More Profession Choices! - Guild Wars Forums

Lariv · Aug 26, 2009, 04:22 PM // 16:22

I know you're getting sick of this, and I am too. I just want to figure out which profession would be best suited to my needs. I'm looking for a caster that is mainly support but can deal damage, if needed. It would excellent if they had some farms as well.

kupp · Aug 26, 2009, 04:36 PM // 16:36

Necromancer seems to be the right class for you then.

IronSheik · Aug 26, 2009, 04:41 PM // 16:41

Rit.

12 chaaaaarrrr

vamp08 · Aug 26, 2009, 04:41 PM // 16:41

Your #1 choice would be Monk. 2nd would be Necro

Monks can farm, DD and heal. Necros can DD, as far as farming goes I think there are various 1hp necro farms and Vail. Necro can do a little bit of supporting aswell.

Lariv · Aug 26, 2009, 04:47 PM // 16:47

Thanks for the speedy replies. I was looking at Monk or Rt. I like being the healer, but when I have to H/H I would rather go a Smiter build.

Steps_Descending · Aug 26, 2009, 04:48 PM // 16:48

Considering you have access to everything...

Necro : your support would come in the form of curse (the Mark of Pain ''nuking'' & disruption), minions and possibly Order/wells.
Your attack would be minions, Mark of pain nuking/Curse hexes and Order (casual spam)/blood spike when you can.
As for farming, that would probably be in the form of group farming.

Elementalist : Damage would be the primary bussiness untill harder area. Need I say them all?
Suppport : Earth defenses (wards) and knockdowns, water would give snares and other utilities (mostly useful for PvP, but has some uses in pve). Air also has some disruption (blind, daze, cracked armor... I think I'm forgetting 1 or 2). ANd your energy pool give you access to almost all secoundaries.
Farming : mostly solo/duo (with a monk), Sliver armor pops almost everywhere, as well as fire magic sometime. Defence comes from Earth magic (sometime) or Shadow form. (sometime meaning : people will tell you to use SF, earth is harder to use or less flexible, but works too)

Last would be rit... support comming from Restoration magic and spirits, damage comming from spirit too. Farming would be harder.

EDIT : How could I forget the monk, seriously?!

jiggles · Aug 26, 2009, 05:00 PM // 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steps_Descending

EDIT : How could I forget the monk, seriously?!

Probably by using the same part of your brain that told him blood spam is viable.

MagmaRed · Aug 26, 2009, 05:20 PM // 17:20

Necro can 55 better than Monk in many places. But Necro doesn't offer a lot of 'support' roles. The only support Necro has are things like Well of Blood/Power, Blood Ritual/Blood if Power, and Blood Bond. Everything else a Necro does is offensive support to help your team do more damage.

Monk and Rit both can play support roles as healers/protectors, and both offer damage. Rit has a more varied source of damage, but has fewer farming options.

Ele has a large amount of farming options, but the only support options are wards, snares, or running an Ether Renewal healer.

Lariv · Aug 26, 2009, 05:31 PM // 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagmaRed

Necro can 55 better than Monk in many places. But Necro doesn't offer a lot of 'support' roles. The only support Necro has are things like Well of Blood/Power, Blood Ritual/Blood if Power, and Blood Bond. Everything else a Necro does is offensive support to help your team do more damage.

Monk and Rit both can play support roles as healers/protectors, and both offer damage. Rit has a more varied source of damage, but has fewer farming options.

Ele has a large amount of farming options, but the only support options are wards, snares, or running an Ether Renewal healer.

I like Ele Earth magic, but what I heard the only thing they are good for is Weakness which a Necro can do much better. For Rt, I thought they could 600 as good as, if not better then, a Monk. Necro Wells sound very fun, but I'm wondering if they even have a use outside of gimmicks?

Ginger Hunter · Aug 26, 2009, 05:40 PM // 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamazaru

I thought they could 600 as good as, if not better then, a Monk.

They are just as good as monks when it comes to farming as a 600, i can run pretty much every dungeon a monk can with a 600 rit, it might even be slightly faster with the use of vengeful was khanhei for more damage. Y

Kitor · Aug 26, 2009, 05:41 PM // 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steps_Descending

Last would be rit... support comming from Restoration magic and spirits, damage comming from spirit too. Farming would be harder.

What? Rits farm well. 330 Rit can solo a large number of things, and in a large number of cases, 600 Rt/Smite is much faster than 600 Monk

As per the OP's question;
I'd say Necro, Rit, or Ele

Eles have great energy, so they can effectively use their secondary for support skills. Eles can use Ether Renewal to have great energy management, particularly in conjunction with Aura of Restoration and Elemental Lord. They can also use Mind Blast to do this, spamming Immolate and Mind Burn to cause decent damage while maintaining a large energy pool, allowing you to bring support skills. They can also bring Assassin's Promise to effectively spam fire magic AoE spells.
Overall, something like Ether Renewal Protter or an Assassin's Promise Nuker would be good for Ele

Necros also have great management since they have Soul Reaping and Signet of Lost Souls. Both can effectively use their secondary attributes. In Hard Mode and later Normal Mode, Ele's damage becomes largely negligible, but the Necro still manages to do quite a bit with skills like Mark of Pain and various curses.
Overall, Mark of Pain Nuker with Assassin's Promise or Any support build like Protter, Resto, etc would be good for Necro.

Rits can do well with high levels of channeling, making Splinter Weapon do a lot of damage, as well as Spirit Spammers, which also use Channeling. They can also effectively use OoS for great energy management on a Resto, which is also in the same line as Splinter Weapon, giving you powerful resto as well as damage support ability
Overall, a Spirit Spammer using Signet of Spirits or a Resto using Offering of Spirit would be good for Rit.

tl;dr
Rits, Necros, Eles can all effectively do what you want them to do.

BrettM · Aug 26, 2009, 05:43 PM // 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamazaru

I'm looking for a caster that is mainly support but can deal damage, if needed. It would excellent if they had some farms as well.

Elementalist specializing in earth magic.

Support is good via wards, blindness, weakness, and KD -- which are the specialties of the line -- plus some snaring ability. There are a couple of elites that do good damage even in HM, such as Sandstorm. Eles, as mentioned above, also have the energy pool and e-management skills to run damage and/or support from secondary lines.

There are many farms for earth builds and builds on an earth ele base (such as E/Me raptor farm). Ele energy pool is also good for farm builds based on secondaries, such as any/Rt spirit spam. With some investment in extra sets of armor, there are also geomancer farming builds (E/Me converting all damage to earth and mitigating it with geomancer insignia), and the 330-ele build. Further, it's easy to switch elements when necessary for other farms, such as going fire for Jaya Bluffs feather farm.

Lariv · Aug 26, 2009, 05:53 PM // 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettM

Elementalist specializing in earth magic.

Support is good via wards, blindness, weakness, and KD -- which are the specialties of the line -- plus some snaring ability. There are a couple of elites that do good damage even in HM, such as Sandstorm. Eles, as mentioned above, also have the energy pool and e-management skills to run damage and/or support from secondary lines.

There are many farms for earth builds and builds on an earth ele base (such as E/Me raptor farm). Ele energy pool is also good for farm builds based on secondaries, such as any/Rt spirit spam. With some investment in extra sets of armor, there are also geomancer farming builds (E/Me converting all damage to earth and mitigating it with geomancer insignia), and the 330-ele build. Further, it's easy to switch elements when necessary for other farms, such as going fire for Jaya Bluffs feather farm.

Is there an Ele Earth build that can also deal damage, or is it just support and utility? Can I use like Ebon Hawk or something to toss around some Weakness and deal some damage?

Angel Killuminati · Aug 26, 2009, 06:04 PM // 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamazaru

Is there an Ele Earth build that can also deal damage, or is it just support and utility? Can I use like Ebon Hawk or something to toss around some Weakness and deal some damage?

Churning Earth and Sandstorm are quite powerful AoE spells, then you can focus on some defence for the rest of the team. If you feel like spamming in between spell recharge, perhaps use stone daggers.

BrettM · Aug 26, 2009, 07:11 PM // 19:11

You aren't generally going to have a huge DPS as an earth ele outside of farming builds, but you can get in some good licks along with support and utility. Unsteady Ground is one of my favorite elites, which I like even better than Sandstorm. Earth also has some spells that deal respectable amounts of armor-ignoring damage at range (Magnetic Surge is great, especially against dervs and monks), though some must be used carefully (Obsidian Flame, which causes exhaustion).

Air eles can do more spike damage, but don't have the support and utility, and little AoE. Water has support and utility, but not as much damage. Etc. To me, earth is the most well rounded line, with a great deal of flexibility. Perhaps not the best in any one area, but able to cover multiple needs at the same time at least adequately.

Eruption is the greatest AoE blind spell in the game. 10 sec of unconditional AoE blind with nearby -- not just adjacent -- range! Nothing else comes close to being able to mess up a bunch of physical opponents. Combined with Unsteady Ground to keep foes knocked down inside the range, you can rack up some damage with it, too. Then throw Churning Earth on top of that. A nice triple-nuke that is hard for AI foes to escape, so many will take the full damage. (On the downside, casting times and recharge are long and energy costs are high for this, so you have shot your wad for a while once you've used it.)

madsGW · Aug 26, 2009, 07:29 PM // 19:29

ritualist or para = dmg and support. two fun chars imo

**Marty Silverblade** · Aug 27, 2009, 03:25 AM // 03:25

Also, don't know if this has been mentioned or not, but Rits have a large variety of builds, all with significantly different styles. Some are spirit focused, some are spell focused, some are hybrids, some are mash skills until everything is dead, some include a bit of everything. Helps that you can completely swap your build style around when you get bored.

Lariv · Aug 28, 2009, 03:49 AM // 03:49

Bump with criteria! How about a profession that can farm enough (either by itself or with a group or whatever) to have enough money for some e-peen gear, still versatile (preferably physical damage so I can abuse MoP + Barbs)(Big fan of spears, bows, daggers, scythes), has utility (Think SY!), and able to vanquish things with Discordway, Arkfenway, etc.

Actually, after reading all that, I'm thinking Ranger. . . The problem being that if I go for SY! utility, I won't be able to use daggers or whatnot.

**Marty Silverblade** · Aug 29, 2009, 12:27 AM // 00:27

Hmmm. Filling all those criteria is probably a Warrior.

*Wars can farm Raptors faster than anyone else, but thats about it.
*Wars can run pretty much every martial weapon to a good degree of efficiency (spears and scythes included, daggers and bows less so).
*Perma SY and Perma KD (AoE aswell, if running Earth Shaker).
*Pretty much everything can run Discord/Arkfenway and roll through PvE. Thats the point of the builds.

Xenex Xclame · Aug 29, 2009, 03:00 AM // 03:00

Smiter is a good choice.
As you can do all three of the things you want very well.
Use Smite condition and Smite hex throw in reversal of damage if you go smite/heal and reversal of fortune of you go prot/smite

Go 55 when you wish to farm.

Earth ele also has what you want, you go with 2 wards and use weakness to lower opponent damage and take some knockdown skills you would do good.

Go E/D with Sliver when you want to farm and pretty much farm most things the 55 can

Water ele might offer some support in the way of snares but you don't have that much damage and any other kinds of support really.

Ranger is the one that can best take advantage of MoP & barbs.

Aug 27, 2009, 03:25 AM // 03:25	#17
Marty Silverblade Administrator Join Date: Jun 2006	Also, don't know if this has been mentioned or not, but Rits have a large variety of builds, all with significantly different styles. Some are spirit focused, some are spell focused, some are hybrids, some are mash skills until everything is dead, some include a bit of everything. Helps that you can completely swap your build style around when you get bored. __________________

Aug 29, 2009, 12:27 AM // 00:27	#19
Marty Silverblade Administrator Join Date: Jun 2006	Hmmm. Filling all those criteria is probably a Warrior. Wars can farm Raptors faster than anyone else, but thats about it. Wars can run pretty much every martial weapon to a good degree of efficiency (spears and scythes included, daggers and bows less so). Perma SY and Perma KD (AoE aswell, if running Earth Shaker). Pretty much everything can run Discord/Arkfenway and roll through PvE. Thats the point of the builds. __________________

Aug 26, 2009, 04:22 PM // 16:22	#1
Lariv Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Mar 2009 Profession: Me/	More Profession Choices! I know you're getting sick of this, and I am too. I just want to figure out which profession would be best suited to my needs. I'm looking for a caster that is mainly support but can deal damage, if needed. It would excellent if they had some farms as well.

Aug 26, 2009, 04:36 PM // 16:36	#2
kupp Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Shiverpeaks Guild: [KISS] Profession: W/	Necromancer seems to be the right class for you then.

Aug 26, 2009, 04:41 PM // 16:41	#3
IronSheik Forge Runner Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wolfenstein: Goldrush Guild: Zombies Go Nom Nom [Nom] Profession: N/	Rit. 12 chaaaaarrrr

Aug 26, 2009, 04:41 PM // 16:41	#4
vamp08 Krytan Explorer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: PA, USA Guild: [COPY] Profession: D/	Your #1 choice would be Monk. 2nd would be Necro Monks can farm, DD and heal. Necros can DD, as far as farming goes I think there are various 1hp necro farms and Vail. Necro can do a little bit of supporting aswell.

Aug 26, 2009, 04:47 PM // 16:47	#5
Lariv Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Mar 2009 Profession: Me/	Thanks for the speedy replies. I was looking at Monk or Rt. I like being the healer, but when I have to H/H I would rather go a Smiter build.

Aug 26, 2009, 04:48 PM // 16:48	#6
Steps_Descending Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: IN my pocket plane. Obviously! Guild: Little Tom's Pocket Plane [THom] Profession: Me/Mo	Considering you have access to everything... Necro : your support would come in the form of curse (the Mark of Pain ''nuking'' & disruption), minions and possibly Order/wells. Your attack would be minions, Mark of pain nuking/Curse hexes and Order (casual spam)/blood spike when you can. As for farming, that would probably be in the form of group farming. Elementalist : Damage would be the primary bussiness untill harder area. Need I say them all? Suppport : Earth defenses (wards) and knockdowns, water would give snares and other utilities (mostly useful for PvP, but has some uses in pve). Air also has some disruption (blind, daze, cracked armor... I think I'm forgetting 1 or 2). ANd your energy pool give you access to almost all secoundaries. Farming : mostly solo/duo (with a monk), Sliver armor pops almost everywhere, as well as fire magic sometime. Defence comes from Earth magic (sometime) or Shadow form. (sometime meaning : people will tell you to use SF, earth is harder to use or less flexible, but works too) Last would be rit... support comming from Restoration magic and spirits, damage comming from spirit too. Farming would be harder. EDIT : How could I forget the monk, seriously?!

Aug 26, 2009, 05:20 PM // 17:20	#8
MagmaRed Furnace Stoker Join Date: Mar 2007 Guild: Our Crabs Know True [LOVE] Profession: R/	Necro can 55 better than Monk in many places. But Necro doesn't offer a lot of 'support' roles. The only support Necro has are things like Well of Blood/Power, Blood Ritual/Blood if Power, and Blood Bond. Everything else a Necro does is offensive support to help your team do more damage. Monk and Rit both can play support roles as healers/protectors, and both offer damage. Rit has a more varied source of damage, but has fewer farming options. Ele has a large amount of farming options, but the only support options are wards, snares, or running an Ether Renewal healer.

Aug 26, 2009, 07:11 PM // 19:11	#15
BrettM Desert Nomad Join Date: Aug 2008 Guild: Fuzzy Physics Institute Profession: E/	You aren't generally going to have a huge DPS as an earth ele outside of farming builds, but you can get in some good licks along with support and utility. Unsteady Ground is one of my favorite elites, which I like even better than Sandstorm. Earth also has some spells that deal respectable amounts of armor-ignoring damage at range (Magnetic Surge is great, especially against dervs and monks), though some must be used carefully (Obsidian Flame, which causes exhaustion). Air eles can do more spike damage, but don't have the support and utility, and little AoE. Water has support and utility, but not as much damage. Etc. To me, earth is the most well rounded line, with a great deal of flexibility. Perhaps not the best in any one area, but able to cover multiple needs at the same time at least adequately. Eruption is the greatest AoE blind spell in the game. 10 sec of unconditional AoE blind with nearby -- not just adjacent -- range! Nothing else comes close to being able to mess up a bunch of physical opponents. Combined with Unsteady Ground to keep foes knocked down inside the range, you can rack up some damage with it, too. Then throw Churning Earth on top of that. A nice triple-nuke that is hard for AI foes to escape, so many will take the full damage. (On the downside, casting times and recharge are long and energy costs are high for this, so you have shot your wad for a while once you've used it.)

Aug 26, 2009, 07:29 PM // 19:29	#16
madsGW Academy Page Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Denmark Profession: Me/E	ritualist or para = dmg and support. two fun chars imo

Aug 28, 2009, 03:49 AM // 03:49	#18
Lariv Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Mar 2009 Profession: Me/	Bump with criteria! How about a profession that can farm enough (either by itself or with a group or whatever) to have enough money for some e-peen gear, still versatile (preferably physical damage so I can abuse MoP + Barbs)(Big fan of spears, bows, daggers, scythes), has utility (Think SY!), and able to vanquish things with Discordway, Arkfenway, etc. Actually, after reading all that, I'm thinking Ranger. . . The problem being that if I go for SY! utility, I won't be able to use daggers or whatnot.

Aug 29, 2009, 03:00 AM // 03:00	#20
Xenex Xclame Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2006 Guild: DPX Profession: R/	Smiter is a good choice. As you can do all three of the things you want very well. Use Smite condition and Smite hex throw in reversal of damage if you go smite/heal and reversal of fortune of you go prot/smite Go 55 when you wish to farm. Earth ele also has what you want, you go with 2 wards and use weakness to lower opponent damage and take some knockdown skills you would do good. Go E/D with Sliver when you want to farm and pretty much farm most things the 55 can Water ele might offer some support in the way of snares but you don't have that much damage and any other kinds of support really. Ranger is the one that can best take advantage of MoP & barbs.