Primary/Main Character

Anyone have any suggestions for what primary profession should be my main for PvE? I've tried all of them, and just wonder what everyone else thinks, based on their general effectiveness in PvE. (I'm not asking for the best profession, just what works well in general PvE)

It should:
- synergize well with heroes
- be versatile, so I can keep changing playstyles
- not require title grinding PvE skills for an effective build
- be able to use martial weapon effectively (even if it is a secondary)
- work well with most, if not all, secondary professions

What I'm sort of leaning toward is a character that can do many things, so I don't have to be confined to one role in combat, and don't have to start another character just to switch roles.

*I have all campaigns, so that is not an issue.

Thanks!

Let me know how that goes for you

Anyway if you had a class that could do anything then no one would play any other class. Really each class has specific purpose although some classes can do several different jobs.

IMO the Ranger is the most versatile class but, I am sure many will disagree. It can degen well, interrupt well, deal damage (fairly well) among other things. Most groups are willing to take on a Ranger and they work very, very well with heros, as Ranger is my primary class.

All classes have their strengths and weeknesses it is really up to you in what role you want to play.

Krat

Assassin or Elementalist.

I chose to be an Elementalist because...
-They can synergize well with what hero's can adapt to
-Effective builds become more effective with higher ranks in title skills, but most good and great builds (other than farming builds, which is totally irrelevant in your scenario) don't even use PvE skills
-It can use a martial weapon effectively (caster swords ftw! )
-Versatility includes switching to /Mo to provide insane heals with e-storage, use their energy to lay down traps, more more more energy will help you with everything! (Including Ursan, if you swing that way that is )

Haven't really tried an assassin, but I heard they're pretty good at a lot of things too ^^

Best of luck to you

Paragon.

Twelve characters.

completely agree with this, although i nvr had a pve ranger, through playing pvp i know their strengths. they can do many things beastmaster and trapper(not a really good thing for general pve but hey its something they can do) to add to kratimas' list. then again everything depends on what you want, more specifically than what you sugested here, since you said you wanted martial weps casters are out? i would personaly go with mesmer if you have the patient to learn them as they can also do many things sutch as interupt, degen, e-stealing etc. ultimately its upto you. wow that was a long answer

Thanks for the replies.

I've narrowed it down to Ranger and Elementalist.
Basically, it's magic versus physical, I think.

I'm wondering if a elementalist can effectively cast spells from other caster classes too. For example, I've always liked the necro curses skills, but don't want to be a necro because they look... a little too dark for my taste. And I like mesmers, but etc etc.

So could they use spells from mesmer/necro/ritualist/monk to an extent that it could actually do something for the team, and not be some gimmick build?

On the other hand, how do rangers fare with other weapons due to expertise, such as axe/hammer/sword/spear/scythe/daggers? Are they viable/effective?

I have also considered paragon, but have heard that all they do (well most of them) is imbagon, and I don't want to shout all day. And plus, that requires luxon/kurzick, which I don't have.

Thanks!

Elementalist Is The Way To Go

no and no. Unless you have ether renewal for the /Mo.

Monk will get you into alot of groups. Rangers are very flexable. Sins and Eles are good for farming and also very flexable.

mesmer for the most fun

I'm wondering if a elementalist can effectively cast spells from other caster classes too. For example, I've always liked the necro curses skills, but don't want to be a necro because they look... a little too dark for my taste. And I like mesmers, but etc etc.

So could they use spells from mesmer/necro/ritualist/monk to an extent that it could actually do something for the team, and not be some gimmick build?

They can cast effectively but, the fact you can not add a rune from a different class line really hurts its effectiveness. The most you could ever have in any one attribute from any line other then Ele is 12 and you usually want to have more then that in an attribute in most cases.



On the other hand, how do rangers fare with other weapons due to expertise, such as axe/hammer/sword/spear/scythe/daggers? Are they viable/effective?

Rangers can use other weapons but, of course just like casting spells above they are not as effective as a warrior with an axe would be. There are some specific builds that have ranges using other weapons like a Thumper or a Scythe Ranger, again they are not as effective but they do work.

I have also considered paragon, but have heard that all they do (well most of them) is imbagon, and I don't want to shout all day. And plus, that requires luxon/kurzick, which I don't have.

Sorry I don't know much about paragons but, they came about in Nightfall not Factions so you don't need anything Luxon or Kurzick to make them all they can be.

Krat

well he was talking about imbagon, wich isn't teh only build paras can run, wich does require r3+ in either kurz or lux track to get a good save yourselves time

Ranger is a good option.

I'm wondering if a elementalist can effectively cast spells from other caster classes too. For example, I've always liked the necro curses skills, but don't want to be a necro because they look... a little too dark for my taste. And I like mesmers, but etc etc.

So could they use spells from mesmer/necro/ritualist/monk to an extent that it could actually do something for the team, and not be some gimmick build?

As a primary elementalist, you'll have insane energy, which DOES help you with casting spells from another profession. You won't get the extra kick from runes, but most people will tell you to only use minors anyway. The only snag you might hit is with Mesmer spells, since a lot of them have a long casting time, so you'll spend too much time casting and in PvE, that can mean that the rest of the team has destroyed the enemy.

One of the most popular builds around is a N/Rt healer, using ritualist Restoration skills and Soul Reaping for energy management. The same applies to E/Mo healer. Using [Ether Renewal], an elite skill, you will have pretty much infinite energy and you'll be able to spam low-cost/quick-recharge heals. It's not as effective as a primary monk, of course, but I believe an Ele can do it for longer.

On the other hand, how do rangers fare with other weapons due to expertise, such as axe/hammer/sword/spear/scythe/daggers? Are they viable/effective?

Expertise reduces the energy cost of ALL attacks, from all professions. So you can take daggers and benefit from Expertise, or you can take a spear and benefit from Expertise. Again, you'll be missing the extra kick from the runes, but it's helped by the fact that at 14 Expertise (+1 mask and minor rune) a 15 energy attack from an assassin becomes a 7-energy attack, so you can use it MORE without worrying about energy.

So you won't be limited to just the skills of your primary profession.

It all depends on what you want to do. In my personal opinion ele's are VERY overated. Rangers used to be but are shuned more which means you can play with builds more rather than picking up a random build.
I personally think MES is a fun profession just because imo it's the hardest caster class but can do anything caster oriented (even though you can equip daggers, do 0 dmg from them, yet they foe takes aprox 35 dmg each time you attack from a skill).

Also MES can imulate the same as any other class (pref caster) and can cast at OVER 12 cost and use the other professions elite. As for synergy with heroes, depends on how you want to use heroes. I've never had an issue with running any heroes even though people normally perfer a specific set. I norm run 3 necro heroes, but also have run 2 mes 1 n/rt, 3 ele, 2 mo 1 war, ect. You find what works well with what in each situation.

If you want to have fun tho and create your own play style go mes honestly. It's probably the least played profession and people will probably call you a noob or what not, ppl dont play mes, mes suck, blah blah blah. It's just the hardest to learn and find a play style.

You should try to experiment with professions though to find which you like the best. People hate on alot just because they can't play them requiring to much skill ect. Yet they love the professions everyone else runs because they can farm all these areas, solo this, do that and all run the same builds.

Paragon is VERY useful yet not used properly in most cases. They are the ONLY buffers in the game but can buff/attack if you want depending on what you do. Monks used to be only heal and prot with a few that ran a hybrid build who were "noobs" then. But now hybrids aren't uncommon and only the more skilled players will run them effectivly.

Check out www.guildwiki.com or gw.gamewikis.org and just read up on the professions primary atts and look at the skills and base your primary off that. They all have perks and severe downfalls. Yet alot are still overhyped and overplayed (some ever overpowered) in my personal opinion. But you'll find everyone only wants to URSAN most everything which is lame and overpowered. Yet PVP guys complain that skills are overpowered just because they're build can't beat it and they're scared of change (and so they can overpower that same build so it's a never ending circle).

I find necromancer's the most versatile...with soul reaping they have enough energy to use skills from most classes when it's their secondary, and their primary skills are the most varied.

Necromancer and Ritualist are the 2 most versatile in that their attribute lines are more broad. That is, they have a damage line (Death and Channeling), a "healing" line (Blood and Restoration), a "passive" line (my term, Curses and Communing), and their primary (Soul Reaping and Spawning Power). Since both classes can heal (Necros heal with blood through life-stealing) and attack I would go with either.