Starting Character Tomorrow, Could use some pointers - Guild Wars Forums

??rost · Jun 24, 2005, 06:52 AM // 06:52

Hey, I was thinking of a necro/monk build, How effective is this build in the game?

Wa$d · Jun 24, 2005, 06:56 AM // 06:56

Is this your first time playing the game, if it how experence are you with this game, if you are new to MMORPG's then you might consider going with the w/mo build or if you want to be a good monk try Ele/Mo, just a few suggestions, and also stay in pre-seering till lvl 6 or 7, if you have played this game before, ignor my post, sice you know what you are doing

Magus · Jun 24, 2005, 07:08 AM // 07:08

N/Mo's are great for PvE, as they can raise a lot of undead and keep them alive for long periods of time. As for PvP, they're not so good (Mostly because there aren't that many corpses for you to use.) Wa$d is right, necromancers are pretty hard to use, and warriors or elementalists are much easier to play, as they serve run-of-the-mill roles.

Btw, every profession combination in this game has its uses, some just require different strategies, but even the wierdest will work.

Ryoushi · Jun 24, 2005, 07:11 AM // 07:11

I've seen some very powerful N/Mo's before. A particularly good route to take would be to use Curses or Blood Magic and smiting. The Blood magic helps you sustain yourself while smites and such add onto the damage. I have never used this build personally, but it's what I've taken from other N/Mos.

??rost · Jun 24, 2005, 07:12 AM // 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magus

N/Mo's are great for PvE, as they can raise a lot of undead and keep them alive for long periods of time. As for PvP, they're not so good (Mostly because there aren't that many corpses for you to use.) Wa$d is right, necromancers are pretty hard to use, and warriors or elementalists are much easier to play, as they serve run-of-the-mill roles.

Btw, every profession combination in this game has its uses, some just require different strategies, but even the wierdest will work.

Yea this is my first time playing this MMO, i have played several others.

What do u think is a good necro build for pvp and pve?

??rost · Jun 24, 2005, 07:15 AM // 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryoushi

I've seen some very powerful N/Mo's before. A particularly good route to take would be to use Curses or Blood Magic and smiting. The Blood magic helps you sustain yourself while smites and such add onto the damage. I have never used this build personally, but it's what I've taken from other N/Mos.

I been reading alot on this build and it seems very powerful if made correctly. a challenging character. Have you seen any try to pvp?

Jimbodan · Jun 24, 2005, 07:23 AM // 07:23

Honestly I'd stay away from a necro. You'll have trouble grouping later on in PvE. I'd either go W/Mo just to learn the basics for awhile and then make a new character once you've learned a little. Also with a primary necro you will have even more trouble grouping in PvP since soul reaping is almost useless in PvP.

A healing monk is another decent recomendation, it is easy to play a decent healing monk, plus they are sought after. Only problem is that you might not see a lot of the game that way.

RTSFirebat · Jun 24, 2005, 08:03 AM // 08:03

Bad Warrior/Monks are boring... and annoying how the only heal themselves... make any class you like mate and see how they play out. If you want to give any class combo a go.

Then best thing to do is make a PvP character and see how it plays it.

spiritofcat · Jun 24, 2005, 08:04 AM // 08:04

I have an N/Mo. She's only low level now since she isn't my primary character, but I went with Blood and Healing and it seems good.
I plan to build her into a healing vampire. Able to leech life from others and heal allies.

Shamblemonkee · Jun 24, 2005, 08:05 AM // 08:05

I wouldn't have thought monk was a good place to start as it's a character the group relies upon most and it can be a very intense job.

My main character is a Necromancer / Mesmer.
In PvE I've had no trouble finding groups despite all the negative comments you'll see here. Fact is necromancers can be very useful for softening targets up and buffing foes - weakness, mark of subversion, wells, blood is power, etc..

I can't speak much for PvP as I've not engaged in much of that - however I'll tell you right now that you'll almost definately use a radically different setup in PvP. Additionally Sould Reaping - a Necros primary attribute while it can be a boon to a Death or any other Necro in PvE really fails to shine in PvP.

I'd also reccomend following RTSfirebats advice.

Agamond The Wise · Jun 24, 2005, 08:13 AM // 08:13

They only heal themselves because thats all the energy they have

Ninna · Jun 24, 2005, 09:46 AM // 09:46

I wouldnt recommend w/mo unless you like tanking and being in the front lines of combat

the 5 other classes are typically *not* in the front lines
(there are exceptions, smiting monks, earth elementalists, etc)

just try any class combo that appeals to you

womble · Jun 24, 2005, 12:25 PM // 12:25

For a first class, I wouldn't recommend Necro as primary, but what the hey? You get 4 characters... During the early part of the game, whatever primary you select, you get the opportunity to try out all the other classes as your secondary. If you're a secondary Necro, the only disadvantage is that you don't get to have their primary characteristic which is probably the least widely useful of all the primaries.

Mr. Matt · Jun 24, 2005, 12:33 PM // 12:33

I'd say a Ranger would be good as your first ever character, unless you're going straight to a PvP character. They can do decent damage from range, they have a fairly varied number of skills with multiple purposes, decent armour, OK energy, and a pet can be a great help to new players early in the game as it takes some of the heat off them, as well as augments their damage. But by the same token it isn't an 'easy' class to play effectively, so you're definitely going to learn some useful tricks along the way.
The only bad thing I find with them is their ability to self-heal; IMO, if you're going to make a gradual healing skill rather than an instant-effect one (i.e. healing signet), then it should activate instantly rather than take 3 seconds. But hey, taking up Monk as your secondary profession will solve that to some degree.

Myodato · Jun 24, 2005, 01:09 PM // 13:09

Great, lots of replies telling people to be W/Mo's or Rangers; because we don't have enough of those already

N/Mo is one of the most powerful PvE combinations in the game. Concentrating on Death Magic and Healing, you can sustain a massive army of minions, who can do all the dirty work for you. Simply use Heal Area in between fights to keep all your little pets alive. Death Magic also has some nice damage skills to make sure you don't just sit back and watch every fight.

It's a little more difficult in PvP, as there are generally less corpses to exploit (unless you're Korean apparently), but with 4 character slots, not every one has to be PvP focused. Overall, I think it's a great build, just beware that there are more 'hands on' options, which some people find more exciting.

And I'd just like to add, I would usually take a N/Mo over a W/Mo in a PvE party. If I need a suicidal noob to charge into the enemy, I'll just ask the necro if I can borrow a minion.

Algren Cole · Jun 24, 2005, 01:50 PM // 13:50

I'd definately go with a smiting monk build...i've seen the carnage these little guys can bring....it's impressive to watch them battle mobs of 8-10 without attacking even once.

Tarrant · Jun 24, 2005, 01:51 PM // 13:51

If you plan on soloing alot (using only henchmen), I'd suggest Elementalist or Monk or Warrior. If you want to group with other players, Monk or Warrior. If you want to be unique, Mesmer (tough as a first character, though).

Elementalist, Monk, and Warrior are all fairly straightforward in the roles you typically assume (not that they can't be varied). Hench Warriors are the hardest to work with since they charge anything you attack, often drawing additional enemies into the battle, so if you're the Warrior you can choose your charges. Hench healers sometimes have a hard time staying alive, so if you're a healer you can watch over them. Playing a Monk (primary or secondary) also makes escort missions easier since Hench healers only heal party members not escortees.

At the higher end, every group wants a Monk (sometimes even two), but Monks are scarcer than other professions. So as a Monk you'll have no trouble getting into groups. You'll get people begging you to join. After Monks, the next most sought seems to be Warrior. In between cries of "Need a Monk!" you'll see the occasional "Looking for a tank".

When starting a character, the key thing to consider is that your Primary profession determines your Primary-only skill. For instance, Monk Primaries get Divine Favor, which adds bonus healing to healing skills; you don't get that if Monk is your Secondary. And the Necro Soul Reaping has the most synergy with the Necro Death Magic minion-raising skills. Another consideration is the amount of Energy and Energy Regen you get, which is also based on your Primary. Warriors are low in both, so don't expect to do alot of casting if your Primary is Warrior. I could go on and on, but best that you do your own research since I'll inevitably miss something you might need.

Getting to 5 or 6 is very quick and easy, so don't be afraid to try out characters. You may find that raising minions with a Necro is just your cup of tea, or you might have a blast throwing Mesmer hexes and crippling enemies.

Shandoo Bilari · Jun 24, 2005, 01:55 PM // 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbodan

A healing monk is another decent recomendation, it is easy to play a decent healing monk...

Most uninformed comment of the year goes to...

Night · Jun 24, 2005, 01:59 PM // 13:59

How about this: Try anything in this game. The build you talked about, I know of at least 1 person who has taken that very same build, ascended with it, and did well in HoH. So yes it can work in PvP and since I did a bunch of PvE with that person, I can tell you he saved my arse more times than once so I know it works there as well.

The best advice? Contrary what people are saying, the way this game is designed, just about any build combo can be viable (don't know about a E/W or Me/W but who knows). Try a build try it out it the arenas (be forwarned though arenas aren't even close to end game PvP matches) to see if you think you can deal with it. If you don't like it, you can delete it off (it takes a couple of hours to hit level 10 and try the arena out is Ascalon) if you find it lacks the ummpf you were looking for. Most will knock W/Mo as they see them as flavor of months and Rangers as so many people either don't know how to play them or don't want to play them correctly so if you decide one of those builds might suit you better, feel free try one of those out as well.

Bottom line, try and see what happens.

StormWater · Jun 24, 2005, 02:26 PM // 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shandoo Bilari

Most uninformed comment of the year goes to...

That's the truth. Just do a search on this forum and find all the healing monks that are blamed everytime some idiot goes charging off into a mob and the group monk doesn't have the energy to rez him for the umpteenth time.

Jun 24, 2005, 06:52 AM // 06:52	#1
??rost Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Jun 2005	Starting Character Tomorrow, Could use some pointers Hey, I was thinking of a necro/monk build, How effective is this build in the game?

Jun 24, 2005, 01:59 PM // 13:59	#19
Night Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005	How about this: Try anything in this game. The build you talked about, I know of at least 1 person who has taken that very same build, ascended with it, and did well in HoH. So yes it can work in PvP and since I did a bunch of PvE with that person, I can tell you he saved my arse more times than once so I know it works there as well. The best advice? Contrary what people are saying, the way this game is designed, just about any build combo can be viable (don't know about a E/W or Me/W but who knows). Try a build try it out it the arenas (be forwarned though arenas aren't even close to end game PvP matches) to see if you think you can deal with it. If you don't like it, you can delete it off (it takes a couple of hours to hit level 10 and try the arena out is Ascalon) if you find it lacks the ummpf you were looking for. Most will knock W/Mo as they see them as flavor of months and Rangers as so many people either don't know how to play them or don't want to play them correctly so if you decide one of those builds might suit you better, feel free try one of those out as well. Bottom line, try and see what happens. Last edited by Night; Jun 24, 2005 at 02:02 PM // 14:02..

Jun 24, 2005, 06:56 AM // 06:56	#2
Wa$d Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Profession: W/Mo	Is this your first time playing the game, if it how experence are you with this game, if you are new to MMORPG's then you might consider going with the w/mo build or if you want to be a good monk try Ele/Mo, just a few suggestions, and also stay in pre-seering till lvl 6 or 7, if you have played this game before, ignor my post, sice you know what you are doing

Jun 24, 2005, 07:08 AM // 07:08	#3
Magus Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Apr 2005	N/Mo's are great for PvE, as they can raise a lot of undead and keep them alive for long periods of time. As for PvP, they're not so good (Mostly because there aren't that many corpses for you to use.) Wa$d is right, necromancers are pretty hard to use, and warriors or elementalists are much easier to play, as they serve run-of-the-mill roles. Btw, every profession combination in this game has its uses, some just require different strategies, but even the wierdest will work.

Jun 24, 2005, 07:11 AM // 07:11	#4
Ryoushi Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: Free People of Earth Profession: R/Me	I've seen some very powerful N/Mo's before. A particularly good route to take would be to use Curses or Blood Magic and smiting. The Blood magic helps you sustain yourself while smites and such add onto the damage. I have never used this build personally, but it's what I've taken from other N/Mos.

Jun 24, 2005, 07:23 AM // 07:23	#7
Jimbodan Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Guild: Currently looking...	Honestly I'd stay away from a necro. You'll have trouble grouping later on in PvE. I'd either go W/Mo just to learn the basics for awhile and then make a new character once you've learned a little. Also with a primary necro you will have even more trouble grouping in PvP since soul reaping is almost useless in PvP. A healing monk is another decent recomendation, it is easy to play a decent healing monk, plus they are sought after. Only problem is that you might not see a lot of the game that way.

Jun 24, 2005, 08:03 AM // 08:03	#8
RTSFirebat The Humanoid Typhoon Join Date: May 2005 Location: UK Guild: Servants of Fortuna [SoF] Profession: R/	Bad Warrior/Monks are boring... and annoying how the only heal themselves... make any class you like mate and see how they play out. If you want to give any class combo a go. Then best thing to do is make a PvP character and see how it plays it.

Jun 24, 2005, 08:04 AM // 08:04	#9
spiritofcat Jungle Guide Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Guild: Order of the Sanguine Dragon [OSD] Profession: E/Mo	I have an N/Mo. She's only low level now since she isn't my primary character, but I went with Blood and Healing and it seems good. I plan to build her into a healing vampire. Able to leech life from others and heal allies.

Jun 24, 2005, 08:05 AM // 08:05	#10
Shamblemonkee Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Location: UK, Bristol Guild: Gwen's Red Capes [Gwen] Profession: Mo/R	I wouldn't have thought monk was a good place to start as it's a character the group relies upon most and it can be a very intense job. My main character is a Necromancer / Mesmer. In PvE I've had no trouble finding groups despite all the negative comments you'll see here. Fact is necromancers can be very useful for softening targets up and buffing foes - weakness, mark of subversion, wells, blood is power, etc.. I can't speak much for PvP as I've not engaged in much of that - however I'll tell you right now that you'll almost definately use a radically different setup in PvP. Additionally Sould Reaping - a Necros primary attribute while it can be a boon to a Death or any other Necro in PvE really fails to shine in PvP. I'd also reccomend following RTSfirebats advice.

Jun 24, 2005, 08:13 AM // 08:13	#11
Agamond The Wise Academy Page Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: Demonic Knights Profession: Mo/E	They only heal themselves because thats all the energy they have

Jun 24, 2005, 09:46 AM // 09:46	#12
Ninna Desert Nomad Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northeast USA Guild: Guilded Rose Profession: Me/	I wouldnt recommend w/mo unless you like tanking and being in the front lines of combat the 5 other classes are typically not in the front lines (there are exceptions, smiting monks, earth elementalists, etc) just try any class combo that appeals to you

Jun 24, 2005, 12:25 PM // 12:25	#13
womble Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005	For a first class, I wouldn't recommend Necro as primary, but what the hey? You get 4 characters... During the early part of the game, whatever primary you select, you get the opportunity to try out all the other classes as your secondary. If you're a secondary Necro, the only disadvantage is that you don't get to have their primary characteristic which is probably the least widely useful of all the primaries.

Jun 24, 2005, 12:33 PM // 12:33	#14
Mr. Matt Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Profession: R/Mo	I'd say a Ranger would be good as your first ever character, unless you're going straight to a PvP character. They can do decent damage from range, they have a fairly varied number of skills with multiple purposes, decent armour, OK energy, and a pet can be a great help to new players early in the game as it takes some of the heat off them, as well as augments their damage. But by the same token it isn't an 'easy' class to play effectively, so you're definitely going to learn some useful tricks along the way. The only bad thing I find with them is their ability to self-heal; IMO, if you're going to make a gradual healing skill rather than an instant-effect one (i.e. healing signet), then it should activate instantly rather than take 3 seconds. But hey, taking up Monk as your secondary profession will solve that to some degree.

Jun 24, 2005, 01:09 PM // 13:09	#15
Myodato Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Guild: WOR Profession: Mo/	Great, lots of replies telling people to be W/Mo's or Rangers; because we don't have enough of those already N/Mo is one of the most powerful PvE combinations in the game. Concentrating on Death Magic and Healing, you can sustain a massive army of minions, who can do all the dirty work for you. Simply use Heal Area in between fights to keep all your little pets alive. Death Magic also has some nice damage skills to make sure you don't just sit back and watch every fight. It's a little more difficult in PvP, as there are generally less corpses to exploit (unless you're Korean apparently), but with 4 character slots, not every one has to be PvP focused. Overall, I think it's a great build, just beware that there are more 'hands on' options, which some people find more exciting. And I'd just like to add, I would usually take a N/Mo over a W/Mo in a PvE party. If I need a suicidal noob to charge into the enemy, I'll just ask the necro if I can borrow a minion.

Jun 24, 2005, 01:50 PM // 13:50	#16
Algren Cole Banned Join Date: Jun 2005	I'd definately go with a smiting monk build...i've seen the carnage these little guys can bring....it's impressive to watch them battle mobs of 8-10 without attacking even once.

Jun 24, 2005, 01:51 PM // 13:51	#17
Tarrant Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	If you plan on soloing alot (using only henchmen), I'd suggest Elementalist or Monk or Warrior. If you want to group with other players, Monk or Warrior. If you want to be unique, Mesmer (tough as a first character, though). Elementalist, Monk, and Warrior are all fairly straightforward in the roles you typically assume (not that they can't be varied). Hench Warriors are the hardest to work with since they charge anything you attack, often drawing additional enemies into the battle, so if you're the Warrior you can choose your charges. Hench healers sometimes have a hard time staying alive, so if you're a healer you can watch over them. Playing a Monk (primary or secondary) also makes escort missions easier since Hench healers only heal party members not escortees. At the higher end, every group wants a Monk (sometimes even two), but Monks are scarcer than other professions. So as a Monk you'll have no trouble getting into groups. You'll get people begging you to join. After Monks, the next most sought seems to be Warrior. In between cries of "Need a Monk!" you'll see the occasional "Looking for a tank". When starting a character, the key thing to consider is that your Primary profession determines your Primary-only skill. For instance, Monk Primaries get Divine Favor, which adds bonus healing to healing skills; you don't get that if Monk is your Secondary. And the Necro Soul Reaping has the most synergy with the Necro Death Magic minion-raising skills. Another consideration is the amount of Energy and Energy Regen you get, which is also based on your Primary. Warriors are low in both, so don't expect to do alot of casting if your Primary is Warrior. I could go on and on, but best that you do your own research since I'll inevitably miss something you might need. Getting to 5 or 6 is very quick and easy, so don't be afraid to try out characters. You may find that raising minions with a Necro is just your cup of tea, or you might have a blast throwing Mesmer hexes and crippling enemies.