Ranger Archive
Thread: Swords or TKM?
Drala
Fri Jun 18, 2004 12:31 am
#14
Stark,
I'm Master Ranger/TKM - decided to go TK route a few months ago in search of the fastest way to whack and harvest. My style of play is 90% solo, and strictly PvE.Since completing TK my harvest rate has gone up at least 200% from Ranger/CH combo. Nothing like clearing out a group of swirl prongs in 30 seconds - heh heh.
Haven't worn armor in months - outfit of the week is a comfy pair of shorts, ubese undershirt and sandals. Verysatisfying to watch the amped up kid with the 90% resist composite armor and 2400 buffs having problems with the big beasty and begging for help. Walk up with no armor on and with a whack whack here and a whack whack there kill it.
With a buff and some brandy can solo kimos and enraged rancors. Took out a kimo earlier today in under 2 minutes. A lair that used to take many minutes and heals to clear out now takes a fraction of the time, with little or no heals needed. With the TK ability to cure wounds and disease about the only time you need a doc is to get buffed.
Cheers,
Drala
Master Ranger/TKM
ATW - Naritus
starkmd
Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:09 am
#15
I'm Master Swordsman / Master Ranger / Novice Medic. I solo'd a nightsister elder last night (with lowly 60% ubesee on, and buffed). I went through a pack of stim-b's, and had to run away a few times to let my mind heal up. After about 1/2 hour, she went down.
After that, I stumbled into a lair of Enraged BULL Rancor's.... 8 on me at one time. (3 Enraged Bulls, 4 Enraged, and 1 Rancor youth). Let's just say after about 20 minutes I had 20K of really good Carni meat.... and that was one heck of a lair.
I love Ranger. I really enjoy Swordsman, because that would have taken "a bit" longer without my blast damage rendering power-hammer.
After that, I stumbled into a lair of Enraged BULL Rancor's.... 8 on me at one time. (3 Enraged Bulls, 4 Enraged, and 1 Rancor youth). Let's just say after about 20 minutes I had 20K of really good Carni meat.... and that was one heck of a lair.
I love Ranger. I really enjoy Swordsman, because that would have taken "a bit" longer without my blast damage rendering power-hammer.
Squidwalker
Thu Jun 24, 2004 4:31 pm
#16
I hunt with many TKM/Master Rangers, and they rock. Really, not many "animals" have kenitic resist. A lot of NPC do, but not animals. So TKM actually works out good for ranger. Not sure about being able to drop medic though, it can still get harry out there. It's all about how you migrate your stats, and what species you are.
lootranger
Thu Jun 24, 2004 4:47 pm
#17
im a master tk. ive been soloing kimos the last couple nights. its not that hard just time consuming. the key is good buffs(all nine stats), and decent armor. i wear a helmet, chest plate, gloves, boots, and some melee pants and shirt. try to do one at a time. if you are like me you get aggroed by atleast two. what i do is hit one until it gets around 5k ham left then kill the second. then kill the first and harvest both.
FormlessOne
Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:53 pm
#18
Agreed - I've been a TKM for quite some time, and I just started Ranger (Ranger/TKM is my final template, as I'm working on a "procurement" character.) So far, I like the combination. I've done Swordsman in the past, and while it's great on mobs, you just can't beat TKM for true self-sufficiency.
esobai
Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:05 am
#19
Drala,
what is your secret to be able to solo a Kimo. I am a master TKA and a Master Fencer, and I have not been able to solo a Kimo. Even with comp. armor and buffs. they just hit for way too much.....and they wound like none other. I have my house on Lok and hardly ever leave, so I have had my fair share of experience with Kimos.
and TKA is amazing. its all about the 38k enraged rancor missions. they are so easy. and if you ahve skill points left over after TKM and master ranger.. it is nice to dabble into the fencer's dodge line.
starkmd
Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:56 am
#20
Define self-sufficient. You have Master TK, Master Ranger... leaving 18 points left over (I think).
Meditation gives you cures and wound healing, but you can't do it during combat, so I can only assume that you used those extra points to pickup novice Medic + maybe First Aid 1.... and leave 1 SP left over(?).
I too, can blow through a 38K ER lair in about 10 min's as master swordsman (with a dr. buffed, and brandy). Does PowerBoost work THAT well, or do you still get buffed? I'd like to have a great reason to drop Swordsman, but I haven't been provided a good reason.
Also, I really think sword is a great roleplay also.... kinda paladin-ish / knight-ish (for those who partake).
Meditation gives you cures and wound healing, but you can't do it during combat, so I can only assume that you used those extra points to pickup novice Medic + maybe First Aid 1.... and leave 1 SP left over(?).
I too, can blow through a 38K ER lair in about 10 min's as master swordsman (with a dr. buffed, and brandy). Does PowerBoost work THAT well, or do you still get buffed? I'd like to have a great reason to drop Swordsman, but I haven't been provided a good reason.
Also, I really think sword is a great roleplay also.... kinda paladin-ish / knight-ish (for those who partake).
AdrastosVolos
Fri Jun 25, 2004 8:30 am
#21
I was looking for info on which type of weapon I want to use. I have been pondering going swords. Right now I use pistol mainly, but I want to change.
This thread is a great source of info. I almost think it may want to get stickied? or put someplace others can use it as a reference...
Great info...thanks guys.
MaddoDoggiy
Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:05 am
#22
I can do that as master rifleman, too. I just have to kill them one at a time, hehe.
atimes wrote:
When I was a TKM I could solo Engraged and Ancient rancors without armor and just doc buffs.
starkmd
Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:55 am
#23
I killed 4 ancients, 3 enraged bull's, 1 enraged, and 1 rancor youth all while they were attacking me a the same time. I got Dizzy KD'd once or twice during that time, and did not need a single Stim B. Was Dr. buffed, and wearing 70% UBese. I can do Kinetic and Blast (power hammer) damage as a swordsman. If TK comes out with another weapon type other than Kinetic, I may jump on board (yes, yes, razor knuckler does heat(?) damage... let's wait and see how available they become).
Egrim
Fri Jun 25, 2004 1:37 pm
#24
TKM all the way.
You may be limited to only using kinetic damage, but I find the toughness modifiers to more than make up for it. Add to this powerboost, wound healing, and the ability to get rid of poisons, bleeds and those pesky 3+ hour diseases. I also notice I get a lot less BF than the peoplehunting with me.
The downside to TKM is you don't get any of the super loot enhanced,medium ap weapons that pikeman/swordsman get, nor do you get the bleeds, But is isn't all about raw damage output.
Egrim
starkmd
Fri Jun 25, 2004 2:30 pm
#25
Good point. I don't rely on uber weapons or DoT's... Ok.. mindShot1 + mindShot2 are good for those hard creatures (elders, krayts, etc...).... but that's no NS lance DoT.
Agreed about BattleFatigue being less, due to your dodges and melee defenses. It would be kinda nice just to have 1 weapon to use and worry about maintaining, rather than 2-3 (swords), various DoTs (pike), 4-5 (rifles / pistols / carbines).
I think I'll wait and see what the combat balance delivers.... everything being equal, I'd probably choose TK soley for the meditation (poison/disease curing aspect).
Agreed about BattleFatigue being less, due to your dodges and melee defenses. It would be kinda nice just to have 1 weapon to use and worry about maintaining, rather than 2-3 (swords), various DoTs (pike), 4-5 (rifles / pistols / carbines).
I think I'll wait and see what the combat balance delivers.... everything being equal, I'd probably choose TK soley for the meditation (poison/disease curing aspect).
WChase
Fri Jun 25, 2004 5:21 pm
#26
It really depends. In my opinion tka is the best as a raw class if you're going specifically ranger and no pvp. If you want to be a really good ranger swordsman the damage output just isin't there unless you get yourself some really nice speed tapes to get yourself hitting at the cap. Sure scythe's are mid to low 2.5's with 400 damage hitting at the speed cap but they also cost a butload compared to the very cheap prices of 195+ vk's for dirt cheap. When the new force lines come out if I have enough room I intend to stick with master swordsman, take the 2h speed line to finally hit the cap without forking out 40 million on speed tapes and the creature harvesting increases.