Curse

EffeKt · May 22, 2005, 05:34 PM // 17:34

As I hit level 20 and real strategy comes out of the ascension quests, i begin to critically assess my character. He is my first character and I wanted to make an elementalist because of the spells they carry, but as I forwarded into the game, I begin to see npcs with fire swords and crazy swords. This is the reason why I made an E/W - because I wanted my character to look flashy with a sword and be a spell caster

. Now seeing how I am more experienced in the game, I begin to notice that it was a mistake...or was it?

I see no advantages being an E/W with points in swordsmanship, although I wish I did because it is my first character

. Any comments would be well appreciated to change my view or even agree with it.

ginetti · May 22, 2005, 07:22 PM // 19:22

you basicaly answered your own question, you did it for style.

But no matter what anyone says, every single build is viable.

Try using bonetti's defence when surrounded, you dodge melee and missile attacks 75% of the time and get 5 energy each time you do it, its a warrior skill.

Every build is viable. this is no "omfgpwnage time" even tho the W/M's would have you believe so ;P

xakia · May 22, 2005, 08:15 PM // 20:15

Bonetti's sucks.

Use Defensive Stance. 5 Energy use.

Actually, Ele/Wars make out well. Just gotta use what is available to you to fit your current challenge. Obsidian Flesh, Mist Form, Armor of Earth, Defensive Stance...and AoEs? Plenty of opportunity to exploit the mindless.

Virtuoso · May 23, 2005, 03:23 AM // 03:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by xakia

Bonetti's sucks.

*blink, blink*

You're kidding, right? Maybe it doesn't quite fit his build, but Bonetti's Defense is far from a "sucky" skill.

-Virt

Keure · May 23, 2005, 09:52 AM // 09:52

Haven't played one, but theory and experience with the two constituent classes says the following.

E/W means you got a tremendous energy pool and melee abilities at the same time (unlike W/E).

The various elementalist defensive buffs will make you able to tank if you need/want to get into melee.

You have the ability to be effective if the situation calls for some powerful casting (not reliant on a secondary for that).

You have the ability to remain effective through your melee abilities if spellcasting is inhibited (getting focused on by a mesmer, out of energy after burst casting).

Hot damn, I should make one now. Can't wait to see how a zealous weapon would work out for this guy...

kalaris · May 23, 2005, 01:16 PM // 13:16

Tactics... for the win...

Balanced Stance + Elementalist = oh hey.. .look no knockdown sucks for you... TEH NUKE!

Lol seriously, E/W's can be great, you might just need to look more to tactics...

Ask yourself, do you swing your weapon more, or are you generally casting more?

Do you just cast conjure then swing at the face of others?

As the flip side (W/E) I tend to do the later, I do as little casting as possible and because of this I have very quick casting spells in my bar, conjure, inferno, immolate, since when I'm channeling a spell, I'm not swinging...

So what are you using your W half for?

Aug · May 23, 2005, 06:11 PM // 18:11

I think an Elementalist/Warrior is the premier PBAoE caster.

A PvE idea/concept:

Do something like 5 Energy Storage, 10 Earth, 10 Axe Mastery, 10 Tactics (or 8, 11, 8, 8 if you want more Energy). Take

Earthquake
Aftershock
Crystal Wave
Armor of Earth (or Aura of Restoration if you have higher ES)
Cyclone Axe
Balanced Stance
Bonetti's Defense
Glyph of Lesser Energy.

I'd think that'd be a huge PvE build... especially for missions where you carry an object that acts as a huge aggro magnet. Gather up the aggro, fire off your PBAoEs to secure it, drop the item, and start Cycloning.

If you get Earth Shaker (Hammer Elite), you could swap to Hammer and just keep everyone in a near constant state of knockdown.

shawn23233 · May 23, 2005, 06:15 PM // 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by EffeKt

As I hit level 20 and real strategy comes out of the ascension quests, i begin to critically assess my character. He is my first character and I wanted to make an elementalist because of the spells they carry, but as I forwarded into the game, I begin to see npcs with fire swords and crazy swords. This is the reason why I made an E/W - because I wanted my character to look flashy with a sword and be a spell caster

. Now seeing how I am more experienced in the game, I begin to notice that it was a mistake...or was it?

I see no advantages being an E/W with points in swordsmanship, although I wish I did because it is my first character

. Any comments would be well appreciated to change my view or even agree with it.

One advantage I can see is against a Mesmer maybe? Casting spells will be just be a waste of time if a mesmer is on you, but then you can always go ahead an wahck away?

EffeKt · May 26, 2005, 04:38 AM // 04:38

I sort of put more points into my tactics and wow did it ever make a difference. My e/w seems to do better than my w/mo in the arena. Thank you for the insights everyone.

Nessaja · May 26, 2005, 09:33 AM // 09:33

When you are Ele/Warrior, I would go hammer, and give them a lot of knockdowns, the best defense is offense, and when your opponent is knocked down they wont be able to do much

Earth Shaker (ELITE)
Belly Smash
Crushing Blow
Whirlwind (dummy point for knocking down)
Aftershock
Earthquake
Bonetti's Defense
Magnetic Aura/Grasping Earth

Basic idea would be-> Earthquake->Aftershock/Belly Smash/Crushing Blow->Whirlwind->Aftershock/Belly Smash/Crushing Blow->Earthshaker->Aftershock/Belly Smash/Crushing Blow

Myodato · May 26, 2005, 10:30 AM // 10:30

The thing I love about caster/W is that you have options for great damage output even when you're low on energy due to adrenalin skills.

For taking on Warriors at there own game, how about combining conjure lightning with glimmering mark. Ouch. Add whirlwind, and even chain lightning, and you'll be scary indeed.

Siephl Marks · May 26, 2005, 06:25 PM // 18:25

Op's build and the suggestions so far all sound fun to me... damn you people.. I... can.. only... have ... 4 ... characters

Axehilt · May 27, 2005, 05:57 AM // 05:57

Hmm, I'll have to try some of these suggestions. My E/W feels a bit weak too. I end up primarily being an offensive caster Elementalist, and then using a mere 4 points in Tactics to use a 13 Armor shield (13 armor against frontal attacks at all times seemed pretty excellent to me for such a small investment) I also use Shield Stance which yields 75% block rate (for 11 seconds at 4 Tactics.) The advantage of Shield Stance over Defensive Stance is that it doesn't end when I use skills. The disadvantage is that you move 33% slower in Shield Stance.

Ramown · May 27, 2005, 10:10 AM // 10:10

I have an E/W too, and I love it. The armor of earth will make you able to survive very well, and the wards will give your party members a huge survivability boost. I prefer using wards on a melee char, cause it's only usefull in close range, where as most nuker ele's tend to stay on a distance.

tastegw · May 27, 2005, 10:56 AM // 10:56

i was running a build simular to that.

15 fire magic +3 from assumed items
11 earth magic +1 from rune
8 sword mastery

i used these skills

conjure flame (added 16 dmg)
server artery
gash
final thrust
armor of earth
aftershock
crystal wave
ward againsts melee (15 seconds long i think)

and a few teamates i had in the tombs called me a nub x_X
after they died, the booted me off the team lol.
but, the build is fun, you get to use a fiery dragon sword, and you do look cool holding it as a elementalist.

EffeKt · May 29, 2005, 12:07 AM // 00:07

have a felblade now 8 )