Defining Our Class

[Atmosphear1993]

<DIV>I have two fairly open question for all you Swashies out there.  Just because I'd like to hear opinions:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What defines us as a class? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What future improvements can be added to further define a Swashbuckler?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--------</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>We don't have that many class defining abilities really.  Most of our unique AAs (immunity, double attack, etc) are shared by another class in some form.  I'd say our most class defining abilities would be Hurricane, Inspiration and En Garde.  All three of these abilities are vital to a Swashbuckler's DPS and overall feel of the class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But do these abilities reflect our viewpoint as being a Swashbuckler?  Maybe En Garde does, due to how it works and the name of the ability.  However, I'd like to see new abilities that really show we are Swashbucklers.  Allow us to charm certain creature types (such as the various player-races that appear as NPCs).  Or give us a pet parrot that 'talks-back' and repeats one of our DD CAs once every X seconds/minutes.  Maybe even give us an AOE version of Cheap Shot or an AoE debuff since we are AoE proned.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>One thing I do enjoy is our relic class armor.  Even though the KoS relic is a recolor of older armor (leaves on chestpiece still intact) it does give us a very unique appearance.  The new EoF armor looks a bit more...crazy but it still gives us a rather unique look that fits in with our class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Your thoughts/opinions?</DIV><p>Message Edited by Atmosphear1993 on <span class=date_text>12-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>01:06 AM</span>

[Scotti]

I think one of the biggest things people forget is that we do a fairly good job of weakening the offense and defense of a mob, we alter a mobs dps,defense, parry,agi,int,wis, phys.mitigation,magic/divine mit., hate management, lung puncture, a few stuns, and dropping them pretty fast to where they don't hurt our friends asmuch in the first place :smileyhappy: I would like to see some more piratey/corsair type asthetic content added, the parrot idea is pretty cool, maybe a loud "Argh" that sounds when we get a kill shot :smileywink:<p>Message Edited by Stripe7 on <span class=date_text>12-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>01:27 AM</span>

[hellskitten]

I dont understand why parrots, eye patches and pirates always brought up whenever the discussion of defining swashies is brought about.  The inspiration for the class was obviously lot closer to musketeers then pirates. On a stretch even Zoro is closer to the design.  Personally if want to define swashies, then the first step is for them to code in a automatic censor whenever one tries to say matey or argh.

[Zarafein]

<DIV>Only with other options and ability to turn off, not all swashbucklers are pirates/corsairs, and "Argh!" would not fit to many types.</DIV> <DIV>("<FONT color=#ffffff>The archetypical swashbuckler is a handsome young </FONT><A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapier" target=_blank><FONT color=#ffffff>rapier</FONT></A><FONT color=#ffffff>-wielding </FONT><A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" target=_blank><FONT color=#ffffff>European</FONT></A><FONT color=#ffffff> man from the </FONT><A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century" target=_blank><FONT color=#ffffff>16th</FONT></A><FONT color=#ffffff> to the </FONT><A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century" target=_blank><FONT color=#ffffff>18th century</FONT></A><FONT color=#ffffff>"),</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffffff> this fits better to my swashbuckler:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><STRONG>"</STRONG>A flamboyant swordsman or adventurer." so i would a prefer flamboyant animation set or something like that.</DIV>

[Dakkon_10]

<DIV>Don't start beating this dead horse again.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>Swashbuckler is a character type, not a proffesion. You can be whatever you want to be!</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV>In other words, pirates can be swashbucklers, but swashbucklers don't have to be pirates...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>....But we all know that pirate swashies are better than any other kind of swashy. :smileytongue:</DIV>

[SageGaspar]

Swashbucklers lay down mediocre debuffs while putting out their decent DPS, along with a lot of different utility things that are very useful in groups. They can fill in for a tank, mezz, taunt mobs off squishies, etc. I'd say hurricane and inspiration are the two biggest class-defining abilities at the moment, followed by en garde. As far as AE goes, don't underestimate the power of hurricane + debuff poisons and swathe. Swathe has saved groups that were down to the wire many times and helps control damage on pulls, while hurricane and poisons means that a lot of the mobs in the encounter are probably hit with whatever debuffs you have applied at the moment.I wouldn't really like the class to go in a pirate direction. Actually it'd probably be better if it didn't go in any direction, since there are obviously many different people that have different visions of their swashbucklers and wouldn't like them to be steered in some different direction after two years.I would like to see the debuffs be more relevant. Maybe they are after EoF, and the debuff enhancement AAs help in that direction.As far as other classes mimicing the abilities, that's pretty common with AA these days. I don't think any of the hurricane-ish abilities are as powerful as hurricane in the hands of a swashbuckler, though, in terms of aggro, debuffs, etc.<div></div>

[Wildfury77]

<DIV>LOL back to this again!!!</DIV> <DIV>I'll stick to being a flamboyent swordsman with a shield in my offhand......</DIV> <DIV>Allistair and co if you love piracy....betray to Brigand. Brigand = pirate.......</DIV> <DIV>Flame,flame, flame on!!!!</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00><STRONG>Merry christmas guys <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></STRONG></FONT></DIV>

[Dakkon_10]

<P>Brigand = an outlaw or bandit that is (usually) part of a group.</P> <P>Find me the definition that says pirate = brigand, cause last time I checked both classes have the Pirate achievement line (agility). :smileytongue:</P>

[Syrano]

To call our Debuffs mediocre is an insult at best, a gross mis-evaluation at worst.   To consider "inspiration" and "hurricane" class defining abilities is also a bit misleading.  They are unique to our class yes, but they do not define us as a class (considering that you don't even see them until late game anyway).Our debuffs, and versatility, are what define us as a class.  Some of our debuffs are near essential to our own survival solo and critical to make heroic groups survive, on raids we provide that "hidden" value that usually only top tier guilds truly understand.  Our primary role is to debuff the offensive capabilities of a single target while delivering significant damage to it or targets in immediate vicinity with AE capabilties (assuming no CC is necessary).Mediocre debuffs?  Fully spec'd, a swash can drop the dps of a mob by %45.  This is not "mediocre" this is massive.  Not counting other benefits, like reducing all offensive skills of a mob (an essential ability with the combat revamp) by 61 points (do the math, that's nearly 12 levels).    If a swash is doing their job, the mobs hit for less and have a harder time hitting.  Especially with the appropriate use of poisons.Now, many people laugh and say our contributions are insignificant.  Primarily because all they do is look at a DPS parser and worry about whether or not we're in the #1 spot.  They rarely pay attention to what the mobs are doing, especially raid mobs, nor do they correlate their own abilities to that of the mob's damage output.  Maybe they'd care more if there was some giant flashy graphic that said "THanks your swash the mob you are fighting is now [Removed for Content]".  Or they think our abilities are underwhelming because they see what true debuff classes can do and then onyl focus on DPS.That said, we are unique.  We are versatile, we can tank for heroic groups, we can be raw DPS (thanks to abilities like Inspiration/Ruthless Cunning) when we need to be, we are essential debuffs.  We can keep up a substantial output of damage even when we don't have the back of the mob (fairly unique among many of the dps scout classes).  We are jacks of all trades, masters of none, and that is what defines us.As for Pirates or Musketeers?  We are neither, we are both.  We are Swashbucklers.<div></div>

[Scotti]

<DIV>Oh great, now my mascara is running down my face with my tears from the beautiful post above:smileywink:</DIV>

[SageGaspar]

Take a look at the debuff charts sometime for the other scouts and priests and fighters. Your mastered-out 5 AA single target DPS reduction is nice, but lots of other classes have abilities in the same ballpark, and that's not even counting their AAs. Lung puncture is good, the AE delay one that brigs have access to as well is good too, and the 10% to resists at the top of the EoF AA tree if that works is unique as well. Swashbucklers get a whole bunch of mediocre debuffs. As a sum they're pretty good, and they are applied naturally over the course of DPS as opposed to some of the better priest ones that come as spells, but I would classify them by and large individually as mediocre.I also stand by hurricane and inspiration as class-defining skills. You arrange your gear and playstyle to work inspiration in at the best possible moment. It's saved the bacon of many groups and soloers. Hurricane allows you AE debuffing through poisons and fine-tuning of AE aggro control. Playing at low levels, the top skills whose absence are really noticeable are hurricane, inspiration, and a high percentage aggro transfer. Sure, there's a horde of mundane positionals shared with other classes except with a different debuff attached to them, but if you're trying to find that thing that makes playing a swashbuckler different from those other classes, they're not going to be at the top of my list.<div></div>

[mythic]

<P>I dont know anything about playin a swashy</P> <P>I just like to flirt with the girls...</P>