Curse

FleshMesh · Jun 09, 2012, 05:47 PM // 17:47

First of all I should say hi, as this is my very first post. I'm new to the forums but not new to Guild Wars, although I haven't played for a few years, and that's where my issue comes in.

(Skip below for my main query without the fleshing out)

Having gotten back into the game I decided I would love to take a few PvE characters throug hthe campaigns again to get my eye back in and experience the game properly before I got into any PvP (and before the sequel, if I'm quick enough). One character I remember having a great time with was a minion master in Factions. It was so long ago that I'm not sure of the build, but it was one of my favourite ways to play.

I decided to get back into that and go with a necromancer, possibly my all time favourite profession anyway, and start at Propechies. Now it's secondary profession time, and I'm pretty torn. I've narrowed it down to three, with two major preferences.

Initially I considered an N/R build, possibly for an extra 'minion' in my pet, and later for the minion bombing potential. After trying this about for a while though, I think I'm largely set against it as (for now at least) it seems quite restrictive in what it offers to my skill bar.

The next obvious choice would be N/Mo, and I think this may have been my previous build. Easy to use, easy to clean, easy to sustain an army of meatshields with I suppose. From what I can remember and have played around with, the skills look fun and very complementary so I wouldn't be disappointed if this was the best option.

I suppose the real question I have is, as my third option, is an MM N/E build at all viable? To be honest, it would be largely focused on necro death magic, but I have unlocked some decent earth magic skills in PvP i could pick up post-searing, and I was wondering if this could be a good way to go? Aura of Restoration could assist in keeping me healthy while blood magic fuels my undead army, although I'm aware I can't improve it, and having one or two earthy speels for either offense or defense could help me if I'm low on corpses. The idea of it interests me, but I don't want to commit only to have handicapped myself, especially since I haven't played for a while and my monk and ele knowledge overall is slim.

To cut a long story short (far too late), I wanted to know if anyone else found N/E builds both fun and worthwhile, or if really N/Mo or N/R will get me the most out of my MM experience?

HigherMinion · Jun 09, 2012, 09:49 PM // 21:49

protip: Don't run a secondary profession; spec fully into Death and Soul Reaping. Run Order of Undeath for instant winrar.

Mortal Amongst Mere Gods · Jun 09, 2012, 11:25 PM // 23:25

As above, don't even bother with running a secondary. Your build will likely be more efficient if you focus on Death and SR. If you really want to integrate a secondary profession into your build then I'd say go /Mo with skills like Heal Area and use Bone Fiends. Their ranged attacks allow them to sit back so that you can use PBAoE (point-blank area of effect) healing skills to catch all of them at once. If you go this route, you will also definitely want to take a look at the EotN skill Ebon Battle Standard of Honor, which will massively buff the damage your Fiends will do.

Otherwise, just don't bother with trying to make use of your secondary. Which means you can go with whatever secondary you want, because they're all equally useless.

Also, if you're going to use Order of Undeath as HigherMinion suggested, you may want to take a look at Vampiric Horrors. Using vamp horrors in conjunction with OoU negates the sacrifice effect while still providing plenty of damage.

Hope this helps.

HigherMinion · Jun 09, 2012, 11:38 PM // 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mortal Amongst Mere Gods

Also, if you're going to use Order of Undeath as HigherMinion suggested, you may want to take a look at Vampiric Horrors. Using vamp horrors in conjunction with OoU negates the sacrifice effect while still providing plenty of damage.

Hope this helps.

I can't remember, but doesn't OoU also increase the health gain from the vampric horrors?

Mortal Amongst Mere Gods · Jun 10, 2012, 12:28 AM // 00:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by HigherMinion

I can't remember, but doesn't OoU also increase the health gain from the vampric horrors?

In effect, it does. It increases the damage that all of your minions do, and as all damage that vamp horrors do equates to healing for their master, OoU increases their healing capacity. The only problem with vamp horrors is the 15 second recharge.

HigherMinion · Jun 10, 2012, 01:09 AM // 01:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mortal Amongst Mere Gods

In effect, it does. It increases the damage that all of your minions do, and as all damage that vamp horrors do equates to healing for their master, OoU increases their healing capacity. The only problem with vamp horrors is the 15 second recharge.

That's fine; it helps balance the ratio between vamp:fiend. Fiend attacking 33% faster than a horror and at range.

akelarumi · Jun 10, 2012, 08:39 AM // 08:39

First of all, specially in factions there are two points in the game you might think bout your secondary professions. The first is on the nooby island, the second is a bit further in game on the mainland.

The first time you pick is actually too early to let you decide. But as mentioned above, all professions (and maybe specially the necromancer) doesn't really need a secondary profession. So you can make poor decissions but not wrong ones. However your only stuck with it for the first 4 missions in the game. After that you can unlock all other secondary professions for a moderate fee of 500 gold/profession (so you need to pay 4k to unlock them all). After unlocking you can change your secondary as much as you want free of charge. So my main message is to not worry too much bout it

Then to help you decide. There are roughly two kinds of necromancers. Casters and minion masters. the minion masters (wich gets your main focus if I got you right) can be split into two streams again. The true minion masters who uses the minions as a meatshield and you would want to keep them alive as long as possible. A healer would be nice for this so either ritualist or monk. The other form of minion master is the minion bomber, who uses the minions as walking mines (on death the minion is chanted to deal damage). A good combo for that one would be ritualist imo cause the rit skills can help you keep the minions alive long enough, but beside that they have a few skills available that also helps you regain energy and party wide healing.

So in short, assuming you are still on the newbe island and your pick is temporary, I would suggest to go ritualist cause that way you can try both kind of mm's.

FleshMesh · Jun 10, 2012, 09:55 AM // 09:55

Thanks for the replies all.

I think on balance I'm just going to go with /Mo, as from the comments it seems like the skills I'll be taking from it will be minimal anyway. I sort of assumed that would be the case, but was just wondering if there was another potential route. Then once I get through to Factions maybe I can experiment a bit more.

I haven't actually got EotN yet, disappointingly, as I understand that also has Masochsim, which looks very handy. I will probably get and install it soon, saying that. I'm given to understand it acts as a sort of core 'link' to the other three campaigns? I stopped playing literally just as it came out so my knowledge there is nil.

Looks like I'm all set for now though so thanks again for the advice

HigherMinion · Jun 10, 2012, 11:39 PM // 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by FleshMesh

Thanks for the replies all.

I think on balance I'm just going to go with /Mo, as from the comments it seems like the skills I'll be taking from it will be minimal anyway. I sort of assumed that would be the case, but was just wondering if there was another potential route. Then once I get through to Factions maybe I can experiment a bit more.

I haven't actually got EotN yet, disappointingly, as I understand that also has Masochsim, which looks very handy. I will probably get and install it soon, saying that. I'm given to understand it acts as a sort of core 'link' to the other three campaigns? I stopped playing literally just as it came out so my knowledge there is nil.

Looks like I'm all set for now though so thanks again for the advice

Basically, not owning EotN gimps every human bar you could imagine and more. It's been done like that on purpose for the incentive to not look like a baddie in PUGs. If there had been another campaign they would have surely released the elite skill, "BAMPH!"