Guild Wars 2

8/10 good stuff, love charrs

My fem human necro on the attack!:

I think that Necro’s in DS have an incredibly limited DPS due to the very long cast time for lifeblast (1s cast), and this severely limits our dps, which is already pretty lacking. Using full zerker and a 6/0/2/0/6 build, I only manage to crit for around 7.5k per blast within the 600 range.
On the other hand, the plague blast I think is a much better skill to help boost dps as the cast time is much lower at 0.5s, and it transfers conditions as well. It can also help us self stack might faster if reaper’s mark is traited. I’m not sure about the dmg coefficient though.

I think it would really help if, at the very least, plague blast’s cast time is applied to life blast as well. And if it is really OP, then you can just lower (or remove?) the dmg coefficient within 600 range to 1.2 from 1.4.

What do you guys think?

Instead of changing the warhorn daze skill, how about providing some more team utility in its 5th skill? Generally the warhorn is a team utility weapon, but its more of a selfish utility weapon in the hands of the Necro.

I think the 5th skill should also apply swiftness to allies. If the 11s of swiftness is too strong, then maybe the skill should give 11 ticks of 1s swiftness (ticks only when allies come into contact with the locust swarm)

You know what we need? Some projectile reflect to make us more useful in teams for dungeons or fractals. The only group utility we can really provide is some protection, a bit of healing, condition removal and some debuffs. Also, we’re kinda outclassed in condition removal compared to guardians.

I mean… Spectral wall giving projectile reflection sounds pretty cool to me

Whoops, I’ll go edit that now :P
Yeah, Well of Corruption

Yeah, I know the Focus skill. It does damage per boon removed. But I meant as a trait, not a skill.

I was thinking of ‘Boon Hate’ since it was announced that Warriors would have a trait that increases damage per Boon on a target.

This made me a think of a trait that could be useful to Necros and our whole ‘masters of attrition’ thing that Anet planned with Necros.

How about give Necros a trait that deals damage upon the removal of a boon?
This would make skills such as ‘Corrupt Boon’ and ‘Well of Corruption’ more effective’.

Hi Devs from Arenanet,

Is it possible for fan-made hairstyles to be available in gw2? I do understand that there already exists a good amount of hairstyles, however, I believe that it is still rather limited, especially for Norns, Asuras, etc.

I think that the players of Gw2 are quite an artistic bunch, and that will be able to add a lot of variety to player customization in character creation.
These custom hairstyles need not be directly available via character customization, but could instead be sold by the player on the trading post or on the Gem store!

What does everyone think about this suggestion?

Awesome, thanks

I’ve used a Minion Master build before to level, and I’m curious. How fast do these minions attack?
I do know that different minons have different rates of attack, but does anyone have a confirmed statistic?

Lol, THAT sounds like overkill! xD

I actually like a bit of frustration in my games
Doing dungeons that just makes you shout ‘BULLKITTEN!’ every once in a while, hard and fun to do, and rewarding in the end.

Kinda like those old Zelda and Mario (esp. Super Mario Bos. 2!) games, and Dark/ Demon Souls. It was hard, make you rack your brains over, but fun

I know that not all players are like this, but I hardly get that feel with CoF, or most dungeons. The new AC gave me a bit of that feeling, which was a nice

Make the entire city drool at your legendary…. sounds amazing. :P

Make that all characters my friend!
Sylvari already has a decent assortment of character customization, while Norns are painfully underwhelming! >_<
I want short-haired female norns, but all their hairstyles are so… ugly… and my Male Norn doesn’t have decent facial hair T_T

Do it Anet, more character customization!

@Mario: Yeah, but the problem is not about freedom of choice, it’s that CoF p1 pulls away from the experience of other dungeons. I know a few people I’ve pugged for in CoF who has only played CoF (and AC). It just retracts from the whole experience.
And ‘play how you want to play’ is a problem in itself, cause people will always play for the most rewards in a short time rather than challenging ones!

I like that Lodestone idea, that’s a great incentive (for me anyways) to keep me playing other dungeons! But I think 10 tokens is too cheap a price, lodestones are supposed to be hard to get, 10 tokens means 6 lodestone every run, and 2 every subsequent runs, far too much. It will encourage lodestone farming. Lodestones are supposed to be extremely hard to get, so maybe 100 tokens for a lodestone.

If you think that’s a bit much, some of my guildies have like 5000 CoF tokens, so 10 tokens… too cheap :P

@Doom: I think he meant that as a suggestion :P
And GW2 economy… that’s a whole ’nother can of worms mate!

@Skyblue: The problem with that solution is that people will them begin to farm the lower lvl dungeons, like CM and AC even more. I believe that AC used to be the speedrun dungeon before the patch a few months back.

@HiddenNick: I know that feel. People will always begin to find tricks to speedrun any other dungeon. But there’s a different between efficient runs and an easy dungeon. CoF p1 is just plain easy, an average team can easily clear it in under 15 minutes!

I don’t mind efficient clears, but when it gets to the point where teams can do it repeatedly in under 10 minutes, then there’s a problem. You could always prevent speedrunning by say… nerfing the damage output or functionality of Hundred Blades.

A great reward mechanic is always a good incentive for people to play dungeons. But the thing is, that reward mechanic is present in Dragon Champs and major world events.
I mean, a dungeon run (not coF) will take an average of 20min, but a dragon champion can take as fast as 5 min to kill with a guaranteed rare and a possible exotic/precursor and a decent drop rate! Look at Final Rest and Shadow Behemoth for example!

I don’t hate CoF p1, I really don’t. It’s great for some quick cash.
But I think the problem for me is that it is too easy. It’s not a challenging enough dungeon.
And having a dungeon so easily run in over 10 min, and <10 with the Dream team! Yeah, you know what I’m talking about: Warriors, Guards and Mesmers.
What CoF does is that it not only promotes speed running, but also does two terrible things:
1. Makes the aforementioned classes (and the zerker builds) seems like THE best classes and builds in the game and pulls away from variety.
2. Pulls away incentives from doing other dungeons. e.g: Look at LFG, it’s CoF all day.

I’m not saying CoF is a bad dungeon, an average group can clear it in appx. 15min, which is an okay time for a dungeon. The problem I think is that you can clear it in <10min, which is bad.

Now, how would you nerf CoF to prevent speed clearing?

My idea is:
-that you can increase the distance in which the mobs on the bridge (after the Salve driver) can be pulled, so that it gives an incentive to kill them instead of skipping.
-Another method is to cause the regen crystals around the boss to cause additionally cause a condition to players (weakness, cripple, chilled, etc.) so that we have to destroy them.
-Improve the bosses AoE burn, which also causes knockdown or stun alongside a higher damage to promote dodging and use of range. (I’m talking about you hundred blades!)
-Make the boss hit harder

Now, this may not neccesarily make CoF immune to speedclearing, but it does make it more Challenging! I think that is what this dungeon needs, a good challenge!

What do you guys think? I know that CoF is a box of worms to open, but I’m interested in it. I’m also looking forward to how Anet themselves make it more challenging!

Sidenote: Maybe running a dungeon can give a guaranteed rare (for the first run per day) to give incentives to run in general?

I know that Necros do have ‘Mark of Blood’ which regens and can be easily traited so that you can basically give out perma-regen. But the problem isn’t that at all (I think.)

Regeneration is basically a heal-over-time, it’s good to have it on, but it won’t give an instantly massive heal. On the other hand, eles CAN do that. Their Water attunement skills give a lot of access to good direct-healing skill, alongside the incredibly useful Water combo-field, which can give massive AoE heals when applied with a Blast finisher.

Necros, however, aside from giving good heal-over-time has no immediate heals and our support combo field, is Dark. Which can be used to combo into life-steal, which is a mediocre heal that requires physical projectile combo and area blind with a blast finisher I believe?

Yeah, Water attunement is a deadly healer! I believe that you can heal and cleanse conditions everytime you enter Water? Hard to beat that!

I do think that Necros do need a buff, but I don’t really mind the way they are now, I have the most fun out of my Necro actually at the moment (I find my Mesmer to be the least in terms of fun :P ). It’s kind of the underdog class, which everyone overlooks, and it’s always fun to see people surprised when I do well in tpvp or dungeons

I think that Jagged Horror is just an adorable little Minion (Don’t judge me)

He doesn’t really do much, aside from what’s already been mentioned above. Can be useful if traited for Minion master, absolutely hilarious to see a horde of them show up and swarm a target while you’re in Lich form (especially in pvp).

He’s a cute little guy though.

Sidenote: It’d be nice is every minion can bleed targets, like mesmer clones. It’d make MM just a little more viable (it already is, mind you)

This maybe out of topic, but isn’t it just bad strategy vs. good strategy?

I don’t know too much about eles, but I think a good strategy and offense could have trashed them easily.
I would think that it’s just sloppy gameplay and management on the other team.

Skill ceiling and learning curve aside, even the average player/class can be a monster when following an excellent strategy. One of them knew what they were doing, the other doesn’t.

Now I know a big problem is that Necros can’t heal or deal damage as fast as the eles in the Vids, and I think that’s what CHIPS is trying to say.
I get that we aren’t built as good as the eles in that respect, we’re a versatile class that can adopt many builds, but cannot outclass most other classes in a specific build. However, we can outmaneuver other classes with a bit of quick thinking (btw this is for all classes, not just necros)

To be fair, Necromancer actually play rather well underwater. Trident auto-attack is good for Condition builds to stack bleeds, you have a poision + combo field, decent damage AoE and the DS skills are decent too with the Wide area fear and blind.
Epidemic is available underwater (as with a lot of other good Utilities).
The spear has plenty of pulls and attacks.

It’d be nice to have the 33% condition duration, but I think Necros are pretty tough underwater, compared to say… a Thief, which is crap underwater (Basilisk venom in PvE is crap, especially without the share poison trait)

Here is the link for the build:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUEQNAsdRlUgqCnEyvDf4Eh1DAeQ/hVAjXPSIFZIA;TsAg0Cvo4ywlgLLXOukctAZMy0BA

The general idea is to teleport to the target with the ‘2’ skill and immobilize them with Signet of Wrath. If you’re lucky, Sigil of Rage will kick in and give you Quickness, which will finish of the enemy quickly.

Try and get the Focus ‘5’ skill up when engaging if possible, the free blocks are pretty useful! Your Elite is just there for the Invulnerability when things get into a pinch, and your heal is important for the block too! ^^

This build is pretty squishy and has very little Condition Removal, but you can always switch to GS to pound in that Cleansing Bolts.

It’s pretty much a high-damaging burst build, with some forced survivability with the focus, heal and elite acting as your blocks.

You can suggest any improvements below! I’m quite new to guardian in pvp, but hopefully this is turns out to be a fun build! ^^

@Gungnir: Yeah, I forgot to slot those in, thanks for the heads up!

As for the heal skill, I prefer Hide in Shadows, not only because it stealth, but it also heals the more damaging conditions (bleeds, burns, etc.). The stealth can cure immobilize and crippled when traited too, and I feel that initiative regenerates fast enough that I can handle the 30sec cooldown.
Withdraw would be a better option if playing PvP, but since this is more PvE oriented build (for Dungeons, Fotm, etc.), a 30sec cooldown is acceptable.

Link to build here:
http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.3|a.1m.h9.8.1m.hy|8.1m.h9.8.1h.0|1h.711.1h.711.1h.711.1h.711.1h.711.1h.711|1h.62.1h.62.1h.62.1h.62.1h.62.8b.62|0.0.k46.k3a.u375|30.d|57.5n.5h.5g.5w|e

So, with the recent nerf to stealth and caltrops, which was core to my previous condition build, I tried to rebuild my condition thief to make up for the dps loss spent outside stealth and reduced Caltrops duration.

So, I retraited the thief to become more ‘dodgey’, regenerating endurance as much as possible through kills, Vigor, skills, etc.
The reason for this is because of the ‘Uncatchable’ trait that drops caltrops upon dodging. These caltrops are not as effective as it’s Utility counterpart, but serves the same purpose. I also sacrificed condition damage for more condition duration, to make the bleeds more worthwhile.

Main weapon will be Pistol/Dagger, but I added a Dagger/Dagger for the ‘Death Blossom’ skill to help stack bleeds.

The build is pretty flexible in how you approach enemies, you can:
Start with D/D and close gap with steal —> Death Blossom twice (or you might not have enough initiative for CnD) --> Drop Caltrops —>Switch to P/D--> Cloak and Dagger—> Dodge to drop more caltrops —> Sneak Attack

Or

Start with P/D and Steal —> Hide in Shadows --> Dodge a few times —> Drop Caltrops --> Cloak and Dagger —> Sneak Attack

To name a few.

But I’m still testing this build out, but what do you think of it? Any suggestions to improve it?

Bring it back! T^T

I’ve been doing a bit of Screenshot photography (don’t know actual term) in GW2 lately with the in-game screenshot function, but it always ends up quite pixelated, even in pretty high graphic settings.

Does anyone know how to capture high quality screenshots in GW2? Maybe via an external software or something?

I am running a Macbook Pro 13-inch mid-2012 model.
Specs:

2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 Processor
8GB 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM
Intel HD Graphics 4000 512 MB Graphics card

I play the game at a comfy 10-20 fps (even without the Dragon events). Yeah, I’m used to it.
I play the game, mostly with low settings, with a few options on ‘Medium’.

What can I do to maximise the performance even more? Should I upgrade to 16GB (8×2 GB) RAM or is it a waste? I’m a noob at all these tech jargon.
Any advice is appreciated!

That I’m okay with ^^

@PinCushion: Yeah, one of the best and most common example I get is during the fight with the Legendary Imbued Shaman in the Volcanic Fractal.
In that fight, you need to constantly kite to avoid the brun condition from the floor. However, the skill ‘Well of Power’ actually converts that ‘Burn’ into ‘Aegis’, which is amazing! Free blocks are always nice.
But no one stands on the Well when I cast it! It’s pretty annoying at times, since at high fractals, it’s easy to get wiped by this boss :P

@Bhawb: I wouldn’t join an All-Necro guild though, it’s nice having some variety :P

Still, I wouldn’t mind doing an all-Necro dungeon run! Never could find enough Necros at one time to do it though

I agree with Takarazuka.
Necromancer is a class that’s incredibly overlooked by many people.
We have great access to many conditions and a pretty good line of support skills too.
While we don’t make a great Zerker class, it’s fine, it’s not where Necros really belong.

Necros instead can consistently apply conditions and sustain them, while giving allies condition removal and support directly and indirectly through wells and marks.
In PvE Necros have to ability to apply AoE conditions with Epidemic, something no other class can beat the Necromancer at.
Apply bleed to one target (which Necros can easily stack 15 bleeds pretty fast) and Epidemic, boom! AoE 15 stacks bleed, and it recharges in 10 sec if traited.
This works wonders with bosses that spawns lots of adds, like the Shaman in Lava Fractal or Dredge in Dredge Fractal.

Minions are now a solid utility, and is great for levelling! Better AI means they aggro less, and provide lots of tanking and damage when traited. However, I wouldn’t use Minions when I’m running in higher level Fractals, as they die too quickly before doing much damage. And I believe Agony strikes them pretty hard.

Death Shroud is a free life bar that fills up relatively quickly, even if untraited. Can provide easy Fury and Might boons when traited. Also provides good AoE heal when traited.

Overall, I’d say the necros (and Engineers) are often the most looked down class in the entire game, just because their lack of quick direct damage (burst) is less compared to other classes, which is mostly true. People also don’t know how necros work, so in a group they often move outside of wells or marks, despite the great support it gives.
I hope they do get more popular though, I love my Necro too, and it’s my favorite class in the game!

@Teamkiller:
How much healing power is considered good for a guardian?
I could swap out the back for a ‘Magi’ equipment (w/ Healing/Power jewel) and change around the food buffs for Healing/Crit instead of Crit/Vit.
It’d boost my Healing power to 650, without sacrificing too much Crit%

Not sure about scaling of regen & heals for Healing Power

Link here:
http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/guardian/?3.3|9.1k.h4.d.1k.h1h|6.1k.h1m|1c.7x.1c.7x.1c.7x.1c.7x.1g.7x.1g.7x|1g.64.1g.64.1g.64.1g.64.1g.64.8g.64|0.5.u65b.u39a.5|3l.8|v.16.18.19.1j|e

I was thinking of creating a guardian with the ability to tank and support, while having a decent power/crit value. Used mainly for PvE, Dungeons and Fractals.
Any advices on how to improve this?

Mainhand Weapon:
Mace/Focus

Offhand:
Staff

Stats (w/ Bowl of Curry pumpkin soup & quality maintenance oil):
1805 Power
1754 Precision (43.89% Crit. chance & 53% Crit. Dmg)
1636 Toughness
1603 Vitality

@Sifu: P/D won’t be affected since we just need to stealth to ‘activate’ our Pistol stealth skill, to stack the bleeds. We don’t need to be in permastealth, we just need to stealth as soon as we are able to. And if there are any detrimental affects to P/D, we can just swap a bit of Condition Damage for Condition Duration, making each individual stealth more rewarding.

You know, I thought this idea was terrible, but then again… I don’t think it’ll bother me too much?
I play P/D so I will hardly recognize it.
WHAT I AM bothered by though, is how this will make my thief more vulnerable in high-lvl FoTM. Can’t chain stealth for Dredge Fractal for Control panels? Dead.
Can’t chain stealth to bomb door? Dead.

And dungeons too. Remember that corridor at the start of TA with the dogs and them knockdowns? Yeah. Dead.

But in combat itself? Meh, it’s fine :P

Hahaha, I was just watching your videos actually ^^
Love your hybrid and tank build, good job!

So, if my Conditionmancer has 1600 Condition Damage, switching out a couple of Superior Runes of the Undead for SR of the Krait is better right?

I’m currently running a Conditionmancer, and I’ve been putting focus towards Condition dmg/Precision. The only Condition duration I have is from ‘Lingering Curse’ (33% Cnd duration from Scepter) and ‘Haemophilia’ (20% bleeding duration).
I’ve heard that Cnd Duration is important as it allows you to stack more bleeds onto a target in a set time, hence increasing dps. But how important is Condition duration in the long run?

I run a full set of Superior Rune of the Undead to maximize Condition dmg and Toughness for Survivability. But, should I switch it out for a 2 Superior Runes of the Krait?
I’ll lose appx. 160 Condition dmg, but gain 15% Bleeding duration.

So… it’ll be about 68% Condition duration w/Scepter. Is the tradeoff worth it?
What do you think the sweet spot between condition duration and condition damage is?

So there’s this petition going on (not by me) by a couple of players to have a 3D Figure of your character made by a company called FigurePrints.
I don’t know much about anything, but I think that this would be an AWESOME idea! So join in and support too if you’re interested! \(^O^)/

Link to the Petition here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/gw2-character-figurines-now/

1400 Cnd dmg at lvl 80…
(42.5+(1400*0.05))= 112.5 dmg/ stack of bleed
40 stacks= 40×112.5= 4500 dmg/sec
Plus, 40% dmg output?
OP Condition Build.

But still, I genuinely think that the 25cap is a bit too much of a disadvantage, especially in high’lvl Fractals.

Right, forgot about that. Sigh only reason why Condition Builds power is limited

Yeah, but the Utilities help bring it up to a possible 30+ stacks. I tend not to use Lich Form, but it can stack more vulnerability, if you want.

Necromancers have an absurd access to Vulnerability inflicting skills, so I tested how viable a Vulnerability Necro would fair.
Link to the Build!

So how much Vulnerability can a Necromancer potentially stack?
Let’s calculate:
1. Axe auto-attack does 2 stacks of Vulnerability per 2 hits for 9sec, so if you can get off 6 strikes, that’s about 6 stacks of Vulnerability

2. Focus off-hand has ’Reaper’s Touch’, which applies 4 stacks of Vulnerability for 13 sec, and can bounce multiple times between foes.

3. Well of Suffering applies 2 stacks of Vulnerability for 6.5sec per pulse, for a total of 5 pulse, so 10 stacks of Vulnerability.

4. Spectral Wall applies an easy 10 stack of Vulnerability for 13sec

5. (Optional) Turn Lich Form and cast Mark Of Death for 8 stack of Vulnerability 13sec.

6. EPIDEMIC FOR MASS VULNERABILITY

Let’s say you chain:
Mark of Death—>Spectral Wall—> Spectral Wall—> Reaper’s Touch—>Few Auto-attacks—> EPIDEMIC

If fast enough, that’s a total of 38 STACKS of Vulnerability, and you epidemic gives an AoE 38 Stacks of Vulnerability. That’s a 38% damage increase with just ONE Necro.

Imagine in a team of 4 warriors dealing an average of 5k per person for a total average damage of 20k. A Necro can boost that damage to 27.6k! That’s not including the damage output of the Necro itself.

BONUS: Extending the Vulnerability

Equipping Superior Sigil of Fragility and Peril can help inflict further Vulnerability and extend their duration.
Food-wise, Rare Veggie Pizza boosts Condition Duration by a whopping 40%. Great for increasing Vulnerability duration.

What do you think? Viable?

My Necromancer, I’m really glad at how it turned out ^o^

I like PC too! Just not for work and University, and I’d prefer not to buy another laptop/desktop when I already have one. Well, there’s bootcamp I guess.

Mac version needs the High Depth Character Resolution option that is present in the PC version of the game!

Not bad, simple and elegant!
7.5/10!

This is my Necro, whaddya think?
(Apologize for image quality, running on Mac + lowest quality setting)

I find it hard to target the Wasp Queen and Soldier, it seems like I have to aim at the ground they’re hovering above rather than the body of the wasp. Anyone else having this problem?
Aside from that, and some rare occasions where the camera control goes bonkers, the Mac version seems good to me!