Melemancer with a twist

majoho

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Denmark

17 Sep 2006 at 18:17 - 1

My very first char when Prophecies first came out was a Necromancer, I always played MM with that char and got him started on Factions as well, but I've become somewhat bored with that char so I've been playing other professions for the last months.

Recently i aquired a shield with +1 curses (19%) and thought it would be fun to try a different kind of Necromancer build.

Here's my idea, the char will max Curses and Tactics the rest in Soul Reaping - and it's not a mistake no swordmanship even though she's wielding a sword! My take on a melemancer is more to degen to death than to do damage with the sword.

I'm currently level 10 at noob island, I have this skill bar:

Sever Artery
Gash
Parasitic Bond
Faintheartedness
Enfeebling Blood
Distracting Blow (or Plauge Touch)
"Watch Yourself"
Healing Signet

Gear: Tormentors armor, Barbed sword of Defense + Shield w. curses +1

I must admit I'm somewhat surprised that this possibly the easiest build I have tried so far, even easier than a wammo

Anyway my question is..

will this type of build be viable later on in the game?

(and I don't mean as a replacement tank, since this obviously isn't)

I was thinking of using skills like these later on when they become available

Tactics: Riposte, Deadly Riposte, Gladiators Defense
Curses: Insidious Parasite, Chillblans, Barbs, Enfeebling Touch

Any thoughts/ideas are very welcome.

I should probably add this is for PvE only.

Pick Me

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Thornill, ON, Canada

THE CANUCK MONKS (TCM)

W/R

18 Sep 2006 at 14:17 - 2

You will have the following attributes in Curses, Sword, and Tactics.

In a PUG (PvE), you should have a Rez Sig.

If you intend to use Chilblains, you must have Plague Touch.

In Canthas, not really, since Enfeebling Blood or Enfeebling Touch will not affect skills used. Since there are many spellcasters and high damagin skills from the Assassin, Ranger and Warrior, you may not be that effective as you are now (being on Noob Island). I should also point out, that later in Canthas, conditions are quickly purged.

In Tyria, yes, this can be effective, since monsters don't have as many skills to use, so they will use normal attacks more often.

Honestly, I would stick with Tactics and Sword with Soul Reaping, but not use Curses, as you will need points into curses to extend the duration of the conditions or curses that you use.

Rancour

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Camp Rancor (Rancour :D)

I'm a free spirit (that's not what the guild is called, I just am)

W/R

18 Sep 2006 at 14:26 - 3

I say Blood Magic is still your best friend... Life Steal is the best if you absolutely have to use a melee weapon.

Now, since you aren't using Swordsmanship at all, Riposte is your friend. Put it on as often as possible, it's a great skill.

majoho

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Denmark

18 Sep 2006 at 16:40 - 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

You will have the following attributes in Curses, Sword, and Tactics.

In a PUG (PvE), you should have a Rez Sig.

If you intend to use Chilblains, you must have Plague Touch.

Ohhh I'm not a noob

And yeah it was my intention to use Plague Touch, I was just listing the skills that I didn't have yet - although I did get Chillblains now, but it's 25 Energy so I'm not really sure how great it is.

Quote: Originally Posted by Pick Me In Canthas, not really, since Enfeebling Blood or Enfeebling Touch will not affect skills used. Since there are many spellcasters and high damagin skills from the Assassin, Ranger and Warrior, you may not be that effective as you are now (being on Noob Island). I should also point out, that later in Canthas, conditions are quickly purged. Hmm so you're saying Weakness (Enfeebling) only applies to "auto-attacks" not to skills, I never considered that - darn.

But I'm not too concerned about conditions being purged, all spells have a short casting time and can easily be reapplied, and the mob can't do any damage when purging conditions. And my idea is to use more defensive type skills.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

Honestly, I would stick with Tactics and Sword with Soul Reaping, but not use Curses, as you will need points into curses to extend the duration of the conditions or curses that you use. Nah, I don't like that it kinda ruins my idea - I mean basicaly I'd just be a gimped warrior then.

Thanks for your input, it made me rethink the usefulness of some skills.

majoho

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Denmark

18 Sep 2006 at 16:56 - 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rancour

I say Blood Magic is still your best friend... Life Steal is the best if you absolutely have to use a melee weapon.

Yeah I might change to Blood it's not like I have to stick with anything special, I just liked the concept of degen a lot.

Right now most enemies goes down really fast

1 At range I cast "Enfeebling Blood" on the group of mobs- that usually applies weakness to most of them.
2. "Faintheartedness" - degen/slow attack on one mob
3. "Parasitic Bond" - more degen on one mob + heals me when it expires (it is awesome when fighting afflicted since you get healed when they die and thus negates the effect of afflicted explosion)
4. attack, apply "Sever Artery" - bleeding/degen on one mob
5. "Gash" - Deep Wound on one mob
At any time use "Distracting Blow" if mob is trying to heal or cast a spell.

Works like a charm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rancour

Now, since you aren't using Swordsmanship at all, Riposte is your friend. Put it on as often as possible, it's a great skill. Yeah that was indeed one of my ideas - I just finished noob island and went to Kryta and will buy the skills I need.

Pick Me

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Thornill, ON, Canada

THE CANUCK MONKS (TCM)

W/R

18 Sep 2006 at 17:41 - 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by majoho

Ohhh I'm not a noob

Sorry if I implied that. Noob Island does spawn the odd noob now and again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by majoho

And yeah it was my intention to use Plague Touch, I was just listing the skills that I didn't have yet - although I did get Chillblains now, but it's 25 Energy so I'm not really sure how great it is. Chilblains is great against monks. No need to fear Guardian, Ageis, Spellbreaker, Death Nova (Afflicted have an ability that is not an enchantment, so I've never been able to remove it with enchantment removal spells), etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by majoho Hmm so you're saying Weakness (Enfeebling) only applies to "auto-attacks" not to skills, I never considered that - darn. Yeah, it does suck in that respect.

Quote: Originally Posted by majoho

But I'm not too concerned about conditions being purged, all spells have a short casting time and can easily be reapplied, and the mob can't do any damage when purging conditions. And my idea is to use more defensive type skills. Mobs will do big damage to you, just monks won't heal as much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by majoho

Nah, I don't like that it kinda ruins my idea - I mean basicaly I'd just be a gimped warrior then. Take a look at Death Magic as well. Tainted Flesh, Virulence (e), Rotting Flesh, Soul Feast, Taste of Pain. Massive Health Degen with Weakness (sever artery, gash, poison, disease - spreads to adjacent foes, and weakness - 3 from Virulence).

Quote:

Originally Posted by majoho

Thanks for your input, it made me rethink the usefulness of some skills. NP. Glad to be of some help.

majoho

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Denmark

18 Sep 2006 at 18:07 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

Virulence (e) SWEET

Everyting I want rolled into one... I guess I should make my way to Beacons Perch and get a runner to Droks because I cannot be bothered to play all the prophecies missions again at the moment, (just did all those with another char).

And Death Magic certainly looks good as well.

I'm just going to get all the skills available and then I can change builds as I please, since I've unlocked them all with my warrior.

Xaero Gouki Kriegor

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Leather Rebels, (LR)

20 Sep 2006 at 02:05 - 8

yea i was about to post virulence, but then i read through comments and read above one and dang, got beaten to it!