Versatility
Blacktide
Greetings, I have been playing for awhile now and I'm noticing that most build seem to have to specialize in one thing to excel. I have been wondering if it is at all possible to make a Jack of all trade character, when I played FFXI (Shudder) I played a red mage and I am a big fan of that type of class, I dont want to be good at everything I just want options.
Stormlord Alex
The most versatile character classes?
Hmm...
Well, for one, there is NOT one build/class that can do everything at once, GW is a team game and you must rely on your team mates where your own build has weaknesses. Most builds will generally try to excel in one thing, and let the rest of the team cover other areas.
That said... there is, IMO, 2 classes that are more versatile than the rest.
Combat orientated, the Ranger. They are versatile at dealing damage and generally screwing with the enemy, with various difference means to do so.
Straight-up damage builds can put some serious hurt on the enemy, such as bunny thumpers (hammer-wielding rangers), Barrage rangers (especially with Splinter Weapon, Conjure Flame or Mark of Rodgort) who can deal some decent AoE damage, and beastmasters, who can use their pet to damage and tank, as well as a variety of other archer builds.
Rangers are capable of seriously disrupting the enemy, they can cause Daze easier than other classes, have the shortest-recharge interrupts in the game, and can spam them with wild abandon. Also, the aforementioned thumper can bring knockdowns into the equation.
Finally, rangers excel at spamming degen and various other conditions on the enemy, to weaken the opposing team as a whole. Skills such as Apply Poison and Burning Arrow deal decent damage and degen the foe, and traps are capable of harrassing foes trying to close on your location.
On top of that, Rangers are very hardy individuals. They have a multitude of defensive stances and running skills, and blinding/crippling skills to keep the enemy melee at bay.
The other really versatile class, is, IMO, the ele.
While generally seen as damage-orientated, each of the elements has a different role, and their huge energy reserves and awesome energy management allow them to run secondary professions well as well.
That's all I can be arsed to say on eles... it's too damn late.
Hmm...
Well, for one, there is NOT one build/class that can do everything at once, GW is a team game and you must rely on your team mates where your own build has weaknesses. Most builds will generally try to excel in one thing, and let the rest of the team cover other areas.
That said... there is, IMO, 2 classes that are more versatile than the rest.
Combat orientated, the Ranger. They are versatile at dealing damage and generally screwing with the enemy, with various difference means to do so.
Straight-up damage builds can put some serious hurt on the enemy, such as bunny thumpers (hammer-wielding rangers), Barrage rangers (especially with Splinter Weapon, Conjure Flame or Mark of Rodgort) who can deal some decent AoE damage, and beastmasters, who can use their pet to damage and tank, as well as a variety of other archer builds.
Rangers are capable of seriously disrupting the enemy, they can cause Daze easier than other classes, have the shortest-recharge interrupts in the game, and can spam them with wild abandon. Also, the aforementioned thumper can bring knockdowns into the equation.
Finally, rangers excel at spamming degen and various other conditions on the enemy, to weaken the opposing team as a whole. Skills such as Apply Poison and Burning Arrow deal decent damage and degen the foe, and traps are capable of harrassing foes trying to close on your location.
On top of that, Rangers are very hardy individuals. They have a multitude of defensive stances and running skills, and blinding/crippling skills to keep the enemy melee at bay.
The other really versatile class, is, IMO, the ele.
While generally seen as damage-orientated, each of the elements has a different role, and their huge energy reserves and awesome energy management allow them to run secondary professions well as well.
That's all I can be arsed to say on eles... it's too damn late.
TGgold
I woudl say Ritualist is the most versatile out of all the classes.
They have a very viable damage line, very viable healing line, and two very viable utility lines.
They have a very viable damage line, very viable healing line, and two very viable utility lines.
Koross
The Guild Wars profession system is quite unique that you can have a secondary profession on top of your primary one. The only difference is that you are only made available of the primary profession's core attribute (ie for warriors, that would be strength). In other words, if you are a w/e, you are only allowed to increase your strength attribute instead of energy storage, which is an elementalists' core attribute.
In the whole though, this means that skills from other professions are made available to you. So, ultimately, it just depends on the way you play. I have a warrior and I have no problem making a warrior that is specced for damage, hex removing and condition removing. I just make a w/mo. Unfortunately, since you can only bring 8 skills at one time, it does mean that I will be sacrificing something. It could be less damage skills and for a warrior, that is unacceptable. Conclusion, you can make a jack of all trades with almost all the classes as they have their own advantages and disadvantages but the question will be are you contributing to the team more than the specialists?
In the whole though, this means that skills from other professions are made available to you. So, ultimately, it just depends on the way you play. I have a warrior and I have no problem making a warrior that is specced for damage, hex removing and condition removing. I just make a w/mo. Unfortunately, since you can only bring 8 skills at one time, it does mean that I will be sacrificing something. It could be less damage skills and for a warrior, that is unacceptable. Conclusion, you can make a jack of all trades with almost all the classes as they have their own advantages and disadvantages but the question will be are you contributing to the team more than the specialists?
Calen The Civl
I have to agree with TGgold. The ritualist is able to heal/protect, cast damaging spells, be effective in all combat forms, augment other party members, and crowd control (through spirits). And of course any pair of those at once.
Div
Monks are pretty good at that too. Smiting line can do a lot of damage, there are skills that help other people, and the secondary can make it even more versatile. However, it's not exactly good to be versatile in some areas of the game...
clawofcrimson
Consider the paragon...read the builds and play style here and see if you like it.
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10151254
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10151254
RoadKill97
Every class is best at something, but the ritualist seems to be the best choice for a Jack of all trades character, especially if you prefer casters.
SoulTwister
Eles are pretty versatile, they have knockdown, weakness, blindness, burning, armor enchants, great hexes, direct damage in both AoE and single target, and probably some stuff I am missing.