New to dirge: slashing or piercing?

Cracklep · 12-25-2007, 01:36 PM

Hello all. I finally decided to roll a dirge (have to fill out those char. slots somehow!) and was wondering which skill is better to work on, slashing or piercing. Do we get more/better weapons of one skill than the other? Thanks!

Rolande' · 12-25-2007, 05:19 PM

Personally I think its best to skill up both, at different tiers in the game the best weapons available will swap back and forth between piercing and slashing. So its just makes good sense to use one slasher and one piercer when leveling up SMILEY

Antryg Mistrose · 12-26-2007, 06:50 PM

While I completely agree with getting the skills on both maxed, with no offensive stance I concentrate on just pierce. That way I can get gear with +pierce only, without having to try to get both skills high.There are in my experience more pierce weapons and more +pierce gear than slash. Sure, there are some uber slash weapons, but rogues, predators, warriors, crusaders will all be after them too, so chances are you won't get 2 slash weapons as easily as 2 pierce

Lornick · 12-26-2007, 11:12 PM

It ultimately doesn't really matter. Skilling up both is a wise idea though. You never know for sure which type your next big upgrade will be. I can tell you from experience it sucks when you come across an uber slash weapon and you haven't kept your slash skill up to par for a number of levels... Antryg Mistrose is right though in that pierce tends to be more common for scout types to come across. But there is no particular advantage in using one over the other.

Whysprr_Wyrd · 12-26-2007, 11:57 PM

The easiest, most straightforward approach is to dual-wield one of each until you hit the level cap.

Whysp

BigChiefJJ · 12-27-2007, 01:45 PM

Definitely agree with Whysprr - I will typically keep one of each type of weapon on my scouts, even if one is just handcrafted or lower previous tier weapon that I was using. When I gain a new level, I'll swap back to DW with one of each type and fight until I get both skills back to max. This usually goes pretty quick expecially if you pick a fight with some green mobs that you can just autoattack down for a few minutes. Then it's back to my optimal setup of weapons.

Lornick · 12-27-2007, 10:34 PM

Whysprr@Kithicor wrote:

The easiest, most straightforward approach is to dual-wield one of each until you hit the level cap.
Whysp

Prior to the stamina line AA change I would agree with this. I really dig having the sword and board now however.

Whysprr_Wyrd · 12-27-2007, 11:39 PM

Shamefully, I sword-and-board solo. I have to turn on my cloak because the shield is so deeply hideous on my back. But, in groups and raids I still dual-wield, and I do those things enough that I still get the slashing skillups.

Whysp

firza · 12-28-2007, 05:47 AM

I would wait till we know how good the epic weapon is, and what skill it uses choosing to only improve one skill.

Actually, looking at the long term of this game I would always make sure both are maxxed out.

Squallaby · 01-03-2008, 05:51 PM

Yeah I thin on every character I've ever played (Only jsut started my dirge) I've always maxed out all weapon skills.. I jsut keep them up to date along with everything else. Lets me be able to pick up that uber sword of XXXX or Flashy spear of YYYY if I get one and not mess with skilling up.

12-26-2007, 06:50 PM	#3
Antryg Mistrose Loremaster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 893	While I completely agree with getting the skills on both maxed, with no offensive stance I concentrate on just pierce. That way I can get gear with +pierce only, without having to try to get both skills high.There are in my experience more pierce weapons and more +pierce gear than slash. Sure, there are some uber slash weapons, but rogues, predators, warriors, crusaders will all be after them too, so chances are you won't get 2 slash weapons as easily as 2 pierce __________________ Illusionist//Paladin/Dirge/Templar Jeweler/Sage/Alchemist/Prov

12-26-2007, 11:12 PM	#4
Lornick Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,114	It ultimately doesn't really matter. Skilling up both is a wise idea though. You never know for sure which type your next big upgrade will be. I can tell you from experience it sucks when you come across an uber slash weapon and you haven't kept your slash skill up to par for a number of levels... Antryg Mistrose is right though in that pierce tends to be more common for scout types to come across. But there is no particular advantage in using one over the other. __________________

12-26-2007, 11:57 PM	#5
Whysprr_Wyrd Loremaster Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 908	The easiest, most straightforward approach is to dual-wield one of each until you hit the level cap. Whysp __________________

12-27-2007, 10:34 PM	#7
Lornick Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,114	Whysprr@Kithicor wrote: The easiest, most straightforward approach is to dual-wield one of each until you hit the level cap. Whysp Prior to the stamina line AA change I would agree with this. I really dig having the sword and board now however. __________________

12-27-2007, 11:39 PM	#8
Whysprr_Wyrd Loremaster Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 908	Shamefully, I sword-and-board solo. I have to turn on my cloak because the shield is so deeply hideous on my back. But, in groups and raids I still dual-wield, and I do those things enough that I still get the slashing skillups. Whysp __________________

12-25-2007, 01:36 PM	#1
Cracklep General Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 87	Hello all. I finally decided to roll a dirge (have to fill out those char. slots somehow!) and was wondering which skill is better to work on, slashing or piercing. Do we get more/better weapons of one skill than the other? Thanks!

12-25-2007, 05:19 PM	#2
Rolande' Loremaster Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 160	Personally I think its best to skill up both, at different tiers in the game the best weapons available will swap back and forth between piercing and slashing. So its just makes good sense to use one slasher and one piercer when leveling up

12-27-2007, 01:45 PM	#6
BigChiefJJ Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 415	Definitely agree with Whysprr - I will typically keep one of each type of weapon on my scouts, even if one is just handcrafted or lower previous tier weapon that I was using. When I gain a new level, I'll swap back to DW with one of each type and fight until I get both skills back to max. This usually goes pretty quick expecially if you pick a fight with some green mobs that you can just autoattack down for a few minutes. Then it's back to my optimal setup of weapons.

12-28-2007, 05:47 AM	#9
firza Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 640	I would wait till we know how good the epic weapon is, and what skill it uses choosing to only improve one skill. Actually, looking at the long term of this game I would always make sure both are maxxed out.

01-03-2008, 05:51 PM	#10
Squallaby Desert Riddler Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 83	Yeah I thin on every character I've ever played (Only jsut started my dirge) I've always maxed out all weapon skills.. I jsut keep them up to date along with everything else. Lets me be able to pick up that uber sword of XXXX or Flashy spear of YYYY if I get one and not mess with skilling up. __________________ Barstile Ironpeg Swashbuckler Mistmoore