Help deciding between swash/brig

[Shadd0wElf]

<p>I'm newly back to eq2 after a very long break...my old main was a berserker. Coming back to the game now i'm more interested in playing a dps/utility role than tanking. I enjoy raiding very much so that is a big factor in deciding a class to play. Since coming back to the game I've started leveling an illusionist currently level 24, however I feel I more enjoy playing a melee type class which has led me to choosing between brig/swash.</p><p>From what I've read so far it seems like both classes are pretty good and pretty desireable for both grouping and raiding. Also I really like the way some of the armor looks for the two classes.</p><p> Some key points i'm interested in learning more about :</p><p>Would of these two classes have a hard time getting into a raiding guild? If so why?</p><p> How do the two classes fair dps wise?</p><p>How do the two fair when soloing? Is one a stronger soloer than the other, and why is it stronger in this aspect? As zerker I really couldn't solo much, and would like to have a main that was capable of soloing same teir named heroics.</p><p>Thanks in advance for any Advice you guys have to offer here!</p>

[Hamervelder]

<i></i><hr /><i><span class="postbody">Would of these two classes have a hard time getting into a raiding guild? If so why?</span></i><hr />If either class has a hard time getting into a raiding guild, I would guess (and I could be wrong) that it's swashbucklers.  Simply because there are so many of us.  There seem to be less brigands, which to me suggests that the individual brigand might fare better getting into a raiding guild, as said guild might only have a couple, if any.<i></i><hr /><i><span class="postbody">How do the two classes fair dps wise?</span></i><hr />In the raids/groups I've been in with brigands, DPS seems to be about even.  Perhaps a slight edge to the swashbuckler.<hr /><span class="postbody"><i>How do the two fair when soloing? Is one a stronger soloer than the other, and why is it stronger in this aspect? As zerker I really couldn't solo much, and would like to have a main that was capable of soloing same teir named heroics.</i></span><hr />Soloing same-tier named heroics is hit or miss.  Success here depends largely on the encounter itself.  There are some 62^^^ names that completely obliterate Atelos (my swashbuckler) and yet there are a couple of 68^^^ names that he can crush with relative ease.  Swashbucklers have more offensive debuffs, whereas brigands are (as far as I can tell) more defense oriented.  They rely on positional attacks and stuns more than swashbucklers.  Swashies are the most "toe to toe" of all scout classes.  We do have positional attacks, and they're important, but we're pretty adept at taking on a mob headlong and slicing it up.  So in the end, it probably comes down to playstyle.  BTW, Leithe is the person to ask about specifics, as he has a lvl 70 swashbuckler and a lvl 70 brigand.  I believe he's posted on the matter in the past.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Needagroup]

<p> I've played both brig and swash to 70; brig in pvp and swash in pve.     I think the brig is much much easier to solo on single heroic or named mobs -- particularly if you have the agi aa line and the brig ability that extends the duration of ca effects.    First, the brig can spin the mob around backwards and keep him facing backwards for something like 15-20 seconds if you space the CAs correctly.   While the mob is backwards, you use dispatch and other debuffs and run the mob's health way down.   By the time the mob spins back, he's usually orange or nearly so, and you haven't been hit.   Of course, if you can't get him spun around, or there are adds, you are in trouble.</p><p> The swash is a bit more difficult.   I hit the mob with the dagger throw thing, the let him slowly approach me as I use CA's with reach.    then I spin him, do some back attacks until he spins back.   a bit after that, I'll invis, and daze him, run behind him, and do whatever other back attacks are up.    Also, if I have adds, hurricane is very helpful.</p><p>As you can tell, I've got AGI aas on both toons. </p>

[Shadd0wElf]

Thanks for the responses would love to hear more from people, specially those familiar with both classes...From what I'm hearing so far I think brig is prob more what i'm looking for, too bad the brig hat looks so terribad! >_<

[Hamervelder]

<cite>Shadd0wElf wrote:</cite><blockquote>Thanks for the responses would love to hear more from people, specially those familiar with both classes...From what I'm hearing so far I think brig is prob more what i'm looking for, too bad the brig hat looks so terribad! >_<</blockquote>What?  You don't want people walking up to you and saying, "Robble robble!" ?  *snickers*

[Shadd0wElf]

<p>Well I decided to give a brigand a try, but just have a few questions...Which stance if either is appropriate for soloing? I could see reasons to use both, but i would think offensive would be the preference?</p><p>As far as weapons are concerned does it matter which weapon is in which hand? For example fast weapon in offhand slow weapon in mainhand or something of that nature? Does weapon damage effect the potency of combat arts at all, or is that just based off your str/slashing/piercing stats?</p>

[Shadd0wElf]

<cite>Shadd0wElf wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Well I decided to give a brigand a try, but just have a few questions...Which stance if either is appropriate for soloing? I could see reasons to use both, but i would think offensive would be the preference?</p><p>As far as weapons are concerned does it matter which weapon is in which hand? For example fast weapon in offhand slow weapon in mainhand or something of that nature? Does weapon damage effect the potency of combat arts at all, or is that just based off your str/slashing/piercing stats?</p></blockquote>Anyone able to answer these questions for me? Would be very much apprecieated!

[Pulli]

I would say offense for solo specific mobs and defense for heroic mobs, although with a brigand having the ability to stun for so long offense stance at the start and switching to defense when the stuns wear off might be better. As far as weapons, try to get 2 weapons of the same delay. If you can't always put the slower weapon in primary so that primary only procs will proc more. Just my 2 CP, but I'd say brigand has an easier time getting in a raid guild because they got dispatch and can spec str line for T-swipe. Multiple dispatches are always welcome because you can space them out. A swashbuckler really doesn't have that advantage when you have multiple swashbucklers in a guild.<i>Edit: Grammar correction.</i>

[Shadd0wElf]

Since the two classes play relatively similarly, I decided to go with the swashy instead, I just like the overall look of the swashy armor better than the brig stuff... Thanks for the advice, so Def stance is the preferred stance trying to solo heroics?

[Prrasha]

<cite>Pullite@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote> always put the slower weapon in primary so that primary only procs will proc more.</blockquote>Untrue. Procs are normalized over time. A slower weapon will have more procs-per-swing, but it's exactly balanced out by the faster weapon having more swings-per-time, giving the same procs-per-time regardless of delay.Your combat arts can proc your mainhand weapon's built-in procs, so put whatever weapon has the better proc(s) in your main hand.

[Shadd0wElf]

<cite>Prrasha wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Pullite@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>always put the slower weapon in primary so that primary only procs will proc more.</blockquote>Untrue. Procs are normalized over time. A slower weapon will have more procs-per-swing, but it's exactly balanced out by the faster weapon having more swings-per-time, giving the same procs-per-time regardless of delay.Your combat arts can proc your mainhand weapon's built-in procs, so put whatever weapon has the better proc(s) in your main hand.</blockquote><p>Thanks good info to have</p><p>Which stance should i use for soloing heroic encounters? Are swashies ever able to solo even con or yellow con heroics?</p>

[Luk]

<cite>Shadd0wElf wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Prrasha wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Pullite@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>always put the slower weapon in primary so that primary only procs will proc more.</blockquote>Untrue. Procs are normalized over time. A slower weapon will have more procs-per-swing, but it's exactly balanced out by the faster weapon having more swings-per-time, giving the same procs-per-time regardless of delay.Your combat arts can proc your mainhand weapon's built-in procs, so put whatever weapon has the better proc(s) in your main hand.</blockquote><p>Thanks good info to have</p><p>Which stance should i use for soloing heroic encounters? Are swashies ever able to solo even con or yellow con heroics?</p></blockquote>Yesbut it is dependent on the quality of your gear, the quality of your skills and the quality of the person at the keyboardI have taken down an heroic yellow con named solo, but that wasn't easy or a regular occurance