Curse

Metal Faust · Apr 06, 2006, 04:19 AM // 04:19

Hi, I'm still rather new to the game, and this is my first time posting here. From I understand, I can change my secondary profession late in the game. However, I was wondering, out of the necromancer, mesmer and ranger, which of the three would be probably be the easiest for leveling up until the point of secondary class changing? I already have a warrior/monk at level 9, which is why I excluded those two classes as a secondary. Now, if being a monk secondary is the easiest for PvE, I can take that up, but I was hoping to take one of the three that I listed so that I can work towards unlocking those class skills for the PvP server.

Well, let me know what you guys think, and why. Possibly throw out some simple builds based on your suggestion. I know there is a build thread, but I really can't decide as on what would work well, as I'm only a few days old in GW. Thanks in advance.

LightningHell · Apr 06, 2006, 04:36 AM // 04:36

Necromancer: No big damage and stuff, so crappy PuG groups won't exactly want you early-game - however this can be very potent. However, you could go pure Elementalist with a Death spell or two. Later game, I think being a hexer-enchanter would be better.

Mesmer: Inspiration line 0wnz0rz.

Ranger: You get a tank! O_O

Ah yes, and also the joys of the WS line.

Francis Crawford · Apr 06, 2006, 07:28 AM // 07:28

Mesmer.

Ether Feast is a great self-heal early in the game.

Arcane Echo is excellent later on.

Channeling is really nice to have in places.

And Backfire makes beating the doppelganger automatic (I took him out in about 10 seconds with Backfire and Ice Spear).

All the necro line really gives you early on that's important (and that not really early) is a way to get rid of conditions. At least if you want to be a real elementalist; you also could be a fake one and really use your secondary profession, but that's a bad strategy by most measures until VERY late in the game, long after you've gotten the opportunity to change your secondaries around.

Ranger doesn't really give you anything useful, although the useless pets are cute.

Monk is useful for self-defense -- condition removal as much as healing, maybe a bit of hex removal too (although usually there are too many to get rid of).

Warrior, ranger, and necro are really pretty pointless except for late-game sophisticates.

LightningHell · Apr 06, 2006, 09:28 AM // 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francis Crawford

Ranger doesn't really give you anything useful, although the useless pets are cute.

Exactly my point.

Except I like Troll Unguent and Serpent's Quickness very much so. I don't use my secondary a lot unless it's E/Mo or E/Me.

Francis Crawford · Apr 06, 2006, 02:06 PM // 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

Exactly my point.

Except I like Troll Unguent and Serpent's Quickness very much so. I don't use my secondary a lot unless it's E/Mo or E/Me.

I can see using Serpent's Quickness with any of three elites -- Mist Form, Obsidian Flesh, and Glyph of Renewal. But do you have any builds that use it earlier in the game?

And earlier in the game Aura is probably a better self-heal than Troll Unguent. And Ether Feast at 0 or throwaway attribute points is comparable to Troll Unguent (epecially if you add in 15-17 health points for Aura), although it rises more slowly in benefit if you really do pump points into each of the respective stats.

On the other hand, if I'm pumping points into Inspiration, then a couple of other skills from the line get awfully attractive ...

frickett · Apr 06, 2006, 02:21 PM // 14:21

My first character was a ranger / monk. It wasnt difficult to get her through the game. I am working on a Mesmer now, (ele secondary) and when factions comes out I am gonna make a necro. So far the Ranger has been the easiest for me.

LightningHell · Apr 06, 2006, 02:30 PM // 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francis Crawford

I can see using Serpent's Quickness with any of three elites -- Mist Form, Obsidian Flesh, and Glyph of Renewal. But do you have any builds that use it earlier in the game?

And earlier in the game Aura is probably a better self-heal than Troll Unguent. And Ether Feast at 0 or throwaway attribute points is comparable to Troll Unguent (epecially if you add in 15-17 health points for Aura), although it rises more slowly in benefit if you really do pump points into each of the respective stats.

On the other hand, if I'm pumping points into Inspiration, then a couple of other skills from the line get awfully attractive ...

Hey, if you do E/R, you don't get 1337 groups yelling for "3CH0 N00KuRZ FTW", and that's good enough for me.

Although I usually play E/Me(Mo) anyways.

I usually use SQ with Air, but that's...just me.

Evilsod · Apr 06, 2006, 03:01 PM // 15:01

Aslong as you don't use Energizing Wind...

EW to take the 'edge' off the high energy cost spells and to seriously tick off the rest of the group with that annoying extra recharge.

Echo sucks, Renewal all the way

LightningHell · Apr 06, 2006, 03:17 PM // 15:17

Yes, I know, I know, Glyph of Renewal all the way...whatever...*yawn*

I'm getting seriously tired with this kind of discussion, ya people know. This pwn that isn't very exciting...

Ether Prodigy ftw.

Francis Crawford · Apr 07, 2006, 05:43 AM // 05:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

Hey, if you do E/R, you don't get 1337 groups yelling for "3CH0 N00KuRZ FTW", and that's good enough for me.

Although I usually play E/Me(Mo) anyways.

I usually use SQ with Air, but that's...just me.

Hmm. If you love all your damage/disruption spells equally, accelerating all their recharge is cheaper in terms of energy than echoing one of them ... but perhaps more costly in terms of attribute points. But then, attribute points in Energy Storage only give energy, so it's a straightforward tradeoff.

And if you can cast Ether Prodigy more often, you might even get the energy back directly, although a little exhaustion would eventually build up.

Again I say: Hmm ...

LightningHell · Apr 07, 2006, 05:57 AM // 05:57

I have been said, by my friends, to be the weirdest player of any game they have ever seen. I do not have the time to build my style to a stereotype, so I make my own. And SQ + Air isn't that bad.

I don't even nuke. I do E/Me for Earth/Illusion(perhaps Domination, depending on the area), or E/Mo for a PvE equivalent of a Flashbot.

Mouse at Large · Apr 07, 2006, 09:52 AM // 09:52

It may be a bit extreme, but I've gone E/Me with a complete Me skillbar apart from Aura of Restoration. I figure having the high energy pool and continuous self-heal makes up for the lack of fast casting and a skillpoint or two in the Me lines. I'll never be a massive damage dealer, but it makes for a competent general purpose support character. And what's more, it's fun to play

For the sake of completeness, here is the build

Illusion - 12
Domination - 10
Energy Storage - 10

Wastrels Worry
Conjure Phantasm
Phantom Pain
Ineptitude (e)
Clumsiness
Guilt
Backfire
Aura of Restoration

Weapon of choice is currently Illyana's Staff

P.S - this is for PvE only

LightningHell · Apr 07, 2006, 11:06 AM // 11:06

No, that is not extreme. I've done that loads of times. Sometimes I don't even have Aura of Restoration...

Cherno · Apr 07, 2006, 08:31 PM // 20:31

I haven't used aura of restoration on my ele since I got enough spells to fill out my bar in my chosen line. Just never cared for it that much.

If you are like most eles you stick to the back lines and don't get into the need for that kind of constant heal. I have better things to put on my skillbar. It is a good spell, just not really a necessity.

Minus Sign · Apr 07, 2006, 09:12 PM // 21:12

I reccomend mesmer as your alternate. Interupts can make for good support skills without sacrificing atty points to Dom or inspiration. Add in some stances that reduce damage and you've got a good backline character for anything GWP can throw at you. You also get Energy regen skills earlier (and more of them).

Too many people grab necro solely for OoB or SS. Those are Elite skills you can get very late in the game (if you aren't run) and just doesn't make sense since, by the time most people actually cap them, they can swap proffessions in the desert.

Mouse at Large · Apr 07, 2006, 09:12 PM // 21:12

I agree with you if your playing with a regular group with healers/prots that know everyones style. In PUGs, anything that helps you survive a bit longer without so much monk intervention is usually a good thing

LouAl · Apr 07, 2006, 09:29 PM // 21:29

Here's my 2 bits

Go ranger if you want to cast more spells in a shorter period of time

Go mesmer if you want to maintain casting over a long period of time

just my opinion and not 100% accurate