Will using these skill points kill my rep?
 

My first and only pirate is level 29. Because I did not level from the start, I am having some trouble doing it now. The mid-level enemies are too easy but the upper level enemies hit me with a lot of damage in close combat. I am having to use tonics or switch to the doll and "Life Drain" (but I maxed this so it does massive damage and thus the rep goes to the doll).

My Cutlass is 14 and my Dagger is 13. I have many skill points available. I know that "Flourish" and "Sidewinder" are nice to max, but if I do this now, will it kill my rep against the level 30+ enemies? I have one point in each currently.

Thanks!

Technically yes, but I look at it this way.

I may get less rep per kill, but I can get more kills into the same amount of time, so it all balances out. And since I can kill faster, I take less damage per kill, and don't have to use so many potions. So go ahead and put a couple more points in to Flourish. Skip Cleave - it takes to long to hit. I put 5 into Flourish, which may have been hasty, but I can drop stuff real fast. Officers in Kingshead give me 40-50 each.

I find that I can't quite get the timing right on Gouge and wish I hadn't put that point in it. It seems the be the dagger equivalent of Cleave. Skip that too. Haven't reached Eviscerate with dagger yet, so I don't know how well it works. If it's like Flourish, I may go for it too.

Good thread on Cutlass: http://www.piratesonlineforums.com/f...ead.php?t=3297

Of course you don't have to assign the points right away. You might also want to consider some of the passive skills to take some of those points (1 or 2 in parry and load up endurance). I was working last night and saved a point in anticipation of going up the next level and having a skill unlock (which then promptly got 2 points)

The entrance to the quarry next to gunners shack has a little landing just inside where there's one EITC type soldier (fairly high level), and a Navy officer (sometimes a vet) but far enough apart to take them one at a time. I was going back and forth between them to work on Dagger. There are 3 or 4 npc's around that can do a full heal for 5GP. So if you can drop an officer (even if he takes you red) or a mercenary/hired-gun/etc that's a pretty good place to work.

Or if your pistol is high enough to have hex-eater, go to the beach on PDF (either through the quarry and el suderon or swim off the dock). Hit an undead gypsy with 2 or 3 shots of hex-eater and then whittle them down with the weapon of your choice but don't use the combo moves- attack pause attack pause. You get the bulk of the points in the weapon you used and some in the pistol. If you do it right you should be able to pull almost 100 (or 110 if you're in a crew) pts per gypsy and take no damage (which means you would regenerate pts if you need them). The downside is the grenadiers. I usually drop them as quickly as possible because (a) they always seem to attack when you're dealing with something else and (2) it might regenerate as a gypsy- I have taken the vodoo out of 3 gypsies at a time and worked around to finish them off and (c) they are usually lower level (gray/ green to the gypsies' yellow/red)- you can still work them for rep but you're taking more damage and have to use a potion or life drain (or go to the tavern for a 5 GP special)

im a lvl 36 n growing
a good place to train is at the back beach of padres where theres gypsies and grenadiers..
its the gypsies that u need, if u hav hex shots...drain their voodoo power and when its all gone they stop attacking, what u do is cycle all ur weapons and attack the gypsy with weak stuff for instance on ur cutlass u can use "brawl" or "taunt" and with the dagger throw all ur knives..
and so on..
When the gypsy is killed ull get more than a 100 rep
Of course u can save ur points insted of deciding on what to spend it on and one thing for sure dont max sidewinder, save points for vipers nest and ur passives and the combo skills
but max flourish and thrust if u get there its very powerful and also max blade storm very useful!

When ur a lvl 32+
with good weapon lvls, go to tormenta probably with a friend to help u heal. Use the same method on gypsies but on "mollusks" and "brinescums". They are lvl 30-38. They will lvl ur weapons quickly and easily..
This is where i mastered most of my weapons.. such as my cutlass and my voodoo doll
If you want to master your dagger go to the stumps in cutthroat with a friend to heal u..
Instead of using the whole dagger combo...throw alot of knives and use a bit of the combo
ill reassure you, you will get 100 rep at the end..

Too late on "Gouge." It is like "Cleave." :/ Won't make that mistake on the next pirate.

And "Eviscerate" is similar to "Flourish."

The more I think about, the more I think I would rather attack more enemies quickly for less rep each than the more tedious ways mentioned below. Think I'll spend some points. Thanks!

Been swimming to PDF often and taking on the gypsies for a while now. Last night I tried just throwing dirt and using that first attack of the dagger and I did get 100XP and quickly moved my dagger to level 14. Of course, I think my finger is going to fall off and it was SO boring, but it worked. Thanks!

Really? I had no idea! Of course I already maxed "Determination" on the grenade so I tend to heal very quickly and might be back to full strength before I reached the guy in the tavern.

Yeah, I've saved tons of points lately (unlike when I started and spent every one as soon as I got it!). Thanks for the "Sidewinder" advice. I could max "Flourish" today but I think I will just add a point or two now and then wait until I get up a few levels to max it.

And everyone says "Blade Storm" is the best but I have a ways to go to get it. ;)

My wife pointed me at the CTRL key. Saved my index finger!