Curse

Belablue · May 28, 2009, 07:15 AM // 07:15

I am a newbie and have just leveled my E/W up to 16 in Prophacies. I read through the info here about Elementalists and realized that my 2nd profession choice of "warrior" is bad. At the time I chose it, I thought "warrior" would give my Elementalist some of the strength it lacks physically and with hand weapons. But obviously wasn't a great choice.

So I have a couple of questions here.. wondering is there anyway to switch professions at this point....as far as I can tell there isn't but did read about the option of changing 2nd profs in some of the other expansions. Is E/W a big enough gaff to make it worhtwhile to create a new character and try and run trhough some areas to level her up? Finally...Is it correct that I will use this character and keep my level when I go to a new game...I have EOTN. Or does your character start over in each game? When I buy other games..like Nightfall...will I get new character slots?

Thanks so much for any advice or info you can provide

tmakinen · May 28, 2009, 07:36 AM // 07:36

Hi Belablue, and welcome. You haven't done any irreparable harm to your character - you will be able to switch your secondary profession freely once you have ascended (which is a particular mission, I won't give out any spoilers but you can read wiki if you want to check how far ahead it is from where you are now in the game). Until then, you can just ignore your secondary profession and use only elementalist skills, it's completely feasible.

You can take your character as such to other campaigns and (other than EotN which has a special buff that temporarily raises your level to 20) it will have the exactly same stats there. It is recommended to visit EotN and Nightfall as soon as possible to pick up some heroes that will help you immensely. Factions and Nightfall both provide 2 new character slots if they are added to your existing account, EotN is an expansion and doesn't provide character slots.

Cebe · May 28, 2009, 07:55 AM // 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belablue

So I have a couple of questions here.. wondering is there anyway to switch professions at this point....as far as I can tell there isn't but did read about the option of changing 2nd profs in some of the other expansions.

Like tmakinen, I'll try not to ruin too much of the story for you, but just to say that changing your secondary profession in Tyria is somewhat different to the other campaigns. The other campaigns have an NPC with [Secondary Profession Changer] after the name, when you get to a certain point in the storyline. Tyria requires you to complete quests to unlock secondaries, so there is a little more work involved there.

It is also worth noting that there is a secondary profession changer in the Great Temple of Balthazar, the Core city on the Battle Isles, which should bypass the need to do the secondary profession quests in Tyria, if I remember correctly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belablue

Is E/W a big enough gaff to make it worhtwhile to create a new character and try and run trhough some areas to level her up?

Not really, just crack on and change your secondary later. You can create some great builds using Prophecies-only skills for Elementalists. Earth Magic is great there, and definitely worth looking into.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belablue

Finally...Is it correct that I will use this character and keep my level when I go to a new game...I have EOTN. Or does your character start over in each game? When I buy other games..like Nightfall...will I get new character slots?

You get new character slots with Factions and Nightfall, but not Eye of the North...your existing Prophecies character will join in with the Factions and Nightfall storylines part-way through (basically, at the same sort of point as the newbies leave the starter areas in each of those campaigns). Your Prophecies character needs to have reached Lion's Arch to get to travel to the other continents, and yes, you keep your Level, XP, skills...everything you gained in Tyria. You can move your character freely between all the games and carry on with whichever storyline takes your fancy. Also, one thing to note: Make sure you ADD any new game keys to your existing account...don't make a new one!

Now, general Elementalist pointers. Don't go melee. I know you have Warrior secondary, but using a melee weapon as a squishy Elementalist is never a great plan. You have less armour than a Warrior and are far more liable to take greater damage by running up to foes to wave your axe in their face.

I'd also suggest that you leave the Warrior skills alone...you shouldn't need them, and you'll be more effective just playing Elementalist.

Just as an FYI, when you finally do change your secondary, decent secondaries for Elementalists are:

Necromancer for Enfeebling Blood (great with Stoning and more efficient than most Elementalist methods of inflicting Weakness).
Mesmer for Epidemic, Arcane Echo and the like.
Monk for a re-usable resurrection skill, not to mention Elementalists are well equipped for using expensive Monk skills such as Convert Hexes.

**Marty Silverblade** · May 28, 2009, 07:59 AM // 07:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belablue

I thought "warrior" would give my Elementalist some of the strength it lacks physically and with hand weapons. But obviously wasn't a great choice.

This is a common misconception from new players. Secondary professions are there to be secondary. You are an Elementalist, so play like one. Use your secondary to pick up one or two skills that would round off your skillbar, not to pick up and try to integrate an entirely different playstyle (it doesn't work).

Belablue · May 28, 2009, 09:44 AM // 09:44

Hi tmakinen, Cebe & Marty

Many thanks for your replies..you answered all of my pesky questions and have given me lots to consider as I press forward. I am so happy to know that the E/W mistake wasn't fatal and would dread starting a new char from the beginning...so I will take your advice and leave the melee' combat to those suited as such and will realign my attribs to stregthen the Ele powers and continue on with what I have until I can change 2nd profs.

Also am glad to know that you CAN go back and forth between games...another thing I wasn't sure about.

You have been REALLY helpful!! I appreciate this forum...the game is complex and having a place to go and gleen info and chat with others is really GREAT!!!

Archress Shayleigh · May 28, 2009, 11:49 AM // 11:49

Play the game, you'll get to a point where you can get a new secondary profession.

BrettM · May 28, 2009, 02:09 PM // 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belablue

I am so happy to know that the E/W mistake wasn't fatal and would dread starting a new char from the beginning...

Don't dread it! You get extra character slots for a reason.

Even though you will be keeping your E/W, don't hesitate to use those slots to try other professions, and to try starting characters in the other campaigns. I used one slot to start a character in Factions to experience the newbie areas there and the rit profession, then deleted the character and restarted in NF to experience those newbie areas and the paragon profession. It made the story feel more complete to know what happened before my Prophecies characters got to those campaigns.

I have permanent ele, ranger, and monk characters currently, and will probably add a permanent ritualist sometime in the future. (I really, really want the rit FoW armor.

)

TheodenKing · May 28, 2009, 02:16 PM // 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Silverblade

This is a common misconception from new players. Secondary professions are there to be secondary. You are an Elementalist, so play like one. Use your secondary to pick up one or two skills that would round off your skillbar, not to pick up and try to integrate an entirely different playstyle (it doesn't work).

^ This.

Consider using a tactics stance to help you block melee attacks. Then devote the rest of your bar to ele stuff.

alluring athena · May 28, 2009, 03:29 PM // 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belablue

Is it correct that I will use this character and keep my level when I go to a new game...I have EOTN. Or does your character start over in each game? When I buy other games..like Nightfall...will I get new character slots?

Welcome to Guild Wars

You get additional character slots for each new campaign you buy and add to your account.

Existing characters do not start over with each campaign you add (Factions or Nightfall). They will be able to travel to these new campaigns. You CAN however start a new character in any one of the new campaigns you have added (with the exception of EOTN which is technically not a new campaign its more of an expansion).

I recommend initially traveling to EOTN as soon as possible to acquire 2 heros right away (a monk and an ELE) You don't necessarily have to continue in the campaign but I do suggest at least acquiring the heros and doing the hero tutorial you will find in the first outpost.

You asked if you will retain your level.
Hopefully without making things too complicated for you....the answer is yes with one exception...

EOTN was originally designed for and only allowed characters to travel there who were level 20. They changed this to allow characters of level 10 or higher. Any character who is not level 20 will receive a buff called Journey to the North... You will be treated as a level 20 character and your health and attribute points will temporarily be higher while in EOTN

Laraja · May 28, 2009, 04:46 PM // 16:46

Belablue, welcome to GW. This is a really fun game, and a big part of the fun is playing with your skill bar and trying new builds.

My main is an elementalist on her way to maxing out several titles so I'm really familiar with the profession. I have to say that *in general* for PvE I don't use any of my secondary professions at all. PvX Wiki has some good ideas for ele builds. The only time I've found secondaries to come in handy is going into elite areas such as Urgoz Warren or--especially--in PvP.

I do think that in order to change your profession from the profession changer on Balthazar's island that you have to get your character to a certain area in the respective game. My son tried to change his Dervish's secondary to an assassin and couldn't; he was still on the NF noob island. But until you do get passed ascension in Prophecies, enjoy the story line and just run a full ele build.

So like the other people said, don't sweat it. Oh, and please please don't carry a warrior weapon and run up to enemies as someone else has pointed out (someone actually did that and it was the most painful thing I've ever seen in GW). Eles *can* tank with an earth build, but right now you don't want to go there.

ares296 · May 28, 2009, 07:38 PM // 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belablue

I am a newbie and have just leveled my E/W up to 16 in Prophacies. I read through the info here about Elementalists and realized that my 2nd profession choice of "warrior" is bad. At the time I chose it, I thought "warrior" would give my Elementalist some of the strength it lacks physically and with hand weapons. But obviously wasn't a great choice.

So I have a couple of questions here.. wondering is there anyway to switch professions at this point....as far as I can tell there isn't but did read about the option of changing 2nd profs in some of the other expansions. Is E/W a big enough gaff to make it worhtwhile to create a new character and try and run trhough some areas to level her up? Finally...Is it correct that I will use this character and keep my level when I go to a new game...I have EOTN. Or does your character start over in each game? When I buy other games..like Nightfall...will I get new character slots?

Thanks so much for any advice or info you can provide

well... you can ofc if you have ascended and you could use the warrior for tactics...
Party wide armor boost and more dunno the name anymore of the boost :P

Belablue · Jun 02, 2009, 11:35 AM // 11:35

Many thanks for all of the replies and great info!! Brett I took your advice and started a new Char..I'm enjoying it and trying to get to EOTN with my main Ele. Thanks Again Athena and Firestorm too!!

whatnow? · Jul 15, 2009, 07:40 PM // 19:40

bonetti's is used in some monk builds (pvp though maybe)..
is it perhaps useful for an ele in pve??
(i made exactly the same mistake at one point)

jmyhld · Jul 15, 2009, 07:59 PM // 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Silverblade

This is a common misconception from new players. Secondary professions are there to be secondary. You are an Elementalist, so play like one. Use your secondary to pick up one or two skills that would round off your skillbar, not to pick up and try to integrate an entirely different playstyle (it doesn't work).

I can't fully agree with this Marty Silverblade. Take for example a N/Me Fevered Dreams. It has the N primary but the core of the build conists out of Mesmer skills (Fevered Dreams, Fragility, Cry of Pain).

This is offcourse offtopic, but I wanted to point it out anyway, as I think this is a misconception in itself.

Ontopic:

As others have said, you have nothing to worry about. You basically can't go wrong with your character in GW. Everything is changeable, that's what makes GW so much fun.

Xenomortis · Jul 15, 2009, 09:08 PM // 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmyhld

I can't fully agree with this Marty Silverblade. Take for example a N/Me Fevered Dreams. It has the N primary but the core of the build conists out of Mesmer skills (Fevered Dreams, Fragility, Cry of Pain).

This is offcourse offtopic, but I wanted to point it out anyway, as I think this is a misconception in itself.

Whilst that is an excellent build, it is quite specific in purpose and certainly not something a newbie is going to run.
When you're new to the game, it is best that you run skills from your primary lines and get a good grip on that profession.