Swordsman Archive

What skill tree makes grindingto mastereasier?

I'd like to get master as quick as I can so I can go back to crafting armor.

Any advice is welcome.

I found that Techniques and Finesse are the most useful followed (in order) by Defense and Offense. Once you have the two mind bleeds (available in the Finesse tree), start the hit-and-run marathon with high-level MOBs. My beast of choice was Mountain Squills.

Please read my post here http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=swordsman&message.id=14677for the setup. As for leveling... I went with the tech tree first, then defense, then offense filling in the combat line as the xp came in.If I had to do it over I would get 1 in the defense line first for mitigation 1 and spin attack 1, then go all the way up tech, finish defense, do offense. I found that spin attacking piket lairs piles up the bodies rather quickly.

Doing the grinding myself for the same reason.

I went 0/0/1/x first. The area attack is very helpful. Then I went to 0/4/1/x for the speed bonus. After that I really don't see much difference in skills. I'm going 0/4/4/x first just because it is less skill points so I don't have to drop other things as fast.

Patina,

Hate to say it, but, that thread wasn't much help. Your post brings up a good point with having someone else do mind DoTs. I don't really see this working well for me unless I can find someone that's willing to babysit untill I hit master.

I often go out hunting in a group of PA Buddys so I'm not too worried about the XP hunt. I'm more worried about what should I do first.

Many other profesion forums have a stickied post just for us "Holo Grinders" I was hoping to find something similar here.

Ahh, I understand now... (rushing through replies at work... missed what it was you were really looking for).

0/0/1/X to 0/4/1/X to 0/4/4/X to 4/4/4/x to master... just like the poster below my initial post said.

No problem.

Any reason why I should do 0/0/1/0 then skip to 0/4/1/0?

Also, Why do x/-/-/- before -/-/-/x ?

Sorry for all the n00b holo-grind questions.

First Answer:

The tech line is where the speed is. Most hammers out there are at about 5.4 speed pre slice. The speed will increase your damage output. With swords it's important to put away your foe quickly since your defensive values are low when compared to other melee classes (I still take alot of damage with mitigation 3, and don't fight without armor nearly as much as when I was a master TK). You also get your targeted pool attack in the tech line which when used with your mind bleeds is quite abit more effective than having some additional defense and a slightly better spin attack.

Second answer:

-/-/-/x line is combat exp and will be leveled as you go unless you have some saved from a previous profession. The x/-/-/- line is sword exp and is IMO the least effective line in regards to leveling speed.

I mastered this profession over a 3 day span (had the flu over vacation ), so I feel I have the credentials to help you out here, and it was a holo profession for me as well so no apology needed. Sorry I didn't give you the justification in the first place.

Ahhhhh! It's starting to come together.

From the reasearch I've done, You get 2hand Spin Attack 2 when you take 0/0/1/0. Is it that good to take it first before going up the -/x/-/- tree?

Thanks for all your great input, Patina. It helps out alot.

That's what I would do in retrospec

already a master fencer from my first holo made master swordsman a 3 day job at the tusken fort for my 2nd holo.

Your request is centered around what trees to follow, but I would like to offer an additional line of advise.

First, Rifle mind bleeds stack with Swordman mind bleeds. If you have Mindshot1 from Marksman Rifle or Mindshot2 from Rifleman, you can use one or both of these then go Peace to setup a mind bleed and single pull critters before you even start with the Sword. From your comments, I suspect you do not have these skills, but keep it in mind if you do.

Second, there are three important skills from Brawler you should use: Center of Being (CoB), Warcry1, and Intimidate1. This, of course, assumes you are going straight up to Swordman and do not have Master Brawler. If you have Master Brawler, substitute Warcry2 and Intimidate2.

I setup a macro and put it on my toolbar to fire off Intimidate, followed by Warcry, followed by CoB. What I would do is shoot the targetwith a pair of rifle mind bleeds then peaceto single pull them, then when they got to about 25m from me, I would fire the macro. Intimidiate is first because it seemed to have a longer range than WarCry. If it takes, then when the critter gets to you it will hityou less. Then comes the Warcry. If it takes, the creature will be delayed for 10 seconds (20 if Warcry2). This givesyoua couple of free shots for you Sword Mindbleeds or whatever else you want to start with. Finally, Center of Being improves your defenses and chance for CounterAttack. If timed right, the CoB takes effect right as they get you, optimizing your time.

Now, assuming you do not have the Rifle mind bleeds to pull, I would switch the order of Warcry and Intimidate because you will already likely be engaged when this macro is used. Putting warcry first delays the creature first (assuming it takes)so you are firing off intimidate while the creature is delayed.

Of course as with all macros like this, pay attention to whether or not they took. CoB will always take, but you may need to individually reapply either Intimidate or WarCry if they did not take and you feel you need them up before you can kill the critter. And make sure you have a 2H Sword weapon equipped when CoB fires. It is weapon specific.