Curse

Ensign · Dec 04, 2007, 09:51 AM // 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moloch Vein

Does killing them count?

Of course, but Necros are rather poor at killing a particular target quickly. They are rather good at dealing decent amounts of disbursed damage over moderate periods of time; but that really doesn't translate into 'shutting down groups of casters'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moloch Vein

Thus we're left with interrupts and flat out killing them.

Not quite. Shutdown can take the form of casting time debuffs, disabling effects such as Blackout or Power Block, and reactive effects (enchant / hex removals). Interrupts and knockdowns are a facet of caster shutdown that's relevant against a single key caster, but really isn't relevant at all against, say, a pack of Ruby Djinni or Roaring Ethers. The best responses to those are daze, Arcane Conundrum (and other lengthens cast time hexes), and reactive responses (removal and armor buffs). None of these are particularly attractive on a Necromancer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moloch Vein

For interrupts I'd use either Shivers or Psychic Distraction.

Shivvers is an all or nothing skill that you can use to interrupt spam a single target at the cost of your character, if you build your team around it (cold damage weapons everywhere). It is an attractive shutdown option that I hadn't looked at recently though, thank you.

I would sooner put Broad Head Arrow on a Necromancer bar than Psychic Distraction. The skill is 100x better for what you're doing with it in PvE, and it doesn't trash your character nearly as badly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moloch Vein

Generally speaking a necromancer can run a PD build better than a mesmer in PvE.

Only if you are making a terribad character that does nothing but Psychic Distraction. In general Necromancers make horrendous interrupters; only Fire Elementalists are in worse shape. But why the hell would you ever run PD in PvE?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moloch Vein

Suggested bar:

Why is that bar better than what a Dom Mesmer or, moreso, a Ranger would run? Would you seriously consider taking that character over the alternatives given the choice?

I don't accept the 'Necromancers are the best caster shutdown class because they can run the best caster shutdown skills as their secondary, plus SOUL REAPING!!!', which is what this comes down to. Especially because during the phases of a fight where I care most about caster shutdown, Soul Reaping isn't triggering.

Longasc · Dec 04, 2007, 01:47 PM // 13:47

The only good use of Soul Leech I have seen was a Destroyer putting it on my poor Ogden...

I agree, caster shutdown is not the domain of the Necromancer.

I am still looking for a skill that allows me to daze myself for up to 15 seconds.... Plague Sending! :> THAT would be better than BHA Ranger + Epidemic.

Moloch Vein · Dec 04, 2007, 11:40 PM // 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ensign

Not quite. Shutdown can take the form of casting time debuffs, disabling effects such as Blackout or Power Block, and reactive effects (enchant / hex removals). Interrupts and knockdowns are a facet of caster shutdown that's relevant against a single key caster, but really isn't relevant at all against, say, a pack of Ruby Djinni or Roaring Ethers. The best responses to those are daze, Arcane Conundrum (and other lengthens cast time hexes), and reactive responses (removal and armor buffs).

Actually, one of the very best responses to a pack of Ruby Djinn are Defiant Was Xinrae.

Quote:

Only if you are making a terribad character that does nothing but Psychic Distraction. In general Necromancers make horrendous interrupters; only Fire Elementalists are in worse shape. But why the hell would you ever run PD in PvE?

I'd run PD in PvE in a few cases:

1, if I want a hero character that can be relied upon to actually shut down a target.

2, if I could find enough worthwhile domination spells (such as Cry of Frustration etc) and my team is still in need of a spammable disabling interrupt to use in particular situations. It isn't true that putting PD on your bar trashes your character, unless you use it indiscriminately.

Quote:

I don't accept the 'Necromancers are the best caster shutdown class because they can run the best caster shutdown skills as their secondary, plus SOUL REAPING!!!', which is what this comes down to. Especially because during the phases of a fight where I care most about caster shutdown, Soul Reaping isn't triggering.

During about 99% of the phases of a fight where I am concerned about caster shutdown, Soul Reaping triggers. I make sure things die, I build my team around it.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10205741 (Slightly outdated, have learned some more since then too)