What can paragons do?

villur

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2010

Hello paragon community

I might be creating a paragon, but since i don't know anything about paragons can you help me out by telling me what they're good at and what not ?

iToasterHD

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2007

We Need Therapy [NOW]

Rt/

Imbagon (http://pvx.wikia.com/wiki/Build:P/W_Imbagon)

Nothing else.

= (

Celestina

Celestina

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2010

Veritas Invictus

Me/

Run around without pants yelling at their team.

They're largely a party buff class that can also do some damage at the same time from a range.

Benderama

Benderama

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2008

UK

[Rage]

Rt/

Quote:
I might be creating a paragon i made a paragon on an NF only account (so no imbagon). it was a chore to finish NF (i left him for a few months with only 2 missions left). seriouseley i wouldn't say they are fun as a class, the elite skills aren't that interesting skill are quite underpowered. hopefully Anet will give them a proper buff soon.

Voodoo Rage

Voodoo Rage

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2008

Sacramento, CA

Geezers

R/

I like running a scythe spammer personally. It's really nice because you are almost necro-like in your ability to recoup energy from your short duration shouts.

Snark Is Dead

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2010

NY

P/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Giro View Post
You can always just run a spear DPS build, though they don't work as well. Paragons are a support character. http://pvx.wikia.com/wiki/Build:P/any_Cruel_Paragon I recommend making use of the PvE only shout "There's Nothing To Fear!" and the command shout "Stand Your Ground!" instead of asura scan.

That way you're doing decent dps and giving good support to your party. Which is basically what paragons can do well...

Oblivious Moose

Oblivious Moose

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2006

Sinister Swarm [Sin]

P/

Are you guys kidding me? This is GW.

You can do ANYTHING on your paragon if you wish to.

The community only supports "Top notch cookie cutters" aka "imbagon" variants.

Make use of your secondary, put some effort and creative thinking. Toss in some basic skill mechanics, and area knowledge. Then you can do whatever it is you want.

On a side note, to prevent flamers. Those creative builds wont always be the best, nor do I claim them to be. Its the simple fact that it CAN be done, which is the main part of the GW foundation. (which the community lost lost sight of imho)

LunchboxOctober

LunchboxOctober

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2008

Canada, eh

The Unsound Souls [Soul]

W/

Paragons can do a lot, but to be really effective the more paragons in a team more powerful the other paragons becomes. Sadly, most people just want you to run imba, and it's okay there are a lot of areas where it helps.

If you know people who have paragons you can make all or mostly paragon teams which are pretty powerful. Motivation doesn't look like much on paper, but two motivation paragons can pump out a lot of party wide healing, especially combined with finale of restoration and and imbagon using sy! More shouts, more heals, more laughs.

Command is just all around good - damage buffs, armor buffs, conditions, support, it's got a lot to offer to aid your party if you know what they have and what you're fighting.

In reality thought the most you will probably play is imba, unless you know other paragons.

Benderama

Benderama

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2008

UK

[Rage]

Rt/

also don't forget the armour ^^, just thoguht i'd mentioned you can't get rid of the big white areas, so not much opportunity for playing dress up with mr & mrs paragon

Nubarus

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

PxKs

My main character is a Paragon and I love the class, personally I hope Anet won't make the class idiotproof so that GW will be overrun with Paragon's all of a sudden like they did with the Ritualist.

Saying that it can only do one thing makes me laugh to a point I might rip a spleen or something, not to mention that all they throw in someone's face are those crappy PvX builds.

If you want to know what a real Paragon can do, drop me a message in game, I am not going to post my builds here so that they get on Anet's radar and might get wrecked, or on PvX for that matter.

My Paragon character is called Nathifa Hasina.

Bloody Dominator

Bloody Dominator

Academy Page

Join Date: Jun 2009

Belgium

Sent Fromhell [SFH]

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nubarus
View Post

If you want to know what a real Paragon can do, drop me a message in game, I am not going to post my builds here so that they get on Anet's radar and might get wrecked, or on PvX for that matter. ty for making me laugh good sir
on topic: paragons can be quite nice in a party to have (yay uber dmg reduction)
But from my own experience i find the class a bit boring to play, but thats probably cuz i like seeing big yellow numbers everywhere instead of yelling shit at enemies and allies alike

Bob Slydell

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oblivious Moose
View Post
Are you guys kidding me? This is GW.

You can do ANYTHING on your paragon if you wish to.

The community only supports "Top notch cookie cutters" aka "imbagon" variants.

Make use of your secondary, put some effort and creative thinking. Toss in some basic skill mechanics, and area knowledge. Then you can do whatever it is you want.

On a side note, to prevent flamers. Those creative builds wont always be the best, nor do I claim them to be. Its the simple fact that it CAN be done, which is the main part of the GW foundation. (which the community lost lost sight of imho) I second this entire post. QFT.

SpyderArachnid

SpyderArachnid

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2008

United States

Lords Of Noh [LoN]

Me/

I don't understand how so many people have so much trouble and say there is only one build for a Paragon.

Personally, I love my Paragon. I play a Motivation Paragon. Party heals with Adrenaline Spear skills to do my damage. I've never been asked to change my build ever and never been kicked from a group cause I wasn't Imba.

Guess it's just me, but I think Paragons are a great class. You just have to spend some time to learn what works for you and do it well.

Nubarus

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

PxKs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bloody Dominator
View Post
ty for making me laugh good sir
on topic: paragons can be quite nice in a party to have (yay uber dmg reduction)
But from my own experience i find the class a bit boring to play, but thats probably cuz i like seeing big yellow numbers everywhere instead of yelling shit at enemies and allies alike ty for making me laugh as well, the Paragon can do a lot of dmg if you bring the right skills, just because you have no idea how to make such a build shows how little insight you have into the Paragon class.

wilebill

wilebill

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

Mt Vernon, Ohio

Band of the Hawk

W/Mo

Oblivious Moose speak truth /sign

villur your question is difficult for me because I do not know what you want a Paragon for. PvE solo with hero and hench? Very very good for that.

PvE or PvP with your guild? Well, look at the answers above before you make that decision. The adherents of conventional wisdom will give you very little wiggle room.

Lanier

Lanier

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2010

[Pink]

P/

If you dont wanna imbagon (which I can't blame you for, its a really boring build) paras can have some pretty good dps spear builds. Both spear elites are pretty good as is soldier's fury. Paras also have access to several good non-elite spear attacks and a few shouts like Anthem of fury, gfte, and find their weakness, which are all good for a spear dps build. If you want dps on a para, there is no reason to bother with the gimmicky scythe or dagger builds (unless you really want to...), just stick with a spear.

Khomet Si Netjer

Khomet Si Netjer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

The Angelic Guard

P/

paragon is my main character and I have 4000+ hours on it.
here's my take:

damage dealing: good single target damage, no AoE damage. outclassed by all other damage dealing professions in PvE. you can do good damage in PvE but not with a spear... I would suggest P/W with Hundred Blades, P/D with Aura of Holy Might, etc. Both of those can be buffed with Strength of Honor and Splinter Weapon.

offensive support: moderate to good. by this i mean anthems and shouts which increase damage from other characters or cause conditions. As a general rule these are outclassed by Orders from the necromancer or Weapon spells from the ritualist (or even smiting skills from the monk), because those buffs affect every attack while they are active, while most paragon buffs only affect one attack. on the bright side, paragon buffs stack up and having multiple paragons in a group can be strong because they help each other.

defensive support: excellent. this includes the infamous "imbagon" build which is virtually unmatched, though a soul twisting ritualist with shelter, union, displacement, etc. can do just as well or maybe better.

healing/energy support: weak. due to PvP abuse in some gimmick builds the motivation line was nerfed into oblivion. needs to be buffed badly to see any use at all... and this hurts to say, because I vanquished Ascalon using a paragon as the only healer. It used to work pretty well when combined with other paragons.

condition removal: excellent. Song of Purification, It's Just A Flesh Wound, Cautery Signet, Lyric of Purification. Unfortunately three of these are elite skills but they are all good. I find myself wishing that some of these skills behaved differently, this is a lot of overlapping functionality and the paragon does not have many skills to choose from.

Mia Clemons

Mia Clemons

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2009

San Diego

My Girl is a [LUSH]

Mo/

I've said this before and i'll say it again.

The whole Paragon class is Anet's way of saying "crap, we forgot to give warriors a spear."

The have the same AL, skill types, and have to be within bubble range to do any damage. Other then Imbagon, paragons are useless. Anet better not bring Paragons back in GW2, i will be very disappointed if they do. Seriously, dont bother making a paragon, make another Dervish or something, at least they dont wear skirts and scream at your allies. Plus, i have yet to see a spear i actually like. Voltaic Spear is overrated.

Good luck with w/e class you choose

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mia Clemons View Post
Plus, i have yet to see a spear i actually like. Voltaic Spear is overrated.
QFT

Quote:
Originally Posted by Khomet Si Netjer
damage dealing: good single target damage, no AoE damage. outclassed by all other damage dealing professions in PvE. you can do good damage in PvE but not with a spear... I would suggest P/W with Hundred Blades, P/D with Aura of Holy Might, etc. Both of those can be buffed with Strength of Honor QFTv2.0

Though, Warriors and Sins do scythes better, not in the least by having quality melee attack skills in their primary attribute line, something which the Gon sadly lacks.

A 100B Gon compares to its Warrior counterpart by having lower armor (not very important), better energy management through GftE! (which can make a big difference depending on build) and slightly lower damage due to a lack of weapon mastery runes. This option seems to be most worthwhile to me.

To top it off Gons actually look pretty cool with swords.

Also, try this on for size...

Khomet Si Netjer

Khomet Si Netjer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

The Angelic Guard

P/

yeah, dagger spam is okay but imo hundred blades is better, it gives constant AoE damage with hundred blades, multiple attacks with whirlwind attack and S&M slash, and both of those help to build adrenaline fast for more attacks or more SY spam (or both). hundred blades is not affected that much by blocking but blocking kills the damage and energy management of the P/A. The P/W is naturally easier on energy because the attack skills are adrenaline based.
also the P/W has an additional +16 to +26 armor because of his shield.

the big tragedy here is that the paragon must use some other profession's weapon to do decent damage. :-\ surely that was not part of the original design goals?

Nubarus

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

PxKs

I still cannot believe so many ppl moan about not dealing enough dmg with the spear................

This is the biggest load of crap I read on these forums so far.

It seems everybody here is focussed only on massive AoE dmg or else the class is labled "crap" and "useless" wich is a shame really.

Talk like this is the main reason I don't play with random peeps anymore, unless they ask for help, those players still appreciate a helping hand without bitching about not using a PvX certified build.

Otherwise I only play with Guild and Alliance members or if none are around at the time Heroes and Hench.

Khomet Si Netjer

Khomet Si Netjer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

The Angelic Guard

P/

@Nubarus:

Paragons obviously lose to other professions in terms of AoE damage, since they have none, and lack of multi-attack or multi-hit skills means that they cannot benefit from buff skills as much as other physical damage dealers.

They also lose to other professions in single-target damage.

Warrior beats them with better skills, faster attack speed, strength and knockdowns;

Dervish beats them with better attack skills, higher damage from scythe, and huge damage buffs from Aura of Holy Might, Vow of Strength, etc.

Assassin beats them with better attack skills, faster attack speed, critical hits and dual strikes;

Ranger beats them with multi-attack skills (dual shot and similar) as well as damage buffs such as Glass Arrows, Read The Wind, Expert Focus, Favorable Winds, etc.

so... while paragon can deal adequate damage to single targets, they lose to any other profession no matter which aspect of damage dealing you look at.
This should be a topic of discussion for the paragon updates that the dev team is working on.

Quail Stomp

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2010

N/A

I think i would rather have paragons focus more on party support than dmg. A dmg buff wouldnt hurt but i want to see motivation buffs first.

Nubarus

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

PxKs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Khomet Si Netjer
View Post
@Nubarus:

Paragons obviously lose to other professions in terms of AoE damage, since they have none, and lack of multi-attack or multi-hit skills means that they cannot benefit from buff skills as much as other physical damage dealers.

They also lose to other professions in single-target damage.

Warrior beats them with better skills, faster attack speed, strength and knockdowns;

Dervish beats them with better attack skills, higher damage from scythe, and huge damage buffs from Aura of Holy Might, Vow of Strength, etc.

Assassin beats them with better attack skills, faster attack speed, critical hits and dual strikes;

Ranger beats them with multi-attack skills (dual shot and similar) as well as damage buffs such as Glass Arrows, Read The Wind, Expert Focus, Favorable Winds, etc.

so... while paragon can deal adequate damage to single targets, they lose to any other profession no matter which aspect of damage dealing you look at.
This should be a topic of discussion for the paragon updates that the dev team is working on. Apparently you didn't read everything I wrote before.

If you only use the spear builds from pvx you are indeed very limited with the use of the Paragon, hence the reason I don't use em. (All 4 builds, that's pretty sad actually lol)
Besides the fact it's way more fun to tinker with builds and create a build with trail and error, it is also more useful since a build is growing and you grow with it, by the time the build is finished you already master it.

And some other thing, it's not always about the big dmg you deal compared to other classes that are made for big dmg, the Paragon was added mainly as a command class, not a front line melee fighter or backline area bomber.

I really realllllly hope Anet won't listen to most of the whining and dumb out the Paragon like they did with the Rit, after that crap arse skill buff it was like the invasion of the Rit's. I hate to see 5-10 Paragons in every town bitching who can use the "cool new build" like the Rit's do now with SoS..........

fotovince

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

Think We Need A Serious [Nerf]

W/

I think paragons are great, I've played everything. Paragon is just another style. Btw your team will never be so good protected as with a paragon with a good build. I would say make a paragon and play with it for a while, you get the feeling then.

Cuilan

Cuilan

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2008

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Khomet Si Netjer View Post
Paragons obviously lose to other professions in terms of AoE damage, since they have none, and lack of multi-attack or multi-hit skills means that they cannot benefit from buff skills as much as other physical damage dealers.
Paragons won't need AoE if they're adjusted to do damage though other players of the team. It's not technically AoE, but you'll be doing damage to multiple foes without all the yellow numbers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nubarus View Post
If you only use the spear builds from pvx you are indeed very limited with the use of the Paragon, hence the reason I don't use em. (All 4 builds, that's pretty sad actually lol)

I really realllllly hope Anet won't listen to most of the whining and dumb out the Paragon like they did with the Rit, after that crap arse skill buff it was like the invasion of the Rit's. I hate to see 5-10 Paragons in every town bitching who can use the "cool new build" like the Rit's do now with SoS.......... I know wiki type sites aren't user friendly, but PvX is a user generated site. If you know how to fix them or have better builds, you always had the ability to add them.

What did they do to the ritualist? They gave them a lot of builds in addition to SoS. Why would 5-10 ritualists be standing there wanting the same build?

Nubarus

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

PxKs

I don't need to fix their builds since they are pretty much rubbish if you ask me.
I have a lot of experience playing a Paragon as a command backup, a shout healer and damage dealer, personally I find the Paragon one of the most effective classes for Hard Mode play, no matter what role you choose.



And I have seen Rits bitch at each other in towns about who get's to use the SoS spammer build on several occasions if they end up in the same party.
Before that rediculous skill buff I was playing a spirit spammer and got moaned at for not being a resto rit since "spirits suck" according to most players back then............ever since the invasion of the Rit's I rarely play mine anymore, first of all there are too many of em humping around now and second, it lost it's cool "slow" spirit casting. It used to look like a summoning, now it looks more like someone getting a hernia spasm.

Nubarus

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

PxKs

I have no interest in adding anything to PvX builds section.

I share my builds with guildies and friends, and occasionally with people I run into that welcome a helping hand and are not total jerks.

Like yesterday, someone send me a pm after reading this forum thread and I shared my builds and we did some HM stuff together, ppl like that I appeciate and I am happy to share anything with.

Them lot that hang around at PvX and those who run it can grow a hairy wart on their collective asses that is the size of a small planet for all I care.

Cuilan

Cuilan

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2008

Me/

People who hang out on PvX are looking to help people, share things openly, and to become better players. That's clearly not your goal. The site has it's idiots, but those are everywhere.

You talk big, but you have nothing to show.

Nubarus

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

PxKs

It's a shame that these idiots are the ones who run the site and their possie.

If that wasn't the case things would have most likely been different.

Cuilan

Cuilan

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2008

Me/

PvX is a user generated site. That means if you know better you could have said something.

Physway wasn't shunned because it was bad.

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

Too bad that a thread that was supposed to be informative about the Paragon's qualities has turned into a QQfest about some butthurt guy who was vomited out by the PvX community.

Khomet Si Netjer

Khomet Si Netjer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

The Angelic Guard

P/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nubarus View Post
Apparently you didn't read everything I wrote before.

If you only use the spear builds from pvx you are indeed very limited with the use of the Paragon, hence the reason I don't use em. (All 4 builds, that's pretty sad actually lol)
Besides the fact it's way more fun to tinker with builds and create a build with trail and error, it is also more useful since a build is growing and you grow with it, by the time the build is finished you already master it.
I read everything you wrote before, it's just wrong. When I compared Paragon to the other professions I was not comparing any particular builds, I was comparing the professions and their skills. Paragon is lacking in single target damage and area effect damage. No super secret leet build is going to make up for that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nubarus View Post
And some other thing, it's not always about the big dmg you deal compared to other classes that are made for big dmg, the Paragon was added mainly as a command class, not a front line melee fighter or backline area bomber. Part of the paragon's role is party support, both offensive and defensive. Unfortunately their offensive support is outclassed by the ritualist (splinter weapon), the necromancer (orders, barbs, mark of pain), and the monk (strength of honor, judge's insight). If paragons are supposed to deal damage through others, where is the damage?