Skill Tomes or Skill Trainer?

This may be a noob question, but I haven't had any elite tomes drop yet and was wondering, if you use one and you're level 20, do you get the 5k xp bonus, or just learn the skill?

If you don't get the xp bonus, I would stick with cap sigs personally. But that's just me.

Why would you get the XP? The 250 XP per level is a part of the Signet of Capture, not the elites.

I would guess the skill tombs will settle at about 1k each, because they do not require skill points to use.

Elite tombs will probably be about 5k each, because it is nice not to chase after obscure elites (AotL, Evicerate, FoC, ect.)

Normal tomes at 1k MAX an d elites at 5k MAX, i could go with that, anythig else is just not reasonable. But then it's a personal preference and i can't do anything about the market prices really.

Elite Skill tomes kinda cheapen the Skill Hunter title track. No longer does it mean having had to go to far away place to kill elusive bosses like Maw the Mountain Heart...

Agree with this. The Elite Tomes are incredibly useful to anyone that has multiple characters in various areas of all three chapters. I used an Elite Mesmer Tome to get Ineptitude on my Mes because he's stuck deep in Nightfall, and it jut require too much to get him all the way through Mineral Springs in Tyria just to cap that from a boss that may or may not even show up for me. Yeah... hell no.

Now, normal tomes? They're great if you run across one adventuring, since it's basically finding a free skill as a drop. Buying one? The only reason I'd see for this is like Muspellsheimr said, it won't use up a skill point. Also, if you don't feel like unlocking a skill you can only get late game in Prophecies or Nightfall (since just about everything is available early in Factions), it could be of mild use for that, too.

Otherwise, I'd suggest not bothering with buying/selling normal tomes. Just a waste of cash/time.

I think the primary use of tomes will be quick outfitting of a new character with all the skills he/she needs.

I know my newborn monk will be happy for a tome or two to get the skills he can't have yet due to lack of skill points. It may be only a difference of two hours of play, but it's the two most troublesome hours, too.

Also, can an elite tome grant access to an elite before the signet of capture quests? If it can, that would mean you can have an elite days earlier than usual.

Hmm if I would want skill hunter title I wouldnt want to wait till I get all the tomes. But when a tome drops it just saves a llittle work. If theres anything that cheapens skill hunter title IMO it's wiki.

Yea, i agree. How i wish that no one post any locations online. It is skill hunter title, not skill follow guide title. You are suppose to hunt for them and not knowing where they are located increase the fun part of skill capping.


Elite tombs help in achieving survivor title as well. Think of a lv 5 ranger running himself through the tryia with escape. Or a monk in some <lv10 area with WoH, LoD, SoR.

also considering that you only have to build up some bath faction and unlock em through him, technicly you never have to cap a skill again - just hop into a little PvP.. time to start doing AB again.

Its this exaclty ... your new character can have cross campaign skills from level one. That is something worth couple of platinum as it saves you hours you would spend getting in there.

Also there is this scenario:

"LFG"
(PM) "Can you be build xyz that requires this elite at secodnary (you never though about capping)"
takes appropriate elite tome from storage, uses it: "Yeah"
"You are in."

If you really have to have elite right now to fit party build, you can't just say brb in 30 minutes.

It's ridiculous that people wanna pay up to that much in order to get a skill.

Being a Legendary Skill Hunter from before the tome era i can assure you i was pleased having capped all skills
It actually makes you feel worthy at some point.
Never the less it's amazing how people yet again try to take a normal thing too far and set the tone.
Capitalism found its way to GW long time ago but it's not always the best way to go.

Personally I just keep all the ones I find, never know when you might need them

They should put the tomes at the rare scroll trader, that would stabilize the prices quickly.

well i spent 15k on an Elite Warrior Tome...and have never been happier...I finally capped Evis on my PVE warrior....could have done it numerous times in the mission but just never got around to it....also bought and Elite Rit tome for 12k to get VWK and I consider it money well spent....27k to get to Elite skills that I want....in less than 20 mins.....where as it would have taken me a few hours to get them the normal way....I only get to play maybe an hour or so on weekdays and 2 hours a day on weekends...so yes I see these prices staying High as the "reward" is quite high.

I don't understand what people are thinking. Tomes only work to give you a skill if you already have the skill unlocked. For example, I have a character with every Elite skill in the game. If I started a new character and wanted it to have a specific elite skill I can create that character, get the tome out of storage and use it to get the skill.

HOWEVER, A brand new player who has never played before and has no unlocked skills can't use a tome. He's got some capping and learning ahead of him to do. His later characters can use the tome though.

a brand new player can go into the low lvl pvp areas in the towns and earn some bath points, then unlock the elite at the avitar and tome it over that way. - of course i don't think a brand new play is going to be missing the skills as much as someone who's been beaten the game a few times and is starting a new character.

Who cares? If people are willing to give you money for them, just sell them the tome and be glad for the quick cash. Enjoy it while it lasts, cause the prices will only go down.

Think I've found one tome since they were introduced. At the present drop rate, they will not affect me one way or the other.

Maybe some people like the idea of getting out of Pre-Searing and instantly becoming a WOH monk or MM? =)