Curse

unamed player · Nov 30, 2005, 11:36 PM // 23:36

I dont know if anyone has noticed this but i sure have. Whats with the latest R/N and R/Me builds running rampant in teams and comp? No, they arent rangers. They are necros and mesmers in disguise. I had the first sighting of this about 2 weeks ago. Ever since then i started seeing the usual following of copy cats and now come across it once every 5 matches. I dont really see the point of this other than the fact that you can run whirling defense since you have the expertise line at your disposal. Maybe serpents quickness too..but you could emulate that as a N/R.

Your blood magic is also crippled at 12 and you sacrifice more and regain less health because of this.

On the other hand, running a R/Me has its benefits. Your not the primary target and you have decent armor compared to a mesmer. The interrupt line of mesmers are all quick cast spells and dont benefit from fast casting.

Its unfortunate that the mesmers role can be emulated so well as to make a mesmer obsolete in this way. Take a look at the interrupt line of mesmers and also the spells like mind wrack and migraine. These are fast spells and you dont need to run a mesmer to be effective.

I guess i pretty much answered my own questions about these fotm. But i was curious if someone else has noticed this or has any opinion on it.

mr_boo · Nov 30, 2005, 11:50 PM // 23:50

Just pointing some things out...which you may already know....also I don't consider this a FoTM, especially if it comes from arena context.

Anyways, as many know, Expertise affects skills not spells...so thus skills like Vampiric Touch, Touch of Agony, Vile Touch, & Blackout all get their Energy cost benefited by Expertise. Additionally, running Serpent's Quickness allows these skills to recharge quicker...for instance a Blackout Ranger would probably attempt to keep his/her target in a Blackout state as much as possible.

In regards to your armor comment, both Necros and Mesmers essentially have the same base armor class, which is 60....

Banebow · Nov 30, 2005, 11:59 PM // 23:59

The "touch" necro rangers have been around for a while. Since expertise reduces skill costs, and vamp touch is a skill, they can spam it about every 3 seconds (2 second recharge, unless memory fails)

Quote:

Originally Posted by unamed player

Its unfortunate that the mesmers role can be emulated so well as to make a mesmer obsolete in this way.

. . .nope.
A primary mesmer does not have to run interrupts, many times you want things like diversion (3 second cast) and energy burn (2 second cast) And Mind wrack. . .*shudders* Also, as a ranger, you suffer a slower energy regeneration rate. You cannot have above 12 in your main attribute. You have a lower base energy as well. All of those things, combined with the fact that a ranger primary (one with a bow) tends to work better at interruption, and you have a mediocre combo at best. Constant blackout? Cripple ftw.

Before you know it, warriors will try to act like monks! Oh wait. . .

unamed player · Dec 01, 2005, 12:11 AM // 00:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_boo

Just pointing some things out...which you may already know....also I don't consider this a FoTM, especially if it comes from arena context.

Anyways, as many know, Expertise affects skills not spells...so thus skills like Vampiric Touch, Touch of Agony, Vile Touch, & Blackout all get their Energy cost benefited by Expertise. Additionally, running Serpent's Quickness allows these skills to recharge quicker...for instance a Blackout Ranger would probably attempt to keep his/her target in a Blackout state as much as possible.

In regards to your armor comment, both Necros and Mesmers essentially have the same base armor class, which is 60....

I was comparing necro and mesmer armor to ranger armor which IS better in the latter case. Also as a necro (unless your running tats) should go with the 70 armor alternative. Smite is dead.

As for the energy situation i never really had a problem running a n/me or me/whatever. Only benefit i see is the serpents (which can be emulated) and better armor.

You might not see this as a fotm but all the best builds started in one of those arenas at some point in time. I saw smite in random and team arenas way before they showed up in tombs or gvg. Same for spikers. Only build that really was developed in tombs or gvg was the spirit spamming builds and the current iway/vimway/hamway.

I see an fotm being something that people notice a lot and try to emulate. Which is what im seeing with these builds in the arenas. Dont be surprised if you see a new team build one of these days hitting the tombs with these builds.

unamed player · Dec 01, 2005, 12:15 AM // 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banebow

The "touch" necro rangers have been around for a while. Since expertise reduces skill costs, and vamp touch is a skill, they can spam it about every 3 seconds (2 second recharge, unless memory fails)

. . .nope.
A primary mesmer does not have to run interrupts, many times you want things like diversion (3 second cast) and energy burn (2 second cast) And Mind wrack. . .*shudders* Also, as a ranger, you suffer a slower energy regeneration rate. You cannot have above 12 in your main attribute. You have a lower base energy as well. All of those things, combined with the fact that a ranger primary (one with a bow) tends to work better at interruption, and you have a mediocre combo at best. Constant blackout? Cripple ftw.

Before you know it, warriors will try to act like monks! Oh wait. . .

I was talking about any other class emulating the "interrupt" line of skills from a mesmer. I know you cant run all the mesmer line efficiently. Considering blackout or phantom pain (for example) would take a really long time to cast.

Also how will you cripple or do anything if your blacked out?

Oh yeah, and ive seen warriors try to act like monks. Its a funny sight. Ive also seen monks who cast mending on the entire team and just stand there. Although i think those are just bots farming faction.

The Holy Stewy · Dec 01, 2005, 12:18 AM // 00:18

I think its kinda stupid...Just because you cant have the runes and ect. Just makes you lessen up in power and sooner or later there figure u out that ur not a ranger or so. Iv also seen this done with a ele that chooses to be a monk..for the discise and the exta energy.

mr_boo · Dec 01, 2005, 07:53 PM // 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by unamed player

I was comparing necro and mesmer armor to ranger armor which IS better in the latter case. Also as a necro (unless your running tats) should go with the 70 armor alternative. Smite is dead.

We must have misunderstood each other...in your first post, it just seemed like you were inferring the comparison to Mesmers only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unamed player

As for the energy situation i never really had a problem running a n/me or me/whatever. Only benefit i see is the serpents (which can be emulated) and better armor.

You might not see this as a fotm but all the best builds started in one of those arenas at some point in time. I saw smite in random and team arenas way before they showed up in tombs or gvg. Same for spikers. Only build that really was developed in tombs or gvg was the spirit spamming builds and the current iway/vimway/hamway.

I see an fotm being something that people notice a lot and try to emulate. Which is what im seeing with these builds in the arenas. Dont be surprised if you see a new team build one of these days hitting the tombs with these builds.

I'm don't disagree with you on the point that team builds can be developed from Team Arena or Singular Build starting points...but to label something FoTM implies that it's not just running rampant in CA or TA, but rather moreso in Tombs or GvG.