Guild Wars 2

Hey everyone. I just started playing GW2 and am currently playing a lvl 12 Thief. I normally play thief/rogue classes in MMO’s that are quick and deadly, but I’m just not feeling it this far in. Maybe it will get better over time and someone can specify that. I like the epic backstabs and sweet DPS with ninja speed and dodge/evasion.

At this point. I’d really like to play a class that is fast and deadly and has a good mix of spells, much like Geralt of Rivia in the Witcher.

Anyone have some suggestions? I might just try an Elementalist next because I really want to sling some spells and do some supportish AOE kind of crap, but I do like melee too. I’d really like to play a class that has great synergy with a group.

I’m very new. Thanks for all the tips.

1.Dagger/dagger thief
2.Hammer/staff guardian
3.Dagger/dagger elementalist
4.Hammer/rifle warrior.
5.Maybe ranger because they have pets but have no experience with it.

RoffleMyWaffles.1295:

Anyone have some suggestions? I might just try an Elementalist next because I really want to sling some spells and do some supportish AOE kind of crap, but I do like melee too. I’d really like to play a class that has great synergy with a group.

The poorly-kept secret of the Elementalist is that its melee weapon set (Dagger/Dagger) is its strongest, outside of boss fights where the Staff usually reigns supreme.

Guardian does good damage and has plenty of group support options. Elementalists do have close combat options in the form of daggers and they’re one of the best classes at the moment. Mesmers are an excellent pick as well.

You should try every class at least a little but sticking with thief is going to be fine, too. It’s a matter of learning how it works and getting damage-oriented gear.

I like how you say this far in as if 12 is a milestone. You haven’t actually done anything yet.

Thieves play similarly to any other rogue class, but you need to get some skills, or all of them, and traits before you’re going to get any kind of feel for any of the classes, let alone this one.

Mesmers also feel a bit rougish, more like an illusive ninja mage than a melee specialist though. I like to use a power build on mine using gs for range and sword/torch for close range and you can pull off some really tricky stuff in pvp.

Thief is a great proffession, but at level 12 you don’t have traits or skills enough to build a playstyle. Just be patient, get to 80 as soon as posible, and then try it.

Better: try all the proffessions on PvP, where all skills and traits are unlocked, and choose there.

To be honest, play a bit more first. At level 19 or so you will have unlocked the 3rd utility slot, and once you start getting some different utility skills to mix with different weapons, you start seeing the Thief more as the kind of rogue you’re thinking about.

For example: Blinding Powder + Shadow Refuge + Signet (whichever was the one that gave +25% move speed). Combine with a heal skill you like, and you got the fast and deadly backstabber. Dagger+Dagger, or Dagger+Pistol depending on taste. Secondary weapon anything you want, but recommend shortbow for aoe and multiple enemies, and the only weapon you got that can be used for support (and boss fights).

Traits later one will give a lot more play on this.

For other classes, take a look at Mesmer, sort of a combat-illusionist-dueler. Learn to use the Shatter skills from the start, and can still do melee with the sword, but everything else is ranged (Yes, it has a ranged greatsword, don’t ask).

So you decided to at least try to play a bit more ?

I don’t know who geralt is, but warriors are fast, deadly, and sought after in group play for their damage increasing buffs.

I wouldn’t stress out too much about picking a class. If you stick with guild wars 2, pretty soon you’ll have more level 80s than you know what to do with.

joneirikb.7506:

To be honest, play a bit more first. At level 19 or so you will have unlocked the 3rd utility slot, and once you start getting some different utility skills to mix with different weapons, you start seeing the Thief more as the kind of rogue you’re thinking about.

For example: Blinding Powder + Shadow Refuge + Signet (whichever was the one that gave 25% move speed). Combine with a heal skill you like, and you got the fast and deadly backstabber. DaggerDagger, or Dagger+Pistol depending on taste. Secondary weapon anything you want, but recommend shortbow for aoe and multiple enemies, and the only weapon you got that can be used for support (and boss fights).

Traits later one will give a lot more play on this.

For other classes, take a look at Mesmer, sort of a combat-illusionist-dueler. Learn to use the Shatter skills from the start, and can still do melee with the sword, but everything else is ranged (Yes, it has a ranged greatsword, don’t ask).

So you decided to at least try to play a bit more ?

I have decided to play a bit more. I’m giving it until about lvl 20 to really decide whether it’s the game for me. I just can’t see GW2 getting so many incredible reviews my respected reviewers and it being a crappy game, like Angry Joe for example (he is brutally scrutanizing in his reviews).

From the suggestions, I think I’ve decided to go ahead and try Elementalist and Mesmer next, just to get a feel.

What I REALLY need is some kind of expanded tutorial that goes into detail about what character stats, item stats and all that jazz really mean. I still have no idea what “dazed” means (I’m assuming it’s an interrupt), and things of that nature. I’m a DoTA2, Dragon Age, Baldurs Gate, etc. old-school RPG player, so maximizing builds and digging deep into complex games is fun to me.

Daze you can move but you can’t use skills, stun you can’t move at all.

This is a bit old a slightly dated but still mostly accurate in terms of how classes operate in the game overall. Individual’s mileage may vary.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/1ojgdr/what_class_should_i_play_a_summary_of_each/

I have decided to play a bit more. I’m giving it until about lvl 20 to really decide whether it’s the game for me. I just can’t see GW2 getting so many incredible reviews my respected reviewers and it being a crappy game, like Angry Joe for example (he is brutally scrutanizing in his reviews).

From the suggestions, I think I’ve decided to go ahead and try Elementalist and Mesmer next, just to get a feel.

What I REALLY need is some kind of expanded tutorial that goes into detail about what character stats, item stats and all that jazz really mean. I still have no idea what “dazed” means (I’m assuming it’s an interrupt), and things of that nature. I’m a DoTA2, Dragon Age, Baldurs Gate, etc. old-school RPG player, so maximizing builds and digging deep into complex games is fun to me.

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I agree with others that you should give it more of a chance and play a little more. If you are not ‘feeling’ the rogue, the elementalist and mesmer are definitely fun. The mesmer has some stealth capabilities like the thief and the shattering of images is fun. I would continue until you get a character to at least level 30 (first trait or elite, cannot remember which).

The tutorial aspects of the game are a bit lacking, and my sister-in-law has expressed similar frustrations. The wiki does a really good job of helping to clarify some of the professions in more detail and there are a couple profession builders online to help look at what stats and traits are available further down the line for various professions. A quick search for GW2 builder provides some sites. I don’t know which do the best job illustrating pros and cons because I just mess around with the character until something fits my play style. Luckily, leveling is fairly quick with events and heart quests completed. I also use food to get the xp bonus (10% is better than nothing), and sharpening stones (other consumable) also have an xp bonus.

RoffleMyWaffles.1295:

joneirikb.7506:

…

I have decided to play a bit more. I’m giving it until about lvl 20 to really decide whether it’s the game for me. I just can’t see GW2 getting so many incredible reviews my respected reviewers and it being a crappy game, like Angry Joe for example (he is brutally scrutanizing in his reviews).

From the suggestions, I think I’ve decided to go ahead and try Elementalist and Mesmer next, just to get a feel.

What I REALLY need is some kind of expanded tutorial that goes into detail about what character stats, item stats and all that jazz really mean. I still have no idea what “dazed” means (I’m assuming it’s an interrupt), and things of that nature. I’m a DoTA2, Dragon Age, Baldurs Gate, etc. old-school RPG player, so maximizing builds and digging deep into complex games is fun to me.

First rule of learning the inner mechanic: /wiki daze

The wiki gives you most of the information you need. And you can use it ingame with the /wiki command to launch the browser, this is also very convenient if you have 2 monitors so you can keep the wiki on the other screen.

For stats, and considering what you seemed to prefer in your other thread, you should probably go full damage and enjoy the higher risk to get beaten to death. For starting levels 1-20 that means grab anything that has +power and some +precision. And if you want some, +condition damage.

I’d say stick to thief, it is a very squishy class to begin with, that is very dependent upon your mastery of active defenses, as it has near no passive ones. You will be at a disadvantage against larger numbers of enemies, until you start making proper use of stealth and all your class abilities. It is one of those classes you actually can feel that you’re learning something in PvE.

For example Warrior is fast, deals lots of damage, has uses in all game modes and is wanted in solo and groups, in pvp and wvw etc. But it is also a very easy class to learn, so you probably would get bored of it quickly.

Elementalist and Engineer are probably the two classes with the highest skill ceiling if that interests you.

Also, go PvP.

On any class- while leveling PVE (though not dungeons as your downed too often to get good use out of it) make sure you always have a “Sigil of Bloodlust” in your weapons. Just one- the buff it creates doesn’t stack farther then 25 stacks. If you don’t want it to vanish underwater make sure water weaps have at one too. This tip will help you feel more confident until you get gear that has more then one or two stats on it.

I also recommend Sigil’s of speed while still world completing unless your a class that can keep near 30% plus speed up all the time anyway. I don’t know why the green ones are so expensive as the max time you can get is about a minute- and the number of mobs needed to support that total is very high- but they do speed you along -though cost actual “silver” and may be pricy for a starter player to keep up on gear. All of the sigils are cheap in their “yellow” stage and some pop right up when they hit.

The high damage of bloodlust and the speed/elusiveness created by using these two sigil’s together will give you a very “roguish feel” in nearly anything.

Later and for dungeons/fractals/wvw/pvp you may want to go with some chance on crit, chance on hit or weapon swap based buffers/damage sigils instead as the ones that “stack to 25” resets to zero and must be ‘built up’ again after zoning or downing or dying. This makes the “Stacks to 25” stuff impractical in those scenarios- unless you are really really good and or lucky…

For Roguish feel character/rp wise I would suggest Thief, Ranger. Mesmer, Ele too if you don’t mind flashy fx for your “rogue”- a sort of magician rogue.

Read Sigils and Runes very carefully. Make sure your getting the best bang for your buck. If you don’t crit much -for example- a “chance on crit” sigil may not be that particular character’s ideal thing. Some of this stuff gets very expensive once your into the “orange” superior classification. A few oddball ones are expensive at any level range- like that one that takes one of your own conditions and tosses it to your foe. Maybe – if you hit 80 and your broke after gearing up -a class with a very fast recharging heal might do very well with the el cheapo “Might buff on heal” Altruism rune set. Or rune of the Ogre for the really neat pet (but not on your dungeon armor- you cant control that thing at all) Look at the cheap options if you cant quite afford a full set of Holbrek’s yet? Cause something in slot is better then nothing in slot.

Just fiddle around with options- you can make nearly anything with Class + class ability and sigil combos and rune buffs/abilities.

Most importantly- Have fun, enjoy and welcome.

joneirikb.7506:

RoffleMyWaffles.1295:

joneirikb.7506:

…

I have decided to play a bit more. I’m giving it until about lvl 20 to really decide whether it’s the game for me. I just can’t see GW2 getting so many incredible reviews my respected reviewers and it being a crappy game, like Angry Joe for example (he is brutally scrutanizing in his reviews).

From the suggestions, I think I’ve decided to go ahead and try Elementalist and Mesmer next, just to get a feel.

What I REALLY need is some kind of expanded tutorial that goes into detail about what character stats, item stats and all that jazz really mean. I still have no idea what “dazed” means (I’m assuming it’s an interrupt), and things of that nature. I’m a DoTA2, Dragon Age, Baldurs Gate, etc. old-school RPG player, so maximizing builds and digging deep into complex games is fun to me.

First rule of learning the inner mechanic: /wiki daze

The wiki gives you most of the information you need. And you can use it ingame with the /wiki command to launch the browser, this is also very convenient if you have 2 monitors so you can keep the wiki on the other screen.

For stats, and considering what you seemed to prefer in your other thread, you should probably go full damage and enjoy the higher risk to get beaten to death. For starting levels 1-20 that means grab anything that has +power and some +precision. And if you want some, +condition damage.

I’d say stick to thief, it is a very squishy class to begin with, that is very dependent upon your mastery of active defenses, as it has near no passive ones. You will be at a disadvantage against larger numbers of enemies, until you start making proper use of stealth and all your class abilities. It is one of those classes you actually can feel that you’re learning something in PvE.

For example Warrior is fast, deals lots of damage, has uses in all game modes and is wanted in solo and groups, in pvp and wvw etc. But it is also a very easy class to learn, so you probably would get bored of it quickly.

Elementalist and Engineer are probably the two classes with the highest skill ceiling if that interests you.

Also, go PvP.

Quite right! PvP lobby even if you don’t enter combat will give you a sneak peak at all the abilities of each class. There are even npc targets and bots. However testing them in game will show you more.

For example -unless this has been changed recently- did you know that the Engineer trait that makes your run faster and activate a themed ability just for activating a kit though it may work in pve and pvp for some strange choice of our dev’s doesn’t work at all the same in wvw?…. It doesn’t include the speed.

There are most certainly other things- and of course pvp ignores your own gear and makes you select from runes/sigils and a ‘necklace’ that makes up for the lack of armor stats.

Regardless other then reading wiki guides (which is also good) this is the best in game way to get a sneak peek at your toon’s abilities late game.

Bravo. Good suggestion.