The time has come to pick my Second profession - Guild Wars Forums

DarkRyu · Aug 02, 2005, 10:37 PM // 22:37

This part of the game is very interesting to me as in most other games once you pick your class its rigidly set that you can only train in there skills and only do there quests but on here i have been told "Its time to pick my Second Profession".

I am now unsure on what to do as i picked a warrior as it appealed to me the most out of the options i was offered but what should i do now? As i have no idea on what other profession i should take or what???s really any good as I've only been playing less then two hours. Did anyone else find this a big decision to make so early in the game?

The only problem is that every other profession is a caster/ranged one and i hate casters and ranged based characters so picking one might be a hard task (hopefully not as hard as picking a name

).

It would be most appreciated if some of you more experienced players could give me a run down of what the other classes are like and if any can be played without being a caster or ranged one,

Regards,
Ryu

Audhumla · Aug 02, 2005, 10:40 PM // 22:40

Generally, skills from your secondary profession aren't ones you use that often. If Warrior is your primary, you'll still be more than able to stay in the thick of things, regardless of your second class. With Warrior primary, there really isn't a bad class to pick for your secondary. No matter what you pick, there's plenty you can do with it, and if you are really dissapointed, you can always use just Warrior skills and attributes.

thestealthcow101 · Aug 02, 2005, 10:47 PM // 22:47

don't be a caster. caster skills require energy, and warriors dont have energy.

rangers...well, i wouldn't reccomend them. the skills i like the most cost lots of energy (traps), which warriors dont have.

this is why most people pick monk for secondary. the skills you'll use don't eat all your energy, and its still very useful (heal yourself while killing everything else). but, the downside...warrior/monks have because super popular, lots of groups don't need them, and for some stupid reason, some people consider them to be a "noob" class. don't worry about them, the next time you see that elementalist telling you W/Mo is for noobs, ask him if he could farm 30 griffons with it

Bingley Joe · Aug 02, 2005, 11:09 PM // 23:09

I know what you mean about this -- there are so many great combinations of professions that it can be pretty overwhelming early on.

The main thing to remember, IMO, is that there really doesn't seem to be a 'wrong' choice; any two professions in the game are going to bring something interesting to the table.

Two things I'd suggest in helping you make a choice in the first place are:

- Go through each of the professions on THIS page and read the description for every skill to get a sense of what kinds of things each one is really best at. Keep in mind things like the energy costs of skills vs. your primary class' energy potential, and look for ways to either exploit lots of mana or regain/create energy through skills. Since you're a warrior, look for things you can do to enemies up close (like touch spells) and ways to protect yourself in combat (like wards and stances).

Give some thought to how your primary attribute can be used well with each of the skills/abilities of the potential secondary profession. Basically, just become as familiar with the various professions as you can without actually playing each one

- Do the first quest for each profession before you make your choice so that you get just a small preview of what they would be like when combined with your primary.

All you need to do is say "No, I'm not ready yet" (or whatever) when asked if you'd like to take on that secondary profession, and you can still run around with the skills in your bar until you sign on to do a different profession's quest. Actually, regardless of what secondary I'm going to chose, one of the first things I always do in pre-searing is go pick up the mesmer skills because they're so close to the gate and rock in the early part of the game.

HTH

Arvydas · Aug 02, 2005, 11:13 PM // 23:13

There are always skills from the caster classes that complement with you warrior build. For example, Elementalists have wards that can give you extra armor. I understand from a new player's stand point it's hard to imagine an effective W/E build or W/Me build. That's why many new players stick with W/Mo...

By the way, you can change your secondary about 3/4 through the game. And as Audhumla suggested, you can ignore you secondary if you're not satisfied with it.

One thing you can do is look through the Skills List on this site and see if any of the skills from the other professions fit your build.

MCS · Aug 02, 2005, 11:35 PM // 23:35

Just pick monk for now. You can change your secondary later in the game and having a bit of healing in PvE never hurts.

Hildar · Aug 02, 2005, 11:54 PM // 23:54

I tried different combinations of W/ classes and found that the energy consumption was a little rough for me to handle. (I am normall a hack and slash player, so managing health and energy is not one of my strong points). Plus, having only 20 energy, and no energy regen pieces of armor like the other classes do, makes energy management a little rough.

At first I wanted /R for the pet and Troll unguent, but I found that the pet didn't work for me (two skill slots for a extra minor tank didn't sound right to me). Plus, being a tank, none of the bow skills would be of any use. I didn't get far enough with my w/r to get many of the other skills before I re rolled (I think level 10).

Then I thought /N for the pet (yea, kept thinking more with me would be best .../shrug not sure why)

... that didn't work either, but some of the other skills did. I still have a w/n character, but he is only level 12. I did find energy management hard, and healing was a little difficult because I never seemed to have the energy I needed to cast the spells that gave me health.

I then went /Mo. This seemed to fit my play style. Load up a constant heal (Mending when you get to post searing), and a quick healing dot (healing breeze) and I was good to go. Mostly self sufficient, but not totally able to solo. I also found that I had more room in my spell bar for warrior skills. I currently use 3 monk skills (mending, healing breeze, and resurection) and it gets me through missions with henchmen with out a problem. Plus, each of the 3 skills that I use from the /Mo secondary only use 10 energy, so even if I have cast one spell, I usually have enough energy to cast a second.

So, I definatly agree with one of the above posters, try all the secondary quests in pre searing that you can. It will give you a feel of what you can do with those classes. Find out what you like, and what fits your play style, and go for it.

If it don't work, re rolling is pretty simple, or you can just use one of your other 3 character slots to make a new character.

Hope my rambling helped.

Bingley Joe · Aug 03, 2005, 12:12 AM // 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hildar

If it don't work, re rolling is pretty simple, or you can just use one of your other 3 character slots to make a new character.

Unless you want to start thinking up a whole bunch of ideas for names, I'm not sure it's wise to put those sorts of ideas into the lad's mind

Aug 02, 2005, 10:37 PM // 22:37	#1
DarkRyu Academy Page Join Date: Aug 2005	The time has come to pick my Second profession This part of the game is very interesting to me as in most other games once you pick your class its rigidly set that you can only train in there skills and only do there quests but on here i have been told "Its time to pick my Second Profession". I am now unsure on what to do as i picked a warrior as it appealed to me the most out of the options i was offered but what should i do now? As i have no idea on what other profession i should take or what???s really any good as I've only been playing less then two hours. Did anyone else find this a big decision to make so early in the game? The only problem is that every other profession is a caster/ranged one and i hate casters and ranged based characters so picking one might be a hard task (hopefully not as hard as picking a name ). It would be most appreciated if some of you more experienced players could give me a run down of what the other classes are like and if any can be played without being a caster or ranged one, Regards, Ryu

Aug 02, 2005, 11:09 PM // 23:09	#4
Bingley Joe Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Guild: Philosophers of Denravi	I know what you mean about this -- there are so many great combinations of professions that it can be pretty overwhelming early on. The main thing to remember, IMO, is that there really doesn't seem to be a 'wrong' choice; any two professions in the game are going to bring something interesting to the table. Two things I'd suggest in helping you make a choice in the first place are: - Go through each of the professions on THIS page and read the description for every skill to get a sense of what kinds of things each one is really best at. Keep in mind things like the energy costs of skills vs. your primary class' energy potential, and look for ways to either exploit lots of mana or regain/create energy through skills. Since you're a warrior, look for things you can do to enemies up close (like touch spells) and ways to protect yourself in combat (like wards and stances). Give some thought to how your primary attribute can be used well with each of the skills/abilities of the potential secondary profession. Basically, just become as familiar with the various professions as you can without actually playing each one - Do the first quest for each profession before you make your choice so that you get just a small preview of what they would be like when combined with your primary. All you need to do is say "No, I'm not ready yet" (or whatever) when asked if you'd like to take on that secondary profession, and you can still run around with the skills in your bar until you sign on to do a different profession's quest. Actually, regardless of what secondary I'm going to chose, one of the first things I always do in pre-searing is go pick up the mesmer skills because they're so close to the gate and rock in the early part of the game. HTH Last edited by Bingley Joe; Aug 02, 2005 at 11:13 PM // 23:13..

Aug 02, 2005, 10:40 PM // 22:40	#2
Audhumla Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oregon Guild: The Shattered Hand Profession: N/R	Generally, skills from your secondary profession aren't ones you use that often. If Warrior is your primary, you'll still be more than able to stay in the thick of things, regardless of your second class. With Warrior primary, there really isn't a bad class to pick for your secondary. No matter what you pick, there's plenty you can do with it, and if you are really dissapointed, you can always use just Warrior skills and attributes.

Aug 02, 2005, 10:47 PM // 22:47	#3
thestealthcow101 Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Profession: W/Mo	don't be a caster. caster skills require energy, and warriors dont have energy. rangers...well, i wouldn't reccomend them. the skills i like the most cost lots of energy (traps), which warriors dont have. this is why most people pick monk for secondary. the skills you'll use don't eat all your energy, and its still very useful (heal yourself while killing everything else). but, the downside...warrior/monks have because super popular, lots of groups don't need them, and for some stupid reason, some people consider them to be a "noob" class. don't worry about them, the next time you see that elementalist telling you W/Mo is for noobs, ask him if he could farm 30 griffons with it

Aug 02, 2005, 11:13 PM // 23:13	#5
Arvydas Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Guild: Soul Devourers Profession: W/Mo	There are always skills from the caster classes that complement with you warrior build. For example, Elementalists have wards that can give you extra armor. I understand from a new player's stand point it's hard to imagine an effective W/E build or W/Me build. That's why many new players stick with W/Mo... By the way, you can change your secondary about 3/4 through the game. And as Audhumla suggested, you can ignore you secondary if you're not satisfied with it. One thing you can do is look through the Skills List on this site and see if any of the skills from the other professions fit your build.

Aug 02, 2005, 11:35 PM // 23:35	#6
MCS Banned Join Date: May 2005	Just pick monk for now. You can change your secondary later in the game and having a bit of healing in PvE never hurts.

Aug 02, 2005, 11:54 PM // 23:54	#7
Hildar Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Aug 2005 Guild: The Dragon Claws Profession: W/Mo	I tried different combinations of W/ classes and found that the energy consumption was a little rough for me to handle. (I am normall a hack and slash player, so managing health and energy is not one of my strong points). Plus, having only 20 energy, and no energy regen pieces of armor like the other classes do, makes energy management a little rough. At first I wanted /R for the pet and Troll unguent, but I found that the pet didn't work for me (two skill slots for a extra minor tank didn't sound right to me). Plus, being a tank, none of the bow skills would be of any use. I didn't get far enough with my w/r to get many of the other skills before I re rolled (I think level 10). Then I thought /N for the pet (yea, kept thinking more with me would be best .../shrug not sure why) ... that didn't work either, but some of the other skills did. I still have a w/n character, but he is only level 12. I did find energy management hard, and healing was a little difficult because I never seemed to have the energy I needed to cast the spells that gave me health. I then went /Mo. This seemed to fit my play style. Load up a constant heal (Mending when you get to post searing), and a quick healing dot (healing breeze) and I was good to go. Mostly self sufficient, but not totally able to solo. I also found that I had more room in my spell bar for warrior skills. I currently use 3 monk skills (mending, healing breeze, and resurection) and it gets me through missions with henchmen with out a problem. Plus, each of the 3 skills that I use from the /Mo secondary only use 10 energy, so even if I have cast one spell, I usually have enough energy to cast a second. So, I definatly agree with one of the above posters, try all the secondary quests in pre searing that you can. It will give you a feel of what you can do with those classes. Find out what you like, and what fits your play style, and go for it. If it don't work, re rolling is pretty simple, or you can just use one of your other 3 character slots to make a new character. Hope my rambling helped.