Curse

Megas XLR · Apr 20, 2009, 03:56 AM // 03:56

Now that I've done everything there is to do on my Dervish, I'm looking to start a new character. I'm used to having a versatile character that can take on a lot of different roles and builds, so I've had a hard time at picking a new character.

I was thinking of choosing one of the following classes:

- Warriors
- Assassin
- Mesmer
- Ritualist

I want something that has the most DPS or the most utility in a party. I don't want to have a lot of characters, which is why I don't want to make one of each. I hear Mesmers do A LOT of AoE damage, and Warriors can be taken anywhere, Assassins have crits, and Rits have some fancy skills for utility. I also want to do a lot of dungeons and elite areas.

Thanks for the input.

CronkTheImpaler · Apr 20, 2009, 04:50 AM // 04:50

I hate to go generic on ya, but it all depends on what your focus is.
i think the most versatile is the warrior. thats just my opinion. Ritualists have their niche'. they have Great support in healing and weapon spells that can multiply Damage output of your teamates in a huge way.

Mesmers i think are the most fun profession. i suck at them BUT i have run with some folks that simply raise HAVOC with the enemy. They can run straight out shutdown or spread damage en masse.

Sins are a pretty linear profession. they are a bit squishy they deal massive DPS but if they are on the business end of a mobs wrath they are in trouble quick fast and in a hurry.

Warriors: profession after my own heart. they can provide some decent party support in ways of armor buffs and SY! is just money. they can take large damage and deal it as well. The only glaring drawback with warriors in MHO is that they have to really stick their nose in the meatgrinder to do the damage they are designed to do. Therefore party support for the war is a must.

what someone chooses to play really comes down to what they feel suits their mood at the time. finesse? fist/ground and pound? mis-direction of damage and interupts+energy denial? id just look through all their skills regualr and elite. look at some of the roles they play on youtube videos.

Just take a little time and research what each profession brings to the table and decide then.

This is just how i approach a new char. Im the same way you are, i dont usually carry alot of chars that i play. MULES MULES AND MORE MULES. and a few player chars.

Cronk

take it for what its worth

ShoGunTheOne · Apr 20, 2009, 05:35 AM // 05:35

i think OP got mesmer and elementalist confused
mesmer's the 1 with hexes/interupts, ele is the massive AoE damage dealer

i would say ele cos they're needed in almost every party, they do a lot of damage, and they're just fun to play with

Faure · Apr 20, 2009, 05:56 AM // 05:56

I'd prefer a Paragon for party support over a Ritualist. Also they are able to do some decent dps so you might want to take a look into it.
Otherwise for AoE Elementalist is the way to go. Nothing says it more then a nice Meteorshower in your head =D.

wilebill · Apr 20, 2009, 06:13 AM // 06:13

I have one of each class except Ritualist and Necromancer. So I cannot comment on Ritualist. Of the three others, probably Warrior and Assassin are more used in dungeons and elite areas in hard mode. The Assassin using a Shadow Form build usually in HM. The Warrior is usually a tank in dungeon HM. But you know all that ...

Since you are skilled with the Dervish, you must be an adaptable and clever player. I would then say try Assassin first. My personal reason for saying that is that I happen to play my Assassin more than my Warrior or Mesmer in PvE. In all three cases my characters have every common skill and Elite in the game, so I have not neglected any of them.

But then, that is my preference, and speaking of PvE only too. Actually, Mesmer and Ele are my primary PvP characters. You can farm easier with Assassin or Warrior than Mesmer for what that's worth.

If you do try an Assassin, remember that while leveling up with daggers you are a back rank character that "strikes from the shadows" and who gets in, does damage with your highly destructive dagger skills, and then gets out. An Assassin with Daggers remains highly mobile because if you hang around in one spot long enough you will surely die.

Of course, a fully leveled Assassin is another matter. A perma Shadow Form Assassin will often gather aggro for the player group. There is also the "Assacaster" who carries a staff and uses the Assassin's Promise skill recharger or the Mesmer Elite Lyssa's Aura as an energy generator to power up incredible ranged destruction. Then too, there are hybrid builds with a bow, scythe, or spear. For these, the Critical Strikes energy generator gives you a lot of options. Heh, you can even run a pet build with an Assassin though it is mostly just for fun.

Leveling up, be sure and get a no attribute required longbow or flatbow in the starting area. These are rated 7-11 damage, pulling bows. Carry it in weapons slot 4. You will be using it a lot. Add a vampiric bowstring, stick on an "of fortitude" or "warding." With heroes and hench you can usually get them to take aggro buy starting to attack and then casting one of your enchantments. But often it is an even better idea to open fire with the tiny longbow, and back off staying at max range until the group is fully aggroed and you can select your target at leisure. Assassins must avoid getting hit by heavy initial focused attacks from enemy casters.

And there are ways to use that tiny no attrib longbow with damage boost skills or ranged casting skills to set up an effective ranged/melee hybrid.

Well, that's my two cents for what it's worth, two cents. Warrior and Mesmer are both excellent choices as well.

Bobby2 · Apr 20, 2009, 07:11 AM // 07:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megas XLR

I was thinking of choosing one of the following classes:

- Warriors
- Assassin
- Mesmer
- Ritualist

Assassin.

- best primary attribute
- godawesome DPS [moebius strike][death blossom]
- can make a show as caster support as well [assassin's promise]
- broken in its versatility [shadow form]

**Marty Silverblade** · Apr 20, 2009, 08:07 AM // 08:07

Imo even if it's not the best of the lot, Rits are awesome when it comes to utility. You'll pretty much always have a hybrid build (damage/healing) which is nice. Unique skill types like weapon spells and spirits (rangers have spirits too but screw them) are fun.

upier · Apr 20, 2009, 08:55 AM // 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megas XLR

I also want to do a lot of dungeons and elite areas.

Who do you plan on doing these areas with?
Because the thing you need to be clear - most groups will farm those areas. Which means a specific build and ONLY that build. And when the nerfs come rolling into town - that's going to change. So be prepared to be the life of the party one day - and just a poor, sad, lonely drunkard the next!

If on the other hand you plan on doing it with friends and guildies - anything goes.
I mostly play my ritualist because he has these super cute outfits!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShoGunTheOne

i think OP got mesmer and elementalist confused
mesmer's the 1 with hexes/interupts, ele is the massive AoE damage dealer

i would say ele cos they're needed in almost every party, they do a lot of damage, and they're just fun to play with

[Cry of Pain].
The OP got it right.

1337 H4X · Apr 20, 2009, 10:11 AM // 10:11

Make a warriRED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO! leetness

Nodakim · Apr 20, 2009, 11:15 AM // 11:15

Necromancer.
As easy as that.
Elementalist is not a viable option for damage on HM,because a Necro can out dps any ele build with little effort.
For utility,you have Order necros and BiPs.

Assassins crits are realy a joke when i see some paragon skills.
Necromancers can do any job better then a ritualist,even with the same skill bar.
Warriors,well,they are Warriors.And they most definatly cant be taken anywhere,as i think they are useless.

upier · Apr 20, 2009, 11:42 AM // 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nodakim

Assassins crits are realy a joke when i see some paragon skills.
Necromancers can do any job better then a ritualist,even with the same skill bar.
Warriors,well,they are Warriors.And they most definatly cant be taken anywhere,as i think they are useless.

That's not pretty.

You really don't want to be calling warriors useless.
Nor do you want to say that a necro outperforms a ritualist with the same ritualist bar. That CERTAINLY does apply for heroes - but players are a different matter.
And there is a SLIGHT difference between an assassin and a paragon.

Chocobo1 · Apr 20, 2009, 12:46 PM // 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by upier

That's not pretty.

You really don't want to be calling warriors useless.
Nor do you want to say that a necro outperforms a ritualist with the same ritualist bar. That CERTAINLY does apply for heroes - but players are a different matter.
And there is a SLIGHT difference between an assassin and a paragon.

In general a Ritualist cant compete with a Necromancer, Human or Hero. Soulreaping is just amazing E-Management while Spawning Power is incredibly useless.

I'd seriously go with a Necromancer, you can do so much with them it's amazing. They are used in so many different teams, they can clear and VQ stuff pretty easily. But it seems you like more frontline kind of work, in which case I'd go with a Warrior. It's like a Dervish but less boring <.<;

upier · Apr 20, 2009, 02:23 PM // 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocobo1

In general a Ritualist cant compete with a Necromancer, Human or Hero. Soulreaping is just amazing E-Management while Spawning Power is incredibly useless.

14/14 Channeling/Resto.
The only reason why necro heroes are ran is because heroes suck at e-management. Use a player that knows how to manage his energy - and the only reason why you'd want to run a necro is no more.

Faure · Apr 20, 2009, 09:03 PM // 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby2

Assassin.

- best primary attribute
- godawesome DPS [moebius strike][death blossom]
- can make a show as caster support as well [assassin's promise]
- broken in its versatility [shadow form]

For the first one i beg to differ with Necro.
Also sins promise works imo better on other classes, since they can max their dmg skills without AP being useless.

I give you shadowform and mobie+death blossom.

Chocobo1 · Apr 21, 2009, 01:03 AM // 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by upier

14/14 Channeling/Resto.
The only reason why necro heroes are ran is because heroes suck at e-management. Use a player that knows how to manage his energy - and the only reason why you'd want to run a necro is no more.

How does that change that Spawning Power is incredibly useless, and Soul Reaping is free energy? I don't really want to debate this because as much as I love the Ritualist class, I can accept that it needs some huge changes to be up to scratch.

upier · Apr 21, 2009, 06:26 AM // 06:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocobo1

How does that change that Spawning Power is incredibly useless, and Soul Reaping is free energy? I don't really want to debate this because as much as I love the Ritualist class, I can accept that it needs some huge changes to be up to scratch.

It doesn't. Spawning is still useless.
And that actually, on top of being able to use runes, is what makes the rit better. You'll be running around with much stronger skills because you won't have to spread around the attributes. Like I said, this gives you a 14/14 spread and that's much better then your usual 10/10ish on the necro.
But to be able to use this power - the player needs to be able to manage his energy.

On heroes and other bad players though - the necro option still is superior!

Betrayer of Wind · Apr 26, 2009, 01:12 AM // 01:12

Rangers have alot of versatility,are amazing tanks,and can dish out a bunch of DPS with turret builds or even [Death Blossom] + [Moebius Strike].But since you didnt listed that,i'd go with Mesmer since they are the best running [Assassin's promise].

Assassins are very nice and versatile to some extend,but also squish and dependable on enchantments.

Warrior are best running Earthshaker imo,DS also good but i still find earthshaker better

Qing Guang · Apr 26, 2009, 02:30 AM // 02:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocobo1

In general a Ritualist cant compete with a Necromancer, Human or Hero. Soulreaping is just amazing E-Management while Spawning Power is incredibly useless.

OW ow ow... my inner rit cries. Yes, Soul Reaping is useful emanagement, but as has been stated you do have to spec into it (and it's almost completely useless in a handful of situations... helloooooo Shiro). I pretty much ignored Spawning Power, too... until my Resto Rit started having problems with emanagement. She's been running Attuned was Songkai ever since. And that's the ONLY one of my characters that hasn't had to deviate from my original plan due to the realities of life (except maybe the Para), and her build works in both PvE and PvP with I believe a switch of only 2 skills.

So my vote goes for Rits. They can PvE, they can PvP; they can farm, they can balance; they can run damage, they can run healing. They're, overall, a highly flexible class. In fact, I remember reading CGW's review of Factions, in which it basically stated that Assassins were too specialized (still true for the most part, and hard to run well on top of that), while Ritualists were the exact opposite, jacks-of-all-trades and masters of none. They've since been buffed, making them, while not necessarily better than other options, on a par with other professions in each area of expertise.

And I'm not biased at all.

If you want more of a martial type, maybe a Ranger would be good. They're pretty versatile.

Cuilan · Apr 26, 2009, 02:44 AM // 02:44

My vote would either be assassin or mesmer. Mesmers have a lot of skills that can be switched out before any mission, quest, run, or farm to best suit the situation. You can also do elite areas very well like Urgoz, FoW, DoA, and The Deep. Interuption, quick damage with various extras, and fact cast nuking. I actually prefer my mesmer for nuking because it's less standing around and little worry about energy.

Assassin are neat. Perma is around a lot, but it's not for everyone. Being that kind of tank and being such a key player won't be fun to some. My assassin is also used as a dervish or ranger thanks to Critical Strikes.

Xenomortis · Apr 26, 2009, 11:31 AM // 11:31

Of those options, go with the Warrior. Solid class with excellent damage output, always useful.

Assassin's always feel a little gimmicky and new players tend to get killed a lot with them. Once you've got a few good builds, they're fine though and have some very nice abilities.

Mesmers... I don't like these for PvE. A lot of their stuff is expensive, long recharging or just reactive crap.

Ritualists. They have a few unique features, but a lot of what they can do can often be pulled off better by other classes. They have some nice aspects, but are usually surpassed by other classes.

If you want a class with lots of damage and utility potential, the Necromancer is your best bet.