Curse

CBLProgrammer · Sep 26, 2009, 12:12 AM // 00:12

Hey all.

I must say that in most situations, the hero MM can't be beat. I do have a general question though about hard mode.

I have been messing with different builds on Olias on hard mode. On the heroic mission I have been testing on (Thirsty River), I have had much more success with a Flesh Golem/Bone Fiend build. I tried out Aura of the Lich + Bone Fiends but struggled more. I found that the AoTL build brought enemies down faster but since there were more melee minions, they tended to run off to wherever they wanted.

When running hard mode (H/H only), is this a general rule? I never bring melee H/H because they like to run off, and I found having all casters (and bone fiends) makes vanquishing/hard missions much easier. I am just not sure if the higher level (and higher number of minions at times) provided by the AoTL offsets the unpredictability of the melee minions.

Anyone have any similar experiences to share? I have vanquished all of Tyria and have done many of the missions+bonus on hard mode. I am getting ready to start vanquishing Elona now.

Thanks for your time.

samerkablamer · Sep 26, 2009, 12:55 AM // 00:55

people like bone minions and aura of the lich and such not for the damage, but for the meat shields. If you have 9, 10, or even 11 minions depending on DM that are all upfront, then it takes alot of strain off of your party. Also death nova gives alot of damage. Bone fiends are probably more useful in NM for the damage but in HM a minion bomber is just generally better

Carinae · Sep 26, 2009, 01:08 AM // 01:08

Olias MM

20/20 wand
+1 DM / 20 HCT focus

16 DM
13 SR
4 Blood

Death Nova
Jagged Bones
Animate Vampiric Horror
Animate Bone Fiend
Blood of the Master
Foul Feast
Dark Bond
Infuse Condition

It's not fancy, but it's a damn solid build.

subarucar · Sep 26, 2009, 01:11 AM // 01:11

Fiends also push your energy quite hard compared to Horrors or Minions. Especially if your MM is running support skills of some sort from another profession.

AOTL/Jagged and Minions mean you can always to pumping out meatshields and big damage from Death Nova. If your in an area where your melee minions could run off and agro something, you shold be pulling the mob back anyway.

Daesu · Sep 26, 2009, 02:05 AM // 02:05

Fiends alone dont make good minion bombs or meat shield because they are usually in the backlines and are very expensive. This is why it is common to bring Aotl to help out if you want some minion bombing and meat shields.

That said, the advantage of fiends is their faster attack so they synergize better with barbs or MoP. If you are a melee character fiends also allow you to hold aggro better than having melee minions running around.

IronSheik · Sep 26, 2009, 07:23 AM // 07:23

Bone fiends on a hero generally aren't managed well, they are best left to Humans

If you want to use fiends, shamblings+fiends tend to work out, shamblings make the best tank minions, so they will wall longer, while you can still have the backline of fiends.

Empathetic Removal
Shambling
Fiend
Nova
Masochism
PS
Aegis
SoLS

paranon · Sep 26, 2009, 01:14 PM // 13:14

Flesh Golem is a pretty horrible elite tbh.. As others have said, Jagged bones or AOTL will outperform Golem. Personally i only really run MMs with discord heroes, so its not really a problem.

upier · Sep 27, 2009, 08:49 AM // 08:49

We also looked at this question here:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10375858
Might be an interesting read.

I've been playing a warrior lately and I am finding less and less use for a MM. The meatshield function of a minion wall loses it's point when YOU can be that shield. Not only that, but the shield function does actually not happen because I am rushing and killing so fast. Bloodsong and SoS represent the core of my choice for a summoner for a physical.
My ritualist on the other hand, runs two minion bombers.

Daesu · Sep 27, 2009, 07:17 PM // 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by upier

We also looked at this question here:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10375858
Might be an interesting read.

I've been playing a warrior lately and I am finding less and less use for a MM. The meatshield function of a minion wall loses it's point when YOU can be that shield. Not only that, but the shield function does actually not happen because I am rushing and killing so fast. Bloodsong and SoS represent the core of my choice for a summoner for a physical.
My ritualist on the other hand, runs two minion bombers.

If you take the trouble to hold good aggro as a melee fighter, everytime, then I agree with you.

This is why I prefer fiends over melee minions for a melee character. Furthermore, fiends, with their faster attack, synergize better with barbs and MoP which synergize with a physical damage character also.