Swordmaster GO!

[Wraithedge]

Here's a question. Having dragged a Swordmaster up to 11, I now face the conundrum of what to spec. I know that the SM cannot compete in the arena of DPS so should I go full defense and just try to be a pretty annoyance for as long as possible? Are there some builds that you can share. I am pretty fond of clicky builds but I know you largely get what you get. Is the Sm so irrelevant that I should just do whatever and who cares?

What are your thoughts?

[dkabib]

I'll try answering you since no one else did! =)
I had a SM at live servers.
To me, they were designed to be an off-tank dps. They're the only tank that starts the game with a two-handed sword instead of shield.
But to do a good damage with it, you will need higher levels, you need that last ability from the dps tree (channeled one, forgot the name now). It is a good damage since you can do all magical damage.

Now for the tank part, SMs do very well, they have a lot of shileds to absorb damage. The problem here is that they aren't very group based. Other than their Green buff sword they won't do much.

Hope that helps! But remember to play the class that you must enjoy, the way you enjoy the most!

[Coryphaus]

i would not decide on any spec yet

az plans on redoing blorcs and sms like for example moving their kd down to 9pts

so just wait till the changes are in before you choose a spec and all that for late game

[dkabib]

That's some good news! SMs and BOs are in need of love since the beginning.
To that I'd put Eng and Magus too (end game status).

The rest may need tweaking, but mostly works.

[grumcajs]

problem with SM is : they do not boost the most played (and best) order dps - slayer

BOs can alteast provide another armor debuff, bugged WS buff to choppas and maras

[dkabib]

problem with SM is : they do not boost the most played (and best) order dps - slayer

BOs can alteast provide another armor debuff, bugged WS buff to choppas and maras

I'd agree with that if only Order had enough slayers... They are so meh, not gameplay wise, but the look of it... Choppas are so much nicer to play as

[Penril]

SMs are awesome for soloing and small scale fights. Hopefully they will get the love they need so they are viable in groups as well.

They debuff spirit resists, so DPS AMs actually love them. Try finding one to guard (should be easy) and roam the lakes. They synergyze well with WLs as well. I have been trying to test the spirit resist debuff (Wrath of Hoeth) with a WLs Lionheart tactic. But none want to (yet) since using that tactic means they don't get either Pounce, or Force Opportunity. Finally, DPS WPs also do spirit damage, so if you can't find an AM to group with, this would be another option.

As i said, i believe SMs are amazing for 1v1 and soloing. One of the best SMs i ever knew (Bladespawn) taught me his spec and gave me some advice so i could duel some Mara on the PTS (he was being a forum warrior and since i couldn't duel him on my BO, SM was the obvious choice). This was the spec, and this was the result.

http://waronlinebuilder.org/#career=sm; ... 7:;0:0:0:0: (replace Vaul's Buffer with Whispering Wind if in a group)


Click here to watch on YouTube

Check all the absorb absorb absorb parry absorb parry block absorb parry spam in the second fight lol.

At level 26 i plan on going like this: http://waronlinebuilder.org/#career=sm; ... 2:;0:0:0:0:

Have fun with your SM!

[Landaren]

I'm telling you guys whispering winds is pretty astounding group utility.

Does it make up for the other short comings.... Maybe not, but there is a lot of ways to play a sm

[Coryphaus]

Sm pairs great with classes like wl who has lots of spirit dmg further more slayers will get nerfed down the line with I'd being clense able and nerf to shatter limbs

And wl will get the fixes that it needs to pet ai the way item stats are shared with pets and perhaps some changes to its mastery tree as well

Thier will also be some potential nerfs to kotbs so given time the meta will shift from what it was on live

[Wraithedge]

This is great info, thanks much.