Rifleman Archive
Thread: I just started last night..Is Rifleman a viable class?
The subject says it I havent completed marksman rifle yet to go rifleman but would like advice as to it being a viable class or just go with pistoleer?
Rifleman is awful until Master, at which point they suddenly become disgustingly deadly. Pistoleers have a MUCH EASIER CLIMB to Master, but probably aren't as efficient at killing as Riflemen. They have more drawbacks than any other ranged class, and if you are just starting the game, they will be hard to use.
It's also easier to be a Rifleman if you hunt in a regular group. If you have a PA that you hunt with, you should be able to become useful a little after getting to Novice Rifleman. But in just random groups, you will be the lowest XP earner. Just keep that in mind.
THE BAD:
You need something to keep mobs off of you, or something to have when you toss the rifle away at 15m. If you keep that rifle in your hand at 15meven bunnies can kill you, and you won't hit jack. Specials use mind and at crippling rates if you don't do something about it (sometimes nothing can be done). Mind can't be healed like the rest.
THE GOOD:
There are some nice AoE attacks in the line. Arguably, you can target mind which can't be healed. This currently costs about the same mind as you damage, however(maybe someday thes will be fixed and all will be happy-happy joy-joy).
Depends on how easy you can generate cash to support your rifle habbit. I find the rifleman requres a larger cash outlay than the equiv pistol user. I despise downtime so my Vercaputi/Yorrack/powerup habits are pretty extream. Pistol people can go grab some doc buffs and they are set for hours...
Honestly, had I started as a rifle user I'd probably be just as angry as most of the posters.It's kinda funny but I'm seeing more and more high level docs making the switch.
riflemen are the least group friendly and the most tactical of the combat classes in the game.
if you like charging blindly at your opponent or simply button mashing and just come up on top, rifleman isnt for you.
also, the way to master is indeed difficult in comparison with others, but master is great.
rifleman complements professions such as doctor, or any other profession that relies on mind stats as their main real well.
The only real rifleman advantage: AP3 weapons. Useful against things like Krayt Dragons.
For the other 99.9% of the things you'll be fighting, you're better off with a pistol. AP3 is the same as AP1 for purposes of PvP, so we have no real advantage there.
Pistols have the same range and better accuracy than riflemen at any distance, so no advantage there either.
Our 1 AP3 weapon is our only trademark.
And you'll suck with it until you hit Master Rifleman.
Which will take about 4x longer than Master Pistoleer, unless you plan to go with Creature Handling too.