Curse

JoeKnowMo · Nov 14, 2006, 10:26 AM // 10:26

A pretty unorthodox build that I've been tweaking for several days and I think I've got it in pretty good shape. It's a little weird so reserve judgement until you try it. Mostly for PvE.

The purpose of the build is to provide 53% dmg reduction from 2 or more clumps of monsters for the majority of a fight.

P/E
Leadership 16, Fire Magic 12, Motivation 3, Command 3

Searing Flames {E}
They're on Fire
Anthem of Flame
Go For the Eyes
Energizing Chorus
Glowing Signet
Fire Attunement
Leader's Comfort/Rez

Equipment: Fire Staff or Fire Wand/Fire Offhand or +5e Furious Spear/Fire Offhand. I prefer furious spear of enchanting for the faster attack speed which provides more adrenaline.

Start with Fire Attunement and then use Searing Flames which will set foes on fire for 6 secs. You will gain 6e back from Fire Attunement - net loss 9e. Find second clump of monsters and cast SF on them - now down 18e. Toss spear twice, then use Anthem of Flame (gains you 3e). Use SF (9e) and follow w glowing signet (16e gain). If you're doing the math, you're only down 8e (not counting e-regen). Use SF on another clump of monsters (9e). Toss spear until GFTE charges, then use it (gains 8e). Use Energizing Chorus when charged (8e gain), then use SF two more times. Keep ToF on at all times (only costs 2e). Use Anthem of Flame (3e gain).

If you do this correctly, you should have no energy issues whatsoever. If you mess up and spam SF w/o gaining adrenaline, you'll get low on energy. Charge up adrenaline then, use GFTE, then use Enrgizing Chorus, then Anthem of Flame, which as a chain will gain you 23e. Use SF and then Glowing sig and you will have gained 30e. As you see, you can go from 0e to 30e in a matter of seconds

There's some challenge to running this build b/c you have to use SF on high dmg output targets while keeping your heroes/henchies focused on the soft targets such as healers. Once you have one clump of monsters on fire, you have to switch to another and get them on fire. So there's a decent bit of target switching for casting SF, while keeping your spear throws targeted on the soft targets. Also, the e-management takes some practice. Use GFTE before Energizing Chorus if both are charged. Never use GFTE right after Energizing Chorus as it wastes the benefit of the latter. Use glowing sig only when your energy is pretty low. Don't cast SF on a clump of monsters already on fire as this won't renew the burning.

This build may seem awful at first glance b/c it uses an energy intensive elite from another profession and the para only has 2 pips of e-regen. And we all know that an Ele can put out far higher dmg than another prof using Ele spells. However, the purpose of this build is not dmg, it's to provide fairly constant protection.

Incoming is thought to be a great elite b/c at 16 Command it provides 50% dmg reduction for 7 seconds. However, it has a 20 sec recharge. So for about 1/3 of the time of a fight, it provides very good dmg reduction. This build can provide a 53% dmg reduction thanks to ToF, while being active more than 1/3 of the duration of a battle. While Anthem of Flame and Burning Finale can also provide some nice burning (and thereby protection), the problem with them is that they usually only affect the clump of monsters that the henchies/heroes are focusing fire on.

With the Searing Protter, you can have your henchies/heroes go after the soft targets first, which they will set on fire thanks to anthem of flame, while you are free to use SF on the melee types and rangers that attack your casters. There's no way a hero can run this build right, unless you micro-manage like crazy, in which case you may as well play it yourself.

I find it to be a great build if played right. Sounds weird in theory, I know, but pretty effective in practice.

Thom Bangalter · Nov 14, 2006, 11:47 AM // 11:47

Your elite is searing flames. this makes me want to type a frowny face.

Better idea: bring a searing flames hero, and keep They're on fire!

nSin · Nov 14, 2006, 04:56 PM // 16:56

While the build probably works decently, with the addition of heroes, I don't see why you can't use a hero to do the exact same thing for you, I'm sure an ele can spam searing flames better and you can focus on other things like doing damage with a spear, or support with other support spells.

JoeKnowMo · Nov 14, 2006, 08:50 PM // 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom Bangalter

Your elite is searing flames. this makes me want to type a frowny face.

Better idea: bring a searing flames hero, and keep They're on fire!

Yes, I anticipated the frowny face and that's why I said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeKnowMo

This build may seem awful at first glance b/c it uses an energy intensive elite from another profession and the para only has 2 pips of e-regen.

You and nSin seem to think a hero can run this build.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nSin

While the build probably works decently, with the addition of heroes, I don't see why you can't use a hero to do the exact same thing for you, I'm sure an ele can spam searing flames better and you can focus on other things like doing damage with a spear, or support with other support spells.

Your heroes tend to follow the called target and sometimes will go for the squishy targets first on their own. However, your hero Ele will not go after the various high dmg clumps of monsters and use SF on them. You need to micro-manage this. If you can manage your own skillbar and micro-manage your Ele hero's bar to cast SF on various clumps of monsters, then kudos to you.

Also, the point of a hero Ele with SF is not to keep several mobs on fire, but rather to set a mob on fire and then hit them for dmg with follow up SFs. So, you're gimping your hero Ele by turning him into a pure burner instead of a high damager if you make him do what this build is made for.

Look at the SF and ToF combo this way: Takes 2 skills slots, but provides 53% dmg reduction to all allies for about 2/3 the duration or more of a fight. I think I illustrate pretty clearly how you can manage energy so you can use SF often in order to accomplish this.

Made In Ascalon · Nov 14, 2006, 09:17 PM // 21:17

Your build and stradegy are similar to the one I posted, but it seems like you've thought yours out better. Energy management is a bit better too. Kudos

eggs0wn · Nov 14, 2006, 10:23 PM // 22:23

My paragon has basically the same build but I give Searing Flames do an Ele Hero. For burning I bring, Blazing Finale, Anthem of the Flame, and Blazing Spear. Then my Ele Hero has otehr burns so my party gets 40% dmg reduction.
And i don't get why all you people are complaining he uses a 15 energy elite from a fire ele. He isn't try to do damage but using Searing Flames burn to help prot his team. This is a good build and don't knock it until you try it.

On a side note, since NF came out, not once have I had a energy problem with my Para

Made In Ascalon · Nov 15, 2006, 03:52 AM // 03:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by eggs0wn

My paragon has basically the same build but I give Searing Flames do an Ele Hero. For burning I bring, Blazing Finale, Anthem of the Flame, and Blazing Spear. Then my Ele Hero has otehr burns so my party gets 40% dmg reduction.
And i don't get why all you people are complaining he uses a 15 energy elite from a fire ele. He isn't try to do damage but using Searing Flames burn to help prot his team. This is a good build and don't knock it until you try it.

On a side note, since NF came out, not once have I had a energy problem with my Para

The only place where this build can really get screwed is one of the domains. Domain of Fear? The one which makes all skills cost 40% more energy. I had to almost completely rely on henches on that one, it sucked.

StarlinVF · Nov 19, 2006, 08:23 AM // 08:23

I can vouch for this build. I've been developing a similar build after I stumbled on the idea for about a week. And even in its infant stages, my version of the build was not only viable, it also managed to turn 4 dervishes into an unstoppable line of tanks.

I was still tweking things when I ran into Joe. After talking with him a bit, he had pretty much solved all the minor problems I was trying to fix AND is about 3 times more energy efficient then I thought possible.

Handling the build does takes some practice. But because its self-sufficient, it can be mixed into almost any type of team with little or no reskilling by the rest of the group.

I don't know if Joe has tested it this far.... but I ran some damage tests in a 1v1 environment and confirmed that They're on Fire! actually reduces damage from direct damage spells. I haven't had a chance to test it against Hexes (which have triggered effects) or life stealing to see if reduction is applied to that as well.

At any rate, this build definitely does what it says.

Made In Ascalon · Nov 19, 2006, 11:40 AM // 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarlinVF

I don't know if Joe has tested it this far.... but I ran some damage tests in a 1v1 environment and confirmed that They're on Fire! actually reduces damage from direct damage spells. I haven't had a chance to test it against Hexes (which have triggered effects) or life stealing to see if reduction is applied to that as well.

At any rate, this build definitely does what it says.

I can help you with the latter part.

Absolutely nothing can stop Life Stealing damage. If "They're on fire!" stopped it, then protective spirit would have to also, and this is definetaly not the case. I'm sure that if anyone ever played a 55 character, they'd know this.