A Change of Pace?

Coffee Despot

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

A bit of background: I've been playing Guild Wars off-and-on since its release, enjoying the fact that I can pick it up and put it down at my leisure. I happily tromped through Tyria, but never really stuck to the game long enough to see it through to its finish.

That all changed with Nightfall.

For whatever reason, call it the skills, call it the scythe, the Dervish really vibed with me. I found myself not only completing Nightfall, but taking him over into Prophecies and Factions.

Now, I'm plodding along through GWEN and, unfortunately, the play is beginning to get a might bit stale. My primary load out is as an Avatar of Lyssa or Melandru with all the usual companion skills (Eternal Aura, Eremite's, Mystic's, Wearying Strike, etc). This is all well and good and serves to get me through the missions, but I'm growing a little tired of looking like a tree or a giantess attending a masquerade ball. The Avatar setup while potent, does grow a little old both in terms of play and aesthetics.

Unfortunately, I'm presently at a loss of what alternative sort of build I should pursue. Aura of Holy Might plus--what is it?--Vow of Strength? Reaper's Sweep? Give Wind Prayers a chance? I'm sending out an APB for suggestions as to what avenue might be entertaining. Raw power isn't so much a concern for me compared to a fun and slightly different playstyle.

Or, if it's a fresh playstyle is my aim, perhaps I should shelve the Dervish for a time and try rolling as an Elementalist or a Necromancer.

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

Whatever you end up doing as a dervish, chances are that, more than likely, you'll still be hitting stuff with your scythe.

If you want a completely new playstyle, try picking up a caster class.

Bowstring Badass

Bowstring Badass

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Character selection screen figuring what I want to play...

Purple Lingerie - :D

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
Whatever you end up doing as a dervish, chances are that, more than likely, you'll still be hitting stuff with your scythe.

If you want a completely new playstyle, try picking up a caster class. Pretty much right. And if you don't like that try monking not as easy as it seems in PvP.

Or the hit-and-run style of assassin.

Coffee Despot

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
Whatever you end up doing as a dervish, chances are that, more than likely, you'll still be hitting stuff with your scythe.

If you want a completely new playstyle, try picking up a caster class. Sorry, I should have elaborated a little. I like hitting things in the face with the scythe. I was merely curious if there were alternative ways of facilitating it. I'll explore on my own. Thanks anyway.

Edit: But more to the point, a new primary is really the only way to drastically change the play style short of attempting something wacky with daggers or a bow.

Cherng Butter

Cherng Butter

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Maryland

The Mirror Of Reason [SNOW]

E/Mo

You could run an Order's Dervish?

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

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coffee Despot
Sorry, I should have elaborated a little. I like hitting things in the face with the scythe. I was merely curious if there were alternative ways of facilitating it. I'll explore on my own. Thanks anyway.

Edit: But more to the point, a new primary is really the only way to drastically change the play style short of attempting something wacky with daggers or a bow. There's many ways to hit things with a scythe - you said yourself, Vow of Strength and Reaper's Sweep. They're fine, they work. If you just get bored of being a tree, go for it.

Azeren Wrathe

Azeren Wrathe

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2007

Dragon Force

D/

i know what u mean, i was the same with GW till i found the dervish class, now im looking bad ass in my primeval gear. however i find an avatar kind of defeats the point of badass armour. Anyway don't really have much to contribute except to say i feel ur pain and u could allways give another class a crack, i suggest sin or necro.

distilledwill

distilledwill

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Blighty

The Legion of the Blue Blade

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cherng Butter
You could run an Order's Dervish? Just about to say the same thing. Although, thats not really if you want to hit things with your scythe, but it is a new and interesting take on the Dervish class:

[card]Order Of Pain[/card][card]Dark Fury[/card][card]Arcane Zeal[/card][card]Mystic Healing[/card][card]Watchful Intervention[/card][card]Vow Of Piety[/card][card]Faithful Intervention[/card][card]Dwayna's Touch[/card]


Pick up a blood staff and spam away, party heals, party buffs. etc. i just like the ingenuity of it. Might not be your style.

#Enjoy!

Burst Cancel

Burst Cancel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Domain of Broken Game Mechanics

I'd give Wounding Strike or Reaper's Sweep a shot; in PvE, Reaper's is probably the better choice.

VoS is only usable under a lot of external buffs (Dwarf Weapon, I am the Strongest, etc.). It multiplies all raw damage, so the more +X stuff you tack on, the better your mileage. In comparing to builds that use attack skills, VoS is also stronger against low-AL targets, as the +% damage can result in overall better numbers than armor-ignoring bonuses.

Zorian Direspell

Zorian Direspell

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2006

You could run the new wounding strike. It kills things dead. Especially if you run it with a damage buff and a 20/20 mod. Using WS followed by mystic sweep tends to do wonders for me now.

You could do a condition spike. Use an enchantment strip, Wounding Strike, and condition causing enchantments (along with armor of sanctity) to kill mobs. Causing Deep Wound, Bleeding, Burning and Weakness all at once is a lot of fun.

Konrow

Konrow

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

NY, New York

Warlords of Earth [WAR]

I usually abandon the Avatar playstyle for other things. For example I have a build that uses Reaper's sweep and many other scythe attacks. That is my pure dmg build. There is also a tank build I use which relies on enchants like Vital Boon or stances like Conviction and the Elite: Ebon Dust Aura. This lets me be a good tank and blind mobs that can be very harmful to my party. If you're simply tired of the scythe/melee then I recommend a new profession.