Curse

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 01:24 AM // 01:24

I posted this in another thread. Based on the response it got, I think it should have its own thread.

Guard Warrior

W/Mo

Attributes -

9 Healing Prayers
10 Smiting Prayers
1 Protection Prayers
2 Strength
11 Axe Mastery
9 Tactics

(Darn runes mess up my point spread. =P)

Skills -

Bonetti's Defense
Cyclone Axe
Symbol Of Wrath
Balthazar's Aura
Word Of Healing/Healing Hands
Heal Area/Orison Of Healing/Healing Breeze
Healing Signet
Light Of Dwayna/Restore Life

Gladiator Armor/Knight/Platemail Armor (will switch between all three later on)

Weaponsets -

Axe/Shield
Wand/Shield or weak longbow for ticking off remote groups.
Axe/Healing Ankh - Primary Set
Wand/Ankh - Secondary Set

Health - 510
Energy - 40 (32 without Gladiator Armor)

Later in the game, with multiple warriors and multiple monks in a party, I almost always run into the question of whether multiple tanks are necessary, as one platemail dude usually provides enough of a distraction for the casters to do their thing and the monks to only heal ONE person instead of two or more so they don't stretch themselves too thin.

My guard warrior begins combat with a smiting wand, standing just in front of the casters. The main berserker warrior will charge into battle and start swinging as usual. Any monsters who don't crowd around him will charge towards me, at which point I may switch to melee and Symbol of Wrath their sorry ###es. =) If the berserker is surrounded and nobody's charging, he gets Balthazared for 200 AOE damage to that mob just from me (a warrior nonetheless), and I might run in to join him with Symbol of Wrath ready.

If I stay near the casters and we've got a firing squad of ranger/caster monsters, I use Heal Area to heal them for over 100 HP a pop and to serve as a 2nd line of defense in case we get charged or back-attacked.

In the event that one of the healers stops watching the bars for whatever reason, Word Of Healing if they fall below 50% will patch them up over 100 HP for only 5 Energy. Not a bad bargain, though I'm thinking of swapping it for Heal Other and making Healing Hands my elite skill.

Up front when buried in mobs I can use Cyclone Axe for a quick group attack when the other two spells or energy levels are recharging. That helps power up Bonetti's Defense, which I'll fire off to get some energy back when I'm just going to be swinging anyways. Bonetti's Defense is my limit break, and the fun part is it works minus the energy when I'm in ranged combat too.

My most powerful attack is when I'm in melee and do the 4-3 Combo. B Aura + Symbol of Wrath for a combined damage output of 320 AOE Holy Damage to the poor monsters around me.

My pet peeve is interrupters. When I see Mesmer monsters I usually engage them first, usually ranged while everyone else wonders what the heck I'm doing while they keep getting interrupted trying to fire off spells.

I'd better throw in here that I am strictly a PvE player. I don't PvP as I find it not worth the trouble to endlessly stress over builds and uberleetness in the arenas.

audioaxes · Nov 10, 2005, 01:46 AM // 01:46

heal area is a no go,
and way too much healing (unless you doing a monkless party)

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 02:09 AM // 02:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioaxes

heal area is a no go,
and way too much healing (unless you doing a monkless party)

Tell that to a bunch of half dead casters who just got smacked by a meteor or water magic late in the game, or henchies, who are even worse in terms of sticking together.

The spell also gets me some compliments from middle of the road minion masters as well.

I'm also thinking of a 1-2 punch combo similar to the smite combo where I light of Dwayna a bunch of dead teammates and then Heal Area them so they come back with 25% Health + 120 Health on top of that. It'll take an awful lot of work for me to pull something like that off with a warrior character though.

I don't like Healing Breeze since Mesmers or Necro monsters will smash the enchantment. Might as well load up on cheapo heals and leave the rest to the monk.

A lot of these things are warmups for what I'll do with my ranger character later on, since I've started a ranger to be even more the jack of trades than this guy.

Alone) · Nov 10, 2005, 02:18 AM // 02:18

Oh, when you said a guard warrior, thought you actually meant like hitting foes with knockdowns, protector's strike, bull's strike, and what not.

The problem about Light of Dwayna is the range. And if others are running away from you, symbol of wrath won't be so useful.

Man With No Name · Nov 10, 2005, 02:38 AM // 02:38

Since this is PvE...

You'll probably have more success with W/N. Pump up the Curse line. Bring along "Shadow of Fear". Run into a group, hex the lot and cut their Attack Speed down by 50%. Use stances like Gladiator's Defense (E), Shield Stance, Bonetti's to evade attacks.

Making a W/Mo Healer is never gonna be a great idea ( just as it isn't in PvP ) -- with 2 pip's of energy regen and a small energy pool -- it's flawed from the start.

And I've gotta ask why the Casters are getting hit in the first place..?? Sounds like someone can't draw agro properly. Ideally the whole mob should be hitting the Warrior. I also favour "Rebirth" as my PvE resurrect of choice, for when it all goes pear-shaped.

audioaxes · Nov 10, 2005, 04:02 AM // 04:02

well you need to group up with decent monks then.

Manfred · Nov 10, 2005, 04:13 AM // 04:13

and you DO realize that heal area heals monsters too, right?

Frankly, a mo/w with defensive stances would be a far better choice for this kind of build.

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 08:49 AM // 08:49

Again, that's why I only use Heal Area where there are no monsters nearby. Sometimes I'll switch it with Orison of Healing if I know I tend to get surrounded in a certain part of the world.

Invariably I almost always get into groups where the berserker doesn't draw the whole mob. Any who get past him have to deal with me.

I've been experimenting with Nuke Warrioring this evening with Tactics, Axe Mastery, and Fire Magic. I just use Bonetti's Defense, Cyclone Axe, Healing and Resurrection Signet, then Lava Font, Meteor, Fire Storm, Meteor Shower.

Basically once the berserker has engaged the mob, I soften them up with something before I run in and attack. Sometimes I soften things a little more.

It's cute though how Warrior energy regen isn't much faster than the Exhaustion regen. Not a problem though when I can just switch to Axe-swinging in between spells.

Interrupting with Meteor proved instrumental to killing the Monk boss for Healing Hands after our Nuker quit.

judge1121 · Nov 10, 2005, 01:37 PM // 13:37

umm ur build goes too much in to being a monk than warrior i mean WoH?

Sharpe_116 · Nov 10, 2005, 01:39 PM // 13:39

This is like my build but modified to have way more healing :S. I aggree with them, if u only using heal area when there r no monsters around, might aswell use breeze, so heal area is a waste of a slot. And since this is a pve build, why do u bring rez.... 2 monks should have it, and if they arent noobs they will back off when aggro takes a mind of its own. Also, Cyclone axe doesent really serve a purpose... it does low damage.... and ur wasting tons of points into axe for only one attack, u could rip out those points and put them into smite or heal, and then change cyclone with a smite that does way more then cyclone.

Yukito Kunisaki · Nov 10, 2005, 04:35 PM // 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Man With No Name

Since this is PvE...

You'll probably have more success with W/N. Pump up the Curse line. Bring along "Shadow of Fear". Run into a group, hex the lot and cut their Attack Speed down by 50%. Use stances like Gladiator's Defense (E), Shield Stance, Bonetti's to evade attacks.

Making a W/Mo Healer is never gonna be a great idea ( just as it isn't in PvP ) -- with 2 pip's of energy regen and a small energy pool -- it's flawed from the start.

And I've gotta ask why the Casters are getting hit in the first place..?? Sounds like someone can't draw agro properly. Ideally the whole mob should be hitting the Warrior. I also favour "Rebirth" as my PvE resurrect of choice, for when it all goes pear-shaped.

Shadow of Fear + Enfeebling Blood = a mob that a child can tank...

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 06:00 PM // 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharpe_116

This is like my build but modified to have way more healing :S. I aggree with them, if u only using heal area when there r no monsters around, might aswell use breeze, so heal area is a waste of a slot. And since this is a pve build, why do u bring rez.... 2 monks should have it, and if they arent noobs they will back off when aggro takes a mind of its own. Also, Cyclone axe doesent really serve a purpose... it does low damage.... and ur wasting tons of points into axe for only one attack, u could rip out those points and put them into smite or heal, and then change cyclone with a smite that does way more then cyclone.

It's a decent alternative, but not later in the game when monsters pack Mesmers and Necros who Shatter and Desecrate Enchantments of any sort, even the Elementalist self-healing spell. One of my pet peeves is noob monks who depend solely on enchantments later in the game and actually HELP people get killed because while trying to heal them from getting hurt in the first place, they damage their teammates more when monsters Shatter Enchantments. Take your pick. Your teammate is down to 25-30% health. Either you send 80 Health over time, or 120 Health all at once. Do the math.

And if you make fun of Cyclone Axe, you've either never played or have no idea how to play an Axe Warrior. Cyclone Axe serves several purposes. If I need a quick group attack while the other two group attacks are recharging, I can use that even though it's the weakest of the three. You also get Adrenaline from every monster you hit, useful for the 8 hits required to fire off Bonetti's Defense to get your energy back, and if you're using Cyclone Axe, you're probably surrounded by a mob to begin with, so you'll need the shortcut, plus anyone including yourself who's used Vigorous Spirit on you while you still have the Enchantment every monster you hit with Cyclone Axe gives you a health restore, which is why all these warrior farmers use it. Cyclone Axe is the big reason I went with axes to begin with, as it's the only real group attack you have with a weapon (not counting Crude Swing with a hammer, but that attack's easily interrupted and you don't get a shield or focus that way).

Cyclone Axe is usually the last group attack I use after using the other two because there's just no comparison. 20-30 Damage affected by armor, or hundreds of damage ignoring armor. They don't even come close. Only the effects per hit and adrenaline balance out that skill.

The reason for using a focus instead of a shield is a gamble due to the higher damage of the axe compared to swords (despite the wider damage range), effectively making this character similar to a Hammer Warrior, but with less individual damage and more options for helping wipe out mobs.

jesh · Nov 10, 2005, 06:13 PM // 18:13

I think Yukito's right on this one.. try running a curses w/n, and you'll see some better ways that you can support your team, without using enchants, and staying where a tank should be in the first place. (the front)
To the people who were moaning about energy, it's not really a problem with bonetti's, I think you'd all know with the advent of the solo mo/w...

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 06:20 PM // 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by judge1121

umm ur build goes too much in to being a monk than warrior i mean WoH?

A 5 Energy heal that does more healing than Orison of Healing to start and as much as the 10 Energy heals if they're below 50% health. Perfect for me to patch up a monk's mistakes.

Must be nice on the other side too to see your health get down to 10% and you're like, "HEY! WHERES THE MONK THAT STUPID NOOB!!!" then the monk says, "My Energy is 3 of 45" and they start freaking out until someone heals them for 170 Health by using Word + Orison. "Whoa. Who did THAT?"

For those dissing me already, I know Warriors aren't Healers (DUH), but I've about had it with people whining and crying about monks, so much that I restarted my Mo/E as an E/Mo so people won't expect me to be a healer, although my E/Mo's current battle plan is healing while the big nuke spells recharge.

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 06:28 PM // 18:28

Just tried curses. Now THAT's a waste of energy. Total pandemonium vs. the monsters on Perdition Rock.

Sharpe_116 · Nov 10, 2005, 06:35 PM // 18:35

I have played axe yes, i know what cyclone can do, and it seems irrelivant in this build your running. Unless you put in vigorous spirit, then cyclone would have a use. BUT, when ur running a smiting/self healing tank. A wand or rod which makes enchants last longer would be much much more usefull

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 07:36 PM // 19:36

I'll say it again, I don't PvP. I play CHARACTERS, not BUILDS, and have no interest in doing the same crap over and over again regardless of the situation unless I switch tons of points around.

Cyclone Axe is a 3rd group attack and energy grabber, plus it hits harder on single enemies than a standard axe swing.

By the way, I beat Thunderhead Keep with that setup using henchies, and used my smiting wand more than my axe.

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 07:41 PM // 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesh

I think Yukito's right on this one.. try running a curses w/n, and you'll see some better ways that you can support your team, without using enchants, and staying where a tank should be in the first place. (the front)
To the people who were moaning about energy, it's not really a problem with bonetti's, I think you'd all know with the advent of the solo mo/w...

A guard tank is already in the front.

And a tank's place is not in the middle of a mob getting whacked by meteor showers making the monks work harder for no reason at all. Just ran into one of those a few minutes ago. Warrior went out with Henchies on Perdition Rock. Got butchered within 5 minutes. Came back and complained in all caps about it. Not bad for a good laugh or two.

jesh · Nov 10, 2005, 07:50 PM // 19:50

I'm saying, a good tank will stay the hell away from the group, because your job is to DEFEND them, not stand right next to them and attempt to heal. My warrior takes about 4 damage from those meteor storms, and I don't get knocked down. As for curses being a waste, get real. Reducing a mob's attack power by 80% is the same as giving everyone 60 armor that gets attacked. Shadow of fear halves enemy DPS. Mark of Pain shreds mobs to pieces. I don't consider skills like these a waste of energy.

MultimediaJay · Nov 10, 2005, 08:14 PM // 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesh

I'm saying, a good tank will stay the hell away from the group, because your job is to DEFEND them, not stand right next to them and attempt to heal. My warrior takes about 4 damage from those meteor storms, and I don't get knocked down. As for curses being a waste, get real. Reducing a mob's attack power by 80% is the same as giving everyone 60 armor that gets attacked. Shadow of fear halves enemy DPS. Mark of Pain shreds mobs to pieces. I don't consider skills like these a waste of energy.

Nope. I don't do that either. If by chance I'm next to the casters and they've just been hit with something, I'll use that, but I've been looking to get rid of Heal Area which is why I brought Healing Signet back into the mix.

The guard is only for monsters that break through the berserker. When they get past Warrior #1, if that happens, Warrior #2 closes the distance and meets them halfway, saving the casters from getting swamped.

I used Heal Area a lot in the mountains when I'd have henchies charge imps but kept getting hit with water magic so I couldn't join in. Heal Area makes a potent heal spell when ranged monsters are targeting you in that case, but I've actually been looking to ditch it now that I've gotten past Thunderhead Keep.

My big problem with curses was the casting times. My W/Mo dealt with one or two 2-second spells max per battle, but this guy had to do them every mob. I think also the reason why this didn't work out too well is nearly every monster I'm dealing with is some kind of caster, or caster/melee combo. That three spell combo would ruin a crowd of minotaurs, but it's a different story in the Ring of Fire when everything except the Ettins isn't swinging all the time, and the Ettins are really easy to neutralize. Heck, in my last rumble with the Ettin monk boss, I used the Ettins he kept resurrecting as an energy source while dropping rocks on the boss.