Guild Wars 2

Lets start with the build tips cause that’s interesting.
Mortar Support build

I tired this set out in CoF story and it went pretty well, but isn’t great in open world PvE. Is this normal? Or can you provide some tips to maximise what I am calling mortar support build.

The other random bit is, is Charr really worth it in terms of looks? I am not used to being the big beastly race in MMOs. I am normally the medium alien-esk race. But I know that all armor is designed on Humans then stretched for Charr and Norn, then shrunk for Asura. I just feel that sometimes its not that I need to change the build but change the race. I keep making alts and trying them in the mists to test animations/voice/ and outfits. But I just want some community opinions.

Any comments or suggestions would be most helpful!

Bump.

I can’t decide. I have been with my Charr engi since I started. Engi being my favorite hybrid class but I tire of their horrible armor and stale animations. Asura seem bright and bouncy but incredibly tiny artillery and armor.

Anyone help me decide? I am aiming to project for HoT and go hammer spec so keep in mind which race looks better swinging a hammer.

Voxrar,

I will start with the character situation. As you have suggested, this is something only you can decide upon and must feel comfortable playing as since you will likely spend A LOT of time on your avatar. At the end of the day races have almost no impact in PvE, but the smaller Asuran models do help to hide your presence in PvP. When it comes to armor skins you will find Human/Norn to provide the most original detail, while the other races have generally the same look given the same armor skin; certain proportions arranged to accommodate the model. As for your HoT hammer project, that can only be observed by trying each race as either War or Guardian and even then the animations might be different upon reveal.

As for your build:
I don’t know what you consider to be a support builds, but I would not call this anything remotely similar or effective for either dungeons or open world. Mortar Kit is a utility weapon set (your support?), but it is not a dps weapon choice. The lack of equipment provided with the build makes it even harder for us to decide what it is you really want to do with your Engineer. Something you need to keep in mind is that even through playing with offensive gear, you can still provide excellent support through proper rotations and a more effective build. I have said something like this before, but do not pressure yourself into re-inventing the wheel. Spending your time and resources to “discover” some hidden potential of obscure gear selections will only set you further behind than if you follow advice and set yourself up before taking on the role of a mad scientist (as tempting as it is). Before anyone can help at this point we have to know exactly (as descriptive as possible) what it is you want to achieve with your build and where it will be taken. Every mode has different requirements and we need to know where you stand at this point.

For what reason are you using rifle turret? Damage?

Jump shot, blunderbuss and mortar attack is enough to deal decent amount of damage. I’d definitely change turret for elixir gun – you’re trying to be support after all.

Also elixir C for B. More might stacking for you and allies and mass stability. You have tons of condi removing with Elixirs spec AND mortar kit – with Flash Shell you have 4 sec light field and default mortar attack is guaranteed projectile finisher.

If you go wvw your engi should be tall for landing mortar shots on walls. Charr or norn are best for this.

Mnemesis.8257:

Voxrar,

I will start with the character situation. As you have suggested, this is something only you can decide upon and must feel comfortable playing as since you will likely spend A LOT of time on your avatar. At the end of the day races have almost no impact in PvE, but the smaller Asuran models do help to hide your presence in PvP. When it comes to armor skins you will find Human/Norn to provide the most original detail, while the other races have generally the same look given the same armor skin; certain proportions arranged to accommodate the model. As for your HoT hammer project, that can only be observed by trying each race as either War or Guardian and even then the animations might be different upon reveal.

As for your build:
Before anyone can help at this point we have to know exactly (as descriptive as possible) what it is you want to achieve with your build and where it will be taken. Every mode has different requirements and we need to know where you stand at this point.

Hmm. Well, its hard to make a choice on my own with anxiety issues. Thats why I frantically claw for others opinions even if they are other random strangers who I don’t know. Level and general PvE was hard enough on one character. I guess I will stick with the Charr and hope HoT provides so better looking armor. (Less trenchcoats, more layered leather plz ANet!)

Ok for the build. I only PvE, I am not competitive so WvW and PvP are out. I want a primary damage build with some side support or utility. The mortar just seemed like a great fit cause of the its fields over Grenade kit. Elixir U for quickness to speed up the shell fire or toss a %50 chance for reflect wall.

MagoBuono.6548:

Also elixir C for B. More might stacking for you and allies and mass stability. You have tons of condi removing with Elixirs spec AND mortar kit – with Flash Shell you have 4 sec light field and default mortar attack is guaranteed projectile finisher.

I will do this as it was just something left over from my original build months ago before the trait update. I’d really like a 1 kit build so as not to do too much switching or memorizing complex rotations.

I’d really like a 1 kit build so as not to do too much switching or memorizing complex rotations.

Then i have bad news for you dude :) Engineer is about switching kits. The only way when you can use only 1 kit – it’s FT Juggernaut with elixirs spec for might stacking. Then you’ll have only FT kit and other slots for elixirs. And even then it’s recommened not to forget about jump shot and blunderbuss.

Yeah OK it isn’t the only way with 1 kit :) But any of them isn’t about mortar.

I want a primary damage build with some side support or utility.

Then you should change mortar for something. As main kit i mean. Mortar IS about side support and utility.

I’ve returned in game a couple of weeks ago and first thing that i’ve tested – mortar kit. Just because it was new for me. And now i cal tell you that mortar can’t be compared to any other kit in terms of pure damage.

Mortar can be very helpful for supporting your party in PvE, really, but it can’t compete with anything as main kit.

If some day Anet gives us some trait to increase shells flying speed then we can recosider using mortar as main kit. Really. Right now it’s just… it isn’t “bad”. It’s just worse than other kits, that’s all.

At this moment as main kit mortar can be used only in WvW for long range damaging and supporting zergs. In PvE it just don’t work well.

voxrar.2859:

Ok for the build. I only PvE, I am not competitive so WvW and PvP are out. I want a primary damage build with some side support or utility. The mortar just seemed like a great fit cause of the its fields over Grenade kit. Elixir U for quickness to speed up the shell fire or toss a %50 chance for reflect wall.

Engineer is probably going to involve greater investment than you might initially think. While you can do ok with running a single kit, it is important to realize that you will perform optimally by combining the strengths of at least 2 in most cases. You don’t need to feel pressured into being spot on with proper rotations and timely combinations, but it will have a noticeable impact if you were continue with traditional setups; without having to sacrifice your supportive desires.

Easy Starter Build
Something like this is fairly easy to achieve by running certain dungeon paths over the course of a few days, or by simply purchasing the gear from the Trading Post. The payoffs for a full support fail in comparison due to the poor scaling of certain attributes (i.e. healing power). What I mean by synergizing DPS with Support is illustrated through this build due to grenades performing as your main offensive focus and Elixir Gun, Healing Turret & Mortar Kit combining their defensive capabilities for a potent emergency support option. By using your Tool Belt skill from Healing Turret (and/or the turret itself) with Elixir Gun’s Super Elixir, and Mortar Kit’s Elixir Shell you can provide the party with a short burst of regen totaling more than 700 health per second. This means you have a 4 skill combination, which might take a few minutes to practice, providing you group support with little DPS sacrificed in the process.

voxrar.2859:

I will do this as it was just something left over from my original build months ago before the trait update. I’d really like a 1 kit build so as not to do too much switching or memorizing complex rotations.

If you happen to find that more than 1 kit is too much too handle, then I strongly recommend working into it. You will find that not only your personal performance will dramatically increase, but you will also see your group support expands as well.

Edit: My bad Mago

Mnemesis.8257

If you happen to find that more than 1 kit is too much too handle…

Wrong quote. Wasn’t my words :)

I just beat the personal storyline but engi might just not be the class for me. I really hope the Hammer spec makes it fun, otherwise its time to search for a new class. I really hate arguing over meta and just want to have fun.

voxrar.2859:

I just beat the personal storyline but engi might just not be the class for me. I really hope the Hammer spec makes it fun, otherwise its time to search for a new class. I really hate arguing over meta and just want to have fun.

You are able to play how you want, as you purchased the game and are free to do so. However, other people are entitled to the same joy, which is why you will receive direction nudging you towards what is “tried and true” in order to allow everyone such pleasure. The truth of the matter is this: Engineer is a class that is not for everyone. It is something that will take more personal investment to achieve a level of play that come naturally for other professions, because it is a complicated existence; the secret to its versatility. If you enjoy playing something, you know it. You invest time to understand it. You reset key bindings to be efficient and proficient. You must be flexible in both battle and build. You realize that for Engineer the devastating potential of a class is not necessarily the size of the attack, but the series of events leading up to it where you maintained control of the battle through sheer engi-nuity (had to).

So. I leave you with this sentiment. If Engineer is not for you, that is ok. Maybe it is just not right for you at this time and highly recommend that you return to it eventually.

Okay, there are a few things I’d like to point out. Yes, there are viable alternatives to a 3 kit build that relies on no kits (Rifle SD) or just a grenade kit. Is it optimal? No, but 3 kit builds aren’t even optimal in every run.

The problem that people just flippantly glance over is that the 3 kit builds rely on knowing where the boss is and being able to hit the boss with every key ability. With skilled players, they’ll know how to stack, where to stack, and how to keep everyone alive with boons and support. On a more practical and realistic note, this does not happen for all types of content.

While it’s great to be able to run an optimal build, it’s really stupid to suggest to any player to jump into the hardest way to play first. It’s better to start off with an easier build and find your comfort zone rather than start at the highest skill degree and work down.

From a dungeon perspective, there are two builds that I can recommend starting from: a rifle static-discharge build and a grenade kit build. Rifle SD is better for consistently landing hits on a boss. So, if you’re like me and love doing fractals, bosses aren’t always stacked, so you can’t guarantee that grenades will hit…and it’s not always a good tactic to be in melee all the time. Static discharge relies on low CD toolbelt skills to quickly (and more reliably) do burst damage on top of rifle damage (prioritize Blunderbuss and Jump Shot over autoattack, only use 2 and 4 where needed).

Base Rifle PvE build

Rifle SD build

Now, the grenade kit build I’ll link sort of builds off the SD build. Once you get a good feel for how Rifle and Toolbelt skills work, then you can start to work on improving grenades. We may see a reworking of how grenade 1 works into having an option to make it a true autoattack…otherwise, get used to carpel tunnel. (Prioritize shrapnel over grenade barrage over freeze over poison over rifle 3 over rifle 5 over grenade 1) I left the two other utility skills empty for whatever. This build is (IMO) the most practical point to start learning the base engineer’s role in a dungeon. You can bring Elixir U for the projectile counter on toolbelt, or Elixir S for stealth.

Grenade Kit build

As you improve and get more of a feel, you can add in other kits. Mostly, the other kits add one or two extra ability to the rotation. So, that’s the reason I recommend this kind of build to starting engineers rather than the obtuse meta build. Most casual groups and PuGs aren’t that picky (as long as you don’t go into people searching for the meta builds). If you don’t mind taking 5~10 more minutes in a few dungeons, then…yeah…staying with PuGs and using a non-optimal viable build is probably your best option. Many people would probably disagree. But if you’re not having fun, you have no incentives to improve….and it’s a game…having fun is number 1. Also, the highest theoretical DPS…is not always the highest practical DPS.