Question regarding "retribution" build - Guild Wars Forums

endomorphious · Nov 29, 2011, 11:32 AM // 11:32

Hi all, I've played on and off for a few years and never got far in the game. I'm back again. I really enjoy playing characters that can stand in the middle of a pack of attackers and watch the npcs kill themselves while attacking me...vis a vis the WoW retribution paladin. I'd like to do something similar in concept here for PvE. This is for theme and not efficiency. Initially I was thinking monk as primary, but not sure that would be the wisest choice. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Either links or names to a build would be welcomed.

Kanda · Nov 29, 2011, 12:32 PM // 12:32

Hi!

The most well-known build that perform what you describe here is the 55 monk build.
There are numerous variations (330 Ritualist and 600 Monk come to mind), and depending on them, you cannot go everywhere, or you need a support character, or you cannot survive indefinitly, or you need a constant stream of hits. They were once among the most efficient farm builds, and are still used from time to time.

Monk primary is indeed a wise choice; depending on the build, you may want to keep your starter armor.

BrettM · Nov 29, 2011, 04:49 PM // 16:49

There are also a number of elementalist farming builds using PBAoE, often combined with earth-magic defenses, to solo massed groups of melee attackers.

The problem with farming builds, regardless of profession, is that they aren't universal. They are meant to work and work well in specific situations, and outside those situations you have extremely low survivability. Trying to use them for general PvE is not just inefficient, it's horrendously ineffective.

It is possible to create a build that can survive against just about any kind of foe you will encounter, but such a build is all defense with no room for offense. It's a tank build, and the rest of your party has to provide the spank to go with it.

shillo · Nov 29, 2011, 06:52 PM // 18:52

As said earlier, monk can be made to work that way, but in context of GW, it's basically a special-purpose, farming build.

For a less gimmicky class that's actually meant to play in the monsters-kill-themselves style, but ranged and more CC oriented, look into Mesmer. Large portion of Mesmer skills is about punishing enemies for acting, or even worse, punishing both action and inaction. Their other skills are about interrupting, disabling skills, energy draining, and just being a general nuissance to the enemy. Things like Diversion + Wastrel's Demise ('next skill you activate, if it's in the following 6 seconds, will be disabled' + 'you will take a tonne of damage every second unless you activate a skill') are always a joy

KotCR · Nov 29, 2011, 09:01 PM // 21:01

Far from being the most efficient, but it does work:
Dwarven Gladiator
I too love a reflect damage theme on characters. It's the whole defense over offense thing that appeals to me; Stout defender and all that. Too bad it's not really a viable playstyle for anything but farming in Guild Wars, but you can still give it a try.

Nov 29, 2011, 11:32 AM // 11:32	#1
endomorphious Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Nov 2011	Question regarding "retribution" build Hi all, I've played on and off for a few years and never got far in the game. I'm back again. I really enjoy playing characters that can stand in the middle of a pack of attackers and watch the npcs kill themselves while attacking me...vis a vis the WoW retribution paladin. I'd like to do something similar in concept here for PvE. This is for theme and not efficiency. Initially I was thinking monk as primary, but not sure that would be the wisest choice. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Either links or names to a build would be welcomed.

Nov 29, 2011, 12:32 PM // 12:32	#2
Kanda Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Nov 2010 Profession: Mo/E	Hi! The most well-known build that perform what you describe here is the 55 monk build. There are numerous variations (330 Ritualist and 600 Monk come to mind), and depending on them, you cannot go everywhere, or you need a support character, or you cannot survive indefinitly, or you need a constant stream of hits. They were once among the most efficient farm builds, and are still used from time to time. Monk primary is indeed a wise choice; depending on the build, you may want to keep your starter armor. Last edited by Kanda; Nov 29, 2011 at 12:35 PM // 12:35..

Nov 29, 2011, 04:49 PM // 16:49	#3
BrettM Desert Nomad Join Date: Aug 2008 Guild: Fuzzy Physics Institute Profession: E/	There are also a number of elementalist farming builds using PBAoE, often combined with earth-magic defenses, to solo massed groups of melee attackers. The problem with farming builds, regardless of profession, is that they aren't universal. They are meant to work and work well in specific situations, and outside those situations you have extremely low survivability. Trying to use them for general PvE is not just inefficient, it's horrendously ineffective. It is possible to create a build that can survive against just about any kind of foe you will encounter, but such a build is all defense with no room for offense. It's a tank build, and the rest of your party has to provide the spank to go with it.

Nov 29, 2011, 06:52 PM // 18:52	#4
shillo Academy Page Join Date: Sep 2006	As said earlier, monk can be made to work that way, but in context of GW, it's basically a special-purpose, farming build. For a less gimmicky class that's actually meant to play in the monsters-kill-themselves style, but ranged and more CC oriented, look into Mesmer. Large portion of Mesmer skills is about punishing enemies for acting, or even worse, punishing both action and inaction. Their other skills are about interrupting, disabling skills, energy draining, and just being a general nuissance to the enemy. Things like Diversion + Wastrel's Demise ('next skill you activate, if it's in the following 6 seconds, will be disabled' + 'you will take a tonne of damage every second unless you activate a skill') are always a joy

Nov 29, 2011, 09:01 PM // 21:01	#5
KotCR Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jul 2008 Guild: [DVDF] Profession: P/	Far from being the most efficient, but it does work: Dwarven Gladiator I too love a reflect damage theme on characters. It's the whole defense over offense thing that appeals to me; Stout defender and all that. Too bad it's not really a viable playstyle for anything but farming in Guild Wars, but you can still give it a try.