My PvP stable - advice/criticism please.

[Keir M]

Hi all,

I'm trying to build a rounded pvp stable of characters. I don't yet know what I will enjoy in pvp (highest lvl character is 17th) so I want to get together a good mix of capabilities. I also want to be able to respond to changes to in the meta-game.

Character 1. Ele-Mesmer
I'm tempted by Domination as a third skill and had thought of using water (like the elite trident skill) but I'm willing to play an Air El spike damage mage if that is what is needed.

Character 2. Warrior/Elementalist
I was going for a sword weilding conjure flames build but now I'm not so sure. Shields seem a bit of a waste of time as fighters arn't major targets so hammer looks chrunchy and tempting.

Another option would be use a focus in the off hand for greater casting ability and go water for that cool trident spell - sword and trident - for knockdowns if they try to run away. Would an Axe be better for interupting mages?

- should I be looking at a more subtle secondary for more anti-caster effectiveness?

Character 3. Mesmer/?
- Still pre-searing and undecided on second class. I was going to try a fast casting blast mage with Elementalist as secondary and use blackout for when the power gets low. The success of my Ele-mesmer, the fact that nobody responded to my "Lights out for the Manic Mesmer" post on the Mesmer board, and the inability to sue runes in secondary skill lists made me put this idea on the back burner. I am leaning towards Necro as secondary now for increased disruption and general capability vs spike damage casters.

Character 4. Necro/?
- Idea here is for a close to pure Necromancer making use of blood and curses plus some Soul Reaping. Main options I've thought about for secondary are elementalist for energy glyphs or warrior for tactics - mainly Bonetti's Defence. No intention of using a shield.

I'm not interested in a Monk at this point as I like offence and disruption and avoid defensive strategies unless there is pressing need for such. In a team game I figure someone else can do it.

I am interested in a Ranger, mainly as a secondary right now, and idea's for slotting in ranger as a secondary are welcome.

Advice welcome on specific character choices, weakness's in overall balence of whatever else my rambling brings to mind.

Cheers

[D1ce]

Hi all,

I'm trying to build a rounded pvp stable of characters. I don't yet know what I will enjoy in pvp (highest lvl character is 17th) so I want to get together a good mix of capabilities. I also want to be able to respond to changes to in the meta-game.

Character 1. Ele-Mesmer
I'm tempted by Domination as a third skill and had thought of using water (like the elite trident skill) but I'm willing to play an Air El spike damage mage if that is what is needed.

Character 2. Warrior/Elementalist
I was going for a sword weilding conjure flames build but now I'm not so sure. Shields seem a bit of a waste of time as fighters arn't major targets so hammer looks chrunchy and tempting.

Another option would be use a focus in the off hand for greater casting ability and go water for that cool trident spell - sword and trident - for knockdowns if they try to run away. Would an Axe be better for interupting mages?

- should I be looking at a more subtle secondary for more anti-caster effectiveness?

Character 3. Mesmer/?
- Still pre-searing and undecided on second class. I was going to try a fast casting blast mage with Elementalist as secondary and use blackout for when the power gets low. The success of my Ele-mesmer, the fact that nobody responded to my "Lights out for the Manic Mesmer" post on the Mesmer board, and the inability to sue runes in secondary skill lists made me put this idea on the back burner. I am leaning towards Necro as secondary now for increased disruption and general capability vs spike damage casters.

Character 4. Necro/?
- Idea here is for a close to pure Necromancer making use of blood and curses plus some Soul Reaping. Main options I've thought about for secondary are elementalist for energy glyphs or warrior for tactics - mainly Bonetti's Defence. No intention of using a shield.

I'm not interested in a Monk at this point as I like offence and disruption and avoid defensive strategies unless there is pressing need for such. In a team game I figure someone else can do it.

I am interested in a Ranger, mainly as a secondary right now, and idea's for slotting in ranger as a secondary are welcome.

Advice welcome on specific character choices, weakness's in overall balence of whatever else my rambling brings to mind.

Cheers

Althought I only have experience playing an E/N, I suggest you go with these builds:

E/N - Elementalist for Standard Air Spike with Wards, amazingly versatile and feel free to add any Necro spells that suit your team's build.
N/Me - Soul reaping is amazing especially in 8v8 or even HoH, and an Epidemic/Curse with Putrid and other death magic should be a formidable support force.
W/E - Hammer/Knockdown warrior with Aftershock, try it sometime, you'll love them ;)
R/? - Trapper with Distracting and Pin Down, secondary is totally up to you, but with forementioned build of wards and this guy's traps, you've got a moving fortress ;)

[Keir M]

Thanks for your response D1ce.


Althought I only have experience playing an E/N, I suggest you go with these builds:

E/N - Elementalist for Standard Air Spike with Wards, amazingly versatile and feel free to add any Necro spells that suit your team's build.

I tend to think Ele-mesmer does the spike damage better than E/N due to arcane echo - which doesn't require any skill investment. Plus Mesmer is good for draining energy and has an excellent range of anti-caster spells to improve the match-up versus other blast mages.

Also my Ele-mesmer is 19th level and I'm not really interested in re-doing his second class. I have used the capture signet alot so I don't have many skill points saved up.


N/Me - Soul reaping is amazing especially in 8v8 or even HoH, and an Epidemic/Curse with Putrid and other death magic should be a formidable support force.

The difficulty for me about this decision is I'm keen to play it the other way around - Mes/N - as I want at least one character who goes seriously into Mesmer counter magic. Being able to counter things is very useful for the changing


W/E - Hammer/Knockdown warrior with Aftershock, try it sometime, you'll love them ;)

I've had a good look at the Hammer Skill and I'm convinced. Aftershock is a beaut combo with all the knockdowns and I'm far more interested in disrupting people (knocking them down) and hurting them than just doing damge which can be healed. My Ele-mesmer had a fun play with air magic and Gale proved a life saver for party members time and again by slowing down the assault on a wounded character. On the same principle a Warrior who can knock down someone beating on a teamates should be more generally useful than one who can only damage them.


R/? - Trapper with Distracting and Pin Down, secondary is totally up to you, but with forementioned build of wards and this guy's traps, you've got a moving fortress ;)

Rangers certainly look interesting. But it is hard to see what other primary to drop as I want to have a good play with both Necro and Mesmer skill lists so that I understand them well and its only with a primary in each that I can use runes and so really get the most out of their lists. I guess I would have to dump my warrior or not have a primary Mesmer as I want a primary Necro. I tend to think you can get most everything you want from the different Necro lists and thats why I'm tempted by an almost pure Necro who invests in 3-4 Necro lists plus some free skills like glyphs) from the secondary.

Lots of food for thought - cheers!