Wanting to play BG

[Jaycub]

I really want to play BG, from a fun/lore/aesthetic point, but I am having trouble justifying it.

BO is mandatory just because of big brawlin alone, then it's stat steal is pretty much just a better passive buff/debuff version of anything the BG can do stat wise except the wilpower buff. Skull thumper having no ICD means it's the hardest hitting ability available to any destro tank. And than the cherry on top, morale pump in an environment where it's 3x harder to gain morale than on live forces this tank into groups even harder.

Ch again has the morale pump, has auras which again devalue a the BG's stat buffs/debuffs. Crippling strikes is very strong even in snb spec to stop slayers from ignoring challenge w/ ID. Super punt etc....


What BG brings that these two don't... Outgoing healdebuff, which can be covered by a WE/Mara group which destro does have the luxury of running thanks to mara having pretty much everything a melee trains needs. That leaves 2 things, choking fury, and 5 sec KD.


This is just what I have observed anyways, asking if anyone can help me find what exactly BG is good at or is it just a dumpster tier tank for now until balance changes come?

[peterthepan3]

The outgoing heal debuff can be used liberally in EC so it has its use there.

The damage a DPS BG can dish out is actually very impressive.

Anti-detaunt has its uses. Pretty much the only tank who can shut down a healer. Also you DO bring very nice debuffs in the form of toughness/wounds/anti-crit and can buff your team's WP/Toughness (but so can a zealot buff, chosen, or BO stat steal). ironically DPS BG shines more in groups where a marauder is absent as you can provide debuffs that are about 85% as good and bring a different DPS (naturally, you never will - but its nice on paper)

BG unfortunately doesn't offer anything other than 5 sec KD and Crimson Death (assuming you're 2h). All of its juicy debuffs are provided by the marauder, which renders them null and void.

You can spec to be a very defensive 2h parrybot (70%+ parry rates with loathing tactic), but you aren't bringing anything other than a superpunt (aoe snare if you dont have a bo, and bo aoe snare is better)

Always thought BG - being the dark elf counterpart to the SM, both of whom are thousands of years old and well-versed in the arts of combat - should have a similar ability to the SM's Wall of Darting Steel when in 2h. Think it would go a long way.

[Penril]

ironically DPS BG shines more in groups where a marauder is absent as you can provide debuffs that are about 85% as good and bring a different DPS (naturally, you never will - but its nice on paper)

This. I know Old School likes to run unorthodox setups... Try one without a Mara! If you really want BO + Chosen, run those tanks and spec the BG for lol 2H dps. You can use Demolishing Strike on the BG and let the BO/Chosen run double Champ's Challenge. You will do nice damage (undetauntable), have an spammable outgoing heal debuff (I think it is the only spammable hd in the game), you are uncleansable by RP and can cover debuffs for other classes since WP can cleanse you (BOs can't cover WP). Your second DPS NEEDS to have an inc hd though.

If you want to play as a more traditional SnB tank, I always though BGs are better doing their own thing. Play as a 1 2 2 and let the BG push the enemy backline hard. Let your group engage and focus on catching their healers (you will, eventually, since they can't really get away from the fight or their groupmates will die). Then start spamming heal debuffs... If someone attacks you, you can use your 5sec KD on the healer. You can superpunt him away from the fight as well (might take him a few seconds to get back in heal range, which your group can use to kill the enemy dps). Or if you manage to get behind him, you can superpunt him back to your group (5 sec KD means you can heal and AP debuff him before using the punt, if you want and you can time it). Spec RD3 for extra levels of annoyance.

I played mine like that on live, and I remember receiving a PM on the old Bioware forums from a certain RP. I will never forget his words: "Have i ever done anything to you? Have I wronged you in any way?". That should give you an idea of how annoying you can be

The 1 2 2 can be prety much anything, but i suggest one of the DPS to be ranged. Try these things and you will have fun on your BG.

[TenTonHammer]

This. I know Old School likes to run unorthodox setups... Try one without a Mara!

Choking fury with draining swipes is a strong combo debuff that shouldnt be ignored

[Penril]

This. I know Old School likes to run unorthodox setups... Try one without a Mara!

Choking fury with draining swipes is a strong combo debuff that shouldnt be ignored

I wouldn't run Draining Swipe until rr70 (or 60 + Ruin, which no one has atm anyway). You lose either MA, Guillotine, GI, DC, CC or TB. Not worth it, specially considering the long CD on DS.

[peterthepan3]

Draining swipe designed to work with several ap drains imo: choking fury, dps dok, black orc ap drain. When you have several ap drains on one target, DS starts to shine imo.

[Jaycub]

forgot about the crit debuff that's actually pretty nice, what the duration on it tho?

[peterthepan3]

5 secs on 10sec cd i believe, so essentially 50% uptime permanently which is v nice. Coupled with BO stat steal u can give ur team some nice crit potential.

[Jaycub]

naw i meant the 20% crit debuff they can place on someone, also I think crimson death got buffed to 10 seconds? Even so losing 5 sec KD still hurts.

[Penril]

Not sure about the duration, but the Cd is 5 secs. As for Crimson Death, yes, the duration got buffed.