Rifleman Archive

This is cross posted in the Pistoleer forum, FYI. I'm going to be making a Weaponsmith on Scylla server, and I'm going to do either Rifleman or Pistoleer along with it. I've worked out these two templates for this:

Rifleman/Weaponsmith
57 Artisan (Engineering IV, Business IV, Surveying IV)
29 Brawler (2H Melee IV)
38 Marksman (Rifle IV, Support III)
63 Rifleman (Master)
63 Weaponsmith (Master)

Pistoleer/Weaponsmith
57 Artisan (Engineering IV, Business IV, Surveying IV)
38 Marksman (Pistol IV, Support III)
29 Scout (Exploration IV)
63 Pistoleer (Master)
63 Weaponsmith (Master)

Both are 250 on the button. Engineering is mandatory, and I need the Surveying because I intend to gather my own resources commonly. Business is for vendors, obviously. Support III is for Warning Shot, it's just too handy of a skill not to have it. Rifle or Pistol IV depend on which route I go, really. If I go with pistol, Scout IV will be a good ability to accompany all the kiting I'll be doing. If I go with rifle, then I'm counting on the 2H melee to be able to finish off that Mind bar when I get into a rushed situation, as well as make melee a bit more survivable.

The question I'm asking is: Will using 2H melee as my contigency plan for getting rushed (PvE) be viable? Or am I just going to get mauled anyway? At the moment, I'm using my rifle, and when I get occasionally rushed, swapping out tothe pistol and using Warning Shot till they run, then swapping back to rifle for head shots again. I don't need Pistol IV to do this, just Support III, so I can drop pistol no problem.

As a Pistoleer, I know between using Warning Shot, Stopping Shot, Disarming Shot 2, Body Shot 3, etc. that I'll be able to XP just fine. But I've got this fascination with the rifle and giant, crushing shots to the Mind bar. Is it a pipe dream to use a sword to finish off a rushing mob, or is this viable?

It is very plausible to use a 2h sword to take out a rushing mob with the rifleman, I do it all the time. Your Rifleman/Weaponsmith template is almost exactly what I am shooting for in the long run

Bzz't

Well, good to hear, though I'm opting for the Pistoleer option instead. I don't want to wear armor, and I think that's a requirement to expect to melee them down. Feel free to rip the template if you like, though.

I'm not unlearning Rifle IV until I *have* to though.