First Time Swashbuckler

[PanzerHorst]

<DIV>Quick question , I have a 64 lvl paladin on PVE and decided to roll a Swashbuckler for PvP, i am currently lvl 25 and having a difficult time.</DIV> <DIV>When i get into combat or am jumped by Freeps, i go all doolally, and just mishmash my keys and generally</DIV> <DIV>get wasted as i keep trying to do my shots from behind in front. Besides calming down is their any tips you can give me tactics wise? Do you use macros or what?</DIV> <DIV>Please help me!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[OpethPA]

<DIV>a. I dont remember what level we get our mez but its your friend, learn how to use it...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>b. Figure out a flow on your keys that makes sense. I only have 1 hotbar(shift + 1-10 gives me access to the other bars) on the screen at one time and I have each bank setup in a specific way. My first bank is damage following roughly this flow...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. Sneak</DIV> <DIV>2. Backstab with a stun</DIV> <DIV>3. backstab</DIV> <DIV>4. backstab</DIV> <DIV>5. CA</DIV> <DIV>6. CA</DIV> <DIV>7. CA</DIV> <DIV>8. CA</DIV> <DIV>9 Mez</DIV> <DIV>10. stop autoattack</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Prior to the stun change I was able to get all 3 positional attacks off on any mob at anytime as long as I had my mez up now I can get 2 of the 3 off at anytime during the fight. Having my keys setup like this I can get in a good flow by just going top down. Sneak, hit BS, HIt BS, CA CA CA CA, Mez while casting stop autoattack. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>c. The rest of my bars are setup as HO, Debuffs, Aggro Xfer , Aoe on bar 2. Bar 3 is buffs and misc things, so and so on.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>d. Learn how to stun a mob and then either strafe around or jump over it so you can BS. thats key.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm sure other people will offer their advice just realize that playing a swash you have a lot of ways to beat a mob and button mashing is not the best approach.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Enjoy!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[AlphaWol]

<P>Opeth put it well.  Swashies are fun to play, but also require some trial and error to refine your attack 'dance.'</P> <P>I won't list my order here, mainly because I'd mess it up.  It's all just reflex now and I hardly think about what keys I'm pressing, but getting that very specific order down, for soloing single and group mobs, and group hunting single and group mobs took a lot of time.</P> <P>You would be surprised how much your effectiveness can be effected by just switching the order of one or two abilities.  Many of our damage skills have debuffs/or self buffs so knowing how to cycle those in appropriate order can really help as well.</P> <P>My advice.  Practice someplace safe on heroic greys.  Watch their health, or parse, and optomize your damage output.  Once you have a good series down move onto mobs that can (and will) hit you.  Make sure your series holds up against the damage output of mobs that hit back.  Tweek as needed with debuffs and buffs to keep yourself alive while dishing out the damage.</P> <P>All through this process master the art of stun/circle strafe.  This is key to the livelyhood of a solo swashy.  It requires a little timing, but it's not impossible, or even moderately difficult.</P> <P>Oh and don't forget poison.  </P> <P>Good hunting!</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[RingleToo]

<P>First, let me start with some obvious things that, considering you have a 64 Paladin, I assume you know. So, I don't mean to be talking down to you but you know about assuming... </P> <P>- Get as good as armor and weapons as you can afford.</P> <P> - Upgrade CAs as much as you can, though not everything has to be Master level or even Adept III, of course. Don't forget to check the skill lines sticky at top so you'll know what new CAs are coming and when.</P> <P>- Know  what all your CAs do. Think about how you can use them in different situations and against different opponents/classes. AlphaWolf's idea of practicing on greys is a good one.</P> <P>- Be at least some what familiar with what other classes can do. (This is kinda "do as I say, not as I do" since I'm pretty pathetic when it comes to knowing anything about classes I haven't played :smileytongue: )</P> <P>- Poisons. Poisons. Poisons. Use them. There are 3 different kinds/colors that can be used together. Lots of good threads on this, just do a search for "stacking poisons" or some variation of that. </P> <P>- Potions. Use them. I think they tend to be over looked and under used.</P> <P>- Set up your hot bars in a way that's comfortable for you and makes sense to you. Though, I've gotten good ideas from other swashys that caused me to make changes.</P> <P>Now for tactics - understanding that there are no "best" tactics. It's been a while since I've been lvl 25, so I'm just going to present some ideas that fit my play style. So, the more familiar with what your swashy can do, the better you'll be able to develop tactics that work for you. This is in no way meant to be a comprehensive guide. </P> <P>I prefer using an offensive stance (Rash Advance for you). I also prefer using 2 weapons instead of just one. My thinking is that if they're dead, they can't hit me. But to each their own. If you prefer defense then Fancy Footwork. Experiment with both. (There's another self-buff coming at lvl 27, too).</P> <P>If you have the luxury of attacking first, always attack from behind and in sneak mode if possible. Shanghai and Unfriendly Reminder works as a nice 1-2 combo.</P> <P>Follow up with Edged Swipe, dps debuff (upgrade at 29) and Poke, parry debuff (upgrade at 29). Then Quick Flurry (upgrade at 26 and you'll get a triple attack at 2<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />. Then Cheap Shot for stun that if it works will allow you to get around behind opponent or at least flanking (simply a matter of timing). Use Gut Slice, mitigation debuff.</P> <P>Next, I like to use Flamboyant Swathe (my version of it anyway). An AOE but it can do a lot of damage as well as stun. A slower process then other attacks, though. If your frontal attacks aren't ready to go yet, you might follow with the other AOE -  Circular Blade (upgrade at 2<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> or even Undercut. The idea being that you want to do as much damage as fast as you can. You might want to save Undercut in case you need to slow opponent down so you can either kite or run away. Cold Throw, ranged attack, will slow opponents as well.</P> <P>At 26 you get Disarming Grin - a mez. I like to use mez after all my main attacks. Or if I'm getting pummled and need to back off. Mez can give you a chance to catch your breath, so to speak, and let your CAs recycle. Be sure to turn off auto-attack right after you start it! Any attack will break it. Any poisons that have landed will also break it, but if you're quick you often can get in another flanking or back attack. Practice with this. If your poisons haven't landed for some reason (or been cured), you'll find that you have plenty of time to go back into sneak mode and get behind your opponent.</P> <P>You also have a couple of non-damage debuffs: Flashy Trick, wisdom debuff and Neutralize, magic/divine debuff (and an Intelligence debuff later on). If you're fighting a priest or mage, don't forget these. (I tend to use them mostly when I'm in a group, though).</P> <P>If things are going badly - evac. You just got it, and you're going to love it.</P> <P>Finally, remember: Some days you get the bear, and some days the bear gets you :smileytongue:</P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P><p>Message Edited by RingleToo on <span class=date_text>08-07-2006</span> <span class=time_text>08:14 PM</span>

[PanzerHorst]

<P>Thanks very much for the advice, gonna practise,practise and....................oh yeah!!! Practise.</P> <P>Always nice to know that some people dont mind spending the time to write out an intelligent reply or give good advice.</P> <P>I salute you.</P>