I noticed that basically no one on my server is running the 12b/6f/2r split anymore. Since rog levels aren't mandatory anymore because of prr, what kind of swash build and split should I do. I was thinking 14 bard/6 fighter for the 3rd fighter core, stalwart stance, and some vanguard enhancements. I am also not sure whether to go ice aoe stunning or for the exploit weakness. I would like to run a PDK and make use of maxing charisma and possibly using shortswords to increase stun dcs. Any help would be great! Thanks

The three real options are bard 14 / fighter 6, bard 16 / fighter 4, or bard 15 / fighter 3 / rogue 2. The first option is the best for crowd control, but I prefer the last one because you have to have 15 levels of bard in order to get inspire excellence (plus rogue skills are like having a +30% xp boost). No matter what split you use I definitely prefer the freeze builds.

The new hotness is swash is going to be Aasimar Scourge, I haven't gotten around to posting it though.

5 Foot Step wrote on Nov 12^th, 2017 at 11:52am:

The new hotness is swash is going to be Aasimar Scourge, I haven't gotten around to posting it though.

I don't think anything beats knife tree.

5 Foot Step wrote on Nov 12^th, 2017 at 11:52am:

The new hotness is swash is going to be Aasimar Scourge, I haven't gotten around to posting it though.

The only way I can see that working is if there's some way to exploit Scourge Weapons and Swashbuckling.

Which means Light Mace (and Pulverizer in Epics)

I am keen to see how it's mapped out.

I played various swashbucklers. Somehow I started to gravitate towards T5 Kensai for that melee power.

Rubbinns wrote on Nov 12^th, 2017 at 12:48pm:

I don't think anything beats knife tree.

until it's nerfed 1.5 updates later b/c sales are down  >:(

Alex DeLarge wrote on Nov 13^th, 2017 at 10:22am:

until it's nerfed 1.5 updates later b/c sales are down  >:(

Yeah, pretty much. The tree offers ludicrous melee bonuses. 35 doublestrike, 10 offhand ds, 20mp, 10 enchantment bonus, + to hit and damage, 1 (w), and crit modifiers. Beats the swash tree. Probably beats most melee trees or gets used in tandem as one of the best melee auxiliary trees.

Rubbinns wrote on Nov 13^th, 2017 at 3:25pm:

Yeah, pretty much. The tree offers ludicrous melee bonuses. 35 doublestrike, 10 offhand ds, 20mp, 10 enchantment bonus, + to hit and damage, 1 (w), and crit modifiers. Beats the swash tree. Probably beats most melee trees or gets used in tandem as one of the best melee auxiliary trees.

To qualify... most of that sexy stuff requires wielding shit daggers to work...

Or you have to buy your way past shit enhancements to get it.

Either way... I dont see it being all that OP.

Then again, I'm not exactly an expert on breaking the meta, so take that opinion with a grain of salt.

To the OP: I ran an 18 Bard/ 2 Rogue to epic cap and it was easily one of my favourite builds. Evasion + Trapping + Bard CC + Swash DPS = LULZ

I used Coup de Grace, but I am considering Frozen Fury next time around since the only thing I was missing was a "Cleave" in melee.

YMMV.

Metal-Beast wrote on Nov 13^th, 2017 at 9:09pm:

Either way... I dont see it being all that OP.

Blows swash tree out of the water.

Rubbinns wrote on Nov 13^th, 2017 at 3:25pm:

Yeah, pretty much. The tree offers ludicrous melee bonuses. 35 doublestrike, 10 offhand ds, 20mp, 10 enchantment bonus, + to hit and damage, 1 (w), and crit modifiers. Beats the swash tree. Probably beats most melee trees or gets used in tandem as one of the best melee auxiliary trees.

Yeah...but it's for using...daggers.

Technomage wrote on Nov 14^th, 2017 at 12:09am:

Yeah...but it's for using...daggers.

Wolfs dont care and that's what Rubbingitout is after here.

Alex DeLarge wrote on Nov 14^th, 2017 at 12:28am:

Wolfs dont care and that's what Rubbingitout is after here.

I mean, neither does a swash. The only reason to not use daggers on a swash is because PDK Training for tactics. A 1d6 mace isnt going to beat a 1d4 dagger just because a better crit profile and 1d2 more damage dice. From a pure dps perspective the gypsi tree smashes swash tree. It's not even close.

Rubbinns wrote on Nov 14^th, 2017 at 1:04am:

I mean, neither does a swash. The only reason to not use daggers on a swash is because PDK Training for tactics. A 1d6 mace isnt going to beat a 1d4 dagger just because a better crit profile and 1d2 more damage dice. From a pure dps perspective the gypsi tree smashes swash tree. It's not even close.

Swash DPS is fucking terrible, trust me man. I've played them all. The best one could hope for is WC freeze build melee CC type-of build.

Alex DeLarge wrote on Nov 14^th, 2017 at 3:23am:

Swash DPS is fucking terrible, trust me man. I've played them all. The best one could hope for is WC freeze build melee CC type-of build.

Yeah, I tried them all too back when they were new. The best dps version back then was rogue barb bard. But the knife tree supplants them all as the best dps tree on a swash. Anything the SB tree offers could be done better by the knife tree. 40 something into knife, 11-20 in swash, kta, and w/e else. It's a 100 doublestrike build using an empty offhand. Mace, Shortsword, Handaxe are all less dps than the doublestrike, damage, and melee power the knife tree offers. If you're not using PDK Training then any swash version that could possibly be built would be a higher dps build as a dagger user.

There is actual less fluff in knife fighter than there is in swashbuckler, and there's a lot of survival abilities in there as well.

Rubbinns wrote on Nov 14^th, 2017 at 3:50am:

Yeah, I tried them all too back when they were new. The best dps version back then was rogue barb bard. But the knife tree supplants them all as the best dps tree on a swash. Anything the SB tree offers could be done better by the knife tree. 40 something into knife, 11-20 in swash, kta, and w/e else. It's a 100 doublestrike build using an empty offhand. Mace, Shortsword, Handaxe are all less dps than the doublestrike, damage, and melee power the knife tree offers. If you're not using PDK Training then any swash version that could possibly be built would be a higher dps build as a dagger user. There is actual less fluff in knife fighter than there is in swashbuckler, and there's a lot of survival abilities in there as well.

Some of the things say requires "dual daggers", so is it bad for single dagger?

Alex DeLarge wrote on Nov 14^th, 2017 at 4:11am:

Some of the things say requires "dual daggers", so is it bad for single dagger?

No, it's amazing for one dagger. Same reason wolves can abuse it so well.

Alex DeLarge wrote on Nov 14^th, 2017 at 12:28am:

Wolfs dont care and that's what Rubbingitout is after here.

Ah, ok. Understood. Thanks.

Alex DeLarge wrote on Nov 14^th, 2017 at 12:28am:

Wolfs dont care and that's what Rubbingitout is after here.

Which means it's be good for various builds and wolves in particular.

Which means it's fun and good for the players.

Which means it will be nerfed with EXTREME PREJUDICE before launch.

If not, then immediately after with the first patch.  :P

Metal-Beast wrote on Nov 15^th, 2017 at 12:09am:

Which means it's be good for various builds and wolves in particular. Which means it's fun and good for the players. Which means it will be nerfed with EXTREME PREJUDICE before launch. If not, then immediately after with the first patch.  :P

Cordo hinted as much in one of his livestreams last week I believe.

Technomage wrote on Nov 15^th, 2017 at 11:22am:

Cordo hinted as much in one of his livestreams last week I believe.

Sick bait and switch for anyone who preordered for access to knife tree. lol.....

Rubbinns wrote on Nov 15^th, 2017 at 11:52am:

Sick bait and switch for anyone who preordered for access to knife tree. lol.....

I got it but not because of any wolf "synergies."

I just thought the idea of it was cool.

Technomage wrote on Nov 15^th, 2017 at 12:58pm:

I got it but not because of any wolf "synergies." I just thought the idea of it was cool.

I got it for cosmetics and pets.

Not even sorry about it.

I rationalize it by telling myself this will likely be the last expansion pack.

Ever.