Versatile build that can handle groups of casters (PvE)

I have all 3 editions, and have been focusing mainly on Factions and NF (heroes) for now. I will try any class, but have so far preferred sword warrior and elementalist. The chars mainly have only their starter skills.

My other difficulty is with 3 small kids, I need to be ready to jump at a moment's notice, so mainly hench / hero parties.

My main issue is this - how can I handle groups of PvE casters? Melee is a piece of cake most times, but several casters together are almost always a wipe. I would love to let Koss do the slaughtering while I sit back and stifle / slaughter enemy casters.

Is there a build that is most effective at doing this? Is there such thing as an AoE shutdown build?

Thanks for help in advance!

choking gas for rangers, maybe broad head arrow
cry of frustration for mesmers.....actually mesmers have a lot

I think I have just the build for you. This is the build my PvE ranger has been running for ages. Very Very Fun, and Versatile. Yes, he's AoE shutdown, both melee and casters.

Here it is:

Expertise - 11+3+1 = 15
Wilderness Survival - 11+3 = 14
Markmanship - 8+1 = 9

Lightning Reflexes
Choking Gas
Serpent's Quickness
Oath Shot {Elite}
Throw Dirt
Barbed Trap
Flame Trap
Dust Trap

Just to explain right off. I switch on Serpents to Oath Shot for a ~13 second recharge.

When I'm pulling I'll drop down a single set of traps to pull through or flip on Serpent's and double up traps against a tough group. Then once the melee is joined I have 3 different modes this build can operate in.

Combat Trapper - I'll run on in under Lightning Reflexes, find the juiciest clump of guys, throw dirt against the nearest guy to ensure my success and lay barbed, flame, dust under him. Watch as the lot of them run around on fire,blind,bleeding, and crippled then go Serpents, and Oath Shot the nearest guy in the back and proceed on to my next victim.

AoE Interupter - Start with Lightning Reflexes, Prep Choking Gas, find the nearest clump of spell casters and make sure they don't get off a single spell. When Choking Gas runs down Serpents ---> Oath. Rinse and repeat.

Mass Blinds - Run around protected by Lightning Refelexes throw dirt one guy, dust trap another (or a group of em), Serpent's ----> Oath, and everybody is blind, yay! I find this pretty useful against big ranger groups, like the Shadow Rangers in Fissure, or the Avicara Fierce groups in Mineral springs.

I'll normally mix and match these play styles for a single fight. As in... I'll be happily holding down a group of eles then see a friendly caster screaming past me with a enemy warrior on his tail and think "that man needs my help!"

Oh and I can tank aataxes, too. I've had to do so when they've gone through the two warriors on my team (turns out our prot monk was actually one of those 55s and they aggroed before I could trap up).

It's a fun build. You should try it. And tell me what you think.

Here's my Tactic's
1 Flag your Heores/henchman so they Spread out
2 Put some magic resistance skills for tank then send him out to take all the spells after that run back to your group
3 cancle your flag and let the group charge in.

For list of spell resist skills I have known (Not sure about spelling)
Dryder Defense (R)
Hex Breaker(Me)
Elemental Resistance(Me)
Spell breaker (Mo)
Resilance weapon (Rt)
Xinrae Weapon(Rt)/Defilance was Xinrae(Rt)
Shadow from (A)
This one will give your some time to finish off those enemy before their caster spells recharge again.