Guild Wars 2

Let’s think of function and build synergy and what’s missing.

We have something for power builds (Lich Form), minion masters (Flesh Golem), Condi Builds (Plague/Chilled to the Bone), but we literally have nothing for support. In fact, there are no support builds in meta for the necro, despite our wonderful vampiric theme.

Support comes to mind. Wells do really well for party support when you trait in Protection and vampiric siphoning but there’s not really a great elite with great synergy. I suggest:

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Well of Undeath
Cast: Instant
Cool Down: 180s
Number of Targets: 5
Pule: 1s
Duration: 8s
Radius: 360
Breaks Stun
Combo Field: Dark

Target area pulses, applying invulnerability to allies in range and converting (1,2…) conditions into boons on each pulse. Condition duration on allies in range are reduced by (10%…33%) and are healed for (25%….50%) of the damage and condition damage dealt to enemies.

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Before you say this is too overpowered, Guardians have Litany of Wrath (Heal for 25%of dmg dealt) for 6s as a regular skill and Rangers have Signet of Stone (Take no dmg from incoming attacks) for 6s.

These two skills also have additional perks (Straight up heal for Guardian and Passive increased toughness for Ranger). This Elite skill would simply be combining the two effects, losing the other perks that Guard and Ranger have, adding a stun break and combo field and additional 2s.

This would be great for PvE (boss fights), WvW (frontline engagements/choke points), and maybe PvP.

Other names I like:

Well of Immortality
Well of Omen
Well of the Specter
Well of Grenth/Dhuum/Abbadon
Well of the Unholy
Well of the Master
Well of Inevitability

Please let me know what you guys think. At least agree we need more support function!?

Or pulse a skill that converts boons on enemies into conditions with a duration multiplier of 150% so you’re just a Well of Corruption with longer durations.

So with the Reaper specialization coming out, it’d be a great time for Anet to rework the elite skill, Plague, which by all accounts is pretty much weak and useless outside of a stomp aide and “oh let me prolong my death” button.

It lacks the synergy and effectiveness with condi builds that the Lich Form has with power builds. For all intents and purposes, it’s rather weak for an elite with 180 sec cool down. Honestly, it could have some potential with the Reaper if it would automatically apply:
1. Bleeding
2. Poison
3. Burning
4. Weakness
5. Cripple

Then you should be able to choose to pulse:
1. Blind and Fear (defensive)
2. Torment and Confusion (offensive)
3. Chill and Vulnerability (support offense)
4. Siphon conditions from allies
4b. Send conditions to surrounding foes.

Before you say that’s too many conditions, just remember how easy it is for the Reaper to do 5-10k direct dmg every 2-3 secs on a power build or more. Plague should really have better synergy with condi builds.

My point is that Anet should rework it so that people want to bring it rather than equipping it because nothing else works with their build.*

When equipping the trait “Bitter Chill”, the Vulnerability condition does not appear on the tool tips for skills that apply Chill.

So for instance, the trait “Chilling Darkness” will make Chill appear on the tool tip of Deathly Swarm but the trait “Bitter Chill” will not make Vulnerability appear on the tool tip of Deathly Swarm.

robertul.3679:

Why are you calling them foot in the grave builds when most necro builds already go 4-6 in soul reaping anyway? Also the trait is not build defining in any way.

The idea was that because of FitG buff, a lot of players have said they want to incorporate it into their condi builds where it wasn’t beforehand. I wanted to see what traits people were swapping in and out.

So if you haven’t heard, FitG kinda got a buff (or corrected from being gutted earlier depending on perspective).

What sPvP necros face now are some very tough decisions. To take FitG? If so, what to give up?

With that in mind, let’s see what builds you’ve been testing w/ FitG and how’s it going so far?

I’ll start

Basically, I’m running:

Traits:
2 – Signet Mastery
6- Hemophilia, Master of Corruption, Lingering Curse
0-
0-
6- Vital Persistance, Spectral Mastery, Foot in the Grave

Gear:
Staff [Sigil = Leeching and Purity]
Scepter/Dagger [Sigils = Bursting and Corruption]
Rune = Scavenging
Amulet = Carrion

Skills
Signet of Spite, Corrupt Boons, Spectral Armor, Flesh Golem

Full build at
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fRAQNAW7Yjc00Yb5N22webieBBqAR/YSGqHfuKA-TpxCABWcEAA4CAg3+DH/AA04gAoVZAA

I was running Power Necro for weeks so this is the first time returning to Condi in a long time so be gentle

Sagat.3285:

Spectral wall already prevent melee aggro both range and melee wouldn’t make sense but the the cloud needs it. SoL just need a stun break it’s main purpose is that out of DS healing it works for that but lacks backbone , FotG needs to break stun on entrance of DS and give stability on exit. You have to improve what’s not used not create a greater gap between used and not used.

This is actually a really great point. I also agree that poison cloud should reflect projectiles or at least block them. Alternatively, it could be an AoE blind which fits better thematically.

BUT, back to stability. The comment about including stability in traits versus skills I think has merit. Spiteful Vigor or Reaper’s Protection are two great candidates that could really solidify the viability of MMs in PvP ( other than better minion ai)

So we have all that experience of being the ping pong ball on point, even on a team fight, even on the backline (if it’s two approaches like Nifhel), and it SUCKS. With how much much CC other classes have access to (which by the way cannot be condi cleansed), the necro needs a little lovin’ in this area.

Choosing Foot in the Grave over Deathly Perception is like shooting yourself in the foot. It guts your power build more than anything, making you a soggy twinkie waiting to be spanked.

Pulsing stability in Lich Form is great and shouldn’t be messed with at all, but we need something else during the THREE MINUTE COOLDOWN.

Well of Power is great if you want to be stuck in one spot like a sitting duck.

That’s why I propose to implement on of the following:

1. Six seconds of stability on Spectral Armor
2. Eight seconds of stability on Spectral Walk
3. Five seconds of stability on Spectral Wall; or
4. Five seconds of stability on activating Signet of the Locust

I think that stability fits thematically with these skills as well as functionally and the power necro, as a walking artillery unit, desperately needs some stability. We get focused sooooooooooooo easily while other classes have invulnerability, invisibility, teleportation, and channeled blocking. We have nothing other than LF which falls faster than a limp noodle when being focused.

Does anybody else support adding stability to one of the above? Which one would you choose? Personally, I think Spectral Armor is the best choice.

With an expansion around the corner, it’s a perfect opportunity to add something in to give PvP a refreshing mix-up.

I’m hoping for one of the following:

(1) New weapon type – Scythe
(2) New Boon – Levitate
(3) New Condition – Lethargy, Plague

1. New Weapon Type

Anybody remember the Dervish profession from GW1? Thematically, I’d say it’d be perfect for the Revenant, Necro, Guardian, and Assassin. Functionally, what do y’all think? I could see it having 2, maybe 3 CC skills for a two handed weapon. Immobilize, Pull, and Fear seem to fit the style. Also, the skins!!!! For a necro, it’d be bad-kitten .

2. New Boon

Anet said the jungle would be the most vertical space they’ve created yet. Why not add this into sPVP and add a boon to really transition combat into 3 dimensional combat with levitate. It’d be very similar to Float under water, except it’d be on land. It could really be either a boon or a condi. The condi could be an uncontrolled rise into the air- a CC. The boon could be a 600 unit rise into the air where you still have all skills available, etc. Thematically, it’d fit well with the Ele (air), Necro (spectral), Engie (HELICOPTER PLEASE, lol).

3. New Condi

Lethargy — Back in GW1, I absolutely LOVED running Me/N for the energy denial. Omg, it was ridiculously OP but I loved it. What I truly think GW2 is missing from PVP is the idea of energy denial. Each class has a unique mechanic, if Lethargy (or w/e it’s called) could interfere with each profession’s mechanic, it’d expand combat to a new place that’s never been touched before. Could you imagine shutting down a Necro’s LF, Mesmer’s clones. It’d be awesome but very short lived.

Plague — Also in GW1 Factions, does anybody remember miasma and plague? The idea of a condition that’s able to spread via proximity would add another layer of complexity to combat. Personally, I think it’d be awesome. It could be something as simple as “Everytime target acquires new conditions, 100 + (condition duration bonus) % spread to all of target’s allies within 1200 units” // Side note, this would definitely benefit the Necro’s long condi duration that doesn’t give a lot of benefit with so much cleanse out there.

I’ve played Necro since GW1 first came out all the way to today.

Our greatest weakness is our vulnerability to CC. Being bounced around the battlefield like a cheap basketball is no fun.

Best necro support I’ve seen in team fights is wellomancer but haven’t taken a look at that build in months

Hey Y’all,

So I’m looking to buy a new desktop computer and my goal is to be able to play GW2 on medium settings during a WvW zerg battle and still maintain 30+ FPS.

I’ve tried to do some reading online but I’m weary of information older than a year or two since things change fast with computers. From what I gathered, there are many variables that influence FPS and graphical performance, including:

1) GPU memory type and speed: i.e. GDDR3 SDRAM seems common right now
2) GPU video memory VRAM: seems like 1-2 GB is fairly common among mid/high performance
3) CAS latency expressed in clock cycles combined with (GPU or CPU?) clock speeds: I saw a table with 4-8 cycles and 1600 MT/s , I don’t know much about this
4) Number of CUDA cores: 200-400 perhaps?
5) CPU generation and core count: Intel Quad Core and i5 or i7 series seems common on mid/high end computers
6) CPU Speed: 3.0+ GHz seems common
7) RAM: 8GB-16GB seems common
8) System Balance and identifying the bottlenecks: I realize that even if I get an awesome graphic card that the computer acts as a system and that it’s important to understand where the bottleneck might show up

I was really hoping that my GW2 pals that have some computer science knowledge could help me sift through what is important and what is not as important.

Thanks Y’all!!

Okay, so after some thought about how to maximize the synergies in that 1v1/roamming build, this is what I came up with.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQAQNAodWjMah7VbabM8JEIFvHuEpAZUGqHuD88hA-jkCBYLERjUgRkgAg0AhABLVtIasFOFRjVxATfiIq2doIa1A-w

Weapons:

You make a good point about weapons. It doesn’t make sense to have the purpose behind both weapon sets be damage. So choosing between dagger and axe for main hand was difficult. Both do reasonable damage but I think dagger is slightly better because:
1) Lifeforce will never be on cooldown
2) Has some healing and healing is always helpful
3) Immobilize has a nice duration of 3.5s

Now I thought about the vulnerability that the autoattack of axe can do but considering that duration is 8.5 s, you might only get 10 stacks? Just an estimate but I think that the vulnerability is the best thing the axe has going for it. Ghastly Claws sure does great dmg but so does Life Siphon and GC sure gains a lot of LifeForce but it’s on CD and Dagger Auto already gains LF.

In regard to Unholy Feast, I simply feel that 3.5s of immobilize is better than 6s of cripple and the Retaliation plus all the reasons listed above.

The offhand was a little easier. I felt the boon stripping of SS was essential in a 1v1. The only thing I felt I was giving up by taking a focus is the 2s daze but I like the extra healing and LF from Reapers Touch-plus the vulnerability and lower cooldowns.

Rest of Skill Bar:

Heal Skill = Consume Conditions – easy choice

7,8, and 9 are all spectral for the synergy, the Life Force gen, and 2 stun breaks, and prot. I don’t feel as if any of the signets offer anything particularly enticing except for Signet of Spite. However, since I’m not speccing for condi dmg, I feel that I wouldn’t be getting the most out of it.

I don’t like wells because they’re easy to dodge—granted, they might help with stealth but…
Suffering does good dmg and vulerability but I’m planning on dishing out dmg with LifeBlast so I’m looking for something that can keep me alive
-Corruption is nice but I feel with Spinal Shivers, I have a boon stripping
-Power, I already have stun break, nothing particularly enticing
-Darkness, a waste, easy dodged

I don’t believe bringing minions would be helpful either since they don’t my crit stats.
The others I haven’t mentioned with the exception of Corrupt Boon and Blood is Power don’t seem to have the synergies of the Spectral Skills

Elite = Lich Form, I almost thought about Golem and I’m still not sure but I like the extra dmg from LF + DS

I’m out of time but I’ll post later about Traits and Equipment.

What are you thoughts on the skill bar though? (Until I can get more time on the computer-laptop’s in the shop)

Nope, that was great! I definitely see the diminishing returns of the crit chance so key me rework it.

Hi All,

So I really wanted to hear other necro’s opinions on builds and skills, pro’s and con’s but there’s only 2 necro’s in my guild and they’re never online…..so I created this topic.

I would really like to get good, sound, input on 3 WvW builds and the reasons behind the skill and trait selections you would change.

Please no hate, no L2P, no trash talk or insults. Thanks!

#1
The purpose and play style for the first 1 is roaming and 1v1. I think it has good defense and offense and single target dmg but lacks aoe and thus a good group role.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQAQRBIhdu1IjW8e1m3GDfCBSx7hLRKQmlh6h7sOfIA-jEDBYOFRjmCEiiAg0Ah+AkABjIAORqIasFOFRjVtATviIq2noIa1A-w
Also, I think the dmg from deathshroud would be good. How do you think this build would fare vs various professions?

#2
The purpose and play style for the second 1 is mid to large group zerg with a backline position and condi glass cannon feel. A pure focus on condi spread.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQAQNArYWjMap7Fbub87JkpCfD0jeBXAxoHEjxkMA-jUDBYhYINDRkCAgWIaEJgUBIpoA5QMas1XFRjVzATliIq2hIQeELrGA-w
I’m more interested in how viable you feel this build is and if there’s any alterations you’d make.

#3
The purpose and play style for the last 1 is mid to large group zerg with a backline position and aoe condi pressure but hybrid support as well. This one was very hard as those 3 Utility slots I agonized over. Please let me know what you think
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQAQNArYWjMap7Zaea87JApCYP947xFP6BxDnMA-j0CBYhYINJC1JgUAA0CRjoOhZSFRjtaqIas6GYKWER1eEFRrGA-w
I like this build because it seems to be somewhat more durable and has higher survivability that #2 but still maintains it condi pressure and dmg with a slight adjustment for boon removal.

Another thought it that it could be a dungeon or a series of dungeons similar in nature to those of Destiny’s Edge.

I know this isn’t the solution you’re looking for but on the wiki, you can look up recipes by crafting level, which are tied to the character level

(Before posting, I did attempt to find a previous thread by searching “Profession Lore” and flipping through several pages to no avail)

For the vast majority of players out there, choosing both a race and a profession for their main is absolutely the two most important choices (I would imagine) since you spend so much time developing him/her.

With that being said, I feel as if the lore and story (which I find to be an ArenaNet strength) surrounding race is satisfactory but what about the profession!?!?!?!

I don’t doubt that there is some profession specific stuff but I’m talking about adding a full branch of the story line devoted to your profession where you are simple engrossed in the lore around it.

Just imaging the story arcs for each profession is tantalizing. For the necromancer, can you imagine being slain defending Grenth’s shrine from the Sons of Svanir only to be summoned before his throne in the Underworld, challenge his champion and assume control of an undead army to seek revenge on the Sons of Svanir.

Or for for the ranger, finding the source of a poison that has turned all of the Veteran Oakhearts in the area hostile because the Grawl tried to tame them and curing it through scavenging for Melandru’s Legendary Tear in the most remote region in the (in game) world.

I would love to hear anybody else’s ideas on a story branch/arc devoted specifically to a profession. I think lore is definitely a strong point for ArenaNet but I hope they add something that really pushes you to experience the meaning of your profession.

Thank you Kirito! I would not have found these threads on my own

I’m shopping for a new laptop and I want to get a laptop that will allow me to play GW2 at its best. ( or the best that I can afford)

I only have a modest knowledge of computers so I was hoping that those more versed in them would offer their opinions on which specifications are most essential for exemplary performance.

Also, I have a limited budget not to exceed $1000 and I will have to rely on financing offers.

In any event, considering my budget and my limited knowledge, I believe that the best I could afford in a laptop is the following:

-8 GB Ram
-Intel i7 (perhaps the 3630QM)
-17.3" Display
-Geforce GT 650M

Most of the other details such as # of USB 3.0 ports or what optical drive it comes with are much less of a concern. Also, finding out what GPU a laptop comes with is a bit harder than it looks since a lot of sites list only CPU specs.

Please let me know what you think, perhaps what you operate and how well (or badly) it performs.

Thank you immensely.