Curse

Waveman2 · Nov 09, 2006, 05:15 PM // 17:15

Ok, so ill probably be slated for saying this, but ah well...
Very much new to this, but learning quick, um..
Got Prophecies and Nightfall. Want to make a really good character for PvP.
Already have a W/Mo, but i hear theyre in abundance, and generally... carry the 'noob' tag. Dervish seems interesting, but again, has been criticised.
Where do i start, could ANYONE advise a few class sets with info? I kinda want a character who can hold their own, not really into sitting back and spelling, but dont want to be a meat shield either. Any advice is great.

Byron · Nov 09, 2006, 05:37 PM // 17:37

If you're at all interested in PvP, you'll have to learn to specialize. That means picking whatever you're best at and getting better at it.

My suggested path would be to try out both the monk and warrior experience. Most, if not all, PvPers got their start as either a monk or warrior. These classes provide great experience within their own domain. They are also fundamental: any balanced team has both monks and melee characters on it (thumpers and dervishes are just specialized warriors, IMO).

Builds? Sure.

Shock-axe: The most consistently played warrior build since gale nerf. It has many variants, so I'll just give the standard.

W/E
12+1(helm)+3(rune) axe mastery
9+1 tactics
9+1 strength

Bull's strike
Eviscerate {e}
Executioner's strike
Frenzy
Rush
Healing signet
Shock
Resurrection signet

Chain eviscerate->Executioner's for big damage. Bull's strike holds targets in place. Use frenzy only when not under attack, but use it liberally when not under attack. Cancel it with rush should you come under attack while frenzying. Rush also helps chase fleeing or kiting targets. Shock provides reliable knockdown and interrupts skills. Healing signet keep you alive. It all takes practice to be good with, of course.

Monk? Again, many variants.

Mo/A Blessed light: perhaps the most stable monk build in today's meta.

12+1(helm)+1(rune) divine favor
9+1 protection prayers
9+1 healing prayers
3 shadow arts

Reversal of Fortune
Gift of Health
Mend ailment
Protective Spirit
Blessed Light {E}
Signet of devotion
Return
Dark Escape

Monks are not easy to play. They are probably the most difficult to do well, actually. RoF is a spammable way to stop damage. Gift of health is the main heal. Mend ailment removes conditions. Protective spirit restricts heavy damage. Blessed light is the main self-heal, and also removes hexes. Signet of devotion should be used when you're out of energy or don't need a fast heal. Return and Dark Escape keep you alive, and are used for different situations. Goodness, though- it takes practice to do right. I'm hesitating to even post this build, tbh.

After cutting your teeth in one of these spectrums, I think you'll have a better idea of what you want to do with PvP.

moriz · Nov 09, 2006, 05:43 PM // 17:43

he's only got prophecies and NF, so that monk bar is out of the question. use something like this, if you want:

mo/me boon prot

div=12+2
pro=8+1
insp=10

divine boon
guardian
reversal of fortune
dismiss condition
channeling
protective spirit
inspired hex
energy drain {E}

the boon prot is severely nerfed with NF, but this particular build will still work. it's hex removal sucks, and it's energy heavy, but it works.

Waveman2 · Nov 10, 2006, 08:13 AM // 08:13

Thanks for taking the time, and for the advice.
I like the idea of the w/e, could i use dervish as the first class though?
I mean, the mysticism ability is perhaps more useful than strength if my second class was E or Mo..

Thom Bangalter · Nov 10, 2006, 08:29 AM // 08:29

W/E is a highly played build that has an immense amount of strength. Going D/E with shock completely changes the build. You also lack the versatility a warrior provides.

Warriors are not interchangable with dervishes, dervishes, as byron noted, are just specialized warriors and playing a dervish would require a complete overhaul of the build byron provided.

JR · Nov 10, 2006, 11:35 AM // 11:35

A decent RA style W/Mo build.

Mending Touch isn't REALLY needed, but can be nice for a bit of sustainability.

Warrior/Monk

14 Sword
11 Tactics
9 Strength

Dragon Slash
Sever Artery
Gash
Sun and Moon Slash
Rush
Mending Touch
Healing Signet
Resurrection Signet

Alternative:

Same Attributes

Crippling Slash
Sever Artery
Gash
Final Thrust
Protectors Strike
Healing Signet
Rush
Resurrection Signet

That is my personal favorite for RA, although I often go in with Shock instead of Healing Signet and just hope for a Monk.

Eroth · Nov 10, 2006, 11:44 AM // 11:44

Sun and Moon is factions.

I learned as a Ranger, And I still swear it's the best to start with. I have a builld for ya. My best one out there.

R/?
Barrager Ranger

13 Marksmanship
10 Wilderness Survival
9 Expertise

Barrage
Distracting shot
Savage shot
Dust Trap
Throw Dirt
Whirling Defense
Troll Ung.
Rez Sig/open (rez sig is for some other type of pvp) I use Favorable Winds in this place.

0mar · Nov 10, 2006, 12:43 PM // 12:43

Basically what others have said. Don't try to do three or four things with your character (ie heal, damage, condition or hex removal) simultaneously. There are not enough skill slots to cover each aspect correctly.

Think of an archetype you want to play in a team. For example, say you want to deal damage with a Warrior. Grab 2-3 damage skills and then complement those skills with skills that enable those 2-3 damage skills. More often than not, especially if the players are halfway decent, they will kite you, reducing your DPS to very little for a fairly substantial amount of time. Therefore, you want to counter this kiting to let off your attack chain. You can knock them down, slow them down or speed yourself up. Each has it's own pros and cons. There are literally dozens of different roles you can play in a team. Healing/protection, damage dealer, condition spreader, hexer, interupter are just a few archetypes available.

The other trick is finding which skills are actually decent skills to use. Generally, those with fairly restrictive conditions are less effective, especially if the effect can be readily removed. That's not to say all restrictive condition skills are bad, it's just a general rule. Also, recharge plays a significant role in PvP. A great skill can be rendered useless by it's duration and a seemingly bad skill can be fairly good with a good recharge. In a couple of weeks, it'll become second nature, where you can look at a skill and generally have a good idea of where it stands.

stueyman2099 · Nov 10, 2006, 12:46 PM // 12:46

The only PvP I can think of where you don't need a res sig is Alliance Battles. Seeing as how this guy doesn't have factions, not taking a res sig is out of the question. If you are pvping and are not a monk/flag runner, you have a res sig or other ressurect spell.

LightningHell · Nov 10, 2006, 01:29 PM // 13:29

You really need to specialize in a certain role. As Byron noted, many start from Warrior and Monk (although there are exceptions, I think).

W/E Shock Warrior and variants are a good place to start off. For monking, since you don't have Factions, I think the only option you really have is Boon Prot...as stated above.

Also, I usually find Barrage not too good in PvP.

Byron · Nov 12, 2006, 03:59 AM // 03:59

Yeah - I missed the part where he doesn't have factions. That makes things complicated, since factions did do a lot for the monks (assassin secondary, blessed light, gift of health, etc.). You might be able to get away with a glimmer of light monk, though they aren't my favorite type...

11+1+1 divine favor
10+1 healing prayers
6+1 protection prayers
6 illusion magic
4? inspiration magic (whatever is left)

Glimmer of light{e}
Mend condition
Mending touch
Protective spirit
Signet of devotion
Holy veil
Inspired hex
Distortion

I think the skills are self explanatory, but it's important to utilize the energy management of signet of devotion. Hit distortion when you come under heavy melee or ranger attack, but be careful, since it can quickly drain energy. Use mending touch on yourself to remove conditions quickly. Glimmer of light is, of course, the main heal.

Thomas.knbk · Nov 12, 2006, 09:57 AM // 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

A decent RA style W/Mo build.

Mending Touch isn't REALLY needed, but can be nice for a bit of sustainability.

Warrior/Monk

14 Sword
11 Tactics
9 Strength

Dragon Slash
Sever Artery
Gash
Sun and Moon Slash
Rush
Mending Touch
Healing Signet
Resurrection Signet

Alternative:

Same Attributes

Crippling Slash
Sever Artery
Gash
Final Thrust
Protectors Strike
Healing Signet
Rush
Resurrection Signet

That is my personal favorite for RA, although I often go in with Shock instead of Healing Signet and just hope for a Monk.

He hasn't got factions, so DS=no
No frenzy? increasing your dmg with 50% for 5 energy per 8 seconds=ftw.
@OP: 'Meat Shields' or 'Tanks' don't exist in PvP. A tank is someone who takes all the dmg on him, and absorbs it. Any team with half a brain will decide to attack someone else who can't absorb the dmg. If you want to play a warrior, you're going to have to be offensive. VERY offensive. Some self defense is ok, but generally a healing signet is enough (if you know how to use it.)
It really depends on what you want. I personally think a mesmer is the single most fun proffesion to play in GW, but I would not reccomend it as a first character. W or Mo is probably best.
Suggested build: W/E
Axe 12+1+3
Strength=6+1
Tactics=11+1
Air=3
Eviscerate{E}
Executioner's Strike
Shock
Bull's Strike
Frenzy
Sprint
Healing Signet
Resurrection Signet

I can't really think of a good prophecies/nightfall monk build. I mostly play Blessed Light but.....

Dragannia · Nov 12, 2006, 10:26 AM // 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

A decent RA style W/Mo build.

Mending Touch isn't REALLY needed, but can be nice for a bit of sustainability.

Warrior/Monk

14 Sword
11 Tactics
9 Strength

Dragon Slash
Sever Artery
Gash
Sun and Moon Slash
Rush
Mending Touch
Healing Signet
Resurrection Signet

Alternative:

Pfft, screw the Mending Touch, Plague Touch is winz.

Bankai · Nov 12, 2006, 10:47 AM // 10:47

How do you plan on using Plague touch while crippled?

I think Mending touch is truly great on melee chars.

Dragannia · Nov 12, 2006, 11:01 AM // 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bankai

How do you plan on using Plague touch while crippled?

I think Mending touch is truly great on melee chars.

It's RA.

There's always someone you can Touch to get rid of it, such as the frothing Wammo using Endure Pain and Glad's Defence.

I like the side effect.