Rifleman Archive

If you were a Novice again, where would you start? I'm just now getting to the point where I'm going to have to choose which path to pursue up the trees to Master. I've got the Combat experience to max that tree instantly (Yay for combat exp for healing folks!), so that's a no brainer - but I'm not sure which other trees will be most effective for me.

From what I've worked out of the last couple days worth of messages, 0/0/3/0 is the best way to start up Rifleman because you get a nasty AoE attack at that point. On the other hand, the first box of Sniping gives Mindshot2 and the second box gives Headshot3 - but it seemsthe cost on Headshot3 is out of whack. Finally, the first box of Concealment gives Consealshot - which I've alternately heard was either the cat's pajamas or completely overrated.

I'm thinking I'll start by snapping up Mindshot2 from Sniping so I can at least DoT and run if things get bad - but should I continue up the Sniping tree for the accuracy bonuses? Should I climb the Countersniping tree for AoE damage? Should I grab Concealshot and try and use my Bothan racial bonuses to better effect?

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice. One last thing - I'm a Combat Medic, previously as my primary class, so I can't really afford to take a hit in combat unless I'm buffed - and since I'm almost always solo, I'm not likely to be buffed.

Donca La'aru

Wannabe Riflecreature / Master Farmer of East Lianorm, Naboo, Corbantis

i would do what i should have done, get a T21 and breath of heaven then go for hs3, i dont like flushing2 and conceal is to slow

Depending on your style of play either:

1 x x x or x 1 x x first. Then get the other. Then go:

1 1 3 x then 4 1 3 x then 4 1 4 x then 4 4 4 x.

Some would argue to go for x x 3 x first. But there are two reasons not to. First, you already have the combat XP to get x x x 4, right? That will give you Flurryshot2, which is an area effect with Dizzy. Not as hard hitting as Flushingshot2, but area effect none the less. Second, x x 3 x requires a lot of XP where as 1 x x x and x 1 x x will require a lot less to pick up, and they will help you get to x x 3 x faster than without them. This will give you the option of stacking two bleeds and using Headshot2 or going Concealshot. More options = more flexibility = easier grind.

I would not go with Headshot3 at the moment. It's costs are out of line with the damage increase, and yes, you can get buffed and eat foods or spices to reduce the costs, but Headshot2 will suffice until you get Flushingshot2, but you can get buffed and eat food or spices and spam Headshot2 even more.

The combat XP for x x x 4 normally would come as you level, but if you already have it all, then you are going to level much faster.

If you are leveling on single targets finish sniping accuracy first. If you have a good tank go 1 box in accuracy and then go up to counter-sniping 3.

The main factor is, do you use pets?

Either way I'd get Sniping I first. For the increased accuracy and bleed attack. You will now be able to stack bleeds. Which can be very useful.

IF you use a pet tank. Go for Flushing2. You can throw your pet in to draw aggro and then use the Flushing2 AoE to clean up with little risk. Then level up in Sniping for the accuracy.

IF you do NOT use a pet tank. Get ConcealShot. It's great for the soloist. Then level up Sniping for the accuracy. Once you finish the Sniping branch work on the Counter-Sniping branch. Then finish Concealment. This is what I did since I don't use a pet tank.

I usually solo - at the moment, I'm at 3-1-0-2. The fact that AOE makes other creatures aggressive to you kinda worries me, so I'll probably wait until after I finish the sniping tree. The sniping tree has really helped me out. I'm usually using headshot 3 over conceal shot, so I need those first shots to count. If a kill is not possible within those shots, then it's important that I can pull off some shot at point blank range I'll probablyshoot for4-1-3-3, then wrap the rest up from there.

Thanks for all the great advice!

Based on everything here, I think I'll get Concealshot first so I can more effectively solo Quenkers - I'm tired of em turning on me after the 3rd HS2. That should put me at 0/1/0/3, which gives me a nice AoE for group killing from all that combat EXP, and Concealshot for leveling with my mount. (Just hold him still, Thunder!)

After that I'll go up the Sniping branch for MS2 and accuracy bonuses. Hopefully I'll get enough accuracy to have positive accuracy at point blank with a Spraystick.. I've been getting chewed on by Huurton a lot lately.

Once I've capped Sniping, I'll go for Countersniping for the AoE dizzy/stun (sounds like tons of fun) and finish up with Concealment - it doesn't look to me like there's much in there other than Concealshot and ranged defense.

May yourlasers strike their markand your T21 never rust!

Donca La'aru

Wannabe Riflecreature

Carefull , I recommend climbing the third tree as it grants you aoe's, andpowerfull ones at that. If you use a pet then this negates any real strategy to the entire profession. Don't use a pet IN my opinion and you will have a true riflemen/sharpshooter experience. If your just a grinder then get a pet. IF you consider any profession a grind then your only looking at one aspect of gameplay and the entire concept of this genre is lost on you. Try another game.

Now for the folks who are still interested, A riflemen /sharpshooter in this game is not a soloist in the beginning as the gap between master and novice is too wide. It has gotten alot easier as of late because of the new defence mods that have been implemented. and the sheer lack of Food/spice bugs not to mention mob warping is a thing of the past. Play a riflemen as a Team member and not a soloist and you'll be fine, Once you hit master you can solo but only because of the increase of the speed and it's direct relation to your use of the skill that took you there. Learn those skills and when to usethem and Do not neglect food/spice the combo is allmost unassailable in the hands of a master.

Like anything great in life it's more about the journey, if you see it as a grind you've allready lost. Masters of most professions tend to spam thier best attack , these are the same people that whine about thier professions, YOU dictate the way you play. I'm not saying some professions have probs but most probs aren't legitimate because whiners don't look deep enough.

good post myumi. i didn't see the rifleman tree as a grind as i was doing it, but once i hit master i realized how bad i was at one point lol. the grind was esspecially difficult being a wookiee where my focus is maxed at 650, and warpingwas still a problem. still the rifleman tree should inspire the devson the other trees. youhave toreally want it to get master. thatsthe way it should be in my opinion.

Tinnitus, you think your Focus is bad maxing a 650, try bein a Bothan where it maxes at 500 . But I personally am going the Sniping tree first. I think that the bonus to accuracy will help me out a lot. And plus, I don't really want AoE attacks because if I'm not going to be in a group, I won't want to use an AoE so they won't all aggro me.

Right now I'm at 2/3/2/2. Instead of going up one line I've just been going left to right on the skill tree. The next sniping box is my goal now. ConcealShot is my bread and butter with headshot3 and mindshot2 as my backup. I'm not worried about the drain on the mind from specials since I'm a MonCal. Personally I think this is the most fun profession that I've done so far.