SB styles advice

[matax]

SB styles advice wanted

I know there's been lots of Shadowblade threads, but I don't think (?) this has been covered.

I'm looking at my styles to try and work out what will be the best combos in the BG.

1. Critical Strike opener.

Perforate Artery
or
Backstab 2 followed by Thigh Cut.

PA - long dur bleed. Use from in front of enemy. med fatigue
BS/TC - double whammy for more damage (?). Use from behind enemy. high fatigue + med fatigue

If its easier to get in front or behind of the enemy then obvious choice, but if it's not a problem does it make much difference which I choose? PA is less fatigue, but I guess the BS/TC combo will give more damage ?


2. Follow up styles.

Obvious choices here for if I parry or evade, but for anytime styles again I have 2 choices:

CS Garotte - use anytime. High fatigue,med dmg,med duration movement reduction. med hit bonus. med penalty to defense

LA Ravager followed by Atrophy.
Ravager - med fatigue, med bonus dmg, small hit bonus
Atrophy - med fatigue (use after ravager), med bonus dmg, med dur move reduction, small hit bonus.

Garotte gives penalty to defense and is high fatigue cost.
LA chain - both need to work - if they do more fatigue (?), but more damage and bonuses.


3. Posion

All these will be combined with 2H axe opener with DOT (lethal - lev 10) poison, then change to 2 axes for 2nd hit with 2 other poison - which are the best to use here. I have 10 envenom so can use:
Hinder STR (lesser weakening - lev 6)
Snare (lesser imbalance - lev 8)
Disease (minor infectious - lev 4)
Advice here please as to which combos would be most effective.


Thanks all for any advice you can give

Edit: Didn't add my spec as I didn't want comments on it - like your better speccing this way etc - please don't comment on it, just comment on the above Added now as it could make a difference - CS is high, so guess using those styles over LA/Axe styles would be better damage as less variance.
At level 24 (+ item adds):
Stealth 17 (+5)
Crit Strike 21 (+3)
Envenom 10
Left Axe 14 (+4)
Axe 14 (+2)

 

[old.anubis]

if you're critblade use styles from CS line - PA, garrote, hamstring, BS2 (this one has 3 sec stun)
if you're shadowzerk use your LA styles - ravager, atrophy, comeback
if you're 5 spec dont go to BGs

switching axes is a pain, so if you use 2h apply DOT (or snare - otherwise everyone will be running after your PA ), if you use 2 axes apply DOT and debuff

[edit]
and better make a SZ, there are more infiltrators in BG1 than trees

 

[bister]

As something of a 5-spec in BG (very low env though) and close to capping out I can only speak for myself but will do so. I have access to both the BS2 + Thigh Cut chain, Garrote and LA styles up to Comeback.

I could have waited with Garrote til after BG1. I never use it anyway. Instead I prefer to use Comeback with Ravager/Atrophy. Atrophy and Garrote do about the same dmg for me. Ravager does less, so the dmg output is slightly lower. But the upside is I save End that way, which comes in handy all too often.

Cloth casters generally die after Thigh Cut, but that's as close to 1-shotting I get without 2h switching. 1-shotting is extremely useful in group battles or standoffs, because you can often hit and run before the others get a chance to react. In my case, if I decide to hit a target, the enemy mezzers will get a couple extra seconds to target and cast before I kill him, which means I might not make it back to my group. So I'm a bit envious at the CBs for that very reason. Contrary to what one might think, a BG SZ has to be very selective and defensive in group encounters.

As a shadowzerky 5-spec I NEVER avoid a 1on1 fight if I start at full health/end. Tin can, minstrel, whatever, I'm willing to give it a go. Sometimes I lose, but more often than not I win. Even if it's a class I "shouldn't" win against, I figure I still have a fair chance he starts flapping and makes mistakes. However, solo enemies are a rare sight and against 2 or more enemies you go down fast. If, on the other hand, your side has the upper hand in numbers, then spec won't matter. Even the most gimped player can score in the zerg.

An inf or NS has to be twinked and buffed or I'll rip them apart in no-time. High Env skill can pose a problem. If they get PA off it's a coin toss or worse, but chances are they won't since I don't need BS to kill them. Instead I rely on my favourite opening style against them - target + Autoattack. But, again, solo assassins are hard to come by. The few times I do find one, he usually tries to run.

All in all, I'm happy with my BG experience, although I still think RPs come more easily for a Critblade for the simple reason that most fights will not be 1on1. So if you're making a BG char only, then I'd suggest a CB spec.

Bister
24 SB
Hand of Loki

 

[Negura`]

Infils > SB's > NS's
nuff said

 

[matax]

Originally posted by Negura`
Infils > SB's > NS's
nuff said

WOW ! What a truly helpful post - I asked for advice, if I want a debate on which assassin is more 'uber' I can read the other 50,000 posts on the subject

 

[theroy]

Originally posted by Negura`
Infils > SB's > NS's
nuff said

I think not...infil vs sb is an even fight..

 

[Quasimoto]

Originally posted by theroy


I think not...infil vs sb is an even fight..

doh, Infils has 2.5 friggen spec points..... eek....

edit: And the infil dont truly excell till mini dings.... where he sky rocketsl towards
the final boom at lvl 50 with the DF style..... DOH

 

[Jarrax]

Re: SB styles advice wanted

Originally posted by matax

At level 24 (+ item adds):
Stealth 17 (+5)
Crit Strike 21 (+3)
Envenom 10
Left Axe 14 (+4)
Axe 14 (+2)

imo i think ur spreading urself a bit thin over the 5 lines.
I'd either stick with critblade or sz template
roughly
stealth 19 (autotrain till 24 if poss)
cs 21 (use cs styles for melee)
axe 18
envenom10
la 2

or

stealth 19
la 21 (ravager/atrophy/scathing blade does v.good dmg with snare effect)
axe 18
envenom10
cs2 (bubblebreaker)

I used sz template for bg's, found it to be very effective against other stealthers (and there are tonnes of em)
F8.. /stick.. ravager, you pop an even con inf outta stealth at bg level and negate his PA, you will tear him a new one 9/10 times

 

[old.Krogar_Thane]

1 VERY important change

Matax mate!

change 1 thing...................otherwise ur options and advice stated previously are sound.

Use Snare on the 2h axe first hit...................if you are hitting a caster , if you dont 1 shot, you will get him with the next swing.

but if you are hitting other classes............that snare is the difference between a good first hit and watching ur enemy gather his wits and run to safety in his lines/ck/tk...............or a good first hit, snaring, and killing at ur leisure.

to recap, put snare on ur first hitting weapon........DOT comes later. i played a shadow zerker all the way thru cap on bg1, name of Mack theKnife and to be honest............the DOT at that low levels (BG) while helpful in some fights, is less important, from my point as view as to kills scored, as the snaring of opponents and finishing them with melee.

sure this is a shadow zerker, but if u dont PA them in 1 shot, then the same applies to a crit balde i should imagine, dont let them get away, snare there butts!

 

[Jarrax]

heh, loads of ways to attack.
I never used snare, the garrote in CS line has snare effect, also the leftaxe chain has snare effect. Also the snare poison works in reverse, the effect increases over time, so intially the buggers can still run anyway. I found setting up my quick bar like below helped.
1. PA or Ravager
2. Sprint
3. Garrote or Atrophy
after spotting stealther hit /stick then numbers 1 2 3.
Your already /stick and sprinting to stay with him before he can react, with snare styles he will not escape.
However, using snare can help you to kite ur opponent if you dont think you can do him straight off. (PA+snare, run...restealth/rinse/repeat)