Problems w/ my rit.

I'm kind of new to guild wars. My first and main character has been my ritualist. I really like they way they look and that they're supposed to be a good supporting class.

However, the more I get into the game the more I want to just delete my ritualist. I'm finding it's a useful profession, but people refused to accept them into groups. I've took the time to farm and work harder so i could make extra cash to keep up with all the spells and armor I need. Then when it's time to find a group people will not accept me in. I have a restoration build, but apparently a rit is not a monk and therefore cannot join as a healer. My channeling build is not an elementalist, and therefore cannot come as a nuker even if there is a great need for one.

I've focused more on communing as this is what people seem to need, but also because I found it to be very useful and versatile. I have to say though that communing is the most boring skill set in all of guild wars for me so far. There's not a whole lot of fun in casting maybe a boon of creation or grabbing some ashes then spamming your spirits. Guild wars is a great fast paced game, but communing turns it into a slower more boring version of this.

Now as far as PvP goes, my guild almost refused to let me participate in anything as long as I was on my Ritualist. Most everyone in that guild tells me that ritualist are not good in PvP. I think they're wrong, but ritualists are definitely underplayed from my PoV, and there's a lot of people who think that they are not on the same level as the other classes in the game.

Now I love my ritualist. They look really cool and all, but is there more to them then just spirit spamming or "spot healer"? I'd rather not delete him but I could use that slot for a better class apparently.

What are your thoughts?

I play solo on my ritualist more than any other class. People don't really like us in groups.

The Ritualist is a hard class to play. That's why I play it. Because being a good Elementalist or a good Warrior is no great achievement. Being a good Ritualist shows you have the patience to learn the class and the skill to play it well. Plus we're less common, and I like standing out in a town or outpost.

The only build I think the average ignorant-about-ritualists team would go for quickly is the Splinter Barrager with Ritualist primary. Which would be like a Ranger primary Splinter Barrager only dealing more damage and perhaps being able to fit in a bit of team support as well. Right now I'm experimenting with a sniper-type build; a Ritualist with a bow, Spirit's Strength, a weapon spell, and various other skills designed to hopefully inflict a massive ranged spike.

The other Ritualist styles are less popular... people want Necro MMs, Monk healers, Dervish or Warrior front-liners (ironically Spirit's Strength on my rit working in melee, is able to tear through most enemies while my hero monk keeps me healed. I believe the bonus damage from the spell is armor ignoring. Meaning that high armor doesn't save enemies against Spirit's Strength). Channeling is seen as worthless. Spirit Spammers are usually liked in PvP but not PvE.

The only thing I can think of to say, is to hang in there and use a restoration build because there are some groups that will recognize it, and the other option is to use heroes and henchmen, because the ritualist is an awesome and powerful class when used right and doesn't need human players.

Probably not a very helpful post, and I rambled a lot...

To be honest if you are new it might actually be best to start out with an easier class like an elementalist or warrior, then move on to ritualist once you understand the game mechanics better.

I love my Ritualist. He's all I ever play, and that's never going to change.

I think one of the biggest reasons I love my Ritualist is that my guild accepts and welcomes me playing one. It might sound strange, but their willingness to replace a Monk with me is fantastic, AND we still get things done! I know that I'll never be able to get the reputation game-wide that I can heal just as well as a Monk. That stupid stereotype is ingrained into everyone's head, and I would much rather have fun doing my thing than try to "prove everybody wrong". My guild knows that I can do my part in healing. We've taken down many a dungeon with just me and and a Prot Monk healing.

It's all based around who you choose to play with, I guess. If I'm not in a guild group, I won't PUG. I'd rather struggle and yell at the henchmen than be offended and abused by the kiddies out there (not saying that most people are bad, but those few rotten eggs really stink).

In terms of PvP, I can most definitely empathasize with my guild. Sometimes, a Ritualist ISN'T needed in a particular build, especially in GvG. Those highly-organised teams sometimes just don't do very well, and as Guild Wars players we have to accept that. I know that I don't have to play my Ritualist 24/7 (although I'd like to), so I've made sure that my skills in other classes are comparable, just in case. If the build calls for a Ritualist, then hey great, I'm all over it, but I won't shed a tear if they need another Elementalist. In terms of AB or things of that nature, Ritualists certainly have the tools needed to do well.

So yeah. It's all my friends and guildmates in game that make me love my Ritualist as much as I do. Without their support and encouragement, I'd probably be a Monk right now...and how lame would THAT be.

Ritualists is not for the naive, so if no group wants you with them, be blessed. If they did want you, they know the true value of a Ritualist. Best party healer in the game, IMHO.

Before the spirit exhaustion settings (I haven't played with my Rit's spirits in quite some time, so I don't know if it is still there), a ritualist can become a very awesome protector using communion spirits and Soul Twisting.

At any rate, yes, Ritualists are no Monks (we heal parties, not reckless individuals). Ritualists are not elementalists (we hit single targets for big damage, not AoE). Ritualists are not MMs (we don't need corpses or the need to continually heal our spirits).

Ritualists are party buffers, they don't need to spam spirits, you can heal without spirits (sometimes its better without spirits).

The reasons why I stopped playing with my Rit is:

1) want him to cap all elites for Elite title (thus no longer trying to complete missions - which makes going through the same areas over and over again boring)
2) want to make all of my other characters beat NF (my Paragon and Monk are the only ones so far who have)
3) want to finish Prophecies and Factions with my Dervish and Paragon
4) spirits were nerfed with exhaustion

The reason for me to have my Rit cap everything, over my Monk, Warrior, Necro, Mesmer, Assassin, Ranger, Paragon, or Dervish is because of the versatility of my Rit. Elite melee skills with weapon spells, elite curses with my spirits, elite elementalist skils will my channelling, elite monk skills with my restoration builds, etc.

People don't want me in their group, I'm okay, I can do anything with my Rit, so I don't need anyone. My heros are more skilled than most PUGs (with all the skills from all 3 campaigns). The versatility of the Ritualist is what makes them so awesome.

Rits are like mad scientists: They're wonky, oddly lovable, hundreds of gadgets, and you don't want them going near any WMDs. They also work best with "assistants," rather than "The Brass," or other people who try to shove them into a stereotypical category.

I've pretty much henched through Factions, Nightfall, and parts of GWEN, and that's not likely to change. Right now I've got my Rit as the Minion Bomber, MoW as my hex-slave, Xandra as a Resto, and I might change Razah to Resto as well, or keep Tah as Prot. Add the 2 Ele henchies, Eve, the Interrupter Ranger, and stir.

For PvE, rits are great. People are addicted to the tank + nuke strategies that worked great early on in prophecies, and haven't really moved on since. If you want to PuG, I'd recommend starting your own groups. No one ever tells the group leader to kick himself :P. As for people kicking you for whatever, they're pretty much idiots. This is a common complaint for all the "new" classes -rit,sin, paragon, and dervish, all of which are quite powerful. Just keep in mind they're still playing the game as it was 2 years ago and you'll feel a little better. Also, if your guild won't PvE with you, ditch them, fast.

For PvP, rits aren't used as heavily as some other classes, like warriors and monks, but they certainly do see use. Off the top of my head, ghostly weapon smiters, WoR runners, and rit healers under NR/tranq are all pretty good. However, in PvP you do have to be willing to change your class and build on the fly to create new builds, so you should learn to play a few other classes.

As for builds, there really is quite a lot more than spirit pooping and wannabee monking. You have damage and effective party healing on one bar. That makes for a really, really good support character. Also, splinter weapon is godmode for PvE. It's good enough that it requires mentioning over and over again.

If you're ever having trouble finding a group, drop me a line and I'll probably be able to give you a hand. IGN Tasty Was Chow Mein