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So fellow NBs, please help me out here, because I'm confused...

Thulsola
Thulsola
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I was out gathering mats the other day with my primary (only) character - a NB crafting primary - and I decided to see what would happen if I didn't just snipe everything from the farthest possible range and tried to actually get up close an personal.

I have Shadowy Disguise (because charging an archery attack and then dropping into shadowy disguise - which releases the attack - causes all sorts of fun damage and hides me from the target and their friends for a few moments) and Concealed Weapon (because I do need something that helps me deal with the mob who manages to get within melee range before I knock their a** back), so I wondered how these would work as a direct "assassin" melee attack.

Now granted, I'm level 37 and these mobs were level 35, but it really worked great. Sneak up close, hit Shadowy Disguise, get a little closer, hit Concealed Weapon, and watch the mob either die or get damn close. Most died with the follow up arrow to the back. Hit their friend(s) with Magnum Shot to knock them back and disorients briefly, and you are in a good position to kill their friends, or use Shadowy Disguise again to sneak away. I even took down a solo dungeon boss in three attacks this way.

So what am I missing? I don't personally like this style of play, it is far too up close and personal for me, I much prefer sniping. But it seems that even with just these two skills alone you can pretty successfully play your NB PvE as a melee assassin.
Thulsola
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Mercenaries of the Queen - because if you can't have fun while playing a game, what's the point?
  • ipkonfigcub18_ESO
    ipkonfigcub18_ESO
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    What you're doing is not enough when you enter Vet zones where the mobs will have more health and damage output.

    As a NB myself I chose Wood Elf for the extra stealth range and am able to get extremely close to mobs (animals not included) and open with Surprise Attack, which is one of our greatest abilities. It also (when morphed right) gives the mob a 40% armor reduction. I following up with Rapid Strikes as a DPS filler and my Ultimate. From here it is either rinse and repeat or re-debuff depending on the situation.

    As for Bows, I'm simply not a fan of ranged combat systems in any game. There's no excitement in it for me so I am the complete opposite than you.

    Here's a video I made the other day showing some of our abilities used to take down 3-Mob groups using Marked Target and the abilities I mentioned above. We're a strong class when opening up on fights, very weak when stuck out of stealth. We're a "teeter totter" class where the large kid on the playground sits on the opposing side.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKqVsDr8KkU
    Edited by ipkonfigcub18_ESO on May 31, 2014 4:57PM
  • Animus0724
    Animus0724
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    What the hell is wrong with you....uninstall..
    I take pride in being an incredibly smart dumb ass, or an incredibly dumb smart ass, either way I'm awesome.

    -The Art Of Warfare (T.A.W.)
  • Mablung
    Mablung
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    Level 1 through 50 is easy mode for Nightblades. Get to vet content with one and test it.
  • Melian
    Melian
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    Shadowy disguise + surprise attack seems to be working fine in veteran content for my NB. Now, I'm only VR 1 but I've been in veteran content since level 47... so far so good. I don't use it for bosses, mind you.
  • Thulsola
    Thulsola
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    Mablung wrote: »
    Level 1 through 50 is easy mode for Nightblades. Get to vet content with one and test it.

    I'm looking forward to it. I'm not in a huge rush, I'm enjoying the game each step of the way. I guess I'll find out what all the fuss is about when I eventually get to VR1.
    Thulsola
    ____________________________________________________________________________
    Mercenaries of the Queen - because if you can't have fun while playing a game, what's the point?
  • Yakidafi
    Yakidafi
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    @thulsola players will say it is easy mode until vr content.

    Though it is almost almost the same in vr area, for me atleast.
    Moons and sands shall be your guide and path.
    PC EU/NA
  • nerevarine1138
    nerevarine1138
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    Melian wrote: »
    Shadowy disguise + surprise attack seems to be working fine in veteran content for my NB. Now, I'm only VR 1 but I've been in veteran content since level 47... so far so good. I don't use it for bosses, mind you.

    This. And it's still a great opener on any boss that can be stunned. I literally only need to open with Surprise attack and then hit a normal mob 2-3 times for them to be dead at VR levels. Anyone who tells you differently is using gear way below their level.
    ----
    Murray?
  • Tavore1138
    Tavore1138
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    Mablung wrote: »
    Level 1 through 50 is easy mode for Nightblades. Get to vet content with one and test it.

    What he said.

    To be honest NB is a fun class most of the time & I like the synergy you can get against single enemies using ambush, shadow cloak & concealed weapon etc.

    Where it gets hard is taking on 3 or more because you can burst one, often two mobs but 3 or 4 can leave you resource low and in a straight up battle we can be squishy.

    Taking on 3 or more in vet levels is another order of difficulty, mob HP is much higher & they hit very hard too. Much harder to take them out in a quick burst.

    Overall though I have encountered maybe 3 or 4 solo bosses who have driven my NB insane and rarely have issues with dungeon bosses on my level.

    But make the most of being under 50 as life gets harder at that point.
  • skeletorz_ESO
    skeletorz_ESO
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    Same. I'm having no problem at all with my Nightblade in vet content. People who say otherwise need to learn to play.

    (Though I'm not saying that we don't need to fix the bugs, cause we definitely do. We're certainly not on par with other classes in PVP)
    “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” -- René Descartes
  • Mablung
    Mablung
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    @ipkonfigcub18_ESO‌ please for the love of all that is sacred and holy in forum etiquette, stop spamming Nightblade threads with your horrendous video.

    Self promotion is not helpful in any way, shape or form.
  • Mablung
    Mablung
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    Same. I'm having no problem at all with my Nightblade in vet content. People who say otherwise need to learn to play.

    (Though I'm not saying that we don't need to fix the bugs, cause we definitely do. We're certainly not on par with other classes in PVP)

    Oh the good ol l2p barb. Grow up. Not everyone is 1337 like you. As opposed to using this tired insult, offer some tips or advice.
  • skeletorz_ESO
    skeletorz_ESO
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    No. I learned myself. So can you.
    “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” -- René Descartes
  • Mablung
    Mablung
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    No. I learned myself. So can you.

    Oh so you are 12. Move along and I don't believe anyone was stating it is difficult nor was anyone complaining. Stay in school and get that reading comprehension knocked down.
  • skeletorz_ESO
    skeletorz_ESO
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    Only little tweenyboppers use the 'Oh, so you're 12' argument. Finally got past the 19 year old mark so you think you're something special now, right?

    Not sure why you're trolling.

    I'm a 35 year old man that thinks you need to learn to play. Deal with it.
    Edited by skeletorz_ESO on May 31, 2014 5:18PM
    “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” -- René Descartes
  • Mablung
    Mablung
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    Mablung wrote: »
    Stay in school and get that reading comprehension knocked down.
    Only little tweenyboppers use the 'Oh, so you're 12' argument. Finally got past the 19 year old mark so you think you're something special now, right?

    Not sure why you're trolling.

    I'm a 35 year old man that thinks you need to learn to play. Deal with it.

    Why is learn to play even warranted in this thread. They are obviously talking about playstyle and what is working for them. Please log off and pick up some books or stay off of the forums-old man.

  • skeletorz_ESO
    skeletorz_ESO
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    Oh, I get it. The realization that some other people aren't having trouble with the content you are having trouble with has poked some logic holes in your understanding of reality, so the only response you have left is to react with ad hominem.

    Too bad that doesn't change the facts.
    “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” -- René Descartes
  • Mablung
    Mablung
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    Oh, I get it. The realization that some other people aren't having trouble with the content you are having trouble with has poked some logic holes in your understanding of reality, so the only response you have left is to react with ad hominem.

    Too bad that doesn't change the facts.

    I do not know what you are talking about. I never stated I had issue playing my NB in vet content. Are you crazy? I think you might be crazy.
  • skeletorz_ESO
    skeletorz_ESO
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    You have some problem understanding english? Look who needs to go read a book now.
    “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” -- René Descartes
  • Mablung
    Mablung
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    You have some problem understanding english? Look who needs to go read a book now.

    You are definitely crazy.

  • ipkonfigcub18_ESO
    ipkonfigcub18_ESO
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    @Mablung You can continue to be bad, that's your thing. Cry more.
  • murklor007neb18_ESO
    I'm only VR8 so far but to me combat is mindnumbingly simple:

    1 mob
    Sneak and engage with conceiled/surprise and kill before he even turns to attack. Dont use cloak to start the fight, its completely pointless and only bug the attack. Stack ultimate with this.

    2 mobs
    Sneak and engage with conceiled/surprise and kill the first mob before he turns to attack (always target healer/mage first). Use cloak between attacks to stun and burn the next down. Again, this is merely to stack ultimate. 2 mobs should never pose a threat to you from a sneak attack position.

    3 mobs (and bosses/elite mobs)
    Sneak up just like with 1-2 mobs and attack the first target, then pop veil of blades and mop it up while maintaining 100% HP.

    Rince and repeat, rince and repeat... No ultimate up for that 3 mob group in front? Sneak around or go kill some 1-2 groups. Its as simple as that. Veil of blades is the best friend you'll ever have. Dont ever engage a 3 man group without it and you'll find that your life in the VR ranks will be much, much smoother.

    The only time you'll come to a screeching halt is when ZOS decide to go full *** with the difficulty. Like a solo dungeon that consist of just single mob packs every 10 meter. Easy? That mob is a 10K HP troll. And you only have to kill 8 or so of them to reach the boss. And the troll behind you will respawn as you kill the troll you're at. Also, the trolls eat puppies just to torment you.
    Edited by murklor007neb18_ESO on May 31, 2014 7:18PM
  • Thulsola
    Thulsola
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    ... Well, I'm not sure what I thought would happen when I posted this, but name calling wasn't really what I expected.

    I wasn't trying to pick a fight by posting this.

    I am serious that I want to understand the issues. When I hit 36 and remade all my armour and bows to blue with purple enchants, I'm finding that I have no problems at all with mobs even two or three levels higher than I am - even bosses - as long as I am careful to only pull two or three at a time and I manage to kill any F***ing healers with snipe early. If I am in an area with more than two or three mobs, I call a guildie for help.

    The other day I went PvE in Cyrodiil with some VR 3 & 4 guild mates, and I held my own against the mobs with them. The PvP we encountered was hard, but exciting. I did die a lot, but I think I gave as good as I got.

    I'm sure that other classes are more powerful than my NB. I'm sure that other people have managed to come up with better builds for the NB than I have (The fact that I am leveling 4 crafting skill trees at the same time means I have limited skill points available for combat skills). But I'm not comparing myself to them. Sure, a magic user might be able to kill things more quickly and easier than I can. I bet you I am having more fun.

    I am enjoying the game play, and I haven't found much I'm not able to do if I take my time, think through the tactics, and fight smart. And if all else fails, I call for backup.

    Honestly, I so often see people run into the middle of a bunch of mobs, pulling three or four more behind them, blast away, then die - all while I'm hidden int he shadow trying to figure out which magic user I snipe first, how many archers there are, and if I have enough stamina to use keep the melee mobs at bay while I finish off the archers. I really do wonder if the complaints about NB are just that people don't want to work at it.

    I guess I'll find out when I hit VR whether this all holds true. But I hope it does, because I'm having a great deal of fun right now.
    Thulsola
    ____________________________________________________________________________
    Mercenaries of the Queen - because if you can't have fun while playing a game, what's the point?
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