Curse

Clamatius · Sep 18, 2006, 11:58 PM // 23:58

Slight variant of a balanced TA build with an e-denial subtheme. Heavy use of distortion as melee defense. Be gentle, I'm a scrub & haven't made all that many builds.

The theory here is that the best plan in TA is to stop whatever their plan is. Here I'm trying to use e-denial, blackout and interrupts with fairly generic, general-purpose characters for flexibility. An opposing NR is going to suck for the boon-prot but I'm not sure whether the threat of that is worth switching him out for a BL guy. I've noticed that most TA monks spend a lot of their time kiting around and generally being shut down, so I added a bit of self healing on the ranger and warrior. Hex stacks are going to suck - I guess I could run Expel on the mesmer but I really like Surge for extra damage + edenial pressure. The team's condition removal is also not amazing so I went for W/N & Plague Touch in a bid to keep the warrior somewhat cleaner.

Anyway, I'd welcome some feedback. For example, would I be better off running a Hammer warrior instead of the axe guy for more disruption? Oh, and one other important question: is there enough damage here to actually kill people?

Spike Axeman

Warrior/Necromancer
Level: 20

Strength: 10 (9+1)
Axe Mastery: 16 (12+4)
Tactics: 10 (9+1)

Eviscerate [Elite] (Axe Mastery)
Executioner's Strike (Axe Mastery)
Bull's Strike (Strength)
Frenzy (Warrior other)
Rush (Strength)
Plague Touch (Necromancer Other)
Healing Signet (Tactics)
Resurrection Signet ()

Distortion Boon Prot

Monk/Mesmer
Level: 20

Divine Favor: 14 (12+2)
Protection Prayers: 10 (9+1)
Inspiration Magic: 9
Illusion Magic: 3

Guardian (Protection Prayers)
Reversal of Fortune (Protection Prayers)
Mend Ailment (Protection Prayers)
Mend Condition (Protection Prayers) / Shielding Hands (Protection Prayers) (player preference)
Distortion (Illusion Magic)
Inspired Hex (Inspiration Magic)
Energy Drain [Elite] (Inspiration Magic)
Divine Boon (Divine Favor)

Deb Cripshot

Ranger/Mesmer
Level: 20

Expertise: 15 (11+4)
Wilderness Survival: 9 (8+1)
Marksmanship: 12 (11+1)
Illusion Magic: 3

Crippling Shot [Elite] (Marksmanship)
Distracting Shot (Expertise)
Savage Shot (Marksmanship)
Debilitating Shot (Ranger other)
Apply Poison (Wilderness Survival)
Distortion (Illusion Magic)
Troll Unguent (Wilderness Survival)
Resurrection Signet ()

TA ESurger

Mesmer/Monk
Level: 20

Fast Casting: 9 (8+1)
Domination Magic: 14 (11+3)
Inspiration Magic: 10 (9+1)
Illusion Magic: 8 (7+1)

Energy Surge [Elite] (Domination Magic)
Energy Burn (Domination Magic)
Shatter Enchantment (Domination Magic)
Drain Enchantment (Inspiration Magic)
Leech Signet (Inspiration Magic)
Blackout (Domination Magic)
Distortion (Illusion Magic)
Resurrection Signet ()

Legendary Shiz · Sep 19, 2006, 02:20 PM // 14:20

On the monk I'd swap mend ailment for mend condition. And I'm not very sure I like the distortion on the monk. I also don't like that you don't have guardian on your monk.

If you were dead set on leaving distortion in there, I'd swap prot spirit for guardian at the very least.

Clamatius · Sep 19, 2006, 04:58 PM // 16:58

The reason for all the Distortions on the squishier characters is that I've noticed the way I usually die in TA (playing the mesmer or monk in these kinds of builds) is a knockdown followed by adrenaline attacks with assist. I see Distortion not as an evade stance here but a way of casting Divine Intervention while lying down.

I think you'd regret not having condition removal you could use on yourself - remember, there's no CoP here. That said, there's definitely an argument that the monk could use another spammable. Guardian and Mend Condition are the likely candidates - and I guess Prot Spirit is lowest on the totem pole so that's the one that'd be cut. A while ago I didn't even get out of bed without Guardian up, but showers of Irresistible Blows have been putting me off the skill a bit. Maybe it'd be a bit better now that IB and Tiger's got a little lovetap from the nerf bat. Also, I'd guess now that assassins finally got some love Guardian's stock price would be up a bit.

{edit}
Alright, I convinced myself. I think this might be better:

Distortion Boon Prot

Monk/Mesmer
Level: 20

Divine Favor: 14 (12+2)
Protection Prayers: 10 (9+1)
Inspiration Magic: 9
Illusion Magic: 3

Guardian (Protection Prayers)
Reversal of Fortune (Protection Prayers)
Mend Ailment (Protection Prayers)
Mend Condition (Protection Prayers) / Shielding Hands (Protection Prayers) (player preference)
Distortion (Illusion Magic)
Inspired Hex (Inspiration Magic)
Energy Drain [Elite] (Inspiration Magic)
Divine Boon (Divine Favor)

{/edit}

Legendary Shiz · Sep 19, 2006, 06:17 PM // 18:17

IMO CoP is still a viable skill, you just need to be smart when using it.

Clamatius · Sep 19, 2006, 06:29 PM // 18:29

Sure, I think it's still a reasonable skill - but I prefer CoP if I have MoR instead of EDrain and EDrain is more thematic here.

Legendary Shiz · Sep 19, 2006, 06:54 PM // 18:54

I <3 Edrain. That's what I actually use 3/4's of the time.

At the very least IMO he should drop prot spirit for guardian.