Originally posted by Fatal_Redux Good post, but I have to defend my build...Ranger/Mesmer is a very plausible combination. It can be done. Rangers can take the lesser of the energy-sapping skills (like interrupts and low-energy hexes) from the Mesmer and use them in combination with Savage Shot/Distracting Shot and other interrupts to completely pressure and/or disable a Monk or Ele. Yes, the energy costs are high, but that means that you don't use Panic every time it recharges. Also, ranger gear was somewhat designed for players who play caster secondaries, as most of the armor allows quicker energy recharge and gives more base energy in general. There is no lack of synergy, and the build isn't that end-game. Most of the ranger interrupts can be acquired near the beginning of the game, the only thing that matters after that is the gear (which in itself, is end-game).The build is rare, but it can work and it is just another example of something that works pretty well that isn't generic. All it needs is a skilled player to manage energy and hexes, and you can also cast Read the Wind on yourself to make interrupts almost instant (since Ranger interrupts are arrow-based). You don't have to modify your entire post, but just think about that...
My original post was however aimed at lower end PvE and to be honest Panic and interruptions in lower end PvE isn't that good.
i accidently picked ele/ ranger im not sure if thats real good cause the guide says its bad. should i restart.
No. You'll be able to change your secondary profession later on into the game.
I would say it depends on how far into the game they are. If they've just recently picked their secondary, then they might want to restart as to my understanding, the point that you actually get to change your secondary profession is after you've ascended; or at the very least been run to Droknar's Forge.. and even then I believe you have to be ascended before you can start the quests to change professions. I could be wrong, but that's my understanding of it.
(Edited for some semblance of clarity.)
------------------------------------------------------------ You can't win - if you strike me down I shall respawn more powerful than you could possibly imagine!
Originally posted by Rocktober I would say it depends on how far into the game they are. If they've just recently picked their secondary, then they might want to restart as to my understanding, the point that you actually get to change your secondary profession is after you've ascended; or at the very least been run to Droknar's Forge.. and even then I believe you have to be ascended before you can start the quests to change professions. I could be wrong, but that's my understanding of it. (Edited for some semblance of clarity.)
That's true. I was rather short in my comment and could've elaborated it more for clarification. Depending on which campaign you (xusheng2) play: if you started it in Prophecies, then you should definitely reroll since you won't be able to change until after about halfways through the main campaign; if you started it in Factions or Nightfall however the time before you'll be able to change is quite minor, with Nightfall being the shortest allowing you to change very early. Then it also depends on whether you're going to be using your secondary skills more or less.
One thing not to overlook, in PvE, is that a Monk secondary can go with protection magic, thus freeing the primary monk to dedicate themselves to healing. I've played a Mesmer/Monk, and with my couple of protection spells, and the primary healer's heals, groups I'm in can usually tear through things in short order. Often, the monk will be stacked to heal, rather then protect, so it helps to have someone else fire off the protect spells, especially if someone starts to get pounded faster then the healer can keep them up.
I am kinda happy with playing pure Mesmer in the campaign, to be honest.
After spending a ton of thinking and not knowing what to do, I decided to "just take Monk". But not a single skill I got was of any interest. Sure I could go for Smiting Prayers ... but then again I have Domination (?) very high and with the abilities there I usually have enough to do.
Originally posted by Adamantine I am kinda happy with playing pure Mesmer in the campaign, to be honest. After spending a ton of thinking and not knowing what to do, I decided to "just take Monk". But not a single skill I got was of any interest. Sure I could go for Smiting Prayers ... but then again I have Domination (?) very high and with the abilities there I usually have enough to do.
I know. I'm probably going to rewrite this guide to make it better in many ways, especially the one you described: the fact that some professions really... shouldn't use a secondary because of the lack of synergies. Mesmer is a profession that on it's own does what it's intended to do very well and because of the lack of other professions that do similar things going Mesmer only is typically good.
Originally posted by arenasb The guide is certainly a good starting point. I imagine it would be too much work to make a guide when all skills are available.
Problem would be that skills can always be used in an unusual way or combined with another to create a new combination, making worthless skills good. Even if it's rare now it does happen and a guide telling people that this skill is only good for this it would need to changed when it occurred. It could be done, but I don't think I have the time and patience to maintain it.
So I recently bought Guild Wars Trilogy. It was on a sale on Steam.
My question is, I decided to go with a warrior for Primary profession, but I'm unsure about the secondary. I can't choose between Hunter or Monk. I like helping my group, but I like having bow skills too. So giving I want the warrior as primary, any advice between these two?
Thanks!!!
Edit: I plan on playing Prophecies with this character.
So I recently bought Guild Wars Trilogy. It was on a sale on Steam.
My question is, I decided to go with a warrior for Primary profession, but I'm unsure about the secondary. I can't choose between Hunter or Monk. I like helping my group, but I like having bow skills too. So giving I want the warrior as primary, any advice between these two?
Thanks!!!
Edit: I plan on playing Prophecies with this character.
I know this is an incredibly old question, but since no one answered it and this thread is stickied, I figured it might help someone out if someone answered.
To put it bluntly: if you're a warrior, you shouldn't be using bows. Bow base DPS is pretty terrible, and bow attack skills in general are lackluster compared to what warriors get access to for their melee skills. The only advantage of a bow is that it's ranged, but if you're a warrior you would do better to just take a skill like Sprint to get into melee range quickly and start smashing face with your axe. Leave the bows to the rangers; the energy costs of the skills are balanced around rangers having expertise to reduce them to manageable levels. In short, save for a very specific exception (a Barrage-based build with warrior IAS stances and a zealous bow), the only use a warrior has for a bow is for pulling, and you don't need to be a W/R to equip a bow for that.
Warriors can make use of the Beastmastery line and take a pet, if they so desire. It's not generally considered a good use of your attribute points, but if you're playing general PvE it's unlikely you'll be called out on it. Wars also sometimes use Apply Poison to get some extra degen out of their attacks, but considering the cost of the skill it's almost never worth it. Leave the poisoning to the necros, rangers, and assassins.
On the other hand, if you're taking monk as your secondary, don't expect to be "helping your group" by throwing around lots of heals. You don't have the energy pool for that. A monk secondary is useful if you want to take a cheap prot, condition removal, or hex removal spell on your bar, but anything over 5 energy is going to be tough to justify. In general, warriors don't really use their secondaries all that much, save for specific builds (most importantly, scythe-wielding warriors using Warrior's Endurance for energy management BLOW S*** UP). Outside of those exceptions, secondary professions are used for maybe a key skill (Shock for W/E, Mending Touch for W/Mo, Antidote Signet for W/R, etc) and a hard res if desired (only accessible to monks, paragons, and ritualists).
That's a general point that everyone should keep in mind: secondary professions can be great fun to utilize, but quite often loading too many secondary skills on your bar just results in you gimping yourself in your primary role, and you won't be effective enough in your secondary role to make up for it.
Comments
My original post was however aimed at lower end PvE and to be honest Panic and interruptions in lower end PvE isn't that good.
Thanks for the post!. It's very helpful for a n00b like me ;-)
Awesome guide just started playing elementalist never played them before so this helps alot
i accidently picked ele/ ranger im not sure if thats real good cause the guide says its bad. should i restart.
Playing: WoW and Guild wars faction.
waiting on: GW2 and next WoW expansion
played: flyff, diablo2, maplestory, dungeon runners, eudemons online, conquer online, runescape, decide online, perfect world, and atlantica.
No. You'll be able to change your secondary profession later on into the game.
No. You'll be able to change your secondary profession later on into the game.
I would say it depends on how far into the game they are. If they've just recently picked their secondary, then they might want to restart as to my understanding, the point that you actually get to change your secondary profession is after you've ascended; or at the very least been run to Droknar's Forge.. and even then I believe you have to be ascended before you can start the quests to change professions. I could be wrong, but that's my understanding of it.
(Edited for some semblance of clarity.)
------------------------------------------------------------
You can't win - if you strike me down I shall respawn more powerful than you could possibly imagine!
That's true. I was rather short in my comment and could've elaborated it more for clarification. Depending on which campaign you (xusheng2) play: if you started it in Prophecies, then you should definitely reroll since you won't be able to change until after about halfways through the main campaign; if you started it in Factions or Nightfall however the time before you'll be able to change is quite minor, with Nightfall being the shortest allowing you to change very early. Then it also depends on whether you're going to be using your secondary skills more or less.
k thanks for the help i recently changed it. btw i have factions.
edit: Great guide!
Playing: WoW and Guild wars faction.
waiting on: GW2 and next WoW expansion
played: flyff, diablo2, maplestory, dungeon runners, eudemons online, conquer online, runescape, decide online, perfect world, and atlantica.
One thing not to overlook, in PvE, is that a Monk secondary can go with protection magic, thus freeing the primary monk to dedicate themselves to healing. I've played a Mesmer/Monk, and with my couple of protection spells, and the primary healer's heals, groups I'm in can usually tear through things in short order. Often, the monk will be stacked to heal, rather then protect, so it helps to have someone else fire off the protect spells, especially if someone starts to get pounded faster then the healer can keep them up.
I am kinda happy with playing pure Mesmer in the campaign, to be honest.
After spending a ton of thinking and not knowing what to do, I decided to "just take Monk". But not a single skill I got was of any interest. Sure I could go for Smiting Prayers ... but then again I have Domination (?) very high and with the abilities there I usually have enough to do.
I know. I'm probably going to rewrite this guide to make it better in many ways, especially the one you described: the fact that some professions really... shouldn't use a secondary because of the lack of synergies. Mesmer is a profession that on it's own does what it's intended to do very well and because of the lack of other professions that do similar things going Mesmer only is typically good.
The guide is certainly a good starting point. I imagine it would be too much work to make a guide when all skills are available.
Problem would be that skills can always be used in an unusual way or combined with another to create a new combination, making worthless skills good. Even if it's rare now it does happen and a guide telling people that this skill is only good for this it would need to changed when it occurred. It could be done, but I don't think I have the time and patience to maintain it.
So I recently bought Guild Wars Trilogy. It was on a sale on Steam.
My question is, I decided to go with a warrior for Primary profession, but I'm unsure about the secondary. I can't choose between Hunter or Monk. I like helping my group, but I like having bow skills too. So giving I want the warrior as primary, any advice between these two?
Thanks!!!
Edit: I plan on playing Prophecies with this character.
I know this is an incredibly old question, but since no one answered it and this thread is stickied, I figured it might help someone out if someone answered.
To put it bluntly: if you're a warrior, you shouldn't be using bows. Bow base DPS is pretty terrible, and bow attack skills in general are lackluster compared to what warriors get access to for their melee skills. The only advantage of a bow is that it's ranged, but if you're a warrior you would do better to just take a skill like Sprint to get into melee range quickly and start smashing face with your axe. Leave the bows to the rangers; the energy costs of the skills are balanced around rangers having expertise to reduce them to manageable levels. In short, save for a very specific exception (a Barrage-based build with warrior IAS stances and a zealous bow), the only use a warrior has for a bow is for pulling, and you don't need to be a W/R to equip a bow for that.
Warriors can make use of the Beastmastery line and take a pet, if they so desire. It's not generally considered a good use of your attribute points, but if you're playing general PvE it's unlikely you'll be called out on it. Wars also sometimes use Apply Poison to get some extra degen out of their attacks, but considering the cost of the skill it's almost never worth it. Leave the poisoning to the necros, rangers, and assassins.
On the other hand, if you're taking monk as your secondary, don't expect to be "helping your group" by throwing around lots of heals. You don't have the energy pool for that. A monk secondary is useful if you want to take a cheap prot, condition removal, or hex removal spell on your bar, but anything over 5 energy is going to be tough to justify. In general, warriors don't really use their secondaries all that much, save for specific builds (most importantly, scythe-wielding warriors using Warrior's Endurance for energy management BLOW S*** UP). Outside of those exceptions, secondary professions are used for maybe a key skill (Shock for W/E, Mending Touch for W/Mo, Antidote Signet for W/R, etc) and a hard res if desired (only accessible to monks, paragons, and ritualists).
That's a general point that everyone should keep in mind: secondary professions can be great fun to utilize, but quite often loading too many secondary skills on your bar just results in you gimping yourself in your primary role, and you won't be effective enough in your secondary role to make up for it.