low level swash build for duo, with me as tank

[drakkenshie]

<p>I'm running a duo with an assassin.  She's good on damage, but a bit fragile, so I try to do most of the tanking and generally keep the mob focused on me and under control.</p><p>We love low level content so we lock every few levels and burn for AA.</p><p>Any advice for my role as swash tank in a rogue duo?  Right now I have an AA mirror with two setups: one STA/AGI, and the other is STR/AGI.</p><p>With the STA tank build, I do survive better, but not near as much as I thought.  The extra taunt is very useful in rescuing an over-zealous assassin now and then, but I can also usually get aggro back with hits and AE.</p><p>We do sometimes have a friend along healing me, but are frequently by ourselves as well.</p><p>Anyway, ideas welcome.</p>

[ElsaRat]

<p>I'd suggest considering using a Wisdom/Strength build. The end line Coule ability in wisdom is helpful in defense, and at low levels I've found the extra double attack makes up for the lack of a second weapon. Also, especially if you're level locking, I recommend getting a mirror of reflected acheivements to make it easier to experiment and compare different AA builds.</p>

[drakkenshie]

<p><cite>ElsaRat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I'd suggest considering using a Wisdom/Strength build. The end line Coule ability in wisdom is helpful in defense, and at low levels I've found the extra double attack makes up for the lack of a second weapon. Also, especially if you're level locking, I recommend getting a mirror of reflected acheivements to make it easier to experiment and compare different AA builds.</p></blockquote><p>I was thinking the WIS line was not really good as everyone seems to hate it and it didn't look real good.</p><p>However, this does make some sense to me and I have an AA mirror.  Currently it is an AGI/STA setup for tanking and an STR/AGI setup for DPS.</p><p>To be honest, I'm doing about as well tanking with the STR/AGI build as with the so called "tank" build, even using offensive stance.</p><p>I wish we could have more than one AA mirror, but I might just spend the gold to play with your idea.</p><p>Thanks for your input.</p><p>Something else I've noticed: my assassin friend can solo some mobs easier than I can, even though she's more fragile.  I assume it is because of her higher DPS, or maybe I'm not making best use of mine, not sure yet.</p><p>In every other case, especially multiple mobs, I take a lot more damage than she does, but on some single mobs she does appear to have the edge.</p><p>I've not yet figured out that that means for running duo, but so far we manage to trade aggro so fast the mobs are totally confused and we are killing them pretty well without huge amounts of damage to ourselves.  It seems like as the two of us trade aggro--with me controlling that for the most part with swash hate control--the mob spends so much time changing stance it isn't hitting us often.</p><p>Anyway, comments still appreciated.</p>

[Vieray]

<p>I'm confused as to why you would choose STA/AGI for a "tanking" build and not STA/STR.  Commandeer provides nothing in terms of defense, pirate stab only procs from behind which isn't nearly as good when you hold argo, I guess sailwind is nice but I don't see it helping you survive (except for providing more dps).  You should still put a point in walk the plank so you can flip the mob but if you are actually trying to be the tank in a pair of dps the STR line will compliment STA much more.</p><p>You get the benifit of blackgaurds defense and blackgaurds luck without needing to be behind the mob.  I'm not a high level player so I can't comment on higher level stuff but I tanked a lot of lower level stuff with STR 4-10-9 STA 4-10-9-1 AGI 1 aa build.  I don't know what total block percentage you reach with a good round shield but it is pretty high and with Turgurs and Vitality breach potions I survived quite well.  I guess overall I see the 12 to 14 points you have to put into pirate stab and commandeer to get to sailwind as pretty much a complete waste because they don't help you tank a mob or help you do more dps to a mob that is facing you.</p>

[ElsaRat]

<p><cite>drakkenshield wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>I was thinking the WIS line was not really good as everyone seems to hate it and it didn't look real good.</blockquote><p>I don't use this build for my level 70 raiding swashbuckler, and would never recommend it for that purpose. But I found it effective for locking at lower levels and soloing.</p><p>Bear in mind most people you're reading aren't attempting to do what you're doing; they're playing at a higher level and grouping with a tank; what works best for them may not work best for you. Coule helps both on accuracy and defense, and in my experience at lower levels it seems to me the extra DA makes up for the loss of a second weapon. But again, I found it most fun to try different builds and experiment. And if you'd do, it'd be great if you post your experience.</p>

[drakkenshie]

<p><cite>Vieray wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I'm confused as to why you would choose STA/AGI for a "tanking" build and not STA/STR.  Commandeer provides nothing in terms of defense, pirate stab only procs from behind which isn't nearly as good when you hold argo, I guess sailwind is nice but I don't see it helping you survive (except for providing more dps).  You should still put a point in walk the plank so you can flip the mob but if you are actually trying to be the tank in a pair of dps the STR line will compliment STA much more.</p><p>You get the benifit of blackgaurds defense and blackgaurds luck without needing to be behind the mob.  I'm not a high level player so I can't comment on higher level stuff but I tanked a lot of lower level stuff with STR 4-10-9 STA 4-10-9-1 AGI 1 aa build.  I don't know what total block percentage you reach with a good round shield but it is pretty high and with Turgurs and Vitality breach potions I survived quite well.  I guess overall I see the 12 to 14 points you have to put into pirate stab and commandeer to get to sailwind as pretty much a complete waste because they don't help you tank a mob or help you do more dps to a mob that is facing you.</p></blockquote><p>Valid questions...</p><p>My reason was that I don't tank necessarily by holding aggro all the time.</p><p>Without a healer I can't always do that.</p><p>So what I'm doing is forcing the mob to switch between the two of us frequently using my hate control, and of course she is helping with that.  We've found that if we keep the mob "confused", it does less damage, and then both of us can use our flanking attacks.</p><p>Just holding aggro has so far not worked out as well, although it is certainly a lot easier.</p><p>Maybe with the STR/STA build I could really be pure tank and not need the features of AGI.</p><p>You have to remember this is a fairly non-standard duo, something we like to do for the challenge and fun of it.</p><p>Anyone can create a fighter/healer pair and run the whole game, this provides an interesting challenge to see what all we can handle on our own.</p><p>In any case, I do plan on trying your ideas too, I just need time.</p><p>I'd almost pay for a third AA mirror... <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Vieray]

<p><cite>drakkenshield wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Vieray wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I'm confused as to why you would choose STA/AGI for a "tanking" build and not STA/STR.  Commandeer provides nothing in terms of defense, pirate stab only procs from behind which isn't nearly as good when you hold argo, I guess sailwind is nice but I don't see it helping you survive (except for providing more dps).  You should still put a point in walk the plank so you can flip the mob but if you are actually trying to be the tank in a pair of dps the STR line will compliment STA much more.</p><p>You get the benifit of blackgaurds defense and blackgaurds luck without needing to be behind the mob.  I'm not a high level player so I can't comment on higher level stuff but I tanked a lot of lower level stuff with STR 4-10-9 STA 4-10-9-1 AGI 1 aa build.  I don't know what total block percentage you reach with a good round shield but it is pretty high and with Turgurs and Vitality breach potions I survived quite well.  I guess overall I see the 12 to 14 points you have to put into pirate stab and commandeer to get to sailwind as pretty much a complete waste because they don't help you tank a mob or help you do more dps to a mob that is facing you.</p></blockquote><p>Valid questions...</p><p>My reason was that I don't tank necessarily by holding aggro all the time.</p><p>Without a healer I can't always do that.</p><p>So what I'm doing is forcing the mob to switch between the two of us frequently using my hate control, and of course she is helping with that.  We've found that if we keep the mob "confused", it does less damage, and then both of us can use our flanking attacks.</p><p>Just holding aggro has so far not worked out as well, although it is certainly a lot easier.</p><p>Maybe with the STR/STA build I could really be pure tank and not need the features of AGI.</p><p>You have to remember this is a fairly non-standard duo, something we like to do for the challenge and fun of it.</p><p>Anyone can create a fighter/healer pair and run the whole game, this provides an interesting challenge to see what all we can handle on our own.</p><p>In any case, I do plan on trying your ideas too, I just need time.</p><p>I'd almost pay for a third AA mirror... <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Was just wondering if you had gotten a chance to try out a STR/STA spec?  I don't have a mirror so I've just stayed in STR/AGI since I switched over but sometimes I wish I could easily switch back, guess I should look into getting one of those mirror things.</p>