My personal proposed build

[Robaw]

http://www.wardb.com/career.aspx?id=19#15:41504:5:32:0:0:25:9198:9199:5 21:9205:14124:14120:15105:631:9225:9226:9230

Above is my planned build, I'm trying to decide between hack and slash or pounce. My main objective is RVR combat. Basically, i'm using lots of AOE attacks mixed with high damage morale abilities.

I picked tactics to boost pet speed, morale gain, and dps mostly. I would obviosly change my exp boost tactics once i reach 40.

Does anyone have any suggestions. I'll probably respec tons of times trying to get this right. Is there a limit to the number of respecs, or does it just get really costly?

Let me know what you think,
Robaw/Biratram

[Xine]

Respeccing has no limit and doesn't get too costly. I could respec 30 times with the gold I've gotten in T4.

Here's a variation on your build, and my thoughts why:
http://www.wardb.com/career.aspx?id=19#15:43680:3:8:0:0:25:9198:9199:92 11:9210:14124:14120:15105:631:9225:9226:9230

Pack Hunting vs Primal Fury
Let's say in 10s you do 5000 damage. Add 25% and that's 6250 (well less because you lost a gcd), and it cost you 1/5th-1/6th of your action point pool, so if you ran out of AP it's even less.
Let's say your white hits for 300 (mine does and I'm an IB). You'd get 3 hits in 10 seconds. If you double that you'd get 6. Or an extra 900 damage. That's only 1 white hit behind Primal Fury, it's AP free, and has no cooldown, it's all the time. Don't under estimate white hits.

Hack and Slash Vs 160 Str.
Str is awesome, but there is a soft cap where you start too see diminishing returns, and from what I've heard almost all dps classes get there with end game gear on their primary dps stat. This gives you a lot more staying power to continue the pressure, even after the healer has run out of AP.

[kerupt]

In concerns to a generally AE style build I would avoid the axeman tree completely, especially for Primal Fury. The skill only gives you the bonus at sides or back. As a Huntsman spec, you can try to be at the sides or back, but chances are with AE you're going to be just trying to be in a crowd, not necessarily at sides or back. Since that would reduce the amount of time you spend at the back or sides, your opportunity to hit it and just plain remembering to hit it would be reduced dramatically.

I agree with Xine for his exact reasons as to why to avoid Brute Strength (160 str). You're going to cap fast, not going to help you much.

What I would change to synergize the builds and to bring in line for what you want to do and why:

http://www.wardb.com/career.aspx?id=19#15:43688:0:0:3:0:25:9198:9209:92 11:9210:14124:14120:15105:631:9225:9226:9230

Tactics:
Pack Synergy - Great tactic all around. Since you should have decent-high crit chance anyways, this just improves your damage when you do. One of the best baseline tactics out there, period.

Pack Hunting - Much like Xine said, don't underestimate your white hits. Difference here, with White Lions, with a 2 hander we're swinging at nearly a 4.0 speed most the time. Since we're swinging so slow, having something that halves your swing time is amazing. You're going to hit more white hits that for me at 20 are hitting nearly for 400 on crits. Just imagine the type of pain you could bring with a high end weapon that is super super slow!

Hack and Slash- Two of your main abilities now have their AP Cost halved. Awesome tactic, hands down.

Lionheart - I get asked what skills I use when I fight. People are surprised most the time to hear that i use Lion's Fury every time it's up. The reason behind it is that it does Spirit damage. Coupled with spirit debuffs from other people on Order, this is a nasty skill to use against any decently armored foe. Hack does 112 base damage and is vs armor. With this tactic, Lion's Fury is 179 base damage against spirit resistance, something very few people will be toting a lot of. And without requiring an ailment now (can use at leisure), this skill is VERY nasty and should be hit every time it's up for a great damage booster against a single target (Burning that last bit of health!)

The only tactic beef I have is this:
Without close bond (Morale generation), you're going to be hard pressed to be at over a minute straight of constantly being in combat in RVR to get full Morale. If you find you aren't getting the full advantage of it, I'd drop it and put another point into Guardian.

And why the change to guardian:
With an AE build you're going to benefit more to your pet and your group by using the Pack Assault skill and some of the debuffs from the Guardian tree. Unless you're willing to sacrifice a tactic from the Axeman tree, I would highly recommend against putting any points in there and using them to enhance your Pack Assault and other Guardian skills.

[Robaw]

Just wondering on the details of Autoattack speed. Does it only affect your white lion or does it also affect regular abilities like hack and slash or just when your not using abilities, but you swing anyways? Little confused on my end.
Thanks,
Robaw/Biratram

[kerupt]

Autoattack speed does not effect your global cooldown if thats what you're asking. There is, however, some theory to when you hit skills if it resets your autoswing timer, but I've seen little to support it with my constant skill spamming (FROSTSHAWK!). So you should be getting consistant white hits no matter how many skills you're mashing.

[Xine]

Here's a good thread on Pack Hunting over at WHA:
http://www.warhammeralliance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148105

Someone parse their logs and their white damage was 30% of the damage they dealt. A bit of math later and Pack Hunting is a 23% damage increase.

[Griphus]

Wow I'm surprised white damage makes up 30%. I always feel like it's so miniscule compared to all the abilities I'm spamming. I wonder if this holds true for SM as well. :-|

[Xine]

He says he used the mod "combat log" I'm sure if you picked it up you could find out pretty easily.

[Caerrai]

Pack hunting is great damage. However, Most fights in RvR also last 12 seconds or less. Auto attack is far less of a % than your abilities during such small instances. It does shine in a state of constant combat, like boss fights and such where you can keep a steady AA.

It also requires TTH. Which is a downer in RvR. TTK, and TTT are both superior in their cat abilities to TTH. TTT gives you a snare, and the armor debuff brings most squishies to near 0% damage reduction from armor.

I did use Pack Hunting in my Leveling and sometimes in PvE situations. Found it to be a great asset. In RvR, not so much.

Perhaps in 1.05 it will be move viable as we will have a non-pet snare.