Scout Archive

I've seen many, many threads about how to use maskscent, and tips on powerleveling with it -- but I have a diffrent question: What did the designers want us to do with it?

I don't grind at all, I just play the game and advance as I go. I'm not concerned with advancing as fast as possible, but I do want to use all of the tools at my disposal.

So, then, why would I use maskscent? What does it do for me?

Is it so we can sneak up closer to targets, into ideal range, before opening fire? That makes no sense, though, because unless the critter is aggro red, I can walk up to anything, plop down wherever I want and it and open fire. Maskscent doesn't do anything for you in that instance.

Is it so I can traverse the countryside without drawing the attention of reds? I can do that now just by skirting the group at 65 meters. But if I used Maskscent and ran right through the group, there's a chancethe mask wouldbe broken and I would be attacked. Seems like a reason not to use it to me.

So, what are we supposed to do with it? How does it benefit us? I can't believe it's there only as a way of getting more scouting XP.

You'll geta variety of answers, but I'll give you the one use I have consistently for it:

If I attack a mob, even a yellow non-aggro mob, with maskscent up (thank you DEVs for fixing the yellows from breaking maskscent!), they will take on average 2 more shots before fixing on me and charging. Those two shots translate easily into an entire tier of creatures I didn't mess with before.

Try this...especially if you have rifle skills...use maskscent, lay prone, and conceal/camo yourself. You can get quite a few shots off before they see you.

Jmatt,

I've done both. It seems to be a crapshoot as to whether or not you'll get the XP.

B

The situation most of you described happens already, with out the use of /maskscent. I always attack at maximum distance, in the prone position, and it takes all NPCs/Creatures several shots before they hone in on me. Now, if they have buddies, they always seem to know exactly where I'm at, even if the original target is still wandering around confused. Does /maskscent stop the extras?

I'm not even all that concerned with the XP. All I wanna know is if it will help me hunt creatures more effectively. I'm going to experiment with it tonight.

Does anyone use a macro to set up the opening (rifle)round? Something like:

/maskscent;/conceal;/aim;/aim;/headshot2;/headshot2

I haven't played much with Aim. Does anyone know if it actually helps? I heard it stacks, so you can iterate a few aim commands before opening fire. Opinions?

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Xygar wrote:

The situation most of you described happens already, with out the use of /maskscent. I always attack at maximum distance, in the prone position, and it takes all NPCs/Creatures several shots before they hone in on me. Now, if they have buddies, they always seem to know exactly where I'm at, even if the original target is still wandering around confused. Does /maskscent stop the extras?

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NO, Xygar, I think you miss our point, if you use /maskscent, you get off a few shots MORE.

Now, I'm a Master Scout now, so I got a lot of bonuses going for me and my testimony may be colored by this, but if you try it, you'll see what we mean. And, yeah, /maskscent seems to keep the others from mobbing you as much, but don't quote me on that. I think the mobbing has more to do with ferocity than anything else, and your proximity when firing.

Oh, and Aim doesn't stack to my knowledge. It helps immensely all by itself. I usually aim+HAMshot until they fix on me, and then start spamming the destructo ray on them.

>>> I usually aim+HAMshot until they fix on me, and then start spamming the destructo ray on them.

So then you consider the shot you don't get to fire while aiming made up for by the increased chance to hit?

It takes as long to aim as shoot, so I'm inclined to think that getting off twice as many unaimed shots is better than getting off half as many aimed shots. I'll have to experiment with this.

I'm pretty sure that aiming doesn't take quite as long as a full shot, if for only because there is no recoil. I see powerful results with mine, results may vary.

Well, I started paying attention tonight, just to see, and I discovered that aiming takes a variable amount of time, so it must be susceptible to latency (like everything else). And the damage was more than I thought. Most of the time, if you aim and use a HAM shot, you'll do as much as an overcharge shot. At least with the carbine I'm using.

To expand on Mule's post.

When taking down a lair or a tough creature. Go to max range (64m) no matter what your weapon. Lay in a prone position and fire up maskscent. With my old (good quality) CDEF I was taking white mobs down to half before they charge (get on your feet when they do). And with my new Scout Blaster (59-122 1.7spd) I am dropping 2/3rds of all white mobs before they can find me or can close the distance. Even yellow mobs are lucky to get more then a couple hits in on me. If I try the same thing standing up( still at max range) everything charges me after my first or maybe second shot. One note, throwing a trap at the creature seems to allow them to instantly find me and charge so I hold off on traps until they attack.

This is a little different tactic than my tip I posted recently because I just got this new pistol. I am half way to Pistol-4 and Combat-4 so right now I am "grinding" my way to those skills before going back and concentrating on finishing up Scout. For those on Corellia, a white mob to me are murras and khrabus <sp>.

Final tip: Get a good weapon!!! After saving up the 18k needed for this weapon I am effectively quadrupling my damage!

Okay, some valid applications other than simply powerleveling. Thanks. Now that why is solved, back to how. Do I have to mask before entering the 65m perimeter, or does it work equally well if employed at 60m?