Curse

grimmolly · Mar 22, 2005, 06:20 AM // 06:20

This is my first build and I based it upon the rather successful model of my character this last BWE. How's my build? I call the "Bloodthirsty Hexer."

The focus of the build is to survive as a tank and have all the enemies around you take on the most conditions at once so they all suffer while you heal and regain power. The extra power, if there is any from two or more melee opponents affected by Victory is Mine, gets sucked into the buffer created by a shield that buffs maximum energy. The carapace one early on is a good example with +5 energy and 6 armor. That extra power is then available for powerful hexes that should quickly help finish off your current opponent.
We all know the arena isn't that predictable, but that's the goal.

The attack order on main target starting from a distance is epidemic, sever, gash, victory, conjure, phantom, repeat hexes and conditions as needed. The healer should hopefully be too busy to remove the hexes in time. The build's main weakness is that there is no skill to charge up adrenaline, which could cause conditions to expire before victory goes off. Alternatively, one can add 100 blades in place of gash and use phantom from a distance to cause deep wounds, but that might open you up to power issues and only hit the target. If anything goes sour, you have sprint and illusion.

EDIT: Now that I look at it, I probably could've moved a few points from tactics to illusion magic.

Attributes
=======
Swordmanship: 12 (10+2)
Tactics: 12 (11+1)
Illusion Magic: 10
Points Spent:199
Points Unspent:1

Skills
====
Victory is Mine! {E} - Tactics
Sever Artery - Swordsmanship
Gash - Swordsmanship
Epidemic - Illusion Magic
Conjure Phantasm - Illusion Magic
Phantom Pain - Illusion Magic
Illusion of Weakness - Illusion Magic
Sprint - Strength

Runes
====
Rune of Minor Swordsmanship (+1 to Swordsmanship)
Rune of Minor Tactics (+1 to Tactics)

Helm: Captain's Helmet (+1 to Swordsmanship)
Armor: Dragon Set Armor
Sword: Best Available (proc condition if available)
Shield: Best combination of +energy and +AL
Focus: Area effect conditions and stacked DoTs

grimmolly · Mar 22, 2005, 06:54 AM // 06:54

After a second look at it, I prefer this point layout because so many skills benefit from more illusion magic-- the emergency heal most of all.

Swordsmanship: 12 (10+2)
Tactics: 9 (8+1)
Illusion Magic: 12

Points Spent: 195
Points Left: 5

This also leaves a few points for 2 in strength and 1 in two other skills. That makes 3 strength with a third rune for an extra second of sprint and some bonus armor penetration.

Elythor · Mar 22, 2005, 07:57 PM // 19:57

Perhaps you should put in Hamstring instead of Sprint?

That way you can snare your target while inflicting another condition for Victory.

grimmolly · Mar 22, 2005, 08:14 PM // 20:14

That might be a good idea, but that's even more energy to blow and your enemy might just run if they know your build. I like sprint because it's cheap and offensive as well as defensive. Part of being a good tank is being able to give the healers more time to heal. If you're not so worried about the healing on your team, you could turn in Illusion of Weakness for hamstring.

Another thing I was considering was sacrificing most of the tactics points on strength for longer sprint and more penetration. This build is already heavy on damage and weak on energy denial after I removed ether feast. The hexes at 20 are rougly 16dps that lasts a long time and just swinging your sword and using adrenal skills is about 25-30dps I believe. Any extra damage from other melee characters being hit by conditions is just gravy. You might think the dps is bad compared to W/E, but this warrior can still continue dps on the run and has two fast self-heals.

ratatass · Apr 07, 2005, 05:29 AM // 05:29

I have heard that Epidemic has almost no range and I wonder what Range Victory is mine has compared to Epidemic.

Epedemic - nearby foes
Victory is Mine - adjacent foes

And also, unless you plan on carrying a focus of some sort - I believe you might have a severe energy problem - unless ViM comes through for you. I guess these things needs to be tested.

I think it would work well if you can squeeze that ViM in the middle as you say. In PvP surely, because you have another Warrior there inducing conditions on the focused target.

Maybe make a point in choosing an Axe Warrior when you put together your Tombs team ? Then the energy will be flowing. And with your Shield with Energy +6, you end up on 26 Energy. Is that all you can get as a Mesmer ?

Can't you just drop the shield and get a higher Energy focus ?