Nuking Ranger-type Build?

Hello, I'm Jamie. I know nothing about Guild Wars.

I want to really give this game a shot, but have been told by several people that the build I make is very important.

My normal role in a MMO is a glass-cannon type caster type, but I've never really played a game where I've had a pet fight alongside me and that seems spectacular.

When I search some of the wiki sites dedicated to GW I can't really find any builds that utilize this, is it just not feasible? Am I not looking hard enough?

I would think that sending in a pet to tank and then nuking would be kind of a logical thing, but then again - I'm a noob.

I don't mind what class I have to be as long as it's ranged, and I get to use a pet.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks so much.

First off, welcome to Guild Wars.

Just for your own knowledge, nuking isn't that great in Guild Wars, especially after yesterday's skill changes.

The reason you don't find any good builds on a wiki involving pets is because pets and pet builds - as a general rule - suck. So does tanking, just for your reference.

All that said, if you really want to nuke with a pet, make an Elementalist, and then when you have the option, make him a secondary Ranger. Elementalists are your basic nuking class, and Rangers are the only class that can have pets. It will be much harder trying to do what you want to with a Ranger/Elementalist.

Would it be more beneficial for me to make a Warrior/Ranger or something and just forget about casting?

Welcome to Guild Wars :P
I'm not really answering your question, but I just wanted to point out that www.wiki.guildwars.com is the official wiki and has information on different professions and their role in a party

You are better off getting pets out of your brain completely, they are terrible 99% of the time. As for a glass canon, Ele's are AoE nukers most of the time but tend to take a support role in harder areas as the enemys have higher armor. Mesmers can deal decent damage but just recently had one of there more powerful skills nerfed. My advice is to just play anything that looks cool as the good thing about GW is that EVERYTHING sides Primary profession is 100% change-able (even names and looks if you are willing to shell out some RL cash.)

I would listen to Kerwyn and drop the pet idea. To have even a halfway decent pet, would to be to have a build with nothing but pet skills and have your pet be the primary attacker and even then it will be terrible. I would go for Warrior for easy hack and slash builds and tanking but if you like an Elementalist you can also nuke the hell out of stuff pretty well in this game.

.

As already mentioned. Pet builds aren't as useful, especialy at higher levels.

If you like casters then don't even think about a melee type character.

Elementalists are comfortable as nukers...but with utility. They can farm, tank, do serious damage, snare, prot with wards. I love em and even though I've run Melee classes and see thier worth just can't fall in love with one.

A second caster-type thats also fun and can serve multiple roles is a Necromancer. They can have thier own version of pets (minions risen from dead baddies corpses) to serve as a meat shield that does decent damage to boot (and can absorb damage directed at you). Necros are also VERY powerful at higher levels with curses.

I always lean towards a ranged attacker and these 2 with Ranger being a close 3rd fill that bill for me. Damage, conditions,interrupts, durable ( pets if you want).. pretty versatile!

That said. Go with the type class you like to play. You can create new characters and change secondary proffessions as often as needed.

Welcome to GW..have fun

Quote: Originally Posted by livejamie Would it be more beneficial for me to make a Warrior/Ranger or something and just forget about casting? From the Warrior sticky:

The only viable pet build I'm able to find is the bunny thumper, so I guess I'll give it a shot.

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Thumper
http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Bunny_thumper

I guess I don't mind being melee as long as I do well, and get to use a pet. ^^

I often use a pet on my ranger, i dont put any points into beast mastery, so my pet doesnt really effect the battle much. I mainly just take the pet because it seems cool, and i didnt have anything that usefull to use in my last 2 skill slots.
Dont take a pet for damage, dont take a pet to tank, if you take a pet, take it because you want a pet, and it seems like you do, so take one.
GW is a game where your choice of skills effect how effective you are in battle, but there is also scope for odd builds, as if they are well thought out, they can still be rather effective (although not as effective as a meta build).

Also the whole tank idea in GW is usually bad outside of specialised gimmick teams for elite areas.
In GW the warrior would be seen by people who have played other MMO's as a tank, but in GW the warrior can produce some of the highest DPS availible.

Also, try not to think of each class as having a role, they have at least 2.
Warriors & sins put out DPS to kill enemies, but they can also attack and knock down the enemy melee if your monk/rits are under heavy damage.
Monks specialising in either healing or protection are not as good as those using both.
Elementalists not only nuke/snare/damage the enemy, but with certain secondary professions, they can also provide valuable party support or debuffs.

I wont continue the list, but you get the idea.

Feel free to add me when you get the game, i can assist you with builds etc.
IGN: Yet To Be Named

Welcome to the game!

There is a good site that can generally give you lots of builds, for almost any occasion.

PvXwiki.com

REMEMBER IT! lol

A guild mate is a big fan of both the Elementalist class and Pets. He has a guide for a character that uses both, it's in another forum so I can't exactly link it but you can easily find it as first result if you google 'Gorani elementalist pet'

A couple variations of R/P Beastmasters work well in Random Arenas and Team Arenas, but those are the only places where pets are good.