1st Ritualist and I'm stuck.

woofyhugger

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2009

Melbourne, Australia.

The Archons of Elona

P/W

Hey.

I have just made my first Rit, currently lvl 10 in the monastery. I need to choose a 2nd profession but I am having trouble deciding, and need some help.

I have Proph, factions (of course), NF and EotN.

I am currently running a dodgey and limited spirit spammer with limited skills (see below) being my first Rit, and only level 10. (My only other character is a level 20 P/W). I need something to get me through the end of factions with Henchies.

[Boon of Creation][Bloodsong][Shadowsong][Pain][Painful Bond][Vengeful Weapon][Generous Was Tsungrai][Flesh Of My Flesh]

I only ever play PvE, and I never use PUGs, only H/H.

I was thinking Rt/R and doing [splinter weapon][barrage] (I have some ok green bows in my chest), or should I go Rt/Me and try a [Arcane Echo][Vengeful Was Khanhei] build. Are any of these okay? Or should I try something else? Rt/Mo?

I have checked out the wiki and the Rit Guide sticky.. but I want your advice because I can't make up my mind.)

Thanks for any help. (I've just come back to GW after a long break).

Cheers
Woofy

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

Splinter/Barrage is OK, VwK is more of a farming tool and not all that effective in general play unless you want to flag henchies away constantly so you grab aggro...

I went through most of factions NM playing a minion bomber, something like this:

[build prof=Rt/N dea=12 spa=12+1+1][Animate Flesh Golem][Animate Bone Minions][Explosive Growth][Boon of Creation][Spirit's Gift][Death Nova][Putrid Flesh][Flesh of my Flesh][/build]

This can be improved with various PvE skills or nightfall elites, but Flesh Golem can be capped early on after Naphui, so all of these skills should be easy to obtain and get you started. You can also run whatever or even no elite until you get flesh golem, it's not particularly important. An MM in general rolls over factions, and it was a really strong choice before you could bring a hero along to do the job.

Alternatively your current spirit spam build improves by miles once you get [Summon Spirits] and [Vampirism], and [Signet of Ghostly Might (PvE)] just makes it crazy. Just get off of shing jae and a ton of options will open themselves up to you.

elypta

elypta

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2008

Jade Reapers [JD]

Mo/

well, when I first started my rit, I made a /mo. I only used it for rebirth so not very helpfull. As you stated, /ranger, and even para(you cant choose that yet :P) have some intresting build options. I would go with /R for now and see hoe it goes.
as for healing, [triple shot] + [nightmare weapon] got some decent healing spikes

Archress Shayleigh

Archress Shayleigh

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2009

Guild Hall

R/

For spirit spammer? Doesn't matter. Although as /R there are some decent heal spikes, as elypta mentioned [triple shot] and [nightmare weapon] or you could really [splinter weapon][barrage] it. It doesn't really matter, and there is also minion bomber as /N. All you need for minion bomber is the following: [explosive growth][boon of creation][death nova][animate bone minions]. It's really up to your choice.

woofyhugger

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2009

Melbourne, Australia.

The Archons of Elona

P/W

Thanks guys. I guess this is going to be one of those "suck it and see" moments.. I guess what ever one I choose, if I don't like it, I can always change my 2nd profession later on.

Captain Bulldozer

Captain Bulldozer

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2008

Servants of the Dragon Flames [SODF]

As a rit primary, I'd go with a Monk secondary. Sure the spirit's strength ranger idea is ok, but it really doesn't live up to expectations a lot of the time. Better to chose something like Monk, which will give you additional party support (like hex removal) as well as access to the 330 rit farming idea. Most rits these days use a mix of Channeling and restoration and luckily many of the better skills in those lines can be aquired early on, either on Shing Jei island or in Kaineng Center. While minion bombers can be quite effective, its generally something a hero does much better than a human, so you're probably better off going with some sort of channeling nuker/spirit spammer/party support (via weapon spells and heals). Good hunting.

Crazyvietguy

Crazyvietguy

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

[Njk]

Rt/

You could also play as a Restoration Rit.

The use of Preservation + Life with the basic Restoring skills: Spirit Transfer, Soothing Memories, Mend Body and Soul. Work very effectively. I've never had a problem in PvE and found it works very effectively in, AB, RA, and TA.

I play both Rt and Monk and both are fantastic healers.

Bargamer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

Rt/N

You have EOTN? Get Putrid Bile instead of Death Nova, it's a million times less annoying to target the nearest enemy than it is to target your minions. Toss on Necrosis from Nightfall, and you got some serious synergy. Consider playing through NF or EOTN until you get a Necro Hero, and give him/her your standard MM build with Fiends and Death Nova, and go nuts.

My Minion Bomber guide here: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s....php?t=3039479

woofyhugger

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2009

Melbourne, Australia.

The Archons of Elona

P/W

Well I actually went Rt/R and was at level 13 and was not having any fun at all.

Following an in-game chat, I am now starting again and going Rt/N and it's more what I was looking for and I am enjoying it. Bargamer, nice guide, I'll be following that, and thanks for the in-game help, nice to meet friendly/helpful people in GW that aren't rude little kids, very refreshing.

Woofy

Asimo

Asimo

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2008

Melbourne, Australia

Roam

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazyvietguy View Post
The use of Preservation + Life with the basic Restoring skills: Spirit Transfer, Soothing Memories, Mend Body and Soul. Don't forget Protective was Kaolai!

Bargamer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

Rt/N

Most people are scared of Vizunah Square, but as a Minion Bomber, I enjoy it! Especially Sins, they hate the Afflicted Explosion thing.

Shemsu Anpw

Shemsu Anpw

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2008

Sephirot - Keter

I enjoyed Vizunah square with my Rit. 4 damage spirits, painful bond, and Signet of Ghostly Might and the Summon Spirits. I kept boundcingmy spirits and healing them it seemed to be very effective and fun.

Bargamer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

Rt/N

Which 4 Spirits did you run, out of curiosity? Personally, I don't think spirits swing fast enough to keep up with my 8 minions, and they don't body-block or kamikaze into enemies very well.

But, what do I know about damage spirits? Resto Spirits are the only ones I can ever seem to get any mileage on.

Zahr Dalsk

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2007

Canada

I'm going to guess it was Bloodsong, Pain, Vampirism, and... Shadowsong? Anguish? One of those.

Anyways, Signet of Ghostly Might and Painful Bond do give spirits a great damage rate... shame they die so quickly when under attack. If they were more durable, or functioned as a damage-immune persistent spell type (say, an enchantment, and the spirit vanishes when the enchantment ends or is removed) then one Ritualist per team would be able to far surpass the physical classes in terms of damage. Granted, they still can, but only if they keep those Spirits alive.

(It hovers between 100 to 135 DPS, which as far as I know can't be attained by anything aside from a Critical Scythe Assassin.)

Bargamer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

Rt/N

I've had great success using my Minion Bomber, but unfortunately, the Master of Damage is not all that accurate when it comes to AOE damage.

JoeKnowMo

JoeKnowMo

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Oct 2005

Wessst Siiide, USA

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zahr Dalsk View Post
I'm going to guess it was Bloodsong, Pain, Vampirism, and... Shadowsong? Anguish? One of those.
Gaze of fury is an ignored skill for some reason. It lasts longer than the recharge for the skill and once it's up you can use gaze on the spirit of fury to 'refresh' it. I usually run it along with the first 3 spirits and Anguish (double dmg against hexed foes is fun).

Quote:
Anyways, Signet of Ghostly Might and Painful Bond do give spirits a great damage rate... shame they die so quickly when under attack. With Summon Spirits and the large attack range of spirits, I find they rarely take damage. But they go down quickly when sneezed upon.

englitdaudelin

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

East Coast

Soldier's Union [SU]

N/Me

For the mid-to-late factions game, I ran Rit/whatever, and used a mostly Channeling bar for PvE:

Mighty Was Vorizon
Bloodsong or Pain
caretaker's charge
Spirit rift
Essence Strike
Spirit Burn.

In fact, if you let aggro settle for a moment on some warrior, sin, or derv in the party, go spirit rift--Clamor of Souls--Ancestor's rage (cast on your "tank"). That takes care of a lot of melee problems. It plays kinda like an ele, only without the exhaustion.

Pay attention to your item spells and spirits...lots of GREAT things happen when you are either near a spirit, or holding something.

And yeah, with live peeps, resto rit is serious fun. It's nice to get the props.

iToasterHD

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2007

We Need Therapy [NOW]

Rt/

Can someone post a good Restoration build for the Ritualist? I have checked PvX and the sticky on the Rit forum and I often run into energy problems and I cannot keep up with monks. Admittedly, I still need a lot of practice but I don't think anyone will dismiss posting a few Restoration builds or point me to where I can find them.

All the best

False Maria

False Maria

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2009

Legendes Infernales

Rt/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by iToasterHD
Can someone post a good Restoration build for the Ritualist? I have checked PvX and the sticky on the Rit forum and I often run into energy problems and I cannot keep up with monks. Admittedly, I still need a lot of practice but I don't think anyone will dismiss posting a few Restoration builds or point me to where I can find them. Boon of Creation
Rejuvenation
Recuperation
Spirit Light Weapon
Life
Mend Body and Soul
Spirit Light
Flesh of My Flesh

iToasterHD

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2007

We Need Therapy [NOW]

Rt/

I just read your post on energy management on another thread, I will definitely have to try other forms of energy management. I think most Rits (at least I know I have) are only using 1 spirit, they aren't taking advantage of having multiple spirits. Thanks for the advice and build! I can't wait to try it out with my guild.