Guild Wars 2

Over the past 47 days I have played a Mesmer, my first character, for over 306 hours. I haven’t played an MMO in over 10 years and I sometimes have to look at the keys to press the right buttons. I try to mainly play solo PVE because I die a lot but join groups when I have too i.e. Dungeons, group bosses, etc.

Last night I created a LFG “Noob LF Exp Players for Daily” for the Ruined City of Arah daily. I died A LOT. I couldn’t run, blink, shield, stealth etc. past the enemies to get to where the other four players were. After an hour and a half, I gave up and did the other 3 dailies, went to Auric Basin and hid in large groups, trying to help with Time Warp, wells and getting a little damage on the enemy when I could.

A player I met on facebook who is starting a Fractal training Guild suggested I try Necromancer and another player suggested not to use Minions until I start struggling. WOW! With a Necromancer, I actually go out looking for groups of enemies to use Staff AoE and when one on one, I Dagger/Dagger them.

Is this going to be a more survivable class for Dungeons, Fractals and PvE solo in HoT or will I run into the same problem? Will I eventually have to change classes again, and/or just accept the fact that I can enjoy most PvE areas up to Level 80 and be happy with that until (if) I get better? Any and all advice is welcome. I really enjoy Guild Wars 2 and will just keep trying different things till something works.

At launch, Arah was far and away the hardest content in the game. It’s still a death machine for newer players, and even inexperienced veterans. Nothing you played in Arah would have been a LOT easier for you.

That said, mesmer is indeed a tricky class because it relies so much on skills to stay alive. If you want a dumbed down experience, warrior, guardian, necro, and ranger can offer that. (I’m not saying those professions have low skill ceilings, just that that can offer low skill floors.) All of those professions can be extremely durable.

In dungeons half the fight is knowing the battles.

You need to know what you will be facing to bring the correct traits/utilities/elite.

Thanks for the advice. I just thought Mesmer was going to be hard to level and now that I am a Chrono, I thought it would be a breeze. Wrong! A Mesmer needs nimble fingers to use the Continuum Split and other skills properly. The new Necromancer on the other hand is destroying areas in solo PvE that the Mesmer ran from. I can’t wait to see what a Condi MM or Reaper does.

Oh very much so, you can pretty much survive things that would normally 1 shot any other class, reaper shroud can come in clutch, you can use it when under CC or falling and you only take 50% damage when in that mode. Minions aren’t used in fractals ,well apart from flesh golem for his break bar damage, though in open world pve anything works, but like I said necro’s are quite “forgiving”, you can live through mistakes that would normally kill you, in raids however your damage is too low to make the cut, cons of living longer I guess.

Staff isn’t really used in pve for necro, it has long cooldowns and don’t do very much damage, try a greatsword for a power build (well I see that it’s also being used in condi builds too) and for fractals try scepter/dagger & warhorn (for a condi build that is). Open world you can use w.e you want.

felincyriac.5981:

Staff isn’t really used in pve for necro, it has long cooldowns and don’t do very much damage, try a greatsword for a power build (well I see that it’s also being used in condi builds too) and for fractals try scepter/dagger & warhorn (for a condi build that is). Open world you can use w.e you want.

and marks are simply non-functional against certain things

Thanks for the great advice! I’m going to have to wait until I am a Reaper to use a GS but look forward to trying it. I will try Sc/Da or WH. I tried googling what Marks don’t work against but couldn’t find anything. Is that at higher levels?

I’m going to eventually have to take a break from playing and watch some Beginner Necromancer videos like I did for Mesmer. I can see myself improving a little every day but this is going to be a slow steady climb no matter what I play.

I’m glad there are so many options for professions. If I start struggling really bad with Necromancer, like I did with Mesmer, my next try will be Warrior.

Mitern.1563:

Thanks for the great advice! I’m going to have to wait until I am a Reaper to use a GS but look forward to trying it. I will try Sc/Da or WH. I tried googling what Marks don’t work against but couldn’t find anything. Is that at higher levels?

I’m going to eventually have to take a break from playing and watch some Beginner Necromancer videos like I did for Mesmer. I can see myself improving a little every day but this is going to be a slow steady climb no matter what I play.

I’m glad there are so many options for professions. If I start struggling really bad with Necromancer, like I did with Mesmer, my next try will be Warrior.

In general marks don’t work against inanimate objects like Structures or rare occasions of bosses, which are implemented in a similar fashion (very technical)
If a mark does not go off on a target try luring another enemy into it because in most cases that will also put the effects on the first one.

Sc/Da or Wh are very good choices for you. It’s very Condition-Heavy and let’s you stay your distance to get used to the movement and helps you stay alive, while your conditions do the work even if you can’t keep up the pressure very well.

Experiment with the classes! If you don’t feel one – scrap it. If you need help – ask.
I wish you a very enjoyable time in Tyria.
Cheers

Is it true that when I need or want to do a fractal or dungeon, Necromancer is the least wanted class and often booted from groups? I’m enjoying Necromancer, will probably never PvP or WvW unless I get really good, but want to eventually do most everything else. By the time I level a Warrior, Ranger or Guardian to elite, I know there is the slim possibility that Necromancer will get buffs and the others get nerfed. Should I stop leveling my Necromancer (level 28) and play a class that will be more welcome in fractals or dungeons? I know a bad player like myself might still get booted but at least the three other classes are given a chance fromwhat I am reading in the forums.

Mitern.1563:

Is it true that when I need or want to do a fractal or dungeon, Necromancer is the least wanted class and often booted from groups? I’m enjoying Necromancer, will probably never PvP or WvW unless I get really good, but want to eventually do most everything else. By the time I level a Warrior, Ranger or Guardian to elite, I know there is the slim possibility that Necromancer will get buffs and the others get nerfed. Should I stop leveling my Necromancer (level 28) and play a class that will be more welcome in fractals or dungeons? I know a bad player like myself might still get booted but at least the three other classes are given a chance fromwhat I am reading in the forums.

it’s raids where necro’s aren’t taken, everywhere else and you are good to go.
Just know the mechanics and don’t get others killed, no reason to be kicked from fractals or dungeons if you follow that.

Thank you. I looked up Raids and realize that is a few years away, if at all. I will be looking into each Dungeon or Fractal before I try it.

I wanted to again sincerely thank everyone that has helped me and offered advice. In 28+ hours I have gone from level one to 40 and learned a lot by playing a different profession.

I now understand the difference between Power and Condi, I have learned to dodge by running around and attacking (not just rolling), I also learned about strafing, have gotten better (still not great but better) at JPs and there are other things. I am able to apply what I’ve learned to my Mesmer when I do dailies and die a lot less.

I realize that (for me) learning to play Guild Wars 2 well will take time. I am looking forward to trying the other 7 professions and have already created characters for them (to hold the names).

Again thank you, both here in the forums and those who have helped me online.

Mitern.1563:

I wanted to again sincerely thank everyone that has helped me and offered advice. In 28+ hours I have gone from level one to 40 and learned a lot by playing a different profession.

I now understand the difference between Power and Condi, I have learned to dodge by running around and attacking (not just rolling), I also learned about strafing, have gotten better (still not great but better) at JPs and there are other things. I am able to apply what I’ve learned to my Mesmer when I do dailies and die a lot less.

I realize that (for me) learning to play Guild Wars 2 well will take time. I am looking forward to trying the other 7 professions and have already created characters for them (to hold the names).

Again thank you, both here in the forums and those who have helped me online.

No problem, though this should be a standard thing for a game anyway, having a helpful community.