Curse

Shwitz · Sep 29, 2005, 07:09 PM // 19:09

Fast Casting 10
Domination 16
Illusion 4
Inspiration 10

Skills:
1. Empathy - 31 damage per swing
2. Spirit of Failure - 25% chance to miss, 4 energy gain per miss
3. Wastrel's Worry - 68 damage after 3 secs if no skill is used
4. Signet of Midnight - touched foe and I are both blind for 15 secs
5. Plague Touch - transfer a condition from me to touched foe
6. Blackout - touched foe and I cannot use skills for a time (7 secs for him, 5 secs for me)
7. Distortion - 75% chance to evade, -2 energy per evaded attack
8. Res Sig - self explanatory

I used this build a bunch of times in the Competition Arenas and it seemed to do what I wanted it to do for the most part: take 2-3 foes out of the battle for a while. The one drawback I have found is that most of my skills are touch range, so I have a little trouble against a ranger who focuses on me.

As the warriors charge at my group and me, I cast Empathy and Spirit of Failure on one of them, usually the one charging at me. When he gets to me, I use Sig of Midnight to blind him. If he ignores the blind and keeps swinging, I get 4 energy every time he swings because of SoF. If he or someone else cures the blind, I start Distortion and get a net gain of 2 energy per swing. All the while he's taking 31 damage per swing since he has Empathy on him. If there is another melee attacker somewhat near me, I Plague Touch him to get rid of the blind on me. If there is no other melee'er, I Plague Touch the original target of Sig of Midnight. Then I seek out a caster, usually a monk or monk secondary. I get into touch range, cast Wastrel's and then quickly Blackout and wand/evade the enemy until I get my skills back. From there on out, its a sort of ad hoc strategy. I blind who needs blinding, recast SoF and Empathy as necessary, and try to keep Blackout on one enemy when I can.

As I said, my one peeve with this build is rangers. I have a hard time getting close enough to them for Sig of Midnight or Plague Touch without taking massive damage or losing lots of energy (from Distortion). I would also like to find a way to weasel Diversion into this skill set so I can divert the inevitable Mend Ailments that will get rid of blind.

Critiques? Comments? Suggestions?

gimpysonofgroin · Sep 29, 2005, 07:28 PM // 19:28

Replace plague touch with plague sending maybe? Signet the war and then send the blind on you to the ranger. Evil!

Shwitz · Sep 29, 2005, 09:03 PM // 21:03

Not a bad idea gimpy. Should I be concerned with the 10% health loss from plague sending though? I have no self heal, only ways to prevent people from landing attacks/using skills. I'll play around with it and see what happens.

Yukito Kunisaki · Sep 29, 2005, 09:07 PM // 21:07

Not a bad build if I do say so myself. Shut out the warriors or rangers to blackout the casters.

Staying in touch range sounds dangerous as heck though.

Shwitz · Sep 29, 2005, 09:13 PM // 21:13

It is dangerous, but the aim of the build is to de-fang those who would hurt me while in touch range. I really have a problem with those teams who have lots of condition removal, which is not a lot in the Competition Arenas.

EDIT: Also, those warriors will be coming at me and end up in touch range anyway, so might as well have them play into my hands, right?