User:EtherHead/Riot



for anyone who doesn't know, the template starts at level Requirement 5, and DLC2 provides +2 skill points

Purpose
Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot - for the Challenge

20 Rounds in the Arena, after level 61. :)

How To Level It
I assume you can level up to 50, so that is where I will begin. At level 50, you should have 10 points in Sniper and 10 in Rogue, not having added any points to Fast Hands yet, and Gunslinging being as is. When you reach T-Bone Junction, that is when we should start redistributing our points from Gunslinging (a little bit). The first thing you should do is pull a couple points off Gun Crazy and put them on Carrion Call. The next thing we do is forget about hair trigger and pump up Fast Hands. Lastly, peel 3 points off Relentless so that Fast Hands is maxed and you have at least 1 point in Bird Of Prey. Now our character can effectively thrive in a riot; just put those points 1-11 wherever you feel they will do the most good. ;)

(Leveling this build should give you plenty of "Player-experience" as you practice using Bloodwing and will help you combine everything in the Dome smoothly.)

How To Play It
Okay, now first things first: I know you may not like it, but Bloodwing does his job. Like a computer, it's never his fault, its the fault of the user. So, let me explain how it works. Until you can afford to be choosy, you'll have to use a Ranger mod with Out For Blood on it. This allows you to keep your little guy carrying a spare life around for you at nearly all times, because lets face it, unless you're made of four leaf clovers, you're probably not gonna last until he makes 5-10 attacks before you need to call him in. However, BECAUSE he needs to be called in, you have some time to kill, literally. Call him in when needed, but be considerate of nearby mobs that you feel won't allow Blood to get back to you before you go down: leave Bloodwing out in those cases, and hope he kills something for you - then tell him to come home and enjoy the nice meal he brings you right after you lost all that blood...

Second, pistols and sniper rifles should be the only weapons you've got slotted. Choose 1 or 2 sniper rifles with high Rate of Fire and around 95% or higher accuracy PLUS extended magazine size (I recommend Dahl or S&S). You'll be fine, just shoot from the hip when you need to. At least one revolver will make badass enemies a lot easier (hint: Aim above the upper-left ear), and I recommend carrying at least ONE non-scoped revolver. Snapping over the sight with aim-assist on really helps with hitting a moving enemy a lot and scopes just get in the way. Also, I consider machine pistols a backup, ready to be placed in any slot - and carry two repeaters, one incendiary and one caustic. Scopes on these work nice.

The Strategy
Here's the key: you don't need too much cover. Cover'll get you killed. Why? Because there's always an enemy behind you in a riot, that's why. You hide behind one thing, and the next minute you'll be trying to hide in front of it. So, get used to the sound your Bloodwing makes when it attacks. That is a signal to move. It means it's got a boost of health ready as soon as it can get back to you. You need to watch out for things that can delay his flight and keep those paths clear, though. Long stretches and wide open areas are your friend, but don't get too comfy waiting around for him to do all the fighting. In the arena, he can get "stranded", which means there was an enemy much farther away from the rest of the fighting and he chose to go that way, but can't get back unless he finds another enemy or you find him and direct him back toward the fighting. If you call him back before finding him, it may win you a trip upstairs.

That's why the key is simply not to get too comfortable and avoid cramped spaces. Believe it or not, you can get yourself out of pretty much about any circumstances if you stay busy cleaning a path between you and your pet. That's where your artifacts come in. Shock is pretty stupid. Explosive will ensure you get heals, and fire/corrosive that you have a decent chance of getting up if you go down to far away from enemies and/or the lights go out. O_O If you go down twice in a row, just run for a single enemy - as weak a type as possible - and keep running toward the outside, but keep a generally clear path open between your thirsty companion and yourself at all times. In most instances though, you are especially in trouble if you aren't close enough to an enemy before you get there. Just saying. Good luck! :)