Curse

Montolioo · May 09, 2006, 02:24 AM // 02:24

I guys i was jsut wondering how much fun and how powerful the ele can be in the pvp and pve portions of the game. With factions out i really wanna try a new class, cuz ive played mostly ranger,warrior, and some withthe assasin. THanx for any help.

Francis Crawford · May 09, 2006, 02:46 AM // 02:46

If you like to do damage, which it would seem you do based on your other professions, your next character should be an elementalist or a necro.

Both are more versatile in how you can play them than a warrior, assassin, or monk, I would think. Of course, no other class is as versatile as a ranger.

If one thing you'd like to try is solo farming, definitely choose an elementalist between the two. Overall, necros were hugely more popular than elementalists, and probably deservedly so. While the gap is obviously narrowing, I doubt it's closed yet.

LightningHell · May 09, 2006, 10:45 AM // 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francis Crawford

Of course, no other class is as versatile as a ranger.

I actually think the Mesmer is a bit more versatile. They can adapt very well.

If you want to solo, IMO the Elementalist or the Mesmer is for you.

JR · May 09, 2006, 03:03 PM // 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

I actually think the Mesmer is a bit more versatile. They can adapt very well.

If you want to solo, IMO the Elementalist or the Mesmer is for you.

Untill factions was released, I would have said Ranger had that one in the bag. A cripshot ranger played well could solo any single character build that I can think of.

Then the Assassin came and played Rock, Paper, Scissors with that. I've scrimmed with another guy in evo a few times; Cripshot vs. his Assassin build, and got soundly owned nearly every time.

Whether or not an Assassin would be able to solo OTHER 'solo' flag runner style characters such as Emo Flashbots is another question.

However, as it stands a Crip-Shot ranger is still very strong in the 1 vs 1 field. Of course this is largely a mute point, as even flag runners don't solo as much these days. It is now considered more of a team effort to controll morale than it used to be, and rightly so.

rii · May 09, 2006, 03:29 PM // 15:29

What assasin build was that? I still would say cripshot is one of the best solo builds... cripple the assasin on advance, distract shadow refuge, and put distortion on if they shadow step....packing drain enchantment over blackout to piss off their aura...?
While it seems possible for assasins to solo the other solo characters like the flash turret, it would take a resonably specialised build to counter the mass blind as does not currently exist...

Maria The Princess · May 09, 2006, 09:39 PM // 21:39

ive played mostly with Ranger, monk and then, assassin. now i made an Ele and YEAH BABY!!!! im having alot of fun in: PVP, PVE, solo, etc

joncoish · Jun 02, 2006, 07:19 AM // 07:19

Yeah, elementalists are really fun. I have a level 20 e/me (my first and only level 20) and it's great fun. I've played fire elementalist mostly, but I'm trying out the earth line now. Seems pretty nice with the great armor spells, and nice damage ones. I especially love the earthquake/aftershock combo...

As far as firestorm, I've seen a lot of people bashing this spell. I do understand where you're coming from, but I've used it in my basic build right up to where I am now (Ice Caves of Sorrow), and I find it nice to use right after meteor swarm. Basically, cast meteor swarm first, firestorm second, and then maybe fireball or something. So the idea being that meteor swarm is knocking them down so they can't get out of the way of the firestorm as easily. Maybe not the most efficient necessarily, but it's fun seeing all the numbers popping up. And it usually drops the mobs pretty fast

Overall though, I'm pretty happy with this class. I like doing lots of damage, so that's covered here. But it's also a pretty flexible class in my opinion, with lots of different things it can do, and with mesmer secondary you can throw in some interupts or whatever for even more flexibilty. Also, seems like one of the easiest classes to run with henchman. I've basically done all the missions with henchman except Frost Gate, and Sanctum Cay.

torquemada · Jun 02, 2006, 08:23 AM // 08:23

It's knocking them down every 3 secs, with firestorm on top they scatter, no?

joncoish · Jun 02, 2006, 05:25 PM // 17:25

Yeah they do still scatter, but not as fast. And meteor swarm would make them scatter anyway wouldn't it? So I still like throwing in firestorm for the extra little damage. Again, probably not the most efficient, but I find it fun

kuwlij · Jun 02, 2006, 06:14 PM // 18:14

i find when hitting multiple aoes i count 4 energy points gained between every cast, that is, as soon as the spell is cast wait till you gain another 4 points of energy and cast another aoe. That avoids scatter. I use it when pwr lvling ppl in drocks ;-)

Ensign · Jun 02, 2006, 07:52 PM // 19:52

Eles are a solid utility class in both PvP and PvE. You have some good defensive and disruptive skills, like Blinding Flash and Wards, which are good everywhere, and you can contribute a bit on offense. If you like playing a defensive support guy the ele is for you.

If you're looking to blow things up offensively, try a necromancer in PvE or a mesmer in PvP. A good domination mesmer is more destructive than any other character in PvP, though a lot of his effectiveness is not in raw damage. On the flip side, necromancers have a variety of playstyles in PvE, all of which viciously rip through content.

Eles can be a good amount of fun, but it's much like a ranger. Your effectiveness comes from harassing the enemy and making him less effective. If you're looking to simply blow things up though I can't recommend the ele in good conscience.

Peace,
-CxE

xarchitect · Jun 02, 2006, 11:59 PM // 23:59

Quote:

And meteor swarm would make them scatter anyway wouldn't it?

No. Meteor Shower does not cause the AoE panic in PvE. The time between impacts makes their little brains think it must be over. So casting a FireStorm over a MS will only cause you to lose the last impact of your MS.

If you want to find a use for FireStorm in PvE, cast it on a mob harassing your monk. Kind of an expensive and time consuming monk saver though (if the monk needs saving, he is likely dead before it goes off). Best to bring something that has offensive value.

Luciora · Jun 05, 2006, 07:04 AM // 07:04

I agree with xarchitect, I used Firestorm only till I got Meteor Shower. Basically my Fire build runs as follows :

1. Flare
2. Fireball
3. Immolate
4. Meteor Shower
5. Rodgart Invocation
6. Fire Attunement
7. Elemental Attunement
8. Arcane Echo

This gives me plenty of Energy and an overall effective damage dealer. You will need atleast one warrior who tanks a large group, fire away with AE, RI, MS, RI, FB. Vary as you see fit though. This build works well in PvE, used it for most of Tyria and running it well in Factions now as well.

Depending on the situation you just replace 4,5,6 with anything you need, the first 3 I keep set as they are my most effect damage dealers that can be cast quickly. Spamming flare might seem like a waste of time to some, but 50 dmg per shot adds up really well in the end

torquemada · Jun 05, 2006, 07:50 AM // 07:50

Blinding Flash is more or less useless in PvE, IMO. Not so (and by large) in PvP.

Wards ARE usefull in PvE, but admittedly not in all areas. Earth warder can mean a lot in a tight spot. I was overjoyed to find an earth henchie in Factions.

Eh...try...Shower+ Inc. Bonds + Fireball = a lot of little dmg numbers flying up...spice it up with Rodgorts Invocaton (insanely expensive, though). Be warned of endgame content though - mobs are very fire resistant. But you can happily switch to i.e. earth warder and dish out nice dmg in the process in that part of the game.

Firestorm is a waste - if I want to protect monk, I'd choose Lava Font/Inferno/Flameburst - it's not like I'm far away from him!

It always seems to me ellies could PBAoE ("calm like a bomb" build) righteously if not for extreme squishyness...

Anyways, to the OP: Yep, elles are fun! Most of the game (regarding PvE) you'll happily blast away. Those areas that you are not so effective regarding dmg, you can easily fulfill in another role as a support character. PvP-wise you are a great utility character (Wards, knockdowns, blinding warriors and rangers, snares) wth a bit subpar (or inefficient, shall we say) dmg output but with nevertheless solid spike abilities, which can be incorporated with existing utlity slots.