Understanding and creating builds

So i am fairly new to guildwars, i bought prohpecies back when it was only called guild wars. I have a ranger and warrior level 14 but i don't remember anything about the game. Bought nightfall a couple of days ago and since im an old wow and CoH player i like to have the builds for the character layd out before i start the character. Now in guild wars, what i have found out, seems to be that all the builds are suited and created for high-level (20+) content.

Does anyone know any general tips and way to level different proffesions up. What to focus, what skills to take when?
Also is there any downside as to "de"-spending attribute points. Or can i change them whenever i want without penalty?

Thank You

also would it be possible for me to move these level 14 prophecies characters over to nightfall?

1) You can change how you allocate your skill points in towns.

2) GW has a lvl 20 cap. GW is more about the build than about the char's level.
You can use signets of caputure to get elite skills from enemy bosses. You can also buy skills from "Skill trainers" at major towns/outposts.

3) As for having anything laid out - that is nearly impossible. You can go to the various forums on guru and read up on a mayrid of templates/builds. For example there is a Monk thread, a Ele thread, a Warrior thread, etc.
In addition you can complete secondary profession quests which enable you to change your secondary making your character more versitile.

4) Yes you can move your chars over to NightFall -- under the assumption that you added the access key for Night Fall to your Prophecies account. In Lion's Arch there is a quest that you can complete to get your characters over to Elona (Night Fall). Takes about 5 min. I actually recommend you do it, and pick up a few heros will make your stay in Tyria a tad more bearable.


*The above information only touches upon the surface of what can be done when it comes to creating a character and evolving the build that the character will work off of. Like anything, experience is the only true measure to understanding. GL.


Edited: Meant to say "Char's lvl" not "Skill lvl"

Just play through the story line, do missions and quests (skill quests recommended), there's no need train, unless you want to power-level.
What skills to take; just take whatever you like and think works good. For Warriors something like, a skill to build up some adrenaline quick, some damaging/bleeding/deep wound skills, a defensive skill and a resurrection.
And there's no downside to changing attribute points, you can freely add or remove them when you're in a town/outpost.

this id have to adamantly disagree with. a noob with a great build is still a noob. a great player with a sub par build is still a threat. there is more to combat than just which skills you select.

as for the game, just play through for a bit first. most skills wont be available to you yet, so there is no point setting your build in stone. there is no penalty for re-distributing points, so dont worry about it.

can travel between prophecies and nightfall whenever i like as soon as i have done both sides quests?

in case you dont know about this site:

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Port

the wiki is your friend...

Perhaps I was not concise enough. My point was that as opposed to say WoW, GW is not focused on achieving high lvl characters thus dictating how powerful your char is. It is more about what skills you select and how you use them. And yes, there are many factors that distinguish an inexperienced player from an experienced one.

yes you can take characters freely from one "chapter" to the next as long as you have KEY codes and have done the necessary quests...inorder to travel from Tyria (prophecies) to Elona (nightfall) click on the ship on your main map after completing your quests and you should see something that says either Lions Arch or Kamadan....pick the town you want to go to and it will take u to that "land"

The best way to level up would be to just do the quests and missions.

I don't know how far your characters are but at level 14 you might have a little trouble doing the quest to get to nightfall without help. Get heros as soon as you can after getting to nightfall and then have fun.

To get the help you might want to find a good guild to join and make some friends to help you.

agreed.
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To understand your skills and how they can work together, again on guildwiki http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Index_of_skill_lists

There are also articles by profession/secondary that recommend skills.

In Prophecies, you gain ordinary skills through quest rewards and by purchase from Skill Trainers in certain towns and outposts. After you have completed the quest in Lion's Arch, you can use Signets of Capture to obtain elite skills from dead bosses.

For specific help with a build, as stated above, go to this site's Campfire section for the primary profession of your character and ask for advice. Explain what your are, primary/secondary, what level and where you are in the game.