Curse

*Darcy* · Sep 18, 2008, 04:41 PM // 16:41

The OP needs to explain how he intends to play his ritualist. He said "offensive," but is that h/h or in a group.

If you are going h/h and you want to be a damage dealer then you don't need to get fancy. Your monks will heal and revive, so you can stick to damage skills.

[Pain][Bloodsong][Shadowsong][Dissonance][Spirit Boon Strike][Essence Strike][Signet of Spirits][Summon Spirits]

is pretty much what my basic bar contains; nothing fancy and all Factions.

The Summon Spirits requires rank 1 in the Kurzick title, but is well worth the faction farming time. Any of your characters can farm it and the skill purchase can be made by your rit in your guild hall.

Signet of Spirits cannot be obtained (unless you have it unlocked and use an elite tome) until you reach Ferndale, but it is not a serious requirement on the bar.

I realize that I will get a lot of derision from the more expert players, but, as I said, it works for me.

Wang Fu · Sep 18, 2008, 09:39 PM // 21:39

Well, offensive in meaning most of the replies argued about ways to be rest/offensive, so I was wondering if there were any builds for only offensive, btw is spawning power even worth putting points into?

Bargamer · Sep 19, 2008, 01:00 AM // 01:00

There are skill bars that are fully offense, but only those which have been tested and played and vetted and mocked and tweaked and such by your fellow players have the honor of being called "builds." Almost every one of such Ritualist builds at least acknowledges the need to diversify, even if it's just to adapt for different areas/bosses/missions. Often, after experimenting with several types of play styles, a player builds bars for each of them, with usually one or two favorite builds. Per Profession. Per Character Slot. Per Campaign. Per Account.

Spawning Power is... odd. The Ritualist is unique/gimped in that you do not HAVE to put so much as a single point in Spawning Power if you don't want to. Spawning Power is not the signature Attribute of the Ritualist, even though it is the Primary Attribute. If your BUILD calls for Spawning Power, then you use it. If it does not, it does not.

From your impressions of the Ritualist, how would you like to play? Spirit Spamming? Echo + Venge Was Khanhei? Splinter Weapon/Ancestor's Rage? Splinter Weapon + Barrage? Minion Bombing? Your own mix and match?

spirit of defeat · Sep 21, 2008, 02:51 PM // 14:51

I advise you get NF

digitalruse · Sep 24, 2008, 02:28 AM // 02:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by spirit of defeat

I advise you get NF

++

...unfortunately.

This is my build currently, and I have enjoyed it, but it fits my play style:

20/20 Channeling Set
-1/15 Staff
Channeling: 12+1+3
Restoration: 12+1

Vitae, Survivor, and Superior Vigor

[Bloodsong][Vampirism][Painful Bond][Ancestor's Rage][Essence Strike][Mend Body & Soul][Flesh of my Flesh][Echo]

I also agree with what many have said here in that any good Rit build will include Ancestor's Rage, Splinter Weapon, Spirit Rift, and Vengeful. If you ever get Nightfall, Spirit's Strength builds with a spear are good fun in PvE.

-DR

Nightmare Venom · Sep 25, 2008, 06:58 AM // 06:58

You did say that you wanted to try and be a fully offensive Ritualist. Your best bet is then to go down the Channeling line, seeing as there are a number of skills there that focus on attacking.
But if you would prefer to summon spirits to do your attacking for you, then it's advisable to put some attribute points into both Communing and Channeling, with some going into Spawning Power as well. [Pain] is worth considering taking if you plan to go down that path. A good Ritualist elie *shock and horror* for someone who just focuses on summoning spirits is [Ritual Lord] This will recharge your spirits quicker. I know that the Ranger skill [Serpent's Quickness] can also do the job, but [Ritual Lord] is that little bit more handy.
[Painful Bond] can also help the spirits you have summoned do more damage. Taking Mesmer as a secondary can help you hex more foes with it, rather than having to wait for the recharge.
I would also suggest getting Nightfall, that gives you some more choices in the skills you can take as a Ritualist.

spirit of defeat · Sep 25, 2008, 11:08 AM // 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalruse

++

...unfortunately.

This is my build currently, and I have enjoyed it, but it fits my play style:

20/20 Channeling Set
-1/15 Staff
Channeling: 12+1+3
Restoration: 12+1

Vitae, Survivor, and Superior Vigor

[Bloodsong][Vampirism][Painful Bond][Ancestor's Rage][Essence Strike][Mend Body & Soul][Flesh of my Flesh][Echo]

I also agree with what many have said here in that any good Rit build will include Ancestor's Rage, Splinter Weapon, Spirit Rift, and Vengeful. If you ever get Nightfall, Spirit's Strength builds with a spear are good fun in PvE.

-DR

Spirit's Strength works better with a Scythe, but thats not the issue
If you want to go spirit spam without NF try something like this:

Boon of Creation
Earthbind
Wanderlust
Brambles
Summon Spirits
Add stuff like pain

Possible give Hero's earthquake and other knockdown skills.

Zodiac Meteor · Sep 25, 2008, 09:55 PM // 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyla

[empathic removal][weapon of quickening][expel hexes][echo][assassin's promise][energy drain]

[Lyssa's Aura] +3 Energy Regen at 10 Inspiration.
Why is this so underused? Especially for a party Healer/Support/Damage with most spells at 5 energy.

Tyla · Sep 25, 2008, 09:59 PM // 21:59

I don't really thing Lyssa's Aura deserves that much of a merit, but I guess it could be quite useful when it comes to energy intensive builds.

upier · Sep 26, 2008, 10:04 AM // 10:04

Edit:
Just wanted to compare LA and other available options in the game as a reply to ZM rather then giving a reply to the OP.
So feel free to skip this if you are interested in the original discussion.
Apologies for going a bit off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zodiac Meteor

[Lyssa's Aura] +3 Energy Regen at 10 Inspiration.
Why is this so underused? Especially for a party Healer/Support/Damage with most spells at 5 energy.

You need to target a foe with a spell every 10 secs.
Splinter/Ancestors aren't spells that target foes.

You need to invest into Inspiration.
That's SERIOUSLY bad for normal PvE play.

You can run Offering instead.
LA (at 10) gives you (approx) 10 energy per 10 secs. You waste 5 to get LA going and then at least 5 to renew it. So you only have an net gain of 5 energy in the first 10 secs BUT you need to waste that as soon as you get it! After the first 10 secs you finally start getting 10 energy every 10 secs IF you can keep it up. You won't be able to do so.
Offering at 10 gives you back 14 energy (9 net gain) every 15 secs.
Keep in mind that you CAN use runes which means that you not only are able to boost your channeling for additional e-gain - you are also decreasing your HP - which comes in very handy if you don't happen to have a spirit around - since saccing 20% of a smaller HP pool means that a smaller HP amount needs to be healed.
AND you can use a 40/40 set when activating OoS - which gives you the chance to use OoS more often. A 40/40 Inspiration set ONLY comes in handy IF you lost your LA (so that you don't need to wait 30 secs) but if LS isn't removed - the fact that it recharged faster means NOTHING.

And now look at AP which not only gives you OoS e-returns BUT also recharges all your skills.

Zodiac Meteor · Sep 27, 2008, 12:06 AM // 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by upier

And now look at AP which not only gives you OoS e-returns BUT also recharges all your skills.

Assassin's Promise has to be the best elite skill for Rit skill because of all of the high recharges. (Did someone say Union?) Heck, call it Ritualist's Promise and take it out of Deadly Arts. A good elite for Ritualists.

*Darcy* · Sep 27, 2008, 12:14 AM // 00:14

@Zodiac - thanks for not panning AP, you would have started Upier off on another rant.

But, yes, I have tried AP on my rit and once you get your timing down, it is wonderful. Between that and the Kurzick skill [Summon Spirits], your rit has few energy worries anymore.

s s · Sep 29, 2008, 06:59 PM // 18:59

I highly recommend using Bargamers tactic of using the minion bomber build, i tried it a few weeks back... it is unbelievably easy and fun to use, it is helpful to the team (watch the yellow numbers go!) plus it is completely offensive! At the very least give it a go

!!!