(there's a TL;DR at the bottom, because I realised that I blethered mightily around the actual point of the post)
So, just pondering on weapon loadouts for my striker build and thinking about what weapons I want to take, what would be useful, what would be fun, what would be 'da best.
Now, it should be noted that I'm a bomber/side-gunner. I suck with swords, even in the CW. Not to say I die every three seconds, and it helps that I know a lot of the theory and technique, I just have no practice is all, so make stupid mistakes or decisions.
My mentality is also affected by the fact that very early in this game I started as a bomber, and then went to guns before ever really thinking about Swordies. I literally only just made my first Vog set from the Wolver armour I had from when I started.
By my very nature I'm pacifistic and don't like being hurt or stabbed or set on fire. That applies in SK, too; helped along by bombers and gunners' very innate need to scurry around and keep distance, keep away, keep safe.
Then suddenly I try swords.
Complete opposite; run in, get in their face, smash it around, take a knifing or two if need be. So, when I'm in LD I find myself burning boosters very fast as I hit people and just run away, then run back for a poke. It's also made me a very...defensive player. I rush to the fights, but I tend to avoid being the first/only person there and try to just let someone in front of me get stabbed instead. I like sticking near Guardians. Oh, yes.
And the caps; I spend a fair while just chasing down caps and fighting there, rather than looking for the fight. I just can't help myself; the fact that I can move taht fast makes me want to cap more than when I can cloak. It's like my strike-bomber, I just run across the map for caps!
Anyhoo!
My gear? Vog Cub set, no UVs. Sword damage trinkies (4/5*). I'm runnin' striker old-school, no heart trinkies or UVs! So I die easily, which has especially made me wary of being impaled.
Weapons? Well, I'll make a shortlist below of what I do use, and what I want to try/get. None of this is optimum and likely recieving little to no UVs, as I'd rather UV my bomber gear over a phase of striker interest; I can get to that later. Now, my "questions" are mainly just asking for thoughts and advice, not only on Strikers as a class, but the weapons and their uses, as well as suggestions for other weapons.
I should note that I don't expect to be da boss all the time, as I'm running without UVs/Hearts and mostly use a hipster loadout. My intention is mainly to just have fun, but succeed enough given my options.
My problem right now is that I suck with weapon switching, and find myself using only one or two weapons the entire match, so am looking for a balanced loadout that will make me feel like I'm utilising everything I've got.
Suda
Oh yes, this is my favourite LD sword of all time. Idc that it's slower than Sealeds; I want dat knockback. It suits me perfectly. I hit someone and BAM; no need to boost, they get sent away instead. Perfect.
Nice damage per swing helps as well, and means I don't need to worry about swinging a GF at a Snarb or w/e.
Charge is legendary, too. Ruined by invinci frames, but still hits very hard, massive KB, stun, great for groups on CP.
Also, people are quite intimidated by Suda's size and are a lot more careful around you, I've noticed. When I tried other swords I found myself being rushed and killed, but with the Suda people are more cautious. They're not ever quite sure what the range on it actually is. The only person I had a real problem with today was another Troika user who knew exactly what to expect.
After a day of practising with it, I averaged 5~10 caps, 2~6 defends and around 10k damage doing pure Suda matches.
FoV
Nothing sweeter than just running in and FoVsploding a group. Using it in practice is quite tricky though, as I'm having trouble getting myself close enough to people to hit; I keep stopping the boost just shy of them and missing. That whole "don't get stabbed" thing, again.
One thing that helps though, is that the combo rate is different than Brandishes, which is what people are used to/expect from 3 swings, and it seems to actually put people off a bit, letting me land more hits. Unusual, since it's slower, but if you break their rhythm, wonderful things happen.
Trollaris
Defensive gun, you ask in a surprised tone? Nowai.
I like it. I don't use it all too much as I'm trying to stab more, but is good for gunners or holding up a CP.
Glacius/Acheron
I don't use them much actually, for similar reasons to the FoV; the reach defeats me. I like the damage enough, but when I use it, I really only just spam the charge. What else is there to do?
Glacius is nice for the freeze, but Acheron is nice for the Shadow damage that fewer people are defended against. I'm unsure which to use, if at all.
Teethpick
I don't specify which because right now I'm using a 4* Barb and don't plan on 5*ing it any time soon. I'd much rather have a Rigadoon actually, so am ragecrafting for an asi one. Why Rigadoon? Well, my damage is maxed and, as I've discussed here I don't feel that such differences in damage will ultimately matter. Rigadoon does around 20~30 damage less than Flourish, and that is a reasonable sacrifice, imo, for the chance to get stun. Mmmm, stun! Nothing I like better than someone that can't chase and kill me, oh yes.
The reach isn't as bothersome to me because of the crazy fast swings, so I'm more confident I can get in, penetrate, and get back out in a safe manner. Also, I can just continue the combo in a "get away, get away" fashion if something goes wrong~
CiV
Hipster, maybe, but I'd quite like to use a Calibur and try that fast swing action. I don't have one yet, so I've no idea what it'll be like, but I know I want to give it a shot and have seen it be used here and there to some effect. Besides, it'll be useful in CW too. Why CiV over Levi?
Vanity. 100%. Levi is boring, CiV is total radsticks. I can deal with the damage drop, and since it's got the Undead bonus I'll just play with it in FSC.
Valiance/(Hail) Drivers
I don't have a Valiance yet, but I've seen it be used excellently and am enticed to try. I have the Drivers and like feel of them. I use Hail more because the Freeze makes me feel safe and sneaky, which Shock can often lead to me being killed anyways, which I do not approve of. Fire sometimes if I'm just after potshots and want to burn.
The main problem with these guns is that they're less defensive, and a lot more aggressive in use than Trolly, which tempts me to just try and gun the target down from my nice, safe, distance. Ofc w/ no gun bonuses this tends to work out badly, but it's a mental thing. I'd rather shoot someone than get close enough to get stabbed.
Dat Hammer
I have one, but never use it. Has been suggested I try, but have zero practice with it. Can be annoying to be up against though, so am willing to give it a shot, especially with the "ahh, run away" bit~
Just tried three matches w/ it and got 15k in each, top damage in two. Might have been luck, but it sure as hell felt right. I do approve of the "hit and scurry at the same time" action. Keeps me on the move, I like that. Absolutely havin' trouble dealin' w/ more than 1 person though, and I have a habit of dashing straight into attacks instead of away...
TL;DR?
I suck with swords. I'm trying striker. I have no UVs and rolling Vog Cub and don't like to get hit by things. The above weapons are what I currently/plan to use.
Seeking advice on successful striker play, as well as tips on these weapons or suggestions for any others and/or loadout combinations that will suit my playstyle/gear.