Teras Kasi Archive
Thread: Master Meditation... or Precision Striking?
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TashunkaSapa
Fri Jul 23, 2004 11:27 pm
#1
Hi, I'm hoping the TK players can offer me some advice on a build I'm contemplating.
Ultimately, the character would focus on pistol fighting skills (Master Pistoleer, Dirty Fighting 4, Bounty Pistol 4). Since I need Unarmed 4 to get Smuggler, I figured I might as well take Novice Commando (to get the Launcher Pistol cert and thus be able to use every pistol in the game) and of course Novice Teras Kasi.
However, with Novice Medic to round out the build, I have just enough points for only one tree in TK. Since I'm going to be fighting with the pistols mostly, I am trying to decide between either Meditation (for Power Boost and Force of Will), or Precision Striking (for the defensive mods).
I'm not sure what the defensive caps are (I will already have a certain amount of them from the various other profs) so I don't want to pursue Precision Striking if the bonuses are superfluous. The one advantage that Precision Striking offers is that it uses Combat XP which I'll be gaining anyhow - unlike Meditation which requires Unarmed XP (does anyone else think this is bass-ackwards?)
Any advice you can offer would be appreciated. Thank you for your help.
Shaan'ti Hokai (Kauri) 
alpinestreams
Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:35 am
#2
Looking at your template if I'm understanding it correctly, you don't have enough skill points to do much at all in TKA.I don't understand why you would just want novice TKA really. You wouldn't do much damage at all with just novice. Honestly, I would suggest not taking any smuggler skills, since it really won't help you in terms of pistol speed/accuracy, you're already decent with BH pistol/Master Pistoleer.
It'd be much better to get novice Medic so you can at least heal yourself vssmuggler which just gives you a few unique abilities, but you get pretty good abilities with BH/Pistoleer already, so the smuggler specials really will add nothing.
I also don't understand why you would want novice commando, it's worthless unless you level up in a catagory.
If you can afford the skill points I'd suggest getting the entire meditate line since you can heal your wound, plus FOW and of course power boost.
I actually have 3 skills in the precision striking line in addition to Master fencer, just for the ranged defense, it does add up. But there is a cap, I cant remember what it is, but the only way around the cap is clothing/attachments.
So, here's what I would do. BH pistols 4, Master Pistoleer, novice medic (I can't fathom not being able to healmyself in combat, but then again im a doc - I'm spoiled) AND TKA - either 0-2-0-0 OR 0-0-0-2 for the added defense.
Good luck!
Message Edited by alpinestreams on 07-24-2004 03:40 AM
WesleyJanson
Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:55 am
#3
I agree on the terms of novice commando. The launcher pistol is all right, but I'd suggest against keeping six precious skill points in bondage just to use an okay weapon.
Medic would definately benifit you more than meditation. You can heal your HAM and stats instantly (depending on how far up ya get), and heal your wounds when you get the chance. Master Meditation will let you regenerate wounds fairly quickly, but it takes minutes to cure poisons and disease. That definately won't help you out in PvP versus a CM. Once he tags you with his death cocktail, you're gone, and no ammount of meditation will save you in time.
So... I'd say skip the commando and skip the TKA. That'll give you a whole twelve points to invest into something much more useful.
Medic would definately benifit you more than meditation. You can heal your HAM and stats instantly (depending on how far up ya get), and heal your wounds when you get the chance. Master Meditation will let you regenerate wounds fairly quickly, but it takes minutes to cure poisons and disease. That definately won't help you out in PvP versus a CM. Once he tags you with his death cocktail, you're gone, and no ammount of meditation will save you in time.
So... I'd say skip the commando and skip the TKA. That'll give you a whole twelve points to invest into something much more useful.
TashunkaSapa
Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:30 am
#4
Thanks for the advice, but I think I'm not making myself clear enough.
The build does have novice Medic. I'm already an MBH and working on Master Pistoleer, I wanted a build that would emphasize pistol combat (think along the lines of an Old West gunfighter), so I'll be migrating points out of BH eventually. Commando and TK come to mind because I'll have unarmed 4 for Smuggler anyhow. Last Ditch and Low Blow are pretty useful from what I've heard.
I'm not a PvP player, so there's no need to consider that. I'm sure that I want to try the rest of my build, I didn't really intend this to be a discussion on the overall build. My main question here is TK related only:
Do I take Meditation for the healing as well as the useful Power Boost and Force of Will? Or do I take Precision Striking for the defensive benefits that it will add?
Kyodor
Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:42 am
#5
Take Meditation. Defense Acuity is broken, and I don't find the defensive mods that useful. Meditation's Powerboost and Force of Will are invaluable in combat, as well as healing your bleeds, poisons, diseases, and wounds.
TashunkaSapa
Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:20 am
#6
D'oh! I just realized that I forgot to factor in the 29 points I need for Exploration 4.... 
Back to the drawing board... but still I'm eager to hear input on which is preferred.
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