Curse

papaschtroumpf · Apr 13, 2009, 07:56 PM // 19:56

My basis for my build is as follows.
[Barbs] [Mark of Pain] [Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support] [Finish Him!] ..... [Signet of lost souls] [Signet of Capture]
16 Curses
12 Soul Reaping (+1 @20% staff)
some points remaining

Sig of Capture is not there all the time, but I hate to have to rearrange a build when I want to cap (which I do any opportunity I can, in fact I change secondaries just to cap, which is part of why I don't have a secondary). I either replace it with a rez skill or some additional optional skill when not capping.

I've been playing with ideas of what two other skills to take to complement this, knowing that I favor offensive builds. I also wouldn't mind taking some casters with me, but Barbs and MoP are physical based, so maybe it's asking too much.

I like to solo at lot (with heroes/henchmen) and whenever I can I try to do things with only me and 3 heroes (sometimes I need extra henchmen). Olias with a simple MM build is always on my party.

I've tried [Insidious Parasite] but it's not that great that it only works on with attacks, and they need to hit. since my monk carries [Aegis] and I often take a hero with an interrupt build, it turned out to not be that good. I don't have access to [Pain Inverter] yet, but the disadvantages would be the same.

[Spiteful Spirit] [reckless haste] is not bad, and is currently what I'm running with. It's just that compared to the speed at which MoP + a bunch of MM minions will destroy something, it doesn't feel so elite.

I saw in another post that someone recommended [enfeebling blood] on a SS build. I'll have to try that, it synergizes well with keeping the minions alive a bit longer so they can do their thing, but only agsint physical foes. (by the way, I usually run Olias as a Jagged MM, the minion damage itself is no so great, but they multiply fast and the bleeding helps. more minions = more damage through MoP and Barbs).

As I was writing this post, I was wondering if [Echo] (or even [Arcane Echo]) would synergize well. MoP has a long recharge time, and sometime the foes that it was cast on dies too early (another argument for less minion damage). Would lock me into /Me, so it better be worth it though. What other Mesmer skill with low attribute requirement would complement it if I go /Me?

I considered [Order of the vampire] but the sac scares me and I don't have much to put in Blood attributes. It also requires of a lot of upkeep due to its short duration.

any other ideas? I'm fairly new to the game, so I'm really not familiar with all the options out there. In fact I was delighted when I discovered [Finish Him!] and [Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support]. I think there are sunspear skills in Nightfall, so I should look into them too.

One particularly sore point I have is nukers, MM minions are really dumb and melt away real fast. I sometimes put some form of elemental Aoe defense on my 3rd hero, but it doesn't work very well, for example minions run outside of the ward all the time.

Although I have access to all 4 campaigns, I really mostly have unlocked Prophecies and EoTN (to Rata Sum). For example, while I have access to Michiko the skill trainer in Factions, I have not really played factions, so capping skills late in the Factions campaign may require work. Same with Nightfall.

so in summary, I'm looking for suggestions for 2 skills to achieve:
- more damage
- augment existing damage
- better survivability, mostly for myself, although I'll take better survivability for the rest of the team if I get it

- other, or ideally something that combines several elements (that's what I liked about insidious parasite, it damages and heals at once).

Reason · Apr 13, 2009, 08:27 PM // 20:27

Just put in Assassin's Promise... then you'll have 2-6 Ebon sins running around with everything covered in barbs and MoP

Lord Of Blame · Apr 13, 2009, 08:43 PM // 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reason

Just put in Assassin's Promise... then you'll have 2-6 Ebon sins running around with everything covered in barbs and MoP

^QFT.....

Also the sunspear skill is [necrosis]. This is a great skill to have on your bar however you don't really need it if you are using AP.

[build prof=N/A][assassins promise][pain inverter][you move like a dwarf][Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support][mark of pain][enfeebling blood][optional][optional][/build]

Works great with a Discordway build. Get Pain inverter whenever you can. This will give you more damage and more defense since things die quicker, the quicker they die the less damage they can do to your team. The best defense is a good offense.

papaschtroumpf · Apr 13, 2009, 09:09 PM // 21:09

nice! [Assassin's promise] looks like the ticket. even better, I can get it in EoTN, I remember passing Riven Earthon my way to Rata Sum this weekend. Better than having to hurry through Factions.
I was also looking at some of the asura skills on the wiki, maybe [MindBender] would help with getting things going at the start of the fight.

One problem I also run into one in a while is hex removal from foes. what is a cheap cover hex (AoE would be best) that hopefully has also a decent side effect? the best I have come up with so far is [enfeebling blood] or [shadow of fear] whcih lasts longer and is more spammable (faster recharge, no sacrifice)

Xenomortis · Apr 13, 2009, 09:16 PM // 21:16

Mindbender is fine if you're impatient with Barbs, but all your other skills have a one second cast time. It'll be recharged by AP too.
Enfeebling Blood is better than Shadow of Fear, because it's a one sec cast time and it's very cheap (less of an issue with AP though). The sac is nothing to be worried about.

I suggest you also take Rigor Mortis.
Cast order:
[Mark of Pain][Barbs][Rigor Mortis] - mark of pain will be the last hex to be stripped if your having problems.
Cast [Assassin's Promise] when the target is close to death and it shouldn't be stripped.
If you're confident, you can cast it before barbs or rigor mortis.

If you really need an AoE cover hex, [Reckless Haste] is wonderful. 1 second cast time, good duration and has a very nice effect.

syphonus · Apr 13, 2009, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by papaschtroumpf

One problem I also run into one in a while is hex removal from foes. what is a cheap cover hex (AoE would be best) that hopefully has also a decent side effect? the best I have come up with so far is [enfeebling blood] or [shadow of fear]

I've always hated shadow of fear for its 2-second cast time. Enfeebling however(while not being a hex) is a great skill and you can't really go wrong with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenomortis

[Reckless Haste] is wonderful. 1 second cast time, good duration and has a very nice effect.

second.

Lord Of Blame · Apr 13, 2009, 11:36 PM // 23:36

When I run a hero discordway set up on my main E/N (I use a curses build with necrosis instead of discord) I always have [parasitic bond] on my bar. 5 eng 1s cast 2 sec recharge makes it a cheap cover hex that can be reapplied super fast, also at r12 it heals for 102 health when it ends, which is nice.

Ratson Itamar · Apr 14, 2009, 12:56 AM // 00:56

I would listen to Xenomortis. Really good advices. Except that I hate Mindbender (not dislike. hate). Your heroes're already slower than you because they keep bumping into each other when following you, taking an IAS will just make you stop and wait a lot. I prefer going a bit slower than being forced to stand and do nothing.

There's a common mistake that a quick cover hex is good to fulfill Discord's ("more difficult") requirement, this is largely wrong. You have AP on your bar, using it wisely removes any recharge from the equation, and if you're a necro, also their cost.

_Nihilist_ · Apr 14, 2009, 02:31 AM // 02:31

If you are calling your target, your Heroes will be using their skills as well. As long as 1 of them has a Hex, consider AP covered.

If you want to use a cover Hex, go with [Parasitic Bond]. While the effects of [Reckless Haste] are great, what's the point of an AoE cover Hex when it's not going to be a cover Hex for anyone but your first target? Sure, AP is going to recharge it, but chucking out 15e every time you want a cover is a bit expensive. Parasitic Bond also has the wonderful ending condition of healing you. Makes your Monks' jobs easier.

Just my .02 ...

Moloch Vein · Apr 14, 2009, 08:22 AM // 08:22

Reckless Haste will certainly make your monks' job of healing you a lot easier than Parasitic Bond, though.

Xenomortis · Apr 14, 2009, 08:31 AM // 08:31

I rarely ever take [Parasitic Bond], largely because I regard its effect as useless (well, less than useful). If I want a cover hex (and for some reason, Reckless Haste wasn't good enough), I would take [Defile Defenses], because that has a more active effect.
It's more of a personal thing though.

distilledwill · Apr 14, 2009, 09:05 AM // 09:05

[Necrosis][Weaken Armor][Enfeebling Blood][Mark of Pain][barbs]["You Move like a Dwarf"][Assassin's Promise][Sunspear Rebirth Signet]

This is me ^ works absolutely fine. In combination with 3 discord heroes its practically unstoppable.

Ratson Itamar · Apr 14, 2009, 09:27 AM // 09:27

@Xenomortis - Actually, Defile Defenses is completely useless in this build. If your target is blocking then your whole build is next to useless, in case that happens you cast Rigor Mortis, as you suggested yourself.

@Tyrael_Eveningsong - You get more energy than you need or then you can possibly have. 14 (AP) energy every time you kill a target + 39 (13*3) every 15 seconds (with this build you'r surely going to go over the SR cap, that's why I calculated them separately). Since you kill so fast Reckless Haste is going to still be on on some of the mob, plus it's an AoE hex spell, making it a bit easier to deal with hex removers.

Xenomortis · Apr 14, 2009, 09:37 AM // 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratson Itamar

@Xenomortis - Actually, Defile Defenses is completely useless in this build. If your target is blocking then your whole build is next to useless, in case that happens you cast Rigor Mortis, as you suggested yourself.

Which is why I wouldn't bring it for an AP-MoP build. I was talking about generic curses builds with Defile Defenses, obviously I wasn't clear.

_Nihilist_ · Apr 14, 2009, 08:47 PM // 20:47

Point to Moloch and Ratson.

RH does make the Monks' job easier. Missed attacks mean no damage.

Don't forget, you have regular regen in there as well, @ 4e/3sec or 20e/15 sec.