol melee defense 1 mainly) is your friend- while knocked down, creatures take much more damage
WylotheUber
Fri Apr 30, 2004 1:03 pm
#3
I've found it helpful to always have a backup plan. Get some medic skills and some stimpacks. Be quick to set up a camp near your quarry so you can quickly call pets and/ormounts for a hasty escape when things get rough.
If you're going after one of the seemingly most popular Pistoleer hybrids, TKA/Smuggler/Pistoleer, go through Teras Kasi Artist first. Meditating is always helpful after a tough excursion away from civilization, and having a powerful melee profession such as Teras Kasi Artist is definately helpful when you're in trouble.
(By the way, nice blatant ripping off of Deus Ex quotes 
)
Randonb
Fri Apr 30, 2004 5:08 pm
#4
WylotheUber wrote:
(By the way, nice blatant ripping off of Deus Ex quotes
Shhh!
/hands Wylo a cookie for noticing first.
BZebub
Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:34 pm
#5
"All I've got with me is a Survival Knife and a CDEF Pistol. I don't mind a grind, but SOE'd better issue some hardware."
All I've got with me is a pistol and an electric prod. I don't mind a test, but UNATCO better issue some hardware.
"The unplanned organism is a question asked by nature and answered by death. You are a different kind of question, with a different kind of answer."
(direct copy)
"Youdroids may have copper wiring to re-route your fear of pain, but I've got nerves of steel."
You mechs have copper wiring to re-route your fear of pain, but I've got nerves of steel."
"What are you, some sort of assasin?"
"When necessary."
(direct copy)
"We've had to endure much, you and I, but soon there will be order again. A new age..."
"We've had to endure much, you and I, but soon there will be order again. A new age. Aquinas spoke of that mythical city on the hill: soon, that city will become a reality, and WE shall be crowned its kings. Or better than kings. Gods.
Thanks for the Deus Ex references, Randon! Ah, what a game, what a game...
It would have been more fitting to say "All I've got with me is a CDEF Pistol and a Stun Baton..." but I won't gripe.
woooooT for DX!
edit:
awwwwww **** someone else got to it first! /cry
Message Edited by BZebub on 04-30-2004 10:35 PM
Shazeen
Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:01 pm
#6
Randonb wrote:
Obviously, a real pet to help in the tanking department would be highly advantageous. Picking up a little Creature Handler or befriending one to group with goes a long way toward making this easier. Someday, maybe we'll have worthwhile combat droids.
The combat droids as of the last publish are actually much improved. In fact, many are saying that they are now better than the old prenerf probots. A current probot with 5 combat modules and armor will get you:
3200 HAM, 180-190 Damage @ .75 Speed, 20% Resists.
Anyone can use these. The armor isnt nearly as good as they used to be, but you can make up for that with damage packs now avaliable for droids. Different droids can also play different roles in combat as well. I forget which model it is, but one droid can trade in less damage for larger HAMS (about double that of the probot) and others can be a balance between the two. I definitely wouldnt rule out usingdroids anymore - they may not be the greatest, but they can provide some much needed help when leveling.
ohmsUK
Sat May 01, 2004 7:32 am
#7
The LE Repair droids can have 6k HAM but do a lot less damage. They make excellent tanks.
Shazeen wrote:
Different droids can also play different roles in combat as well. I forget which model it is, but one droid can trade in less damage for larger HAMS (about double that of the probot) and others can be a balance between the two.
kazmoony
Tue May 11, 2004 10:08 pm
#8
GEONOSIAN CAVE were geo spawns is what i recommend for grinding and put your player afk and make sure to go with few buddies who dont mind going afk with you, make sure to look for the geonosian spawns spots.
DionDroids
Wed May 12, 2004 2:03 am
#9
First suggestion to add, FORT TUSKEN. No cash payouts but you can grind at a rate of more than 100k Exp an hour there. A novice pistoleer with a droid or pet guard can handle it fine.
Second suggestion augments the droid tank idea, get a probot with nothing but auto-repair. It does 1 damage per hit so it doesnt diminish your xp but still manages to distract your foes. With good numbers on the auto repair rating you will never have to use a repair kitthus saving time and cash.
Sweere
Wed May 12, 2004 5:23 am
#10
The easiest way I found to grind was actually a 2 for 1.
I'd buff up and head to Dant with my trusty sidekick (an AT-ST) and run faction missions. I know it's not the easiest way, but it was all ranged opponents, so the damage mitigation we get was a plus rather than fighting melee mobs. And after awhile the missions do get easier...I promise.
And as to which line to go up.... Hit the specials line first (of course), then accuracy and then finally the grips line
Cernex Galda ~ Master Pistoleer
Sweere
Wed May 12, 2004 5:26 am
#11
Oh I ment to add that I didn't take the AT-ST out with me to run the missions, of course that would be an easy way to accomplish the mission, but not helpful in acquiring xp, I generally kept it safe in a faction:rebel banned facility
Cernex Galda ~ Master Pistoleer
RazorBlade79
Wed May 12, 2004 8:35 am
#12
Great, this is a must read for every newbie, even non pistoleer. 5 stars!
And since I enjoyed the quotes from my favourite game (next to Ultima 7 and Torment) you get a bonus star.
And since I enjoyed the quotes from my favourite game (next to Ultima 7 and Torment) you get a bonus star.
bigmacdaddy12
Wed May 12, 2004 9:23 am
#13
If you really want to rake in tons of pistols xp, here's a trick I learned unfortunately later in my grind.
USE POINT BLANK AREA
If you are buffed, and wearing decent kinetic armor and have some brandy what you do is grab some baz nitch missions, and go right next to the lair, then just keep spamming Point blank area 1. Its so fast and if you use I beleive a fwg5 the baz nitches are vulnurable to it you can tear through them fast, and multiple targets at once. I found that I was hitting all targets for around 400 dmg per shot but was shooting about one time per second. I was even soloing rancors with my dx2 pistol (acid) using this method. I raked in so much pistols xp in a day I was able to get the last 3 boxes easily in one day. That's about 900k xp.
I wouldn't recommend point blank area 2 that you get in the dodge column, its too slow compared to the small amount of extra damage you get.
Anyways, give it a try.
Jacque Ufaultrades, Master TKA, Master Pistoleer, Dirty Fighter, and Swordsman 0-2-0-2 (so far)
USE POINT BLANK AREA
If you are buffed, and wearing decent kinetic armor and have some brandy what you do is grab some baz nitch missions, and go right next to the lair, then just keep spamming Point blank area 1. Its so fast and if you use I beleive a fwg5 the baz nitches are vulnurable to it you can tear through them fast, and multiple targets at once. I found that I was hitting all targets for around 400 dmg per shot but was shooting about one time per second. I was even soloing rancors with my dx2 pistol (acid) using this method. I raked in so much pistols xp in a day I was able to get the last 3 boxes easily in one day. That's about 900k xp.
I wouldn't recommend point blank area 2 that you get in the dodge column, its too slow compared to the small amount of extra damage you get.
Anyways, give it a try.
Jacque Ufaultrades, Master TKA, Master Pistoleer, Dirty Fighter, and Swordsman 0-2-0-2 (so far)
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