Soloing Gladiator

Since 1.18, I've had an issue with aquiring TP, and I find myself with long periods where I can do nothing but block with my shield. I waited to try it several times before asking about it here, thinking mybe I was just doing it wrong, but I haven't figured out any way to make it better.

The only reliable way to generate TP is on a 30 second timer. That means I hit Light Stab, and I have to wait, blocking with my shield. I will likely get enough TP to use Phalanx, but if I use it, it will be just that much longer before I can use something better.

That means I'm looking at a minimum of one full minute before I can do any sort of attack. Once I get the attacks going, it's a little bit better, but I can still find myself waiting quite a bit. And then I end up dying, not because of lack of mp, but because I can't hit anything.

It seems the devs are trying to make TP a resource to manage. That's a direction I like and I hope they keep it that way. But the downtime on Gladiator just seems too long. Am I doing something wrong? Operator error, or design? I also play archer, and I'm not having this problem with it.

Edit: I started a new character and tried gladiator from scratch, and I figured out my own error of using the shield instead of allowing auto-attack. Personally, up to this point I have ignored that auto-attack is even there and don't really consider it a part of gameplay. I still don't really think letting the game hit the target for me for several hits feels very much like I'm playing a game. I prefer to be active in the fight.

Anyway, I'll leave this here as a kind of feedback. Thank you for reading. :)

Personaly i think gladiator has become a beast since 1.18. Without Stamina gauge limiting your defensive actions, you can actualy attack more. I have no problem regenerating TP. Tho im abit higher then you using Outmanouver etc. dont know if you have it yet? Also im using Invigorate from Lancer, wich generates TP. I can easly and efficently kill stuff 8 levels above me. I grind on raptors or beastmen for best SP (Around 400).

And dont bother with any WS but Phalanx, if you dont have left over.

Outmaneuver -> Invigorate -> Comrade in Arms. Use 500TP WS in addition to Phalanx and you'll never have TP problems. Good luck.

Yes Invigorate is your friend. Invigorate 2 even adds tp when your not attacking.

As a level 17 glad (highest class), what's the highest level thing I should be able to solo, and what actions should I be bringing so I can?

You're r28, you should have more than Light Stab as basic no TP attack. You can purchase Heavy Stab and Heavy Slash from the Guild, and there's Throwing Weapon with 5 sec CD as well. With just the Auto-Attack and Throwing alone, I find it hard to believe that you can't generate enough TP to spam Weapon Skill like no tomorrow, unless all of your attack miss.

Stoneskin
Invigorate
Let AA hit the mob first, followed by both stabs, and a slash.
Keep attacking till your stoneskin drops
Apply Sentinel
AA some more, or use some Weapon Skills (reserve at least 500 TP)
Sentinel should be fading, so pull up deflection, aegis boon, or outmanever
Cycle through each one using phalanx as your counter-attack.
.
after all that. invigorate should be ready to go again, as well as your basic attacks.

Repeat and spice it up with other abilities.
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peace.