Curse

FiveDisgruntledMonkeys · Jul 11, 2005, 08:33 PM // 20:33

(If this is not an approrpiate place to post this, please move).
Hi.
I have a Necromancer/Mesmer whom I simply love. He's ripped his way through PvE with no trouble whatsoever. As he's nearing the end of his PvE days, I've started to set my sights on PvP. I'm considering a drastic rehashing of his build and skillbar. Here's what he currently looks like:
(Please note, I haven't got the last 30 attribute points yet. If some one could tell me where to get this (from a quest I presume), I'd appreciate it greatly)
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Attributes:
Soul Reaping: 6 (5+1)
Inspiration Magic: 7
Death Magic: 11 (10+1)
Blood Magic: 12 (10+1+1)
Skills:
Vampiric Gaze
Shadow Strike
Energy Tap
Arcane Echo
Summon Bone Minions
Death Nova
Grenth's Balance
Resurrection Signet
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Nothing special, I'm sure. Generally, I use Arcane Echo to double up my Vampiric Gaze. This allows me to steal somewhere in the area of 120 health every couple of seconds: decent damage that bypasses armor, goes through objects, and keeps me healed and cozy. Energy Tap keeps me away from the dreaded 0 on my energy bar. Shadow Strike is just for extra damage. Grenth's Balance is something I keep for PvE bosses (notably Glint. It's nice doing 500+ damage right off the bat). Bone Minions and Death Nova should be self-explanatory. I kep a Res Sig around just as common courtesy, and also because I often find myself being the last man standing.
Now, as I said before, I'm hoping to switch this PvE build over to a PvP build in the not-too-distant future. One thing I plan to do is take out all my points in Death Magic and put them into Curses. I plan on doing this because A) I doubt corpses will be readily available in PvP, and I don't want a build that is too dependent on them and B) I see a Curse-centered Necro as better able to fufill a Necro's traditional role in a group... which is debuffing enemies like there's no friggin' tommorow.
Anyway, what are your suggestions for a shift from PvE to PvP with a character like mine? Is a shift over to the Curses line a good idea? If so, what skills/combos do you suggest (I was thinking a simple Chillblains and Plague Sending/Plague Signet combo for starters. Seems versatile, if cost-heavy)? Could the points I've invested in Inspiration magic be better spent elsewhere? Or could the spots on my skill bar better utilize decent Inspiration magic? Do you see any glaring flaws with my trusty Arcane Echo/Vampiric Gaze combo?
Or are you just going to suggest that I delete my beloved character and make another Warrior/Monk clone?

Neo-LD · Jul 12, 2005, 12:20 AM // 00:20

Gonna want some anti-enchant, so Id pick up rend enchants or strip enchants. Rend Enchants could be an interesting combo with grenths balance. Id say death is useless unless you go pure summon with mass necros strategy, so you may want to switch to curses for barbs, soul barbs, faintheartedness or price of failure (pick a couple) You currently only use Inspiration for energy tap, which at 3 sec cast isnt that wonderful. Id say switch to domination and grab some hexes (some of these will grant you just as much many steal anyways)

Minwanabi · Jul 12, 2005, 03:34 AM // 03:34

Grenth won't help in any PvP, really, but lord ganking. It's too situational to take up the elite spot on your bar. Tainted Flesh isn't a bad idea, since it's always nice to spread disease right away.