Hello fellow paragons... I developed the Burning Barrage build last year and I have spent some optimizing a team of heroes to support it. Things work even better after the recent hardmode/elementalist update since Burning Refrain triggers more often and all of the AoE skills (Barrage, Searing Flames, etc.) do more damage than before. In any case here is something to do while we wait for the paragon skills to be updated, I hope you enjoy it.
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User:Khomet/Flameway
related threads:
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User:...urning_Barrage
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/b...t10481050.html
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/i...t10489489.html
Team Build: Flameway
Khomet Si Netjer
WarcryOfTruth
Khomet, I love your builds, I've used something similar to this too. I didn't have the RoJ, or Shared Burden, instead I had 3 Searing Flames, all running different secondaries for different roles, and Psychic Instability. It worked just as effectively as yours, but I love the variation, but maybe we could get together and share what we have and maybe combine/improve. 
I Rahavan I
all I have to say is
Burn, baby burn!
Burn, baby burn!
I love this build thank you!
ultimak719
It looks awesome, but it might be worth testing it with an Icy Veins Necro Healer instead of your ritualist.
N/rt
Icy Veins
Splinter Wep
Spirit Light
PwK
Life
SoLS
Flesh of my Flesh
Maybe get rid of PwK for Lamentation if you really want it.
http://www.gwpvx.com/Build:N/Rt_SoLS_Healer
N/rt
Icy Veins
Splinter Wep
Spirit Light
PwK
Life
SoLS
Flesh of my Flesh
Maybe get rid of PwK for Lamentation if you really want it.
http://www.gwpvx.com/Build:N/Rt_SoLS_Healer
chullster
Nice to see something different. 
Two thing I noticed:
1. No increase attack speed for yourself, it would help barrage activate faster + more damage.
2. The illusion mes has no energy management, in one of your screenshots you can see she's low, has skills available to use and I don't see anyone with any team skills to help that.
Other than that good job.
Two thing I noticed:
1. No increase attack speed for yourself, it would help barrage activate faster + more damage.
2. The illusion mes has no energy management, in one of your screenshots you can see she's low, has skills available to use and I don't see anyone with any team skills to help that.
Other than that good job.
Lanier
Interesting para build. I'v used a barrage build on my para fairly often due to normal para builds being boring as hell. I use a lot more energy management in my one though. It seems to me as though your barrage build would run out of energy fairly quickly in situations where you can't get multiple zealous activations with one barrage. I would definitely replace the ebon vanguard standard, since I don't possibly see how you can manage energy with that skill while spamming barrage and using your energy shouts on recharge. Either anthem of envy or dodge this! could work.
Something else that I do is slot either keen arrow (combines well with gfte) or triple shot in my build so that I have more powerful single-target damage for situations where barrage wouldn't hit multiple targets anyway.
Something else that I do is slot either keen arrow (combines well with gfte) or triple shot in my build so that I have more powerful single-target damage for situations where barrage wouldn't hit multiple targets anyway.
Windwalker64
Awesome build got to try it
Strength of honor on the smite would boost damage by a lot
Strength of honor on the smite would boost damage by a lot
Lanier
Quote:
Originally Posted by Windwalker64
Awesome build got to try it
Strength of honor on the smite would boost damage by a lot uh, you do know that SoH only affects melee attacks, right?
Strength of honor on the smite would boost damage by a lot uh, you do know that SoH only affects melee attacks, right?
Voodoo Rage
I still just feel naked not having a minion army running around with me.
Also, it seems like a lot of the burning skills are a bit redundant. Don't the dual searing flames ele's pretty much keep everyone burning already? Thanks again for giving me an excuse to dust off my paragon.
Also, it seems like a lot of the burning skills are a bit redundant. Don't the dual searing flames ele's pretty much keep everyone burning already? Thanks again for giving me an excuse to dust off my paragon.
Essence Snow
nice to see some originality
The one thing I'll note speccing over the req of a bow tbh is not worth it...the attris could be more usefull elsewhere...ie spec 12 in marks for barrage is not worth it...spec 9 and distribue the points in command.
The one thing I'll note speccing over the req of a bow tbh is not worth it...the attris could be more usefull elsewhere...ie spec 12 in marks for barrage is not worth it...spec 9 and distribue the points in command.
Khomet Si Netjer
thanks for the kind words everyone.
@warcry: anytime! RoJ has the advantage of causing armor ignoring damage, and I wanted Smiting anyway because of Judge's Insight... Searing Flames is much more spammable though, not sure which is better.
@ultimak719: Splinter Weapon is much much better on a primary ritualist.
splinter @ 16 does 4 x 53 x 5 = 1060 damage if you can hit at least 5 targets. (it's bugged, it delivers damage to 4 adjacent targets instead of 3)
A secondary rit will probably have 10 channeling, and splinter @ 10 is only 4 x 35 x 4 = 560 damage. If you are using a Grail this hero can reach 17 channeling, which hits the next breakpoint for Splinter Weapon... 4 x 56 x 6 = 1344 armor ignoring damage, not counting the damage from barrage. Splinter is the main reason to bring this hero so it's important to get channeling as high as possible.
@chullster: you are right, there isn't any IAS, no slots available for it... on this build you can use rock candy, pumpkin pie, etc. to get IAS, it isn't really necessary though. the illusion mesmer can operate without much energy because of signets, but I have had the same thoughts about it... more emgmt might help here.
@lanier: energy is fine, I don't even use a zealous bow with this. a good barrage charges GFTE fully with every shot so you are actually gaining energy with each barrage. Glowing Signet also gets you quite a bit. Don't waste energy with EBSOH , Barrage, etc. if there are only one or two targets left and energy is not a problem. It does take some getting used to though.
I use a vampiric shortbow for faster attack speed and more damage, and a sundering longbow for pulling dangerous groups. Pulling tends to make the enemy ball up, especially if you use terrain to help. Other groups naturally ball up, I love it when they do that.
@voodoo: one can never have too much burnin' love... searing flames does damage if targets are already burning so nothing is wasted. besides that, if you want the damage resistance from They're On Fire you have to make sure that everything is burning all the time.
@essence snow: thanks command is not really important for this build, the barrager is the only physical attacker and thus GFTE is more for energy than damage. can't use a shield either so command has little use here, i'd rather have 12 marksmanship and get more damage from Barrage.
@warcry: anytime! RoJ has the advantage of causing armor ignoring damage, and I wanted Smiting anyway because of Judge's Insight... Searing Flames is much more spammable though, not sure which is better.
@ultimak719: Splinter Weapon is much much better on a primary ritualist.
splinter @ 16 does 4 x 53 x 5 = 1060 damage if you can hit at least 5 targets. (it's bugged, it delivers damage to 4 adjacent targets instead of 3)
A secondary rit will probably have 10 channeling, and splinter @ 10 is only 4 x 35 x 4 = 560 damage. If you are using a Grail this hero can reach 17 channeling, which hits the next breakpoint for Splinter Weapon... 4 x 56 x 6 = 1344 armor ignoring damage, not counting the damage from barrage. Splinter is the main reason to bring this hero so it's important to get channeling as high as possible.
@chullster: you are right, there isn't any IAS, no slots available for it... on this build you can use rock candy, pumpkin pie, etc. to get IAS, it isn't really necessary though. the illusion mesmer can operate without much energy because of signets, but I have had the same thoughts about it... more emgmt might help here.
@lanier: energy is fine, I don't even use a zealous bow with this. a good barrage charges GFTE fully with every shot so you are actually gaining energy with each barrage. Glowing Signet also gets you quite a bit. Don't waste energy with EBSOH , Barrage, etc. if there are only one or two targets left and energy is not a problem. It does take some getting used to though.
I use a vampiric shortbow for faster attack speed and more damage, and a sundering longbow for pulling dangerous groups. Pulling tends to make the enemy ball up, especially if you use terrain to help. Other groups naturally ball up, I love it when they do that.
@voodoo: one can never have too much burnin' love...
searing flames does damage if targets are already burning so nothing is wasted. besides that, if you want the damage resistance from They're On Fire you have to make sure that everything is burning all the time. @essence snow: thanks
command is not really important for this build, the barrager is the only physical attacker and thus GFTE is more for energy than damage. can't use a shield either so command has little use here, i'd rather have 12 marksmanship and get more damage from Barrage.
Voodoo Rage
Yeah, I'm playing around with this build concept and I agree, you need more burning than just the searing flames ele's. I did struggle a bit in the burning forest of Sacnoth Valley as nothing burns there, so it the team does depend a lot on areas where you CAN set foes on fire. It's a really nice paragon build. Any reason why Aggressive Refrain isn't thrown on the bar? Wouldn't the IAS outperform I Am The Strongest?
I'm still a little leary about dumping my beloved MM for a smiting monk though. It does seem like without a minion wall, there is a tendency for mobs to just wander apart.
I'm still a little leary about dumping my beloved MM for a smiting monk though. It does seem like without a minion wall, there is a tendency for mobs to just wander apart.
Essence Snow
Chthon
Afraid I have little but criticism. Hopefully you will find some of it useful.
1. Your only significant damage mitigation is coming from "They're on Fire," TNtF, SYG, and weakness. That's really inadequate. Frankly, I'm amazed that you were able to finish the zones you were able to finish. I'd suggest dropping one of the bad heroes (I'll flag them as I go by) for a ST-Shelter or ER-Prot-Infuse.
2. Player build:
2.a. Do you really need Glowing Signet?
2.b. Burning Refrain is redundant.
2.c. IAtS is an awful, awful skill. I'd say to replace with Dodge This, but worry a little about anti-synergy with GftE. If Dodge This won't work, look at just about every other PvE skill before going back to IAtS.
3. Smiter.
3.1. This build is crap. Drop it entirely.
3.2. Damage is awful.
3.2.1. RoJ is likely to miss when you let heroes aim it, and has a 20sec recharge.
3.2.2. Smite stuff is undirected and inconsistent damage.
3.2.3. Judge's Insight is only conditionally useful in the context of lots of undead.
3.3. Command shouts can go on lots of other builds.
4. Hybrid Rit
4.1. Clamor is not a bad skill per se, now that lightning damage doesn't suck anymore, but it does less damage than SoS and doesn't offer the opportunity for energy gain that you have with SoS+Siphon. Replace with SoS
4.2. Lamentation is a joke. Replace with Siphon.
4.3. Recovery isn't bad, but usefulness is questionable if MBS is removing 4 conditions at a pop (3 from SoS + Life). Most people would suggest changing it for PwK.
5. If this build gets a rez, it should by FomF. It's going to revive with higher hp and (at 13 resto) higher energy than a Sig of Return at 0 leadership, with a faster cast time too.
5. SF builds.
5.1. These do not have enough energy management.
5.2. These do not have enough energy management.
5.3. In case you somehow missed it: These do not have enough energy management.
5.4. You definitely do not need 2x Enfeebling Blood. You probably do not need 2X Weaken Armor or Earthen Shackles.
5.5 So the solution is: SPLIT THE BUILDS.
5.5.1. On one build, drop the curses stuff, reassign the points to ES and maybe a little to earth, add Glowing Gaze, and add Mark of Rodgort (which will smooth out burning durations so that SF is always hitting for damage (and do a better job of it than all the other non-SF burning skills you've got currently put together)).
5.5.2. On the other build, drop Earthen Shackles, reassign the points to ES and maybe to curses, and add Glowing Gaze.
5.6 Meteor is really questionable.
6. The dom mes
6.1. This build is just really bad. You can skip reading the rest of my comments and just use Jeydra's dom mes if you want to save time.
6.2. Mirror of Disenchant and Complicate both need large homogeneous mobs to justify their recharges. Niche use only. Additionally, you should be killing things fast enough that Complicate is always going to be dubious in PvE.
6.3. Enchanter's Conundrum is only worthwhile if monsters have no ability to cast enchants at all or you've got a deep strip (and even then, heroes may not be smart enough to lead EC with the deep strip (which, you don't have anyway)). Run Panic or E-Surge if Panic isn't needed for survivability.
6.4. Shatter Delusions would be good if you had shatter-bait hexes in the team build or if the AI was smart enough to shatter sticky hexes at the last moment, but you don't and it isn't, so don't use it.
7. CoF is fine, but this build doesn't have the energy to support it on top of all the other expensive stuff it has.
8. Ill mes.
8.1. This build is also crap. Drop it entirely. Possibly for another SF (probably paragon secondary for FB). Or a THunderclapper (in which case the curses SF needs to change). Or minions.
8.2. Mirror, same issue as above.
8.3. Fragility isn't very useful here since burning shouldn't be starting or ending very often. The only thing triggering it is going to be the crap condition skills on this bar.
8.4. Shared Burden is not going to stack the snare effect with Earthen Shackles, so it's really just a crappier version of Arcane Conundrum. If you really want to keep the Ill build, change this to Fevered Dreams (and bring better condition skills like Steam and Accumulated Pain, and then you could keep Frag).
8.5. Causing bleeding + poison is pretty worthless in any case since degen is wimpy. But it's especially worthless here since you've already got -7 degen from the burning, so over half the effect from bleeding + poison is going to be wasted. [Edit: I forgot the degen from Lamentation (which you should be removing anyway), which just makes bleeding + poison even more redundant.]
8.6. The weakness on Oppressive Gaze is redundant with EB, and the poison is worthless for the reason given above, so drop it.
8.7. Blood Ritual won't be neccesary if you fix the energy problems within the other builds.
9. The healer.
9.1. This looks OK for a pure redbarup healer.
9.2. Not sure you really need a pure redbarup healer. You'd probably be better off with some mitigation (see #1) hybridized with some healing. Unfortunately, HBurst hybrids aren't possible for heroes because there's not enough attribute points for speccing inspiration, and not enough energy without it. (Player builds can use PvE skills for energy management.)
9.3. IV+resto is a comparable pure redbarup healer that also does damage. You might want to look at that.
--------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Essence Snow
1. Your only significant damage mitigation is coming from "They're on Fire," TNtF, SYG, and weakness. That's really inadequate. Frankly, I'm amazed that you were able to finish the zones you were able to finish. I'd suggest dropping one of the bad heroes (I'll flag them as I go by) for a ST-Shelter or ER-Prot-Infuse.
2. Player build:
2.a. Do you really need Glowing Signet?
2.b. Burning Refrain is redundant.
2.c. IAtS is an awful, awful skill. I'd say to replace with Dodge This, but worry a little about anti-synergy with GftE. If Dodge This won't work, look at just about every other PvE skill before going back to IAtS.
3. Smiter.
3.1. This build is crap. Drop it entirely.
3.2. Damage is awful.
3.2.1. RoJ is likely to miss when you let heroes aim it, and has a 20sec recharge.
3.2.2. Smite stuff is undirected and inconsistent damage.
3.2.3. Judge's Insight is only conditionally useful in the context of lots of undead.
3.3. Command shouts can go on lots of other builds.
4. Hybrid Rit
4.1. Clamor is not a bad skill per se, now that lightning damage doesn't suck anymore, but it does less damage than SoS and doesn't offer the opportunity for energy gain that you have with SoS+Siphon. Replace with SoS
4.2. Lamentation is a joke. Replace with Siphon.
4.3. Recovery isn't bad, but usefulness is questionable if MBS is removing 4 conditions at a pop (3 from SoS + Life). Most people would suggest changing it for PwK.
5. If this build gets a rez, it should by FomF. It's going to revive with higher hp and (at 13 resto) higher energy than a Sig of Return at 0 leadership, with a faster cast time too.
5. SF builds.
5.1. These do not have enough energy management.
5.2. These do not have enough energy management.
5.3. In case you somehow missed it: These do not have enough energy management.
5.4. You definitely do not need 2x Enfeebling Blood. You probably do not need 2X Weaken Armor or Earthen Shackles.
5.5 So the solution is: SPLIT THE BUILDS.
5.5.1. On one build, drop the curses stuff, reassign the points to ES and maybe a little to earth, add Glowing Gaze, and add Mark of Rodgort (which will smooth out burning durations so that SF is always hitting for damage (and do a better job of it than all the other non-SF burning skills you've got currently put together)).
5.5.2. On the other build, drop Earthen Shackles, reassign the points to ES and maybe to curses, and add Glowing Gaze.
5.6 Meteor is really questionable.
6. The dom mes
6.1. This build is just really bad. You can skip reading the rest of my comments and just use Jeydra's dom mes if you want to save time.
6.2. Mirror of Disenchant and Complicate both need large homogeneous mobs to justify their recharges. Niche use only. Additionally, you should be killing things fast enough that Complicate is always going to be dubious in PvE.
6.3. Enchanter's Conundrum is only worthwhile if monsters have no ability to cast enchants at all or you've got a deep strip (and even then, heroes may not be smart enough to lead EC with the deep strip (which, you don't have anyway)). Run Panic or E-Surge if Panic isn't needed for survivability.
6.4. Shatter Delusions would be good if you had shatter-bait hexes in the team build or if the AI was smart enough to shatter sticky hexes at the last moment, but you don't and it isn't, so don't use it.
7. CoF is fine, but this build doesn't have the energy to support it on top of all the other expensive stuff it has.
8. Ill mes.
8.1. This build is also crap. Drop it entirely. Possibly for another SF (probably paragon secondary for FB). Or a THunderclapper (in which case the curses SF needs to change). Or minions.
8.2. Mirror, same issue as above.
8.3. Fragility isn't very useful here since burning shouldn't be starting or ending very often. The only thing triggering it is going to be the crap condition skills on this bar.
8.4. Shared Burden is not going to stack the snare effect with Earthen Shackles, so it's really just a crappier version of Arcane Conundrum. If you really want to keep the Ill build, change this to Fevered Dreams (and bring better condition skills like Steam and Accumulated Pain, and then you could keep Frag).
8.5. Causing bleeding + poison is pretty worthless in any case since degen is wimpy. But it's especially worthless here since you've already got -7 degen from the burning, so over half the effect from bleeding + poison is going to be wasted. [Edit: I forgot the degen from Lamentation (which you should be removing anyway), which just makes bleeding + poison even more redundant.]
8.6. The weakness on Oppressive Gaze is redundant with EB, and the poison is worthless for the reason given above, so drop it.
8.7. Blood Ritual won't be neccesary if you fix the energy problems within the other builds.
9. The healer.
9.1. This looks OK for a pure redbarup healer.
9.2. Not sure you really need a pure redbarup healer. You'd probably be better off with some mitigation (see #1) hybridized with some healing. Unfortunately, HBurst hybrids aren't possible for heroes because there's not enough attribute points for speccing inspiration, and not enough energy without it. (Player builds can use PvE skills for energy management.)
9.3. IV+resto is a comparable pure redbarup healer that also does damage. You might want to look at that.
--------
Quote:
The difference between spec 9 marks and spec 12 barrage is only 3 dmg while the difference between spec 4 command and spec 10 is 28%. The 28% added chance of crit will do more dmg over time (i think...pretty early and hung over atm)
Base damage on the bow. Of course the 12 is better for DPS.
HigherMinion
If you do not need the Burning from SF, then why not use Elemental Attunement+MoR?
Axel Zinfandel
Trying to touch on things Chthon didn't say..
Player Build:
-Glowing Signet does seem a bit overkill. With high Leadership, ToF costs 2 energy and TNTF costs 7. GTFE is a net of 8 energy that you should be able to use after every good attack, as well as a zealous bow if things get tight.
Mo/P
-Smiting builds are pretty meh if you aren't bringing SoH for melee. The /P is nice, but you might get better use in support if you bring something else. Song of Purification Paragon is especially useful, since it's pretty much party immunity to conditions.
Rt/P
-I'd probably look to replace this hero, but It's not terrible. You could probably go N/Rt to a better extend and take FomF, while throwing the Enfeeble Blood/Weaken Armor from the SF eles on for reasons I will get to later.
-EB/WA are pretty useful even near low attribute, so spreading a Channelling/Resto/Soul Reaping with a few points in Curses won't be too bad.
SF eles
-Don't put low recharge skills on an SF bar. The more non-maintained skills OTHER than SF on a hero bar, the less they'll use SF.. and since the main goal of this build is to keep people burning, you'll want to do that.
-Earthen Shackles conflicts with Shared burden, but since SB is kinda bad and considering my previous statement, I'd remove both.
Dom mesmer
-I don't like the build either. I'd be tempted to say a Water ele with Shatterstone and its' very appealing AoE now, and throw some snares on there.
-This is prime spot for more synergy, TBH. I'm always tempted to want to throw more paragons on top of team-builds using paragons, because frankly it just works well.
Ill Mesmer
-Same as the other. Aside from what Chthon said, a lot of the skills here are just going to waste, and Mirror is far to situational to staple to the build. If you're expecting to face Aegis maybe.
Mo/Me
-A lot of this can be done in more creative ways. Healing burst is nice if you're assuming damage mitigation from ToF + TNTF.
-SS/SM is meh. VS in execution should probably be Blood Bond on someone else instead. I GUESS overlap won't hurt, but...
Overall:
-I'm very curious as to why you're the only physical dealer. The entire team build seems like a less-stellar team build for a caster player rather than a physical.
-Do barrage paragon heroes not work? Because that might be even more fun and effective than SF eles while having awesome paragon synergy.
-I might be bias, but paragons compliment paragons, and physicals compliment physicals. Being a physical damage dealer on a team that seems more for a caster player is weird. If barrage Paragons work, the possibility of bringing more, and/or R/Ps invokes more a reason to use Orders, which means better damage across the board.
Player Build:
-Glowing Signet does seem a bit overkill. With high Leadership, ToF costs 2 energy and TNTF costs 7. GTFE is a net of 8 energy that you should be able to use after every good attack, as well as a zealous bow if things get tight.
Mo/P
-Smiting builds are pretty meh if you aren't bringing SoH for melee. The /P is nice, but you might get better use in support if you bring something else. Song of Purification Paragon is especially useful, since it's pretty much party immunity to conditions.
Rt/P
-I'd probably look to replace this hero, but It's not terrible. You could probably go N/Rt to a better extend and take FomF, while throwing the Enfeeble Blood/Weaken Armor from the SF eles on for reasons I will get to later.
-EB/WA are pretty useful even near low attribute, so spreading a Channelling/Resto/Soul Reaping with a few points in Curses won't be too bad.
SF eles
-Don't put low recharge skills on an SF bar. The more non-maintained skills OTHER than SF on a hero bar, the less they'll use SF.. and since the main goal of this build is to keep people burning, you'll want to do that.
-Earthen Shackles conflicts with Shared burden, but since SB is kinda bad and considering my previous statement, I'd remove both.
Dom mesmer
-I don't like the build either. I'd be tempted to say a Water ele with Shatterstone and its' very appealing AoE now, and throw some snares on there.
-This is prime spot for more synergy, TBH. I'm always tempted to want to throw more paragons on top of team-builds using paragons, because frankly it just works well.
Ill Mesmer
-Same as the other. Aside from what Chthon said, a lot of the skills here are just going to waste, and Mirror is far to situational to staple to the build. If you're expecting to face Aegis maybe.
Mo/Me
-A lot of this can be done in more creative ways. Healing burst is nice if you're assuming damage mitigation from ToF + TNTF.
-SS/SM is meh. VS in execution should probably be Blood Bond on someone else instead. I GUESS overlap won't hurt, but...
Overall:
-I'm very curious as to why you're the only physical dealer. The entire team build seems like a less-stellar team build for a caster player rather than a physical.
-Do barrage paragon heroes not work? Because that might be even more fun and effective than SF eles while having awesome paragon synergy.
-I might be bias, but paragons compliment paragons, and physicals compliment physicals. Being a physical damage dealer on a team that seems more for a caster player is weird. If barrage Paragons work, the possibility of bringing more, and/or R/Ps invokes more a reason to use Orders, which means better damage across the board.
Googi
Agreed with what you said except this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Axel Zinfandel
Quote:
Rt/P
-I'd probably look to replace this hero, but It's not terrible. You could probably go N/Rt to a better extend and take FomF, while throwing the Enfeeble Blood/Weaken Armor from the SF eles on for reasons I will get to later.
-EB/WA are pretty useful even near low attribute, so spreading a Channelling/Resto/Soul Reaping with a few points in Curses won't be too bad. Splinter @ 16 is too good to pass on, EB/WA can be placed on a curses Necro which can replace the smiter.
-I'd probably look to replace this hero, but It's not terrible. You could probably go N/Rt to a better extend and take FomF, while throwing the Enfeeble Blood/Weaken Armor from the SF eles on for reasons I will get to later.
-EB/WA are pretty useful even near low attribute, so spreading a Channelling/Resto/Soul Reaping with a few points in Curses won't be too bad. Splinter @ 16 is too good to pass on, EB/WA can be placed on a curses Necro which can replace the smiter.
Lanier
Glowing Sig is definitely necessary, as spamming barrage is going to be energy intensive even with a zealous bow. You aren't always going to hit 3-4 enemies, and when you aren't, your energy is going to drop fast. Thats why I suggested replacing EVSoH with another skill like dodge this.
Voodoo Rage
The searing flames ele's have to go or just be seriously re-worked. They are just draining themselves to nearly zero energy almost every fight. I really don't want a hero team where I have to wait between each mob, I would like heroes with self sustaining energy. Not sure who I want to slot in their place, as a paragon player it would be really nice to still sneak in some other shouts from the heroes to make echos get refreshed automatically.
Any thoughts on Anthem of Envy? It's an adrenal based shout that affects ALLIES, so you are going to get a boost to both minions and spirits too.
Any thoughts on Anthem of Envy? It's an adrenal based shout that affects ALLIES, so you are going to get a boost to both minions and spirits too.
Voodoo Rage
Khomet Si Netjer
Quote:
Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage
Any thoughts on Anthem of Envy? It's an adrenal based shout that affects ALLIES, so you are going to get a boost to both minions and spirits too.
I really do not understand why you claim that the Searing Flames elementalists run out of energy, this has not been my experience at all. They have served me well in all sorts of places, including the strong energy denial and enchantment removal in The Deep and ToPK. Aside from my personal experience, you can also look at the Searing Flames template from PvX and see that the core skills are the same... I have added the necromancer skills (which cost nothing), Earthen Shackles as a snare (Earthen Shackles >> Deep Freeze as far as energy goes), Meteor for AoE damage and knockdown. All of this is pretty standard for a Searing Flames bar.
It's possible that the team might be better off by putting different skills on one of the elementalists so they do not overlap. However I find that the overlapping skill set helps to ensure that everyone gets snared and covered with burning, cracked armor, and weakness most of the time.
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Quote: Originally Posted by Chthon
Afraid I have little but criticism. Hopefully you will find some of it useful.1. Your only significant damage mitigation is coming from "They're on Fire," TNtF, SYG, and weakness. That's really inadequate. Frankly, I'm amazed that you were able to finish the zones you were able to finish. I'd suggest dropping one of the bad heroes (I'll flag them as I go by) for a ST-Shelter or ER-Prot-Infuse. Thank you for taking the time to write such detailed comments. I think many of your conclusions are incorrect though.
re: defense, TNTF + ToF together give just shy of 60% damage resistance against everything, and SYG increases that defense to about 74% for armor respecting damage. With such defense it seems a waste of a slot to bring an ST/communing rit; group defense is the paragon's job. Still I have had the same feeling that slotting Protective Spirit and some other prot on one of the heroes may be of benefit.
Quote: Originally Posted by Chthon
2. Player build:2.a. Do you really need Glowing Signet?
2.b. Burning Refrain is redundant.
2.c. IAtS is an awful, awful skill. I'd say to replace with Dodge This, but worry a little about anti-synergy with GftE. If Dodge This won't work, look at just about every other PvE skill before going back to IAtS. 2a: yes.
2b: Burning Refrain is not redundant at all. In normal use, Burning Refrain means that your Barrage lights everything on fire and the Searing Flames eles immediately start doing damage. In the case where you have more physical attackers, you put Burning Refrain on them as well. It is useful either way.
2c: IaTS is there because it boosts damage and has no activation time. It is not critical to the build, it can (and should) be changed as needed.
Quote: 3. Smiter.
3.1. This build is crap. Drop it entirely.
3.2. Damage is awful.
3.2.1. RoJ is likely to miss when you let heroes aim it, and has a 20sec recharge.
3.2.2. Smite stuff is undirected and inconsistent damage.
3.2.3. Judge's Insight is only conditionally useful in the context of lots of undead.
3.3. Command shouts can go on lots of other builds. Your analysis of the smiter is entirely wrong, RoJ provides lots of armor ignoring damage and burning synergy with the paragon. Judge's Insight can boost the barrage damage (arrows only) by up to 87% against any type of foe, which in my view is well worth bringing. Against undead it is simply amazing. As for the paragon skills, they are generally useful... anti-pressure and group defense. There are certainly other heroes that one could bring instead of the smite monk, but it is not "crap". Look up RoJway.
re: judge's insight, see here: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Talk:...age_in crease
Quote: 4. Hybrid Rit
4.1. Clamor is not a bad skill per se, now that lightning damage doesn't suck anymore, but it does less damage than SoS and doesn't offer the opportunity for energy gain that you have with SoS+Siphon. Replace with SoS
4.2. Lamentation is a joke. Replace with Siphon.
4.3. Recovery isn't bad, but usefulness is questionable if MBS is removing 4 conditions at a pop (3 from SoS + Life). Most people would suggest changing it for PwK.
5. If this build gets a rez, it should by FomF. It's going to revive with higher hp and (at 13 resto) higher energy than a Sig of Return at 0 leadership, with a faster cast time too. The idea behind Clamor of Souls and Lamentation is direct AoE damage. I also run SoS/Bloodsong/SpiritSiphon on this rit sometimes. Clamor does AoE damage, SoS is single target. Which one is better depends on the area.
I agree with you about Recovery, when I run SoS I get rid of Recovery and replace it with spirit siphon because MBS is removing a lot of conditions already. Recovery is only for the Clamor rit.
re: FoMF, I do not like it at all. In the best case, the rit is at full health and you end up with two characters at half health. It's more likely that when your group is getting spiked characters will be at less than full health, and using FoMF means that both of them are likely to be killed. I prefer Signet of Return because it halves the risk, requires no investment and costs no energy at all. Not critical to the build in any case...
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5. SF builds. 5.1. These do not have enough energy management. 5.2. These do not have enough energy management. 5.3. In case you somehow missed it: These do not have enough energy management. 5.4. You definitely do not need 2x Enfeebling Blood. You probably do not need 2X Weaken Armor or Earthen Shackles. 5.5 So the solution is: SPLIT THE BUILDS. 5.5.1. On one build, drop the curses stuff, reassign the points to ES and maybe a little to earth, add Glowing Gaze, and add Mark of Rodgort (which will smooth out burning durations so that SF is always hitting for damage (and do a better job of it than all the other non-SF burning skills you've got currently put together)). 5.5.2. On the other build, drop Earthen Shackles, reassign the points to ES and maybe to curses, and add Glowing Gaze. 5.6 Meteor is really questionable. I have not experienced any energy problems with these at all; aside from my experience (which you are free to ignore) you may also note that the core skills from the Searing Flames ele are all meta... fire attunement, GoLE, SF. In this build I have replaced Glowing Gaze with Aura of Restoration... firstly it covers fire attunement, secondly it gives +1 energy for any spell cast including the earth magic and necromancer spells. thirdly, any time spent casting glowing gaze is wasted time that the hero could spend casting searing flames. because of this I think Aura > GG in this case but it doesn't make much difference. Aside from this.... there are already three energy management skills on the bar (Fire Attunement, GoLE, Aura), are you really suggesting more? I agree with you that dual weaken armor, enfeebling blood, earthen shackles may be overkill but I find that the overlap helps to keep foes covered all the time. Quote:
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