Picking professions/getting into the swing of things - Guild Wars Forums

Aristocrap · Dec 24, 2009, 04:39 PM // 16:39

Hello everyone! I'm having a bit of trouble at the moment, so I came to the forums to see if it could be remedied.

I've done quite a bit of tinkering around with the different professions in Pre-Searing and I have a vauge feel for what they're like. Now, I've decided it's time to actually get playing for real. I've narrowed it down to either an elementalist or a warrior as my primary. This is where it gets kind of hairy. If I go with an elementalist, I'd like to try out being a hydromancer and use lots of water spells. However, I don't know what secondary prfession would work well with a hydromancer.
Likewise, if I become a warrior, I think I might like to try using necromancer as my secondary to use vampiric spells, giving me a bit of an edge in combat.
What do you guys think? Comments and suggestions would be very much appreciated!

EDIT
Oh, forgot to mention: I only have Prophecies at the moment, and this character will be primarially for PvE.

Hollygen · Dec 24, 2009, 05:20 PM // 17:20

First off, don't feel you have to be tied to one elementalist line. You'll be able to swap round your skills and attibutes every time you're in a town, so you be a Hydromancer one trip, and dabble in some firey fun the next.

Good Ele secondaries...Monk is always a good catch all secondary since it gives you access to hard (ie reusable) resuraction skills, whereas other Prophecies professions are stuck wuth the Res Signet, which needs recharging between use, ether morale boost or popping back to town
Seriously though, most caster professions work well with ele

For a warrior you need to watch your energy pool, since you have the lowest of all proffessions. Monk, again, is common. It gives you the hard res. Necromancer offers you touch skills and curses which can help in melee.

Once you get so far into the game, as you're reaching level 20 if you play though normally, you'll have the opportunity to change your secondary, and to do so as ealsily as you swap your skills, so don't feel to put out if you do pick a secondary that isn't quite working out for you

RedDog91 · Dec 24, 2009, 05:47 PM // 17:47

I alwasy recommend that new players start as warriors.
Is warrior my favorite proffession? Not near it.
But I feel that warrior proffession si the best to learn the mechanics of the game.
And with adrenaline skills, warriors are slightly easier to energy manage. The high armor rating is good for staying alive under pressure. The choice between 3 different weapons allows for a customized feel to playing.

If you prefer elementalist, go for it! Fire Magic AoEs make killing a breeze and for those areas with 1 really big monster that needs a little spiking to bring down to size, Air Magic can be useful. Areas with large groups with high DPS sometimes require extra armor to survive and Earth Magic defensive spells do just the trick. And if slowing down an enemy long enough for your group to kill them is more your style, then hex the hell outa them with Water Magic.

Sethellington · Dec 24, 2009, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Warriors may be easier to master at first but I'd definitely go for the ele. You'll get into the swing of things pretty quickly, and overall they have more versatility in playing and farming and stuff, which is useful when you're new. Easier to get a lot of AoE damage also, which destroys PvE quickly, which is your main objective for now

*Darcy* · Dec 24, 2009, 06:13 PM // 18:13

As you are starting in Prophecies, you will find it difficult to put together a decent water build at low levels. You can read the stickied basics thread here for ele
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/b...t10314574.html
Section 9 covers beginner builds for each campaign.

As stated, your secondary will not matter that much until you are much further along, by which time you will be able to change your secondary.

Welcome to a wonderful game and to guru.

_Nihilist_ · Dec 24, 2009, 06:23 PM // 18:23

When I started playing in January 2006, my main was a Warrior/Necromancer.

It's not the most efficient profession combo in the game, but it was FUN. I ended up completing all of Prophecies with my W/N before I ever thought about switching my secondary to anything else (I am a stubborn one).

Go ahead and start both, a Warr and an Ele. Don't limit yourself, this game has plenty of opportunity, and yes, it's a GAME, so have FUN!

Aristocrap · Dec 24, 2009, 06:24 PM // 18:24

Thanks for the replies, everyone.
I think I'll go with an elemental first since they seem much more versatile, and I can swap around my skills for certian missions/situations. I might try mesmer as my secondary so I can "debuff" enemies and then blast them away with my ele skills. Reminds me of my Magic the Gathering aggro/control deck.

Dec 24, 2009, 04:39 PM // 16:39	#1
Aristocrap Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: CT	Picking professions/getting into the swing of things Hello everyone! I'm having a bit of trouble at the moment, so I came to the forums to see if it could be remedied. I've done quite a bit of tinkering around with the different professions in Pre-Searing and I have a vauge feel for what they're like. Now, I've decided it's time to actually get playing for real. I've narrowed it down to either an elementalist or a warrior as my primary. This is where it gets kind of hairy. If I go with an elementalist, I'd like to try out being a hydromancer and use lots of water spells. However, I don't know what secondary prfession would work well with a hydromancer. Likewise, if I become a warrior, I think I might like to try using necromancer as my secondary to use vampiric spells, giving me a bit of an edge in combat. What do you guys think? Comments and suggestions would be very much appreciated! EDIT Oh, forgot to mention: I only have Prophecies at the moment, and this character will be primarially for PvE.

Dec 24, 2009, 06:13 PM // 18:13	#5
Darcy Never Too Old Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rhode Island where there are no GW contests Guild: Order of First Profession: W/R	As you are starting in Prophecies, you will find it difficult to put together a decent water build at low levels. You can read the stickied basics thread here for ele http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/b...t10314574.html Section 9 covers beginner builds for each campaign. As stated, your secondary will not matter that much until you are much further along, by which time you will be able to change your secondary. Welcome to a wonderful game and to guru. __________________ That's me, the old stick-in-the-mud non-fun moderator. (and non-understanding, also)

Dec 24, 2009, 06:23 PM // 18:23	#6
_Nihilist_ Will Bull's Strike for $! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Isle of the Dead	When I started playing in January 2006, my main was a Warrior/Necromancer. It's not the most efficient profession combo in the game, but it was FUN. I ended up completing all of Prophecies with my W/N before I ever thought about switching my secondary to anything else (I am a stubborn one). Go ahead and start both, a Warr and an Ele. Don't limit yourself, this game has plenty of opportunity, and yes, it's a GAME, so have FUN! __________________ Warrior for Hire

Dec 24, 2009, 05:20 PM // 17:20	#2
Hollygen Core Guru Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: UK Guild: Blinkie Ponie Armie [bpa] Profession: R/	First off, don't feel you have to be tied to one elementalist line. You'll be able to swap round your skills and attibutes every time you're in a town, so you be a Hydromancer one trip, and dabble in some firey fun the next. Good Ele secondaries...Monk is always a good catch all secondary since it gives you access to hard (ie reusable) resuraction skills, whereas other Prophecies professions are stuck wuth the Res Signet, which needs recharging between use, ether morale boost or popping back to town Seriously though, most caster professions work well with ele For a warrior you need to watch your energy pool, since you have the lowest of all proffessions. Monk, again, is common. It gives you the hard res. Necromancer offers you touch skills and curses which can help in melee. Once you get so far into the game, as you're reaching level 20 if you play though normally, you'll have the opportunity to change your secondary, and to do so as ealsily as you swap your skills, so don't feel to put out if you do pick a secondary that isn't quite working out for you

Dec 24, 2009, 05:47 PM // 17:47	#3
RedDog91 Desert Nomad Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Farming for Nick gifts Profession: R/	I alwasy recommend that new players start as warriors. Is warrior my favorite proffession? Not near it. But I feel that warrior proffession si the best to learn the mechanics of the game. And with adrenaline skills, warriors are slightly easier to energy manage. The high armor rating is good for staying alive under pressure. The choice between 3 different weapons allows for a customized feel to playing. If you prefer elementalist, go for it! Fire Magic AoEs make killing a breeze and for those areas with 1 really big monster that needs a little spiking to bring down to size, Air Magic can be useful. Areas with large groups with high DPS sometimes require extra armor to survive and Earth Magic defensive spells do just the trick. And if slowing down an enemy long enough for your group to kill them is more your style, then hex the hell outa them with Water Magic.

Dec 24, 2009, 05:54 PM // 17:54	#4
Sethellington Jungle Guide Join Date: Sep 2005 Guild: nn Profession: N/	Warriors may be easier to master at first but I'd definitely go for the ele. You'll get into the swing of things pretty quickly, and overall they have more versatility in playing and farming and stuff, which is useful when you're new. Easier to get a lot of AoE damage also, which destroys PvE quickly, which is your main objective for now

Dec 24, 2009, 06:24 PM // 18:24	#7
Aristocrap Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: CT	Thanks for the replies, everyone. I think I'll go with an elemental first since they seem much more versatile, and I can swap around my skills for certian missions/situations. I might try mesmer as my secondary so I can "debuff" enemies and then blast them away with my ele skills. Reminds me of my Magic the Gathering aggro/control deck.