Curse

Silversword22 · Sep 25, 2008, 08:34 PM // 20:34

I've started this thread in hopes of helping players who are confused/frustrated with maintaining Aggressive Refrain.

There have been a couple threads where alternatives to AR have been mentioned (Soldier's Fury, Flail etc.) but in the end, AR is still voted as the best IAS for a Paragon.

Since the Imbagon is the most popular build among players, I'll use it as an example:

[build prof=paragon/warrior name="good imbagon" spear mastery=11+2+1 leadership=11+1 command=8+1][spear of lightning][go for the eyes][save yourselves!][there's nothing to fear!][anthem of flame][aggressive refrain][focused anger][for great justice!][/build]

This setup works okay. To maintain AR, use Anthem of Flame/Weariness in between fights and GftE during the fight. The only problem is that GftE takes away adrenaline that should be going towards SY, creating a hiccup.

[build prof=paragon/warrior name="better imbagon" spear mastery=11+2+1 leadership=11+1 command=8+1][spear of lightning][save yourselves!][there's nothing to fear!][aggressive refrain][focused anger][for great justice!][optional][optional][/build] pve-only options: [pain inverter][technobabble][ebon battle standard of honor][finish him][you move like a dwarf!]

Cut the crap and use TNtF to maintain Aggressive Refrain. By doing so, all your adrenaline is going towards SY and it opens up 2 more slots. At 12 leadership, there's a one second window to use the shout. If you're amazing, you can pull it off...but I'm not so I cheat

THE HELMET SWAP
Go to Kamadan and buy the cheapest Leadership helm you can get. Then slap a superior Leadership Rune on it. When you first load a level, swap your normal helm with the cheap leadership one. Cast Aggressive Refrain. It will now last for 25 seconds, giving you a larger window to use TNtF. Use the shout and switch back to your other helm. To help with energy, keep a staff in one of your weapon slots.

Hopefully this helps!

*Note: I know this is probably old news to most players, but just tryin' to help

*

[Morkai] · Sep 25, 2008, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Most of what you said was covered in this thread:

http://guildwarsguru.com/forum/showt...php?t=10254869

However, nice thought and well presented.

Luminarus · Sep 26, 2008, 01:21 AM // 01:21

How hard is it to hit a skill on recharge... you dont have to be 'amazing' to do that... no but seriously though... im not one of those people that go around telling people to uninstall for being stupid, but if you seriously cant hit '6' for instance every 20 seconds then u should uninstall. Also if you cant hit a skill when it recharges, how are you maintaining SY?

Silversword22 · Sep 26, 2008, 03:12 AM // 03:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luminarus

How hard is it to hit a skill on recharge... you dont have to be 'amazing' to do that... no but seriously though... im not one of those people that go around telling people to uninstall for being stupid, but if you seriously cant hit '6' for instance every 20 seconds then u should uninstall.

Woah, relax. First of all, if you can manage the 1 second window between TNtF and AR in the middle of a fight then good for you. I personally can't do it. Call me noob, tell me to uninstall...whatever floats your boat. Second, the thread is intended to help such 'noobs,' so if you're already godly...ignore it.

Racthoh · Sep 27, 2008, 12:43 AM // 00:43

I wouldn't call cap swapping cheating. When you could swap armor in PvP it was common for monks to have +4 Divine Favor cap for casting Divine Boon. It's just a smart play.

Richardt · Sep 27, 2008, 12:47 AM // 00:47

Hitting that recharge window is tricky-takes alot of practice. I'm so used to hitting TNtF that if I do miss, it'll be a while before I notice I lost AR.

Unreal Havoc · Sep 27, 2008, 10:38 AM // 10:38

Focused Anger
"For Great Justice"
Anthem of Weariness
Spear of Fury
"Save yourselves!"
"There's Nothing to Fear!"
Aggressive Refrain
Optional

Is what I tend to run and have no problem at all maintaining Aggresive Refrain, in or out of combat.

BigDave · Sep 29, 2008, 02:19 PM // 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unreal Havoc

Focused Anger
"For Great Justice"
Anthem of Weariness
Spear of Fury
"Save yourselves!"
"There's Nothing to Fear!"
Aggressive Refrain
Optional

Is what I tend to run and have no problem at all maintaining Aggresive Refrain, in or out of combat.

That's exactly the build i use. Anthem of Weariness applies weakness before Spear of Fury hits its target, both providing lots of adrenaline and renewing AR at the same time during combat. Anthem of Flame applies its burning after the attack skill hits. This means you need to take another attack skill to trigger the burning before you can use Spear of Fury for the adrenaline gain. Out of combat Anthem of Weariness can maintain AR a little better than Anthem of Flame due to the fact it ends sooner giving you a couple of seconds longer to cast it.

For the optional slot i usually go with Merciless Spear. Quite handy putting a DW on a tough target. So long as you don't spam it there'll be no adrenaline isssues. Wild Throw can be useful aswell.

I wouldn't recommend running a build without a reliable way to maintain AR. It's just asking for problems.

AtomicMew · Sep 29, 2008, 05:46 PM // 17:46

Spear of lightning is seriously not that great when you have an orders. I'd rather take swift spear + wild throw for more unblockability.

Silversword22 · Sep 29, 2008, 06:08 PM // 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unreal Havoc

Focused Anger
"For Great Justice"
Anthem of Weariness
Spear of Fury
"Save yourselves!"
"There's Nothing to Fear!"
Aggressive Refrain
Optional

Argh!

Did either of you two read my original post? Yes you can maintain AR with anthems, but by using TNtF you free up an extra slot that can be used for more powerful pve-only skills (Pain Inverter, EBSoH, You move like a Dwarf, etc.) It's just more efficient. Try it!

BigDave, there are better ways to induce deep wound than merciless spear. If you're worried about block stances, use swift javelin over wild throw. 'Save Yourselves' should be the only adrenaline skill on the bar.

MisterB · Sep 29, 2008, 07:49 PM // 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silversword22

Argh!

Did either of you two read my original post? Yes you can maintain AR with anthems, but by using TNtF you free up an extra slot that can be using for more powerful pve-only skills (Pain Inverter, EBSoH, You move like a Dwarf, etc.) It's just more efficient. Try it!

Anthems are a crutch that too many are unwilling to leave behind. Your first post is well-presented and simple. Using TNtF to refresh AR with a 5 second window is easy with the helmet swap, and I honestly can't think of how it could be presented any simpler or easier than you have done. Well done.

MercenaryKnight · Sep 29, 2008, 08:49 PM // 20:49

Just curious, how does everyone start when they first load into an area. I can maintain tntf properly without helmet swapping but I notice I usually have to hold on to my staff and build up enough adrenaline to get energy back from save yourselves once or twice before I can switch back to a spear and keep spamming tntf without energy problems.

I may just be hitting tntf too soon after I cast aggressive refrain, I am unsure what's the proper technique for starting it up.

Richardt · Sep 29, 2008, 08:59 PM // 20:59

I do AR+FGJ (note FGJ is used while casting AR. Shouts are spiffy that way). No helmet swapping needed.

At 12 Leadership, AR lasts 21 sec. FGJ lasts for 20s. By using it while casting AR you'll be having AR recharge with a couple sec. to spare. By this time your energy is at 14. Wait one more sec. and it'll be at 15, ready for you to start hitting TNtF. From there on out you'll be able to use TNtF on recharge and AR stays up. And all done with 30 energy.

MisterB · Sep 29, 2008, 09:15 PM // 21:15

I just carry a staff to swap to for the energy to activate "TNtF!" I use AR + FGJ as outlined above when first zoning into an area, but I also have a helmet swap. The 1 second margin for error to refresh AR everytime annoys me more than swapping the helmet once. YMMV

Racthoh · Sep 29, 2008, 10:03 PM // 22:03

I always just swap to the staff, my Aggressive Refrain/Morgahn's Aggressive Refrain/Hayda's Aggressive Refrain -> "There's Nothing to Fear!" -> Focused Anger, swap back. Mash my attack skills when able, swap to staff if my energy is low come time for "There's Nothing to Fear!", "For Great Justice!", EBSHonor, or Focused Anger.

Personally I used my staff set heavily, especially when there wasn't a Dark Fury present. My energy would rarely get into double digits but I was always able to throw up "There's Nothing to Fear!", EBSHonor, and my adrenaline boosters on recharge. It never hurts to improve your ability to weapon swap effectively.

Silversword22 · Sep 29, 2008, 10:49 PM // 22:49

I envy all of you who can get by without helmet swapping. Between fights, I can pull of the 1 second window, but during a fight...I dunno. I must have ADD because I get so easily distracted that I don't even see that TNtF's recharged until it's too late. I needz them extra secondz

MercenaryKnight · Sep 30, 2008, 03:54 AM // 03:54

Well, I dunno whether this will help or not. But I think you could be able to make a macro that would hit the skill every 20.5 seconds or whatever so it'd be on recharge for you. Then all you'd have to do is turn on the macro when your ready and let it spam it for you.

I highly doubt it'd be bannable since it's botting or able to go afk and have it do it all for you.

Richardt · Sep 30, 2008, 04:15 AM // 04:15

It really just takes practice. I had trouble when I started doing it, but once you get the feel for it it becomes natural.

Although sometimes I do get distracted and forget to hit it