Taboo or OK?

vensaval

Hey there. I'm not exactly a new player. You could still call me a newbie, though. Couple of years ago I used to play this game on and off. Never made it far, though. Lately, I've been thinking of playing this game again casually for when I have nothing else to do.

On that note, I've looked though these forums recently for help with getting back into this game since I plan on not uninstalling before level 30 this time. It seems that any Blademaster utilizing a pure build (for example, pure fist, like I want to do) is taboo in the eyes of many here.

I want to know. Would it really be that bad if a guy like me just went along and played the game the way I wanted to? Casually and irregularly? Likely to be soloing most of the time? Won't be getting into PVP? Just enjoying punching things repeatedly? Because, the vibe I'm getting is that I'd be basically ridiculed and cast aside on the off chance I do decide to get social.

If it'll really be that bad of a thing, then I just won't play.

However, if it's not as big a deal as I'm seeing it, then I would appreciate some advice on stat and skill building and such as to prevent any frustrations and **** ups.

Necare - Harshlands

What would stop you?

VenusArmani - Dreamweaver

vensaval wrote: »

Hey there. I'm not exactly a new player. You could still call me a newbie, though. Couple of years ago I used to play this game on and off. Never made it far, though. Lately, I've been thinking of playing this game again casually for when I have nothing else to do.

On that note, I've looked though these forums recently for help with getting back into this game since I plan on not uninstalling before level 30 this time. It seems that any Blademaster utilizing a pure build (for example, pure fist, like I want to do) is taboo in the eyes of many here.

I want to know. Would it really be that bad if a guy like me just went along and played the game the way I wanted to? Casually and irregularly? Likely to be soloing most of the time? Won't be getting into PVP? Just enjoying punching things repeatedly? Because, the vibe I'm getting is that I'd be basically ridiculed and cast aside on the off chance I do decide to get social.

If it'll really be that bad of a thing, then I just won't play.

However, if it's not as big a deal as I'm seeing it, then I would appreciate some advice on stat and skill building and such as to prevent any frustrations and **** ups.

Here's the thing about why people would get annoyed with you. It's because if you only used fists, you wouldn't be able to use some of the most important skills of the class, such as Heaven's Flame. It's fine if you just want to solo, but you should at least make your character in such a way that it isn't a burden on any team you squad up with. I mean, as a casual player who isn't willing to invest any time, you probably also wouldn't be investing a ton of money either. As to get good gear it takes either time, or money. Grind and earn it, or swipe and buy it. So your gear wouldn't be that great, which is perfectly fine. But if that is the case, you should be someone who at least makes up for it by being skilled. And that means not ignoring important parts of the class and not doing your job in squad (because you're unable to) just because you like to punch things.

So I recommend giving it another go, but don't just be a pure fist BM. You don't have to dedicate yourself to using axes, but you should be able to equip them and use the skills when you do decide to be social. If you are unable to do what a particular class is supposed to do in a squad (BMs using HF on pulls for example), and you aren't contributing much damage wise, then you are basically just leeching off other people just so you can do whatever you want. It's understandable why people wouldn't like that. You expect them to help you with group stuff, the should be able to expect you to contribute to that group stuff. Otherwise, you're just taking advantage.

Team based games like MMOs require everyone to use their characters so they can work well in groups of people. That doesn't mean that your character isn't your own, and you can't focus primarily on whatever you want to focus on. When your by yourself, punch everything to death until your heart's content. But when you're in a team would be counting on you to have at least the basics. That way everyone is helping each other, instead of one person watching everyone else do all the work and taking the same rewards.

And every class has aspects that aren't very desirable solo but are important to team play. For example, clerics have to level BB. It's of no use to them, but there are certain team based things that require it.

The blademaster section of the forums has many tips, builds, and recommendations should you decide to stay. Either way, have fun.

vensaval

Necare - Harshlands wrote: »

What would stop you?

The post after yours explains exactly what.

Denaini - Sanctuary

As long as you don't care about TW, I don't see any issues with going pure fist build.
If you decide to join squads at some point, just make sure you have Heaven's Flame leveled and carry an axe with you - it can be level 1 too (i.e. won't require you to change your build, and won't cost significantly).
Some people might expect you to carry better axes for aoe damage. However, you can just ignore those few idiots and join the next squad that comes along. BMs aren't useful for AoE damage in PVE anyway, unless they severely outgear their squad members. What BMs are used for in AoE situations are the two skills Heaven's Flame (axe path, see above) and Roar of the Pride (no specific path); but it's the curse and stun effects that are being sought. Not the damage.

Empu - Sanctuary

Till 80 at least, nobody cares what weapon you use and it really won't matter much. Since you talk about casual playing, it will take a while before you get to that point anyway. I'm pretty sure that by that time, since you will have the spirit to lvl more skills, you will probably have tested around and came to the conclusions Venus stated. At the moment, I wouldn't bother with something that only starts to show at 80+ if I were you.

Jaabg - Sanctuary

Denaini - Sanctuary wrote: »

BMs aren't useful for AoE damage in PVE anyway, unless they severely outgear their squad members.

I will delete my bm now b:cry.

To OP: Be a pure fist build, it is not taboo, but do learn to use other skills from other trees, some are really fun. I keep it a rule when learning skills, to keep all skills at lvl 1. After i have used them countlessly on mobs, i only lvl the usefull ones as money allows. When i restated to be able to have fists on, i liked the survivability my squishy bm got. I could use sutra on each mob.

But as people suggested, don't neglect other skills, they make bms fun to play. As a fist bm, your fist skills are best left at lvl 1, due to low mp cost. I even had roar of pride at 1 until i was 100 b:surrender, i learnt demon roar of pride, and was very happy with it, one of the best skills investment ever. Nothing wrong with carrying lvl 1 axes or low levels one to use axe skills with.

There is a balance, if you go pure fist, you have points left over to stat in dex, str or vit. If you go axe/fist, no points for vit. If playing casually, you'll know what you want, to hit harder, or to be able to live a bit longer. But if ever you reach endgame stage, you'll want to restat because monster lvl does get tough.

Sakubatou - Sanctuary

HA is 2.5 strength per leve, claws are 2 dex per level, axes are 3 strength. So just with HA and claws you use 4.5/5 stats per level.

Just curious, why avoid axes?

You could take the 50 vit you have extra and get 650 hp. Then again, you'd kill slower so probably take more damage, too. You'd also have less physical defense than most bms. That might make it harder to solo things on paint.

~As said above, bare minimum, get a pair of axes for Heaven's Flame amp. Squads require this.
~And get Drakes Breath Bash for its 6 second stun (7.5 demon) so you can control mobs and take less damage. You can chain it with Roar of the Pride (any weapon) for most of a stun lock on mobs, so zero damage.
~And get Fissure, even though it doesn't hit as hard as Highland Cleave. I assume if you get into a group of mobs you'll have to kite them and fight them one at a time, so Fissures slow helps. Unless you plan on aoeing to farm faster and speed your gameplay up. This will help you get to bosses that you want to punch repeatedly. BMs are pro aoers and are often expected to tank/pull and keep aggro.

Maelael - Heavens Tear

vensaval wrote: »

If it'll really be that bad of a thing, then I just won't play.

However, if it's not as big a deal as I'm seeing it, then I would appreciate some advice on stat and skill building and such as to prevent any frustrations and **** ups.

I think the question I'd have to ask you is...why would you want to limit yourself?

Seriously, it would be like saying "I'm only going to use half the skills on my Wizzie."

Having a fist-only BM, you might as well make a sin. Pretty close to the same playstyle, just more damage. BM is a utility/support class that can DD, Tank, Solo, and AOE well. If you just wanna run around and single target stuff - I assure you that you will enjoy the Sin more.

The wonderful concept of the BM is you are able to switch out weapons and utilize different skills for different situations. You might want to AOE more in a situation. Heck you may enjoy doing AOE solo. At the same time theres a ton of stuff you want to use your fists. As Saku's guide explains - 3 Str and 2 Dex and you can use whatever you want.

Denaini - Sanctuary wrote: »

BMs aren't useful for AoE damage in PVE anyway, unless they severely outgear their squad members. What BMs are used for in AoE situations are the two skills Heaven's Flame (axe path, see above) and Roar of the Pride (no specific path); but it's the curse and stun effects that are being sought. Not the damage.

I'm trying to come up with something constructive, but I can't. I'd guess you've only squadded with crappy BMs (commonplace unfortunately). The quoted stuff above is not true, but many fail BMs/Other classes do believe this.

It's the lack of focus on Axe skills, Axe playstyle, and Gear that has brought this to be believed to be true.

seronja101

b:shocked

Denaini - Sanctuary wrote: »

BMs aren't useful for AoE damage in PVE anyway, unless they severely outgear their squad members. What BMs are used for in AoE situations are the two skills Heaven's Flame (axe path, see above) and Roar of the Pride (no specific path); but it's the curse and stun effects that are being sought. Not the damage.

omg this could not be more fail!!
BMs aoe is great and strong just need to focus on 2 weapons and that cost more than just 1 that would you use as sin...
get your aoe skills up!!! lvl1 wont do...not on BM or any other class!!
does not mater if you go TW it just pve axe tree is a must for any BM!!
Denaini i realy hope you are not BMb:shocked

Sakubatou - Sanctuary

I had a competing catshop against a wizard. Didn't like the guy for a while but kind of gave up the grudge recently and have stopped avoiding him and his faction mates and have allowed him in my squad three times recently.

So wizard is his main but he has a bm, also. I was tanking a BH Delta on my bm, doing my best to pull and keep aggro from everyone. It isn't easy since as you're bringing mobs in/stunning other people are attacking, but I was doing a decent job. In between stages we started talking about axes. I recommended Morai as a cheap pve endgame and told him why.

He just got them and despite low refines he was telling me that his aoe damage output on his BM with +5 (?) Morai axes is about the same as his +10 wizard in DB.



Thinking about it... I'd put seekers as top aoers, and then Archers, BMs, and Wizards all very close to second place. But thats because we can use spike damage skills and amps like GS and HF, and have something like 13 aoes to cycle through in our 4 paths.

Nalvaes - Raging Tide

Many people will troll about low lvl BMs using fists/claws, but the way I see it...If you find good enough fists you may find them to be stronger then axes/poles for that lvl range.

It may be difficult in some squads with a pure fist build though, since most squad expect HF/GS/MSS. So have some kind of axe/hammer no matter how low it is and atleast lv1 HF just to be safe.

BP will be your strongest ally with fist build though, so try to find a sin alot. Oh...And if anyone tries to troll you, just tell em it's your character not their's and you don't care what they do.

Good luck b:victory

seronja101

any way you look at it if you go 3str 2dex you can use fist and axe so why just focus on 1
at low lvls all you use is fine but once you get 80+ and start to do FC whit out axe you will be useless for most squads....dont limit your self whit just fist....good thin abouth BM is that it is versatile....dont ruin that aspect of BM....whit fist/axe it makes BM a lot more fun to playb:laugh