Curse

Wakka · Jan 25, 2008, 09:43 AM // 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Websters

Versatile:1.capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields or endeavor, etc: a versatile writer. 2. having or capable of many uses: a versatile tool (3&4 are NA to discussion) 5. variable or changeable as in feeling, purpose, or policy; versatile moods

It really depends which way you take versatile.

If your talking about versatile in the means that a profession can play multiple different types of roles, then there are several and the majority of you are probably right with your answer.

If your talking in the sense that they can change on the fly in order to tackle a different situation in the middle of a battle, its got to be Ranger. If you take for example the old BA Ranger ganksman.

[skill]Burning Arrow[/skill][skill]Savage Shot[/skill][skill]Distracting Shot[/skill][skill]Apply Poison[/skill][skill]Mending Touch[/skill][skill]Troll Unguent[/skill][skill]Natural Stride[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Not only can the build solo gank NPC's and the GL himself, it can also be a powerful addition to the team at the flagstand packing heavy degen and a lot of interrupts. The high survivability factor of the build allows the Ranger to fill many rolls in the team, even as a secondary flag carrier.

Alex Morningstar · Jan 25, 2008, 10:23 AM // 10:23

10 possible professions, after that, 9 secondaries. You are only limited by your imagination.

Xeeron · Jan 25, 2008, 02:19 PM // 14:19

How people can possibly vote for Elementalist here is beyond me. You can do spell damage, AeO spell damage, maybe some healing ... truely versatile. Ranger is (a bit) better, in having spike capabilities, the shutdown/interrupt, trapping and touch rangers, but top of the list is definitely:

Ritualist

They have direct heals, they have party wide heals, prot-like heals (WoW). They have spell damage, AeO spell damage, indirect (spirit) damage, damage buffs, they can even become a MM if need be.

Hardly anything you can not do with a Rit. Of course, as always, the problem of jack-of-all-trades characters: They can do almost everything, but almost everything is done better by someone else ...

- Xeeron

Orange Milk · Jan 25, 2008, 02:29 PM // 14:29

Ranger, hands down

Expertise allows them to effectivly use any attack skill from any line as well as touch skills. Tons of Stances make them effective runners. Massive Interupt abilities, spike dmg, Condition spreading. The ONLY think a Ranger can not do is heal others effectivly.

Wakka · Jan 25, 2008, 02:35 PM // 14:35

Quote:

The ONLY think a Ranger can not do is heal others effectivly.

[skill]Healing Spring[/skill]

Haha :P

Craywulf · Jan 25, 2008, 09:39 PM // 21:39

I think the before question of versatilely can be asked you need to ask whether its the primary or secondary profession.

I think Monks are extremely versatile as secondaries. As for primaries, I don't know...I would have to guess its a tie between Rangers and Necromancers.

MetalMan · Jan 27, 2008, 12:07 PM // 12:07

My vote goes to... Paragon

Want to do some Defence? Gogo

Need some offence? Gogo

Want to do some Healing? Gogo

Want to do godmode? P/W Gogo!

Singers of Woe, Ursanway, DA, SoR... the list is almost endless.

And to people who say paras are underpowered and weak... go play one properly kthx.

Amy Awien · Jan 27, 2008, 12:48 PM // 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aris the Accurate

Tanking is BAD.

I've seen that statement earlier, why would it be bad?

LightningHell · Jan 27, 2008, 12:52 PM // 12:52

Quote:

I wish the OP would sound off on his qualifiers, but until she/he replies, we won't know what they consider versatile. Either way, I can't really think of anything else to add to this discussion.

I agree.

IMO...If you consider 'versatile' as being able to adapt to situations well and being useful under any possible scenario, in PvP, probably a Ranger hands down. In PvE, probably an Elementalist due to Mind Blast.

If you consider versatility as being able to run a multitude of roles without changing professions...um...I don't really know, but maybe Necromancer for PvE due to Soul Reaping being nuts in it?

I'm also making the basic assumption of which Melody Cross also lined out:

Quote:

So its not just a question of can it do these things, because any character in the game can use any skill in GW, as long as they are unlocked and paid for/acquired. Can they do them in such a resounding way that any good, experienced players in a group or forum--not simply themselves and their closest friends--would agree that they did their intended task (or tasks; I would include the ability to multi-task in the same build as a high requirement for defining versatile characters) effectively enough to be a boon to the group and not a space taker at best; hindrance at worst?

Quote:

Sword/Axe damage dealer, Hammer KBer, Shout Buffer, Warrior-based Tank, Obsidian Tank, Condition Spreader.

I would beg to differ. Shout buffing is generally a waste of time, especially since the Paragon's here...and nobody would sanely take a Warrior over a Ranger for condition spreading.

Quote:

How people can possibly vote for Elementalist here is beyond me. You can do spell damage, AeO spell damage, maybe some healing ... truely versatile. Ranger is (a bit) better, in having spike capabilities, the shutdown/interrupt, trapping and touch rangers, but top of the list is definitely:

Ah, but with say, Mind Blast, you can do quite a lot more than that in terms of utility.

EDIT: >.< I got beaten to it.

EDIT 2:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy Awien

I've seen that statement earlier, why would it be bad?

Farming aside.

Primarily because Warriors in Guild Wars are insane damage dealers, and tanking only serves as a crutch for bad players. If one has a remotely competent group, a tank drags down the momentum of the group by a lot. If you want a more indepth explanation, go dig up the Warrior forum or something. There's got to be at least a million and one threads about that.

GrimEye · Jan 27, 2008, 01:19 PM // 13:19

I would say Ranger and Ritualist.

The ranger having the most options on wide area of specialized "versatile builds" - thumper, toucher, runner, oath spirit spammer, nuker of sorts(splinter/barrage), spiker, shutdown, trapper, beastmaster, etc, - a character with thousand faces.

The ritualist being able to play "versatile role" - awesome support and awesome damage at the same time. Only ele is better than nuking, only monk is better than heal, only Paragon better than buffs, only Necro better than summon creatures - and Rit can do it all at the same bar with little or no handicap at all. With one bar, he can assume roles or fill the holes a party needs at a given time.

My take.

Splitisoda · Jan 27, 2008, 01:28 PM // 13:28

Personally, I find Paragons and Rits most useful.

Paragons can keep up defence for the party and help the monk in doing his/her role. They have Echos,Chants, and what makes them even more better is the fact that those cant be removed. So you have a class here that can keep up defence that wont be taken off.

Paragons also have offensive abilities. Like they can always do the combo GFTE! and Vicious Attack to do a decent damage and a deep wound. The normal paragon bar (IMO) has about like 4 chants/echos , 1 attack skill, GFTE! , TNTF!, and a heal / rez. This makes them spread into possible 3 or even 4 atribs, but they are still efficient no matter what.

Ritualists can take over a monks job (in a way) They do have restoration magic, which heals your allies. But whats more intresting about them is their spirites. Their spirits can allow them capabilities of giving healing bonuses to the entire party. At some cost, these spirits are expensive. But you only need like 1-3 and your party is going to stay alive pretty well.

Their offensive abilities are also quite good. As others have said Ancestors Rage and Splinter Weapon are effective. They also have another good AoE spell, Spirit Rift which actually can do a bit of damage. Including to that, you can summon Bloodsong to keep up some damage while you are casting a spell. Including to that you have the spirit "Vampirism" from the Sunspear Title Track Which if you used on a Channeling Magic Rit, you would have 2 armor ignoring damage and some of it goes towards healing you.

A Paragon build I think would fit what I said would be...
[card]Vicious Attack[/card][card]"Go for the Eyes!"[/card][card]Leaders Comfort[/card][card]"Never Surrender!"[/card][card]Anthem of Envy[/card][card]"Theres Nothing To Fear!"[/card][card]Song of Concentration[/card][card]Signet of Return[/card]

Desman · Jan 31, 2008, 06:45 AM // 06:45

Every1 forgets mesmers? i think u can change ur playing style most with mesmer (signet of illusions FTW) domination aoe dmg, illusion degen or IW, and there are fast cast nukers and etc.... why u hate mesmers ppl? :P

Coloneh · Jan 31, 2008, 07:05 AM // 07:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desman

why u hate mesmers ppl? :P

because necros and eles do everything mesmers can do (with /Me) only better because their primary attributes have a useful effect.

Hengist Meldanash · Jan 31, 2008, 12:01 PM // 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloneh

because necros and eles do everything mesmers can do (with /Me) only better because their primary attributes have a useful effect.

You are talking about PvE? Right? Yeah, what else?!

Nemo the Capitalist · Jan 31, 2008, 03:16 PM // 15:16

mesmers.................

LightningHell · Jan 31, 2008, 04:13 PM // 16:13

Mesmers are unpopular in some groups of people due to the relative ineffectiveness of shutdown and 'mes-effects' in PvE. It's entirely a different story in PvP.

tzavong · Feb 07, 2008, 08:41 PM // 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Morningstar

10 possible professions, after that, 9 secondaries. You are only limited by your imagination.

Wow, well said

hurdlebeast · Feb 11, 2008, 02:41 AM // 02:41

I, personally, find my elementalist to be very versatile. Earth Magic allows me to play as an up front tank (with or without a secondary, dervish is good because of mystic regen, although they hit it lightly with the nerf stick). Air magic has Armor penetration, which is nice. Water is good for slowing things down and keeping the kiting under control. Fire is great for damage (as pretty much everyone knows) but lacks in all the other areas (Earth's defense, Air's penetration, Water's crowd control).

4 elements, each unique in what they can and can't do. you can mix two elements (slow down the crowd with water, and blast them with fire) or you can run just one element (terratank, anyone?). It's really all up to you.

So, for me, i'd say ele is most versatile.

Killed u man · Feb 11, 2008, 06:08 AM // 06:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by XiaoTheBlade

1. Paragon
2. Rit
3. Ranger

Lol, T-space much? ^^

Jam Jar · Feb 13, 2008, 06:44 AM // 06:44

[QUOTE=Shyft the Pyro]
On the other hand, if you define "versatile" as "capable of running skills from any secondary profession and 'mimicking' any class," the Elementalist and the Necromancer win hands-down. Both of these professions have a primary attribute that provides excellent energy management, and since the only way to be as good at a secondary profession (without access to runes and that profession's primary attribute) is to work harder and cast more, energy management is what really allows a character to function well in such a situation. I may be biased (because of my main character choice), but I believe the Elementalist has an edge here: the Necromancer's energy management requires things to die rather frequently, and while things most often do in PvE, I prefer the Elementalist's "guaranteed" energy pool and the superb energy recovery of Ether Prodigy.[QUOTE]

Oh I think I just heard something in the wind? Say it again?

expertise~~~

Yeah I really thought it was expertise. But I don't know why the wind's talking to me like that?

Do you know why?