Rifleman Archive

Hey all, I have just a few questions to ask you. Now, as a heavy swordsman, i can deal some pretty nasty damage with my powerhammer (5.4, 165-595, AP2 blastdamage). And my attacks and my bleeds target the mind pool just like all of you. I normally hit in PvE for around 2.5k-6k mind damage with headhit3, and can bleed for about 1200 and 1900 with mindhit1, and mindhit2. Throw in an area attack, master brawler, and darn near master medic, I am a total PvE killing machine. My only issue though, is stuff that kites me. So as a rule of thumb, if its an npc, and its holding a gun, I will prolly lose. Same with PvP.

Now, I would love to complement my mind attacking specials with those of a Rifleman, and be able to attack at a range. Now if stuff rushes me and attacks melee, that is DEFINATELY not going to be a problem (hefts powerhammer). I am just curious how to get the most bang for my buck without mastering the class, what kind of damage can I be expected to do with mindshots and bleeds ect. Or if I should even bother (i am considering doctor, or fencer as well...) with rifle.

I think, but this is just my opinion, that Rifle really gets good at Master. But maybe for what you want 4-0-0-4 would be good, you'd be fairly fast and you'd have the mind shots.

I mastered Heavy Sword after I mastered Rifleman in order to pickup the melee mitigation and defenses as well as the additional mind damage up close. So I came at it from an opposite direction as you, but essentially with the same basic idea.

To keep what you want to keep, you will not be able to do Master both, I suspect. Thus, the things you will neeed to know for what you want to accomplish are these.

1. Headshot1 and Headshot2 (the Rifle equivalents of HeadHit1 and HeadHit2) are obtained in the Rifle line of Marksman. Mindshot1 (ranged Mindhit1) is also obtained there. This is different from Sword where the first mind bleedis not even achieved until you get into the Finesse line of Swordsman.

2. Mindshot2 is obtained in Sniping Accuracy 1. Headshot3 is obtained in Sniping Accuracy 2. Thus, if all you were interested in were getting all the rifle mind damage shots, you can get them all by going to Sniping Accuracy 2. However, be aware that the HAM costs of Headshot3 are generally believed to be too high for the amount of damage increase you get, so many Riflemen only use HS3 when mind buffed or on Muon Gold. So you it may even be preferable to only get to Sniping Accuracy 1 for MS2.

3. The Sniping Accuracy line gives you bonues to accuracy plus MS2 at 1, HS3 at 2, SurpriseShot (not that useful)at 3 and Snipershot (ranged DB, wohoo) at 4.

4. The Special Abilities line (all Combat XP) gives you bonuses to speed. Very important to Rifle since the Rifle base speeds are generally slower than the PowerHammer (Advanced T21s are generally around 8 seconds). In addition, at 1 you get Flurryshot1 which can Dizzy the target, and Flurryshot2 at 3, which is Dizzy + Area Effect. But the most important aspect of this line is the speed. Special Abilities is also where we gain on Melee defense. This would help you.

5. The most important aspect of the concealment tree is Concealshot at Concealment 1. This is a fun shot that has a longtime delayand moderately high HAM costs, but the target will not aggro on you when you use it as long as you do not let it detect you by some other means. Being melee this is not likely your style of play, but may be worth speeding the points on to be able to soften up a target before charging in. But bear in mind it is Random pool damage, so you will probably be using Hit3 or AreaAttack3 to finish it off if you did this.

6. The most important non-Master shot is Flushingshot2 at Counter-Sniping 3: area effect. stun,and 4x random pool damage. However, keep in mind that all the posture change shots are in this line, and all rifle specific posture changes are posture changes up. This may keep them running from you. But it is an option to think about.

7. You may also want to consider going up to Marksman Ranged support 4. Warningshot is earlier in this line, and many Riflemen use it because it can keep a creature off of you (important when trying to bleed them), but your goal will usually be to get them in on you so you can use the sword. But at Ranged 4, you get SuppresionFire1. That is a Ranged posture change DOWN. Riflemen use it mainly to force an opponent to kneel so you can get away, but you can use it to force them to kneel to be able to close on them.

I am not in game right now, and none of the sites I normally check are showing where Ranged Mitigation comes in, but that may be another consideration in the skils you choose.

You will need to pay heed to your mind costs when using rifles, because that is the pool hit the hardest.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I think I will delve into the class some, but most of those suppressing attacks I would make little use of. With master brawler, i already have a melee knockdown, and I find i even use this very little. Same with the posture down. If stuff runs AT me (heh heh), they will get a dose of my hammer. And normally people do not try to run AWAY from me in PvP or PvE. I will definately pursue the mind attacks and the speed....if I really like the class, I may go all out and drop some medic to go for the master. Thanks a bundle.

There is a world of difference between Master and Novice Rifleman, and even between Master and someone who has made it most of the way up. That is true of most professions, I am sure, but moreso with Rifleman than any others. The speed you gain at Master is incredible. It would not be a choice you would regret.