i'm a complete noob and need advice please!

Sacratus Ignis

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2007

SCAR

E/

13 Jun 2007 at 19:18 - 1
Hey guys...

so i just bought GW Nightfall 3 days ago. been playing quite a bit as an ele/mo, gotten myself to lvl 16. i've been putting attribute points into fire, energy storage, and some into healing prayers. i have about 10plat as well.

i have a lot of questions about ele which i havent gotten answers to yet, so if any of you could help me out, id really appreciate it.

1) most fire eles seem to use fireball. can i get it if i only have nightfall? the skill description here and my guild said i can only get it in ascalon

2) what should i spend my 10plat on and what should i be looking to get in the future as far as items go? i've gotten very mixed advice from my guild. some say to go to consulate docks to get a set of armor there. another said i should go get a good staff and some rune stuff. what do you guys think (what i should buy and where please)?

3) what is the best way to get other fire and healing skills? ive bought all the ones ive found but many of the skills i see you guys talk about in this forum i cant find. rebirth, phoenix, etc. right now, the only fire skills i have are flare, fire storm, meteor, and burning gaze. i've got healing breeze, orizon of healing, and ressurect for healing skills.

4) what skills take advantage of energy storage attribute and which should i get? i have aura of restoration now but dont love it... everyone says i should put attribute points into energy storage but i dont see exactly how its helping me.

thanks very much!!

Stormlord Alex

Stormlord Alex

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Beyond the Forest of Doom, past the Cavern of Agony... on Kitten & Puppy Island

Soul of Melandru [sOm]

W/E

13 Jun 2007 at 20:20 - 2
1) Yes - it's not available for a while though. The first opportunity to get is - apparently - in The Kodash Bazaar, way up in Vabbi. Personally, I'd just unlock it through Balthazar Faction and buy it from a skill trainer.

2) First, I'd spend that 10 plat on some max armour, upgraded with the whatever runes and insignias you need (a note though - no ele should *ever* use Radiant insignia or Superior Energy Storage runes). If you have any money left, you can dye your armour, or get yourself a decent fire weapon - there's collecors and crafters around, if you check guildwiki, or you could probably pick up an Exuro's Will staff for around 5k.
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Exuro%27s_Will

3) In Nightfall, more skills become available as you progress through the game. As you find new skill trainers later on, they will be able to sell you more skills. Also, Hero Skill Trainers teach skills by using Hero Skill points you get as you increase in Sunspear/Lightbringer ranks. If you purchase a Hero skill from either your primary or secondary proffession, you'll be able to use it yourself, as well.

Just for reference, you can get any of the skills listed as 'Core' and 'Nightfall'
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Element...uick_reference
and
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Hero_sk...iner_locations

Also, later on, you'll be able to capture 'Elite' skills from bosses. These skills are (generally) significantly stronger/more useful than other skills, and often form the core of a build - like in the case of a Dual-Attunement ele, or "Your All Alone!" warrior.

4) There's only a few skills that are good for general use that are tied to Energy Storage. You seem to have tacked onto the idea that Aura of Restoration sucks (good job! )
Glyph of Lesser Energy, tied to Storage, is an important tool for conserving your Energy reserves, especially in builds where you burn energy fast (like a Searing Flames ele)

Also, Energy Storage gives the ele a reserve of energy, that can be useful in energy-hungry builds, or in long fights. If a foe disables your methods of energy management (for examply, stripping you of [skill]Fire Attunement[/skill]) an ele can rely on his large reserves to carry himself for the fight, at least until his attunement recharges.

HOWEVER - That said, do *not* rely only on energy storage by itself to power your spells (a common mistake). Most good eles rarely use less than 2 skills to manage energy - Fire Attunement in combination with Glyph of Lesser Energy is usually enough.
Also - Energy Storage is somewhere to dump spare points.

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

13 Jun 2007 at 20:38 - 3
There's one concept you might want to keep in mind when it comes to attaining skills in GW. There is a difference between 'unlocking' a skill and 'learning' a skill.

You can unlock a skill by:

- Earning Balthazar Faction from doing PvP and then using that faction to unlock a skill from a Balthazar Rewards NPC.
- Use Hero Skill Points to learn new skills for your hero. This will allow your hero to use these skills and will unlock them if you ever want to learn them for your character.
- Learn a skill for a PvE character from a Skill Trainer NPC. You will both learn the skill for that character and unlock it on your account if it wasn't already.

You can learn a skill by:

- Pay to learn a skill from a Skill Trainer NPC.
- Use a Tome to learn any skill you have unlocked on your account. Tomes are items dropped by enemies in Hard Mode. [wiki]Tome[/wiki] [wiki]Elite Tome[/wiki]

You can use any skills that you have unlocked on your account on heroes and PvP characters, but PvE characters must 'learn' skills by the aforementioned ways even if they are already unlocked on the account. Most skill trainers will only have a certain selection of skill to buy and generally have more to offer as you progress in the game. Keep in mind that any time you 'unlock' a skill, it will be available at most skill trainers. The exceptions to this would be like if you unlocked a prophecies only skill (assuming you bought that chapter as well) and tried to see a skill trainer in Nightfall to buy it. Only the chapter specific of that chapter you are in and core skills are can be bought at skill trainers, regardless of whether they are unlocked or not.

Sophitia Leafblade

Sophitia Leafblade

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

Dragon Slayer Guild [DSG]

R/

14 Jun 2007 at 10:22 - 4
Just to clarify a little, Hero skill points unlock it for your account and the character that uses the Hero point also Learns it.

Sacratus Ignis

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2007

SCAR

E/

14 Jun 2007 at 15:56 - 5
thanks so much for all the advice already. i got all the max armor and a rune of superior fire magic, which burned all my money. also went and got 2k faction with balthazar and then unlocked -> learned fire attunement and fireball!

i'll start saving up for that staff next i guess.

Dr Strangelove

Dr Strangelove

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Dec 2005

Wasting away again in Margaritaville

[HOTR]

14 Jun 2007 at 16:43 - 6
As a side note on the staff, you can save yourself a bit of money in the long run by buying or finding a req. energy storage staff and modding it yourself. It will cost a bit more than a low-end green, but the bonus is that you can use it for any build your ele would run, rather than just one element.

Marverick

Marverick

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

R/

15 Jun 2007 at 01:49 - 7
The req of the staff doesn't really matter, you won't be using the 11-22 damage of a staff so much. Problem with energy storage staves is you can't use HCT 20% of elements on it. Especially Air Magic and Searing Flames benefits from dual 20% HCT.

First of all, do not use Monk healing spells. Direct Monk healing spells are very energy-inefficient without Divine Favor, and Healing Breeze just sucks.

If you run dual attunements, then AoR can be nice for a self heal when you spam high energy spells. Lightning Hammer gives around 80-90hp per cast with AoR, and costs you practically no energy as attunements give it back.

If you really want to use your secondary for a self heal, then go /Rt and use Spirit Light. Even at 6 Restoration it will heal for ~100 health providing you have a spirit within earshot, which isn't that hard.

Sacratus Ignis

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2007

SCAR

E/

15 Jun 2007 at 07:36 - 8
ok ive made more progress... i now am lvl 20 with max armor. some guildies hooked me up with a Rago's Flame Wand and Lian's Lantern for weapon slots! very happy with this so far haha.

thanks again for all the help everyone.

Sophitia Leafblade

Sophitia Leafblade

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

Dragon Slayer Guild [DSG]

R/

15 Jun 2007 at 09:55 - 9
Now all you need to do is use some signets of capture to learn some elite skills and your all set

Signet of Capture Learn the skills to the character who caps it and is the only way aside from elite Tome of learning elite skills on a PVE character.

oh i also forgot to mention Whenever you learn a skill for a character it also Unlocks the said skill for your whole account (Unlocked skill are used for PvP only characters)

fujin

fujin

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

Hong Kong, all the way in Asia :O

Officer of United Jedi [UJ]

E/

15 Jun 2007 at 13:21 - 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sophitia Leafblade
Now all you need to do is use some signets of capture to learn some elite skills and your all set

Signet of Capture Learn the skills to the character who caps it and is the only way aside from elite Tome of learning elite skills on a PVE character.

oh i also forgot to mention Whenever you learn a skill for a character it also Unlocks the said skill for your whole account (Unlocked skill are used for PvP only characters) Searing Flames For The Win! Apparently Sacratus has Glowing Gaze ([skill]glowing gaze[/skill]) which is just a perfect combination with SF.

Coloneh

Coloneh

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

D/W

15 Jun 2007 at 18:39 - 11
yes, try to get searing flames. as soon as you beat consulate docks and get a signet of capture you can make your way to the boss. he is pretty difficult though, I would suggest help from guildies.

Sacratus Ignis

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2007

SCAR

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15 Jun 2007 at 21:28 - 12
ok going for searing flames tonight hope that works out.

1 more question. someone here reccomended exuro's will as a wep. is that better than rago's flame wand and lian's lantern together? thats what ive got now... bought the rago's for 14k last night and a guildie gave me the lantern. exuro's will ive seen going for anywhere from 10-15k...

Stormlord Alex

Stormlord Alex

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Beyond the Forest of Doom, past the Cavern of Agony... on Kitten & Puppy Island

Soul of Melandru [sOm]

W/E

15 Jun 2007 at 23:02 - 13
It's not as good as other options, tbh. I recommended it as a cheap weapon (I've seen them sell as low as 3k )

In all honesty, the best set for a PvE fire ele would be a Fire Wand and Artifact set, with 20% Half Casting/Recharge modifiers on each, allowing you to fire off as many spells as possible.

I have a +60 hp Ether Staff on switch, if DP racks up, too

Sacratus Ignis

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2007

SCAR

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16 Jun 2007 at 14:13 - 14
ok so managed to get searing flames last night.

currently, my skills are as follows... which other fire skills do i need to work on getting?

ive got searing flames, fire attunement, glyph of lesser energy, fireball, fire storm, flare, glowing gaze, and inferno equipped. i've already learned meteor but dont currently have it equipped.

what can i do to improve that build?

also, stormlord, can you give me some actual suggestions? is rago's flame wand + lian's lantern a good wep set? if not i do have now about 20 more plat to upgrade with...

one last question... as far as armor goes, i got max armor at consulate docks but feel like there has got to be better armor out there. yes, no, maybe so?

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

18 Jun 2007 at 07:46 - 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sacratus Ignis
ok so managed to get searing flames last night.

currently, my skills are as follows... which other fire skills do i need to work on getting?

ive got searing flames, fire attunement, glyph of lesser energy, fireball, fire storm, flare, glowing gaze, and inferno equipped. i've already learned meteor but dont currently have it equipped.

what can i do to improve that build?

also, stormlord, can you give me some actual suggestions? is rago's flame wand + lian's lantern a good wep set? if not i do have now about 20 more plat to upgrade with...

one last question... as far as armor goes, i got max armor at consulate docks but feel like there has got to be better armor out there. yes, no, maybe so? I'm a huge believer in carrying both a wand and an offhand item that give 20% chance of fast recharge of fire magic spells. Both should be available from collectors. There's a fire wand that can be gotten from a collector for 5 behemoth hides, if I recall correctly, that gives +5 energy when enchanted along with the fast recharge. And you should ALWAYS be enchanted. The offhand is easily gotten in other chapters, and probably in Nightfall as well. If not, it's easy for your guildies to help.

These are actually better than your much more expensive green weapons. And by the way, I use neither my Exuro's Will nor my Rago's Flame Staff these days.

Half casting time is not as important in a Searing Flames build; other mods are better. (I have an offhand right now that gives 19% chance of fast casting and +43 health when enchanted, and I'm carrying that instead of a collectors offhand or the Kindlerock.)

There hasn't been much discussion in this thread of armor insignia. I'm a huge fan of Blessed because, once again, you'll always be enchanted. For runes, you of course put sup fire on your hat, and have a minor energy storage. And a minor, major, or sup vigor as you feel you can afford (I'd say major given current prices). Last slot should probably be minor earth or just vitae.

For a Searing Flames build, assuming you start

Searing Flames
Glowing Gaze
Fire Attunement
Glyph of Lesser Energy

some things I also use are:

Rez (duh -- but not always if I'm only playing with heroes/henchies, or perhaps one other understanding human)
Signet of Capture
Aura of Restoration if I fear enchantment-stripping
Liquid Flame (ahead of Fireball, by a small margin)
Some Prophecies-only skills

Stoneflesh Aura and Wards are also worth considering.

And the new Sunspear skill Intensity might be worth a try.

Inferno isn't a bad idea either for emergencies, although Flame Djinn's Haste is on the whole better.