Ritualist Secondary: Paragon or Ranger? (or something else)

Hello,
I just started playing GW again after a ~4 year hiatus (figure I'm a complete newb). I want to play a ritualist primary. I don't have a guild, or any in-game friends, so I need builds that are viable solo, with henchmen, or in PUGs in that order of preference. The character only needs to be good at PvE, but it would be more fun if I wasn't totally useless in RA (of course it doesn't have to be the same skills or equipment).

If possible, I'd like to make a ritualist that doesn't use staves or wands. Originally I was thinking about a Rt/W, but my experiences as an assassin make me not want to play another squishy melee character. So what about Rt/R or Rt/P? I've seen people talking about effective builds using Splinter Weapon and Barrage, and a couple people mentioned that spear rits are awesome, but gave no specifics. Could anyone tell me about the viability of these builds? I'd also be grateful for any skill, attribute, equipment, and even playstyle suggestions you can give. I have GW, Factions, and Prophecies, but not EotN. I'd consider buying it if it were absolutely essential to a good build posted here, but please consider that in your skill recommendations. Finally, a real newb question: If I want to be a paragon secondary, how do I do it? I have all these secondary profession quests in Cantha, but none for Paragon or Dervish.

Thanks for your help!

Quote: Originally Posted by wcparker Hello,
I just started playing GW again after a ~4 year hiatus (figure I'm a complete newb). I want to play a ritualist primary. I don't have a guild, or any in-game friends, so I need builds that are viable solo, with henchmen, or in PUGs in that order of preference. The character only needs to be good at PvE, but it would be more fun if I wasn't totally useless in RA (of course it doesn't have to be the same skills or equipment). Read the General Campfire Guidelines. Finding builds for yourself is easy, we don't need to do it for you.

Quote:

If possible, I'd like to make a ritualist that doesn't use staves or wands. Originally I was thinking about a Rt/W, but my experiences as an assassin make me not want to play another squishy melee character. So what about Rt/R or Rt/P? I've seen people talking about effective builds using Splinter Weapon and Barrage, and a couple people mentioned that spear rits are awesome, but gave no specifics. Could anyone tell me about the viability of these builds? I'd also be grateful for any skill, attribute, equipment, and even playstyle suggestions you can give. Spirit's Strength is what you want for martial weapon builds. It's basically just Spirit's Strength + Weapon of Aggression + attack skills and some other utility. It's not particularly complex. Splinter Barrage is also fairly simple. Take Splinter Weapon, Barrage, some energy management and some filler skills. You'll want to be using Barrage as much as possible. Spears aren't really for damage, they're for defense (you could use a spear in a Spirit's Strength build if you liked though, but for maximum damage you'd probably want daggers). In spirit spammer builds, wands/focuses/staves don't offer anything meaningful, so you're best off sitting in a spear+shield set for lots of extra armor. Quote: Finally, a real newb question: If I want to be a paragon secondary, how do I do it? I have all these secondary profession quests in Cantha, but none for Paragon or Dervish. You cannot choose to be a Paragon in Cantha because Paragons are an Elonian profession. What you need to do is take any secondary you like for now, complete the Nahpui Quarter mission (which allows you to switch your secondary profession) and then pay 500g to unlock /P.

My mistake, I thought campfire was some ingame thing, and didn't read those guidelines. You can close this thread now if you think it's appropriate. That said, I was less concerned about being provided with a build, and more interested in learning whether I would be wasting my time or gimping my character by choosing those secondary professions/playstyle.

Honestly, PvE isn't hard anymore, barring a few places like elite missions. You can beat Normal Mode with an empty skill bar if you liked. Now that we've got 7 heroes, you can put lots of overpowered stuff in and not need to worry about how efficient you are. Feel free to play whatever you like. It's a game remember, you're supposed to have fun (and PuG's will expect you to run a spirit based build, so AI would be the best time to run random fun build like this).

What has made it so much easier? I remember getting stomped in PvE all the time when I first started. Then again, maybe I just suck at it.

ArenaNet skill balances. They're not actually balances, they just make whatever sucks atm massively overpowered. Player and hero bars make use of these overpowered things but monster bars remain the same, and so the advantage granted by better skill choice gets better and better each update.

Actually, if you are just starting out, things are not as jolly easy as the vets here all say. Most builds need the elites and when you are just a player without the access to places to cap those elites, then you are somewhat on par with the mobs you face. Before I got there, I always wonder how all could say that this or that was easy while I was having some hard time doing it. Now that I am there, I know why.

This seems to be a popular Rt/P build, but it requires EotN:
[Spirit's Strength][Sight Beyond Sight][Weapon of Aggression][Spear of Lightning][Merciless Spear][Blazing Spear][No Skill][Death Pact Signet]
What would be the best weapon spell to replace weapon of aggression?

Quote: Originally Posted by wcparker

...I have GW, Factions, and Prophecies, but not EotN. I'd consider buying it if it were absolutely essential to a good build posted here, but please consider that in your skill recommendations. Finally, a real newb question: If I want to be a paragon secondary, how do I do it? I have all these secondary profession quests in Cantha, but none for Paragon or Dervish.

Thanks for your help! You should also consider buying the GW Nightfall campaign if you want to be paragon or dervish secondary.

Actually, I do have Nightfall, I was thinking it was called Prophecies. So all I'm missing is EotN, but this build needs a weapon spell, and it seems like the faster attack speed might be important.

EDIT: F it. I just bought EotN for 8 bucks. So I guess I'll have all the skills.

I dont even use a secondary on my ritualist. Nor do I use PvE skills. And he is still the most powerful class I play.

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And unless i am in a really hard map where there are a ton of mobs i dont even pop the elite signet unless i need power or a heal.


But like people have said with so many hero combinations now available it is all relative.