Masters + Vizunah Square = Urm....no

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

26 Jul 2006 at 08:47 - 1

I have 3 missions left to obtain Masters on before I can get my protector title. One of these is Vizunah Square. I see a number of problems with this mission...

1. It tends to be a mission where people who have only just got to lvl 20 have got to, therefore, maybe are still experimenting with builds/are inexperienced etc....
2. There are 2 Vizunah Squares, while you may have got into a "Masters Team" in one town, there is no guarantee that the adjoining team will also be actively trying for masters...

I have tried this 10-20 times, still no masters... WHat is the criteria for receiving masters? I assume is it the time taken but I don't know what the time cut-off point is.

Can anyone give me any tips on how to maybe complete this for Masters? Oh, FYI, although I am in a guild, it has all of ... 2 ... members in it!

devlindracone

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

26 Jul 2006 at 09:31 - 2

Hi,

Masters is <25mins.

I never had much of a problem with this one did it on my 2nd attempt.

Tips-
Bring edge of extinction or get someone too.
MM help alot with all the corpses
As always call targets and work as a team

Chuba

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Finland

New Dragons [NDR]

26 Jul 2006 at 09:40 - 3

Some tips:

-The time limit for masters is 25 minutes

-Let the other team know before the gate opens for the Foreign quarter team whether you're doing masters or not, might help to make the other team change their behaviour

-The first cutscene has to be skipped so that all the possible (and highly recommended) Necromancers' minions won't die and the afflicted won't kill the people (if there's any left when the scene triggers)

-Even if you're mainly an Air ele, I should recommend some more AoE spells for you, as the enemies will come in huge waves. (Fire or Earth spells)

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

26 Jul 2006 at 10:22 - 4

Damn! I got 27 mins on my last attempt! Ah well, at least I'm close to doing it! I like to use earth from time to time so maybe I'll take some earth AoE spells with me next time...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuba

The first cutscene has to be skipped so that all the possible (and highly recommended) Necromancers' minions won't die and the afflicted won't kill the people (if there's any left when the scene triggers) Hmmm, problem is there is always one who 'forgets' where the Skip button is! Really annoying when that happens! It's a shame you can't chat in the cut scenes to tell them to click 'Skip' already!!

frickaline

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

Quest Of Ages

26 Jul 2006 at 11:56 - 5

When I did this one, we used EoE to get that extra damage kick we needed, however, its important to bring something with to offset the damage you could cause to your own team from EoE not to mention the unwitting 2nd team that joins you. Its important to bring either a ritualist with spirits that will affect both groups or a necro with wells. That way kills are fast but both teams have healing enough to live.

Effendi Westland

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Isle of the dead

[DVDF][LDS]

P/W

26 Jul 2006 at 12:25 - 6

Get a masters team together and start from INT. That way you will usually get either guild groups or AI to join you. Can be done with a henchie group, especially the local group. Tho you will need a very good group yourself.

Avarre

Bubblegum Patrol

Join Date: Dec 2005

Singapore Armed Forces

26 Jul 2006 at 13:26 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by frickaline

we used EoE All you need to know!

We used a N/R with SS and EoE, tore up the mission. Just make sure the EoE dropper doesn't put it down at bad times.

devlindracone

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

26 Jul 2006 at 14:38 - 8

just make sure the nps are dead before placomg EoE if your with a MM winnow can help that +4 dmg or what ever can really stack up

ubermancer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

******************* Refuge From Exile [RFE]

26 Jul 2006 at 19:10 - 9

I took a team of all henchies in foriegn (Rt/N putrid, explosive growth, boon of creation, animate bone minions, etc) and my friend took a team into local at the same time (R/W thumper with EOE).

We sprinted through it.

Divineshadows

No power in the verse

Join Date: Sep 2005

San Francisco, CA

26 Jul 2006 at 22:03 - 10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

Can anyone give me any tips on how to maybe complete this for Masters? Oh, FYI, although I am in a guild, it has all of ... 2 ... members in it!

So, suggesting that we maybe somehow rig the games in both squares so the game has 16 guild members playing it is not too feasible! Are there any shortcuts through the game? Is there any skill in particular I should maybe bring to help (I'm an E/N - i use Air Magic currently, because it's my favourite, but am open to new suggestions).

Thanks for any help! The tips people have given you so far about EoE are good as long as the person using it is not utterly retarded. Getting masters on local is easier once you have a good team/PUG formed, because the average local team is far worse than the average foreign team. If you are doing foreign, then pray for a local team consisting of 8 henchmen.

Take personal interest in the skills and attributes everybody in your party are using (in other words screen them) if you really want to make sure you get masters. I recommend forming the group yourself and advertising it as a master's group. Make sure any warriors or rangers you bring into the group are maxed for damage (i.e. 16 in weapon mastery for a warrior with several adrenal skills / 16 in marksmanship and 13 in expertise for a ranger with barrage and interrupts). If your ranger is running barrage, interrupts, and edge, then you can have them run lower marksmanhsip and/or expertise to get a reasonable level of edge. Warrior skills that offer area of affect such as cyclone axe, triple chop, hundred blades, and yeti smash are also helpful. Do not accept any "tanks" into your group, because they are not set up for damage and will not help you accomplish your goal.

Be very careful about accepting assassins into your group. Screen their skills and attributes very carefully. Make sure they have a teleportation skill to get out of trouble (Aura of Displacement or Return) or a skill such as dark escape to run when they get in trouble. They should have death blossom as at least one of their dual attacks, but quite frankly this skill rocks PvE with high dagger mastery.

Screen your casters and make sure they have energy management and do not accept "I have 80+ something energy" as an acceptable answer from elementalists. Necromancers are usually fine on energy in PvE with 8+ soul reaping. Mesmers should spec into inspiration and use a couple skills to keep their energy up. Elementalists should run either dual attunements with aura of restoration as a cover enchantment OR run ether prodigy. Monks should be mesmer secondary and use inspiration magic for energy management AND be able to keep blind off warriors/rangers/sins. Keep in mind that achieving masters on factions missions is about keeping a fast pace, so you don't really want to give anyone time to "stand around and regen".

These tips pretty much are the same when forming a group for any of the missions in Factions in which you are trying to get the masters reward. Certain missions have special considerations such as Unwaking Waters and its importance of ranged interrupts.

Finally, evaluate your own bar to make sure you'll be contributing to this well built team you just formed. You said you wish to run air magic? Try:

16 Air, 13 energy storage
Elemental Attunement / Air Attunement / Aura of Restoration / Blinding Flash / Lightning Orb / Lightning Hammer / Lightning Stike / Rez Sig

Blind warriors and those pesky rangers with broad head arrow, then smash casters or frenzied warriros with your air spells.

Alternatively, you could change your secondary to monk and run as a heal party bot allowing you to form a group that has only one monk primary (meaning that your team has an extra spot for a damage dealer):

14 air, 11 healing, 11 energy storage, 1 prot
Ether Prodigy / Blinding Flash / Lightning Orb / Lightning Strike or Heal Other / Heal Party / Draw Conditions / Glyph of Sacrafice or Glyph of Essence / Ressurection Chant

Basically a monk build with great energy management that can blind and still contribute some damage here and there.

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

26 Jul 2006 at 22:18 - 11

Well, it depends on your class, but generally I'd say: hench it. I noticed that generally you have 8 henchies on the other side if you go with 7 henchies in your team (actually you may have real players, but only if no other team in your side has joined). With henchies, you know what you can expect from them. You can't with PUGs.

Now if you wanna get it as a monk, it may be harder wit henchies...

Haggard

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

Urmston, Manchester, UK

Greener Pastures [DVDF]

W/Rt

27 Jul 2006 at 00:55 - 12

Took me till my 3rd attempt, with me as a W/R tiger sword, another guildie warr, the two best monks of my guild, and 4 PUG'gers.

CTU

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

Mo/

27 Jul 2006 at 01:36 - 13

Crap!

To get master title you need to do it on 25 min. I just did it on 25 min and 19 seconds. Argh

Astro Pubes

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Houston, Texas

Gwen Is [EVIL]

27 Jul 2006 at 03:18 - 14

war Veteran

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Legion Of Luxons [lol]

27 Jul 2006 at 17:49 - 15

Wow, i found it really easy, i did on first try and the other team were Hench lol

some guy

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

SPAWN CAMPING YOUR HOUSE

We Speed Clear H O H [ HsC]

28 Jul 2006 at 15:30 - 16

i got experts on it, a barrager really helps

some guy

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

SPAWN CAMPING YOUR HOUSE

We Speed Clear H O H [ HsC]

28 Jul 2006 at 15:31 - 17

i got experts on it, a barrager really helps

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

28 Jul 2006 at 17:57 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro Pubes

just did it in 23:00 flat brought level 11 EoE and traps, maxed out BM and Wilderness swapped masks out to gain 16 in each depending on what i needed, traps put on the wilderness survival mask, for EoE BM mask had a team of 8 with one leeching monk and a team of 8 henchies. Had a lvl 15 MM with no flesh golem or bone fiends, just strictly Bone minions and an SS. it would have been faster if we didn't have the leeching monk, but no one died just couldn't skip cut scenes if you want PM me if you still need help and we can get a team together... *this is for Foreign* If you're that addictied to the mission (sarcasm) you may want to reach the local quarter to do it from there too. Back in the days (before ANET opens Shing Jea missions and everything to Tyrian chars), you had to join a Mayhem in the Market team (which was one of the worst experience as a GW player - this quest is so easy that players spending hours in the Marketplace to make a team for that are really, really bad - have I said really? So if you want to do it be prepared to have a bunch of lvl 15 newbs in your team dying in 4 hits, an average of 3 leavers, and clueless players who will rely on you to... solo the quest - beware!). Now you may be able to just walk in with a Tyrian after you have completed further missions, I haven't checked.

This is maybe a good tip for those who decide not to do it with 15 henchies, as as said above, the average level is better in foreign quarters - thus making a master team in locals may be a good idea, even if you're tyrian.

SisterMercy

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2005

Sisters of Mercy

28 Jul 2006 at 18:45 - 19

I am convinced that you need to be loonietoons and just keep running like idiots, to get Masters in some of these missions. Nahpui was harder for me to get (just over a week of attempts with PuGs), and also took finding a team that kept running on with no regards for health or energy regen.

I actually got Masters on 2nd try in Vizunah, and it was late at night with a really warped team: 4 Necros, one Monk (yes, one -- we managed to kill the baddies fast enough that they didn't have time to put enough damage on us), a Rt/N who insisted on being a Minion Mancer, a Barrage Ranger (with tiger), a Warrior and an Assassin who accounted for half of our Monk's work. Everyone figured "we'll never do it with this many Necros," but two of us rallied and said, let's try this:

One Necro went as Echo SS and spread it around well, one as MM (there were enough corpses that it didn't conflict with our Rt/N -- in fact, their minion heals helped each other out, and it seemed we had an army of 16-20 at any given moment), one as Blood (Well of Power, Blood Ritual + degen), and I took my plague build (Rotting Flesh + Virulence + Epidemic + Well of Suffering), since they're all bleeders in this mission.

These missions are Necromancer's paradise.

The newbie team was 3 players and 5 hench, and we had to give them a hand keeping Mhenlo alive as they approached. But we let them know in chat that we were going for Masters, and they did their best to keep up.

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

28 Jul 2006 at 18:58 - 20

As has been stated. EoE > Afflicted. Just don't drop it until the peasants die.

moko

??uo??o??

Join Date: May 2006

28 Jul 2006 at 20:06 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnipiousMax

As has been stated. EoE > Afflicted. Just don't drop it until the peasants die.

peasents wont trigger eoe so you get damage. i put it on the start of the second wave and the peasents died and i never took damage. eoe is the key with henchman, not with pugs tho. theyll flame, ragequit, and possibe MMs will commit suicide (teehe)

Quote:

This is maybe a good tip for those who decide not to do it with 15 henchies, as as said above, the average level is better in foreign quarters - thus making a master team in locals may be a good idea, even if you're tyrian. QFT. you cant imagine how often i failed at foreign, then went to local, found a nice looking team and..got it O.o foreign were hench only

DFrost

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

Ultima Thule

Legacy of Echovald [Echo]

29 Jul 2006 at 01:31 - 22

Rangers: trap the places where afflicted jump out of the ground
Necros: there are lots of corpses to exploit, so you can easily bring at least 2 MMs. If you have more necros, have someone bring well of blood
Eles: Just spam those AoE fire spells.

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

31 Jul 2006 at 11:17 - 23

YES - YES YES YES YES YES YES -- OH YES

GET IN

Finally have masters on this - thanks to everyone who gave hints... Just Eternal Grove and Raisu Palace left to get. I've been reading the Raisu Palace thread...but anyone got any idead on the Eternal Grove? Killing off the Luxons is a piece of piss, but when the afflicted come we all just get pwnd...

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

31 Jul 2006 at 11:28 - 24

I'm surprised, I got masters for Eternal Grove with all my chars but one - this one is pretty easy. Basically, masters for this one relies on: 1/ the monk, 2/ the rit.

A spiritual lord with union/shelter/displacement, and a few damage spirits he drops at both doors is a very good idea. I noticed healer henchman + Eve are doing an amazing job there: they will actually heal the trees, and better than a real monk - they're kinda psychic. And Eve for BR (damn henchies with no energy management) so the hench monks won't run out of energy. Henchies may get confused when the team split to fight 2 groups at the same time but I remember doing it this way with my warrior (no real monk) and that was ok.

In any case, I'd suggest 1 hench monk and 1 real monk over 2 real monks for masters there. Add a ritual lord and if everybody do his job, you should get it.

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

31 Jul 2006 at 11:37 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Mad

I'm surprised, I got masters for Eternal Grove with all my chars but one - this one is pretty easy. Basically, masters for this one relies on: 1/ the monk, 2/ the rit. No it doesn't... Vizunah relies entirely on EoE and rampaging. I swear i did that mission without a monk on my team. I remember doing the mission, then going back to Vizunah Foreign afterwards, going to kill some Jades and getting utterly wasted because it was a team of 8 with no monk... Henchman ftw + Mhenlo.

If your warriors, eles, or MMs suck, you won't get it... plain and simple.

Drewfense

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

Team Quitter [QQ]

Mo/Me

31 Jul 2006 at 13:06 - 26

Bring 2 MMs on your team...that usually wins it yourself. EoE as stated tears through vizunah. Another trick is to bring FW and Winnow...the spirits have been noobed up by BPers, but they actually do very well in most afflicted areas since only the warriors actually do physical damage (doing this I got masters in tannakai as a ranger). Just have a lot of physical damage in your party (minions do physical as well I think). And as for any masters mission, get someone you can trust to monk. All of Cantha is very much solo monkable if you have the right group composition.

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

31 Jul 2006 at 13:35 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

No it doesn't... Vizunah relies entirely on EoE and rampaging. I swear i did that mission without a monk on my team. I remember doing the mission, then going back to Vizunah Foreign afterwards, going to kill some Jades and getting utterly wasted because it was a team of 8 with no monk... Henchman ftw + Mhenlo.

If your warriors, eles, or MMs suck, you won't get it... plain and simple. I was answering Celestial's question about Eternal Grove, not Vizunah

But I agree concerning hanchies in Vizunah.

Don Zardeone

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

31 Jul 2006 at 17:20 - 28

Eternal grove is easy. Just do it oldschool.
2 tanks, 2 monks, 4 others (damage, for example, MM with golem and fiends, barragers, stuff like that)

After the luxons you should put each tank on a gate.
Nothing will get through.

It's kinda boring really.

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

31 Jul 2006 at 17:45 - 29

^ Yea, once the siege turltes are down, its just a matter of splitting the team and engaging the enemy before they reach the gates. MM's are a BIG help on this mission, those minions/fiends are great as a mobile 'gate'.

OlMurraniKasale

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

Seattle

Zaishen Order

Rt/

01 Aug 2006 at 05:13 - 30

The update from A-Net now stops the mission timer for cutscenes. Minions no longer decay, and those people who always seem to let the cutscenes roll will no longer cause loss of Masters for that reason alone.

Kariston The Swift

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

Sand Scorpions[SS]

R/Me

01 Aug 2006 at 05:49 - 31

Bringing 2 MMs helps because there are alot of corpses. Hell I did it with 3 MMs once since there was one on the other team and everyone kept 10 minions with no problem.

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

01 Aug 2006 at 08:02 - 32

OK, I feel I should ask if anyone would be prepared to give me a hand trying to get masters on this quest...cause it's just not happening for me. Aside from the afflicted pwning me, there's never anyone in the Eternal Grove who is interested in trying to get Masters...

Sooo, if anyone should want to hellp little old me get Masters I would really appreciate it, I am usually on between 6PM-10PM GMT, in the English Districts, Character Name: Hitomi Kyoko.

Many thanks...

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

01 Aug 2006 at 08:19 - 33

I think that mission alone was reason enough to nerf MMs... can you imagine a pre-nerf MM going through that mission? They could solo it, no problem.

Oh I miss those days

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

01 Aug 2006 at 11:28 - 34

Oh well I may give you a hand Ceslestial if you wanna do that provided I'm not busy when you wanna try. I think the most useful I can bring is a monk or rit lord for this mission...

PM me if you need help.

< IGN

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

01 Aug 2006 at 12:24 - 35

@ Sir Mad

That would be really helpful, thanks, I might see if you're around tonight if I can stand to do that mission again! Maybe Rit Lord would be useful since my Brother makes a damn fine Monk...but whatever you think is best.

Saphatorael

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

01 Aug 2006 at 12:38 - 36

I need the master's reward too on my monk (that and Raisu palace) to get my much wanted title... any chance that i can team up with you as well tonight?

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

01 Aug 2006 at 13:24 - 37

EoE is your friend.

A good way to whizz through this mission is to bring a 16BM ranger with Oath Shot and EoE and a N/Mo healer who can spam Heal Party. Keep in mind that there are Am Fah and Canthan Peasants which are also humans so don't use EoE when you see them around otherwise it will backfire on you.

There is also the problem with the other team being stupid and forgetting to bring monks or something like that but either way that's out of your control.

Good luck and if you need some help, PM me in game.

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

01 Aug 2006 at 13:42 - 38

Aww EoE is good for Vizunah, but don't bring that in Eternal Grove: most of the mobs are human!

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

01 Aug 2006 at 14:44 - 39

@ Saphatorael - feel free...if you, me Sir Mad and my brother are all on at the same time then that's at least the monk problem dealt with! I also need Raisu Palace and would gladly try that with you at some point.

Charrbane

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Canada

W/E

01 Aug 2006 at 18:29 - 40

I have as of yet to try the Vizunah mission. I don't like Pug's and the negative attitude of certain other players. Heh. I've been screwing around and avoiding Vizunah so far. I can't just do it with my guild as theres only 3 of us and 1 doesn't own Factions. I find this forced grouping mission idea annoying. I just want to get through this mission now and get it out of my way. I think a mission like this would probably be a blast with a larger guild. 1-2 guildies, a bunch of hench and an angry mob of players on the other team doesn't sound like a good time to me. Oh well....