background info
you see them all over the boards: people who post unique builds to take on unique places. it makes you wonder, "how do they come up with this stuff?" you read the builds and carry out the instructions, but you always wonder how they figured it out in the first place. some builds can be credited to the originals (racthoh's uw and fow builds, mahanaxar's perdition build, etc), but the beginnings of other builds have been lost in the sands of time as more people utilize and tweak them (invincimonk, griffon farming, grawl farming, etc).
this post is meant for newer warriors in the beginner-intermediate levels who want to step up their game and practice coming up with their own builds.
i give you a completely unique arena: an ascalon swarming with level 24 charr.
lesson 1: build-making
the first step to creating your build is always figuring out where you will be using it and what you will be facing. since i have chosen the battlefield, i will tell you what you will be up against and a few of their relevant skills.
charr axe lorddismember axe twist charr flame lordmark of rodgort fireball charr ashen lordlife siphon putrid explosion charr mind lordether feast charr stalker lordignite arrows dual shot greater conflagration troll ungent charr shaman lordzealot's fire some heals *shrugs*
now that you know your enemies and their skills, you can start thinking of your own build. a great resource that i always like to use is guild wars guru's own skill listing page (found here: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/skill.php)
you can pretty much use any secondary and varying builds. i have done the run myself as a w/e, w/me, and w/r. i'm sure that it will equally be as easy for w/n and w/mo. i did use skills from my secondaries, and i would like for you to do the same. start looking through all of the skills and think about their possible uses.
there are a few things that you should consider:
-damage output
-some damage reduction
-self healing
-an interrupt
-perhaps something to deal with conditions
-perhaps something to deal with hexes
lesson 2: combat tactics
the second part of an actual build is its execution. as a warrior, there will be several tactics that are important for you to learn. these tactics can then be utilized in party settings.
1 - pulling and the art of aggro
having a longbow (or storm bow) in your inventory and as a weapon set switch are essential as a warrior. you never know when you will need to do careful pulling. this is especially important on this run.
individually, the charr might not pose much of a threat, but if you accidentally aggro too many, some combinations can be deadly. most of the early groups that you encounter can be pulled as groups of two. later ones are in groups of 4 or more. they will be accompanied by lower level charr, which should be nothing but flies to you. the ones that matter are the level 24 charr lords.
carefully select your target and pull with a longbow to a safe spot. then, make your stand. while fighting, always keep an eye on your radar and watch for any red dots that approach your aggro bubble.
2 - target priority
one of the best things about this run is that you will be fighting against all 6 classes. after your initial pull, learn to use the TAB button to scroll through your targets and prioritize. you know what they are capable of, so decide quickly who you need to take out first.
monks first always, right? well, not always. i can't tell you how many times i have partied with pugs who have continued to pound a monk creature that had cast mark of protection on itself despite my repeated calls for a target switch.
3 - terrain use and movement
positioning can also be important during battle due to the advanced nature of guild wars' game engine. learn to strafe after pulling in order to avoid some hits. by holding down the right mouse button and pressing the move keys, you can make your character strafe. this can help you dodge projectiles when pulling ranged attackers.
using your environment can also be beneficial. you can hug the walls at corners in order to avoid being hit by ranged enemies like the stalker and flame lords. they will continue to attack you, but without line of sight, their arrows and other projectiles will collide with the walls and not do any damage to you. this can be helpful when taking on larger groups.
4 - build execution
this is where you learn just how effective the build you made is. there's nothing more i can say about this, really.
FAQ
how do i fight level 24 charr?
these charr show up during the quest "last day dawns." after you have beaten the mission hell's precipice in the ring of fire, talk to the vision of glint in droknar's forge. complete the quest she gives you, "defend droknar's forge." this will open up ldd for you. then go to frontier gate and walk out to greet your enemies. if you have not beaten the game or no longer have the quest and you still want to try this, feel free to message me about it. i will load the map for you and either zone out or just go afk.
why should i do this?
like i said, it is meant for beginner-intermediate warriors who want to step up their game. a lot of people can already come up with their own builds and make a stand against tough enemies, but i also know that there are a lot of people out there who can't. there are also those who can read a build on the forums and execute it, but have a hard time coming up with their own. i want to take those people and take them through the whole process itself.
why are you doing this?
how does the saying go? "give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." i believe it was racthoh who first used the phrase "building a better warrior." i've been seeing more more and more "give me xxx build plz" threads in the build forums, and it pains me to see that. i want people to learn that, with some thought, they can come up with their own builds.
will my build work?
there is no better teacher than experience. if you are wondering whether or not your build will work, simply try it out. you'll find out then. the quest is free, so you won't be investing anything monetarily. if you just want to have someone to discuss with, please do not post it in this thread. feel free to get in touch with me and talk about your concerns.
get anything good?
i get the occasional rare weapon, and since charr drop a lot of armors, i also get the occasional superior rune. of course, i also come out with a lot of charr hides.
final note:
in all honesty, i don't even know if people will try this. if all you want to do is farm for gold and awesome drops, then i suggest moving along. this is designed for people who want to improve. the rewards are only for yourself.
more advanced warriors can try it if they want, but it might not be much of a challenge if you can already do all of the above. of course, you are welcome to try to see how many charr you can take on at once.
is this the beginning of a strider academy? perhaps. but i won't charge, nor will i spoonfeed you a build. instead, you will learn to be self-sufficient.
PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR BUILDS IN THIS THREAD. I WOULD LIKE FOR PEOPLE WHO TRY THIS TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN BUILDS. OTHERWISE, IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME.
if you actually do try this, please post feedback.
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