Curse

Paperfly · Sep 20, 2006, 05:11 AM // 05:11

The main use of a GvG Smiting monk was to get some good forward pressure damage by keeping Balthazar's Aura plus Zealot's Fire active on your warriors... While at the same time reaping the benefits of a third defensive character, since your smiter was triggering Zealot's with Protection spells.

Now, that doesn't work as well in PvE; mainly because both Balths and Zealot's will trigger the AoE scatter effect, which is doubleplusbad.

However, in the latest skills rework I noticed that a skill I'd shelved in the "looks fun, but too unweildly" drawer got a nice little buff to near-spammable status:

Splinter Weapon 5/1/5
Weapon Spell. For 15..51 seconds, target ally has a Splinter Weapon. Target ally's next successful attack deals +5..41 damage to all adjacent foes.

And no, it doesn't combo with Barrage. Pity.

Still, +53 damage at 16 Channeling makes it a pretty efficient Fireball variant. Note that because it's +damage it won't be reduced by armour or high monster level (similarly to an attack skill), so the actual damage it deals in PvE is better than most things an ele can throw out for the same price tag. Now, while it's a nice skill I'll agree it isn't enough to make a build... But Channeling still has some nice unexplored toys:

Ancestors' Rage 10/0.75/8
Spell. All foes adjacent to target ally are struck for 10...82 lightning damage.

Spirit Rift 15/2/5
Spell. Open a Spirit Rift at target foe's location. After 3 seconds, all adjacent foes are struck for 25...113 lightning damage.

...Looking at the recharge on those bad boys, that's enough to constitute some decent forward pressure when concentrated around your team's warriors.

Now, the point was that you're combining this with the ability to be a fully-fledged (second or third) defensive character. Otherwise you may as well run an extra SS necro, since he'll do more damage in the long run. Fortunately, we have plenty of attribute points to spend as well as access to a newly-buffed defensive line.

````````````````````````````````````
Splinter Smiter:
(Concept Build, minimally tested)
12+4 Channeling
10+1 Restoration
8+1 Spawning Power (or Inspiration)

{e} Attuned was Songkai (or Mantra of Recall)
Mend Body and Soul
Spirit Light
Nightmare Weapon
Splinter Weapon
Ancestor's Rage
Spirit Rift
Flesh of my Flesh
````````````````````````````````````

...There we go! Respectable heals, decent damage, all in one fairly efficient package.

The only drawback is that you can't really reverse the scores in Channeling and Restoration - to do enough damage to matter you really need that maxed-out lightning.

The elite energy management is basically necessary to support Spirit Rift - If focussing a little more on healing you can probably get away with dropping it.

Comments?

Terra Xin · Sep 20, 2006, 09:00 AM // 09:00

well I like this build because it doesn't rely on a single spirit like some builds tend to.

If there was a way to take out spirit rift for a 'target ally' spell, then it would make it easier on you when dealing damage.

Jetdoc · Sep 20, 2006, 02:26 PM // 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paperfly

Splinter Smiter:
(Concept Build, minimally tested)
12+4 Channeling
10+1 Restoration
8+1 Spawning Power (or Inspiration)

{e} Attuned was Songkai (or Mantra of Recall)
Mend Body and Soul
Spirit Light
Nightmare Weapon
Splinter Weapon
Ancestor's Rage
Spirit Rift
Flesh of my Flesh

The lack of any spirit in this build makes Spirit Light a serious drain on your health. I would replace it with Soothing Memories which, with Attuned up, gives you a free heal every 5 seconds.

I would also replace Nightmare Weapon with Vengeful Weapon, since the person attacking will likely be the target of counterattacks as well.

unmatchedfury · Sep 20, 2006, 09:21 PM // 21:21

i dought it will replace the smiter.. have you had much sucess wiht it at all in RA TA or HoH?

my guild mates were using the same type of build. lots of AOE dmg 3 rits run in and drop nuke bomb BOOM BOOM everything. works well vs anythign clumped together.

Paperfly · Sep 21, 2006, 01:33 PM // 13:33

unmatchedfury, it's a bit too unweildly for PvP. Plus enemies aren't clumped enough for Splinter Weapon to be any good at all...

Jetdoc, after some more lightweight (PuG) testing I agree with you about the Light vs Soothing. I considered Vengeful over Nightmare, but with the current attribute spread the latter hits harder, plus it can be used as a clumsy Vampiric Gaze (cast it on yourself then wand the target). Vengeful has cast time and reload on its side, but the damage targetting is a lot more random. Still, there's a case to be made for both!

...Having said that, Nightmare Weapon is the most expendable skill on the bar. Two slots for Recuperation skills may yet turn out to be too few - something like Resillient Weapon may demand a spot. I shall test (read: play casually) further!

Terra Xin: Agreed, but I haven't found it to be too big a deal since I only ever cast Rift when both Splinter and Rage are recharging and nobody needs a quick heal!

Evilsod · Sep 21, 2006, 03:20 PM // 15:20

16 Channeling
15 Spawning ( i was playing Rit Lord and don't have a minor swap for it)

Channeled Strike
Spirit Rift
Essence Strike
Ancestors Rage
Rupture Soul
Destruction
Draw Spirit
Attuned was Songkai

Or switch Essence/Ancestors out for Flesh of my Flesh. Its a pure channeling build.... but i don't care. Just because you can doesn't mean you should heal. Rit channeling builds are stronger when pure or at the most 1 skill dedicated to healing.

unmatchedfury · Sep 22, 2006, 01:31 AM // 01:31

i understand its unweildy for PvP i was merely saying that my guildies had atempted it. also i dont like the pure channeling builds myself. Fartoo little defense for the low offense. instead of the elementalist feel of glass cannon you feel more like a glass pea shooter.

Minus Sign · Sep 22, 2006, 02:35 AM // 02:35

http://www.guildwars.com/support/gam...llspreview.php

Read about Wielder's remedy first. With that, you can use Wielder's boon for a little more umph in your healing spams. Also, Soothing memories or Vengful Weapon for SL; since you have no intenton of being a primary support--just added damage and healing; a go-between player--SL is not the option it appears.

Good build idea, but I think you'll find several upgrades to it when Nightfall hits the shelves.