Newbie Swashbuckler Questions

[m1mik]

Hi, I'm completely new to everquest. I've decided I'd like to try out the Swashbuckler class (currently lvl 17) because they reminded me a lot of the general image of a rogue. Down to the questions ---- I really love PvPing, is a swashy an ideal offensive PvPer? Is there a better choice for an offensive PvPer?- What are my main stats? When I had to choose my characters trait, I chose the Str one. Is that a mistake? - Are swashbucklers made to duel wield or wield a sword and a shield? I'm currently duel wielding.- Is there a noob friendly swashbucklers guide hovering around these forums? I wasn't able to find one.- Last question, I'm currently duoing a lot with a Monk friend. Is a Monk + Swashbuckler duo half decent atleast?

[OutcastBlade]

Welcome to EQ2!!These are my opinions, and I am sure you will find vastly different ones from other swashys. To each their own. Also after the next update this might change considerably, because duel wielding and 1hs weapons are going to be one in the same.- Yes. Swashbucklers are, according to the other pvpers on the forums, the solo class of choice of pvp.- In the early levels, agi > str > sta for your stats for duel wielding and general all round toughness. Focus your AAs on Str and Agi. Post 55, or when you start raiding, get yourself a good one hander and spec WIS, AGI lines. Wis gives you the double attack further down the line, and AGI gives you avast ye allowing you a frequent automatic extra attack of considerable damage while fighting from behind.Traits, Agi or Wisdom. I put all mine into Agi, when I start raiding heavily, I might split them up between the two depending on the equipment I can get my hands on.-Depends on where you spec your AAs. In short fights duel wield is KING in my opinion. In the longer fights (Heroic and Epic), it has been said that one handed slash comes out on top. After the next update this choice will become less of a problem. Starting out, I would go duel wield until you get past 50.-Guides on what Master IIs to choose, how and when to use CAs around your auto attack, and guides on poisons and soloing are all over the place, and the ones I mentioned are the ones you should be looking up.-Hey if you can attack from the rear while your friend taunts and tanks with his monk, you can wipe out heroics so long as you are patient and careful. Overland fighting should be a piece of cake for you both though.

[Antas22]

I have to argue that dual-wield is king at lower levels. It's been my experience that STR/WIS parses much higher for me than duel wielding with STR/AGI. This, with Mastercrafted weapons tested T5 and T6. In my testing, in order of DPS soloing against low blue heroics or white solos goes:STR/WISAGI/WIS (slightly lower, but seemed more consistent)STR/STAAGI/STASTR/AGIAnd for grouping (DPS) it wentAGI/WISSTR/WISAGI/STASTR/AGISTR/STA (barely edged out by the above 2)Yep, in my experience, even STA spec was able to out-parse dual-wield. I'm now STR/STA, becuase the drop in damage isn't enough (I can still hit 600+ parses against heroics regularly at 53) to tempt me away from the utility and survivability gained with STA (because, let's face it, good tanks are hard to find until T7, and even then). Also, STR/STA jumped up just behind the WIS specs when tanking in a group.Now, for the points in the OP (and hopefully in jargon a bit less potentially overwhelming to a new player):-Apparently, yes, Swashies are good for PvP. My only experience comes from dueling, and I haven't dueled since I betrayed from Brig (Though I was able to beat several Swashies around my level when I was a Brig, they're beasts).-STR. It's a simple formula: More STR = More damage. More damage = dead opponents. Dead opponents = no threat. After that, AGI and STA. WIS also seems popular for PVP for resists. On carebear servers, it's less important until you near the endgame. INT supposedly affect poison damage, but imagine my disappointment when I had a suit of Melodic Chain made for me and found my poisons doing the exact same damage. Could have done well with that extra STA.-Either, but see above. Truth be told, the gap isn't that big. However, you should consider the survivability offered by an AA line. WIS offers pretty good defense, as well as a huge boost to your combat skills, which will help against Bruisers and the like. STA offers incredible defense and HP. Rogues have the benefit of very balanced AA lines (except for INT), which translates to more options for you. You won't kill yourself anyway you go, as long as you spec your AAs accordingly (when you get them. Until you have the points to invest, dual wielding WILL give you the best results).-Not really. Most of the information you're likely to be seeking is spread around in various guides and threads, but nothing all-encompassing-Not sure about PvP, but for PvE, there are certainly stronger matchings, particularly for the Monk. Brawlers tend to do VERY well paired with Shamen, for instance (Monk / Mystic, for goodie good PvP circumstances). Rogues, by their nature, can work well duo'd with pretty much any class though. We can do so much on our own, and it isn't hard to find ways to work that into strategies to enhance any other class (or be enhanced by them). Working with a tank can be particularly fun. As a Brig, I  trio'd with a Zerker and Templar a few times. Me, beind the madman I am, would get us into situations no healer should be asked to handle alone, and me and the Zerker would just pass agro back and forth like a hot potato while the poor Templar fought to catch us up. This can be adapted to your duoing. Don't be afraid to steal agro once and a while to let the Monk's Mend refresh when he's getting low on health, for instance.