Elemental Geomancers get no love - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

pegasux

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

New Mexico < PUKE >

Elite Rogues Inc. [ER]

07 Feb 2006 at 18:25 - 1

What is everyones opinion on the Geomancers in higher levels such as the southern shiverpeaks and ring of fire? I play a geomancer cause I got bored of nuking all the time. My problem is that it's next to impossible to get a group to take me.

When I do get in one I normally get comments at the end saying that the wards really helped out.

I bring with me ward against mele and ward against elements. Both of which I keep on constantly which IMO is as good as healing since the mele gives you a 50% chance to block mele and the elemants gives you +24 armor against elemental damage. I don't bring the Elite ward since I use that for Elemental Attunement instead. I use pure earth spells and tank to draw fire off of the other casters when needed or just stay back and spam earth daggers when there are good tanks with us.

Studio Ghibli

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Gaelic Storm

07 Feb 2006 at 18:36 - 2

To be honest, I see Geomancer as an excellent secondary to certain classes, but second-best primary for elementalists.

Mind you, my experience with elementalists is extremely limited. I found them boring... and better off as a secondary for squishes for their defensive spells, like wards--which serve as a non-shatterable aegis, for the most part.

Tarkin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

W/N

07 Feb 2006 at 18:37 - 3

Today the bests groups have a focus in high and fast damage, geomancers have skill focus in defense... u never will find a job... but geomancers have nice and unique skills u can make good solo builds...

Rilder

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mystic Shadow Soldiers (MSS)

R/

07 Feb 2006 at 18:42 - 4

geomancers are cool imo, i mean that have those wards and that sweet Obsidian Flame or whatever its called taht ignores armor...

Armor: HHAHAH youl never get past me obsidian spell
Obisidian flame: dodododood i'm ignoring you

pegasux

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

New Mexico < PUKE >

Elite Rogues Inc. [ER]

07 Feb 2006 at 19:22 - 5

I also change up my elemantalist in PvE if we have enough monks also. I can play as an offensive Geo which surprises most. The same farming skills are very usefull for creatures. I hit them with crystal wave 106 dmg - whirlwind - 43dmg, Aftershock - 160 dmg aprox - then spam stone daggers for another 46 per spam. This all under 6 seconds. Sometimes I'll take out Armor of Earth and sub in Lighting Orb for another 70 dmg. Now that is as much offense as any other character can muster in that amount of time. This whole time I'm keeping up kinetic armor, armor of earth, aura of restoration and elemental attunement.

Guess I'm just ranting cause MOST people have no idea just how effective a Geomancer really is. When they think elemental they think nuker or spiker.

Sereng Amaranth

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Amazon Basin [AB]

08 Feb 2006 at 03:48 - 6

I love my student of Galigord.

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

08 Feb 2006 at 05:06 - 7

<-- I usually play air/healer, but also play Earth/Healer or Air/Earth.

Earth has wards, which are great. But also, it has armor ignoring spike, and conditioning, combo-worthy skills like the combo of Enfeeble + *stoning*. It also has armor buffs.

{IceFire}

Forge Runner

Join Date: Oct 2005

W/

08 Feb 2006 at 05:07 - 8

<3

i wuv u dont worry

Tsunami Rain

mmmmmmmm pie.

Join Date: Aug 2005

Honolulu, Hawaii

Favorable Winds [Gust]

Mo/

08 Feb 2006 at 06:48 - 9

obsidian flame spike team ftw.

Bleidd

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/Me

08 Feb 2006 at 15:54 - 10

Its difficult to find groups willing to accept you, but chances are they aren't worth your time in the first place. Those that understand what you're bringing along are generally speaking, better players and more importantly better team players overall.

No one else can stand on the frontline with the tanks, granting them all a 50% chance to evade melee attacks, while she herself has more armour than a W/x in plate (~140-150 + base armour) and a 75% chance to block melee attacks in the odd event they bypass a ward. Overkill? Maybe a little, but its sweet having high-end mobs tag you for -2, when they hit at all.

And this is while you're PBAEing anything that wanders close enough. Aftershock and Crystal Wave are especially useful in this regard, and Earthquake and Eruption aren't too far behind.

And then of course you have Obsidian Flame, which can hit for as high as 130 damage, 100% armour penetration. If you don't mind the burnout, Echo/Arc Echo that a few times to knock something down fast.

The plight of the Geomancer is that of the Hydromancer and probably most of the Mesmer builds: player ignorance and the inability for the majority to break from what they've read here on the boards that "works."

Fantus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

08 Feb 2006 at 16:24 - 11

Geomancers rock. But yes, I can imagine that getting into a group might be hard, to say the least. Around 80% of all GW players are totally unimaginative when it comes to anything outside the usual cookie cutter build range.

Builds in demand:
- healer monks
- prot monks
- (Echo/Renewal) fire nukers
- stance warriors
- battery necros
- minion masters
- trappers (sometimes)
- SS necros (sometimes)

Builds not in demand
- anything not mentioned above

I am using my Geomancer for soloing or for guild teams, mainly. I am way too tired to explain people why this class is valuable. I already do that with my Mesmer, who isn't wanted anywhere, either...

Neriandal Freit

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Spiral of The Red Rose, Kryta (Columbus, IN)

Heros of Titans Realm [HotR]

E/

08 Feb 2006 at 17:04 - 12

I'm with you guys. I love playing a Storm Mage but no one ever gives me loving anymore. So I've had to go off soloing meh things like Griffons and Minotaurs, which is just hurting me *tear*

pegasux

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

New Mexico < PUKE >

Elite Rogues Inc. [ER]

08 Feb 2006 at 17:28 - 13

I'm having to build a necro now just to get into teams at Tombs or FoW. SUX! Dang sheep...just keep following the herd you brainless fools. Sry just venting.

Wish there was a way to challenge just one player in this game...grudge match type thing. Imaging how popular that would be. Geo's would rule almost anything!

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

08 Feb 2006 at 17:40 - 14

Actually, I've got much respect for Geomancers, and even more for Hydromancers. These don't get played by anyone, so people playing thse classes are doing a unique job!

pegasux

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

New Mexico < PUKE >

Elite Rogues Inc. [ER]

08 Feb 2006 at 18:21 - 15

That's because your cool Maxie...the rest of them SUCK the big one. Gonna make a Hydro soon just to see what I can do with it.

Retribution X

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

Check behind you again.

N/

08 Feb 2006 at 18:26 - 16

Geomancers FTW! hasn't anyone heard of a warder?

SaintGreg

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

08 Feb 2006 at 18:33 - 17

Earth is easily the most balanced of all the elemental lines. Good AoE combo's, good single target spike, and good defensive skills/wards. Earth is probably the only element that actually lives up to its name, more people should definitely be using it.

pegasux

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

New Mexico < PUKE >

Elite Rogues Inc. [ER]

08 Feb 2006 at 18:36 - 18

Nope nobody knows what that is...lol. I normally say this. LFG Elemental Geomancer - Can set wards, Spam, and or both.

Then I get PM'ed asking what a ward is.

What the heck does FTW mean?

Theus

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

W/Mo

08 Feb 2006 at 19:30 - 19

FTW- For The Win.

Yeah..most idiots dont realize the benefits of a geomancer with a 21 second Melee Ward.

pegasux

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

New Mexico < PUKE >

Elite Rogues Inc. [ER]

08 Feb 2006 at 19:50 - 20

exactly and with a 20% enchantment you get 25 seconds and the spell recycles in 20 seconds. Constant mele defense, then you throw on ward against elements, and if you really want overkill throw on ward against harm. Now imagine how long a warrior can play a meat shield for if you kept casting those.

Savio

Teenager with attitude

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

08 Feb 2006 at 19:54 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by pegasux

exactly and with a 20% enchantment you get 25 seconds and the spell recycles in 20 seconds. Constant mele defense, then you throw on ward against elements, and if you really want overkill throw on ward against harm. Now imagine how long a warrior can play a meat shield for if you kept casting those.

Last I checked, a ward is a regular spell, not an enchantment.

Neriandal Freit

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Spiral of The Red Rose, Kryta (Columbus, IN)

Heros of Titans Realm [HotR]

E/

08 Feb 2006 at 19:58 - 22

yesm. Wards, Serepent Quickness, etc, can not be taken down. They are not Enchantments, they're "untouchables"

Warskull

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jul 2005

[out]

08 Feb 2006 at 20:19 - 23

While PvE players may be completely ignorant of what Geomancers can do, they are still extremely powerful. Unfortunately you are limited in certain areas of the game because Dolyak Riders, Beastmasters/Giant Herders, and Giants cannot be knocked down.

My suggestion is cap Glyph of Energy and go to town with obsidian flame. EQ+AS can output a ton of damage in PvE also, just toss off armor of earth to cover yourself. Ward Against Melee and Ward Against Elements are great boons to your team as an Geomancer.

Quote:

Around 80% of all GW players are totally unimaginative when it comes to anything outside the usual cookie cutter build range.

Builds in demand:
- healer monks
- prot monks
- (Echo/Renewal) fire nukers
- stance warriors
- battery necros
- minion masters
- trappers (sometimes)
- SS necros (sometimes)

Fantus is right, most PvE players are clueless. People still have a really hard time finding groups as anything other than these roles. This is in spite of the fact that a slight swap in the generic 2 warriors, 2 echo fire nukers, 3 monks, 1 SS necro build makes so many places much easier.

The perfect example of this is Echo fire nukers. Try to explain to them that Glyph of Renewal is superior to Echo in almost every way possible (especially if you use it with meteor shower.) Their response "No it's not, noob!"

Obsidian Flame+Glyph of Energy is one of the best combos you can get in end game PvE. You can go /Me for mantra of resolve or /R for serpents quickness, depending on how interrupt heavy the area is.

Something like:
12+4 Earth
10 Wilderness
8 Energy Storage

Obsidian Flame (really the only offensive spell you need if you manage your exhaustion well)
Glyph of Energy
Glyph of Elemental Power
Eruption
Ward Against Melee
Ward Against Elements
Serpents Quickness
Rez Sig

You should be able to churn out those Obs flames using either GoE to get past exhaustion or Glyph of Elemental Power to boost damage. The occasional eruption can blind and scatter foes. When the enemy numbers are reduced take a short breather and Obs flame less often (only with GoE.) If you get good at exhaustion management you will have pretty nice damage output and some defensive bonuses for your team.

My Sweet Revenga

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

08 Feb 2006 at 20:56 - 24

I'll say this much. Before the whole pet/barrage thing when people were still experimenting with mixed groups in the uw/tombs/topk, I happened to join a 5man team as their second barrage ranger and without a doubt, I'd say a geomancer has got to be the BEST aggro tank for the job. Just a coordinated effort between the geo and the monk. I forget what skills they were using but basically the geo went in alone to draw all spells on him. And unlike warriors, all mosters WILL go after the ele first and stick to him like glue. The skills I did spot him using I think were armor of earth, obsidian flesh and stone daggers. One thing's for sure, they had a real hard time killing him. And I'm pretty sure the monk was using spellbreaker and bond on the geo. But this 5man team was moving through as fast, if not faster than today's average pet/barrage group. And this wasn't slow 1-patrol-at-a-time pace. This guy was aggroing larger groups like in level 2 at one point he was surrounded by at least 7-10 grasps and 6 shades. We didn't finish though since the monk took off, but hell if I hadn't seen it, I'd never believe an ele could be a viable tank.

Watching a geomancer primary in action with obsidian and armor of earth, it kinda reminds me of that simpsons episode where Homer is chasing Flanders beating on his car with a bat, and his sons scream "faster daddy faster!" and Flanders replies "I CAN'T!!!! IT'S A GEOOOO!!!!!"

VGJustice

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2005

Tyria, cappin' ur bosses

Boston Guild [BG]

R/W

08 Feb 2006 at 21:22 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neriandal Freit

yesm. Wards, Serepent Quickness, etc, can not be taken down. They are not Enchantments, they're "untouchables"

Serpent's Quickness is a stance. Wild Blow owns SQ

But, seriously, you're complaining because no one wants your character? Welcome to my Ranger/Mesmer/Necro world, buddy. Glad to have ya.

Neriandal Freit

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Spiral of The Red Rose, Kryta (Columbus, IN)

Heros of Titans Realm [HotR]

E/

08 Feb 2006 at 21:25 - 26

haha, excuse me? Everyone wants a Ranger anymore. People are in love with Necro's. It's the Mesmers (who mind you I am finding gaining in popuarlity, slowly.) and MAINLY the Elms anymore.

pegasux

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

New Mexico < PUKE >

Elite Rogues Inc. [ER]

08 Feb 2006 at 21:57 - 27

Wow I always see rangers and necros wanted in UW and FoW. I know when I start a group the first thing I look for is a Necro, then Monk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VGJustice

Serpent's Quickness is a stance. Wild Blow owns SQ

But, seriously, you're complaining because no one wants your character? Welcome to my Ranger/Mesmer/Necro world, buddy. Glad to have ya.

Neriandal Freit

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Spiral of The Red Rose, Kryta (Columbus, IN)

Heros of Titans Realm [HotR]

E/

08 Feb 2006 at 22:01 - 28

Quote:

Originally Posted by pegasux

Wow I always see rangers and necros wanted in UW and FoW. I know when I start a group the first thing I look for is a Necro, then Monk.

Exactly Peggie. Necro's and Rangers are up there with Warriors and Monks these days. Elementalist are on the bottom with Mesmers gaining up with the other 4.

MinaDrakul

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2006

Houston, TX

Arcane Nexus

N/R

08 Feb 2006 at 23:27 - 29

Oh great, this is what I have to look forward to with my poor hydromancer?! Oh well, It's worth it to play something different. I mnow, right after they "fixed" AoE, fire elementalists were on the bottom of the food chain.

So who knows, maybe in a month, geomancers will be all the rage!

Mistress Nocturnal

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

N/Mo

08 Feb 2006 at 23:33 - 30

Geomancers r quite nice

once in random i was the only one alive and 4 opponents couldnt kill me for 3 minutes starting to spam "die already die bitch" i was just like lol do some dmg u noobs ^^

knives

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

USA

Grenths Rejects [GR]

Me/

08 Feb 2006 at 23:55 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by pegasux

Wow I always see rangers and necros wanted in UW and FoW. I know when I start a group the first thing I look for is a Necro, then Monk.

Ok, now go back a few months and you will understand what he was referring to.

Neriandal Freit

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Spiral of The Red Rose, Kryta (Columbus, IN)

Heros of Titans Realm [HotR]

E/

09 Feb 2006 at 00:16 - 32

lol. I know what he was refering to, but that is no excuse. All PC's should be almost equaled level of wanting.

Fantus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

09 Feb 2006 at 08:14 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neriandal Freit

All PC's should be almost equaled level of wanting.

Since all classes are almost perfectly balanced, yes. In theory they all should be equally wanted. It would be logical. Most humans don't act logically, though.

Elizam Etherfury

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

Crowd Control [CC]

E/Me

09 Feb 2006 at 08:43 - 34

I honestly believe that an 8 man team with all Ele's and monks could probably make every mission in the game trivial if they utilized all the different types of Elemental primaries.

1 Geo to tank, a Hydro to do damage and snare and ward, a Pyro to AOE, an Air for whirlwind and thunderclap OR glimmering mark + spammable lighting spells to AOE blind repeatedly.

I want to try one of those setups so bad one day. I'm pretty sure it would put the standard group to shame in power and speed of killing.

I don't get why people still use warriors to "tank". Anet sorta screwed up how well they could tank, and now it hardly takes anything to steal aggro from a warrior. The mobs seem smarter and they stick to squishies like glue.

Only a Geo is a squishie encased in ridiculously high armor. Enchant removal would be the thing that kills the Geo as the tank, but I think there are ways to counter enchant removal as well.

Has ANYONE ever done a team with like 5 to 6 ele's and 2 to 3 monks?

I bet it's fun as hell :P

quick edit: a few mesmer secondaries on the Ele's where they take Fevered Dreams as their elite and 1 or 2 fire ele's with Rodgort's Mark = AOE 7 degen on TOP of all the AOE.

Food for thought

frojack

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

London, UK

Rite Of Passage [RP]

E/Mo

09 Feb 2006 at 10:12 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizam Etherfury

I honestly believe that an 8 man team with all Ele's and monks could probably make every mission in the game trivial if they utilized all the different types of Elemental primaries.

1 Geo to tank, a Hydro to do damage and snare and ward, a Pyro to AOE, an Air for whirlwind and thunderclap OR glimmering mark + spammable lighting spells to AOE blind repeatedly.

I want to try one of those setups so bad one day. I'm pretty sure it would put the standard group to shame in power and speed of killing.

I don't get why people still use warriors to "tank". Anet sorta screwed up how well they could tank, and now it hardly takes anything to steal aggro from a warrior. The mobs seem smarter and they stick to squishies like glue.

Only a Geo is a squishie encased in ridiculously high armor. Enchant removal would be the thing that kills the Geo as the tank, but I think there are ways to counter enchant removal as well.

Has ANYONE ever done a team with like 5 to 6 ele's and 2 to 3 monks?

I bet it's fun as hell :P

quick edit: a few mesmer secondaries on the Ele's where they take Fevered Dreams as their elite and 1 or 2 fire ele's with Rodgort's Mark = AOE 7 degen on TOP of all the AOE.

Food for thought

I'm definitely hoping to try that one day to. I have this dream that in Factions , I'll set up a guild of purely Ele's and monks. We'll then go into PVP battles as team 'Captain Planet' with all the Elements

, Lol, now that would be fun.

Oh btw, the Captain Planet thing is a refference to some crappy cartoon that used to appear on British TV, circa 1996. "Goooo PLANET!!!...." -_-.

Yeah..

frojack

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

London, UK

Rite Of Passage [RP]

E/Mo

09 Feb 2006 at 10:18 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizam Etherfury

Only a Geo is a squishie encased in ridiculously high armor. Enchant removal would be the thing that kills the Geo as the tank, but I think there are ways to counter enchant removal as well.

Food for thought

You might be able to get around the enchantment removal thing with Obsidian Flesh + Archane Echo. That seems practical unstopable. Though I sure I have tried using this in the desert and those Jade Scarab bastards still somehow manage to remove all my stuff

.

I dunno... Anyone with more experience wanna' shed some light on this subject?

Elizam Etherfury

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

Crowd Control [CC]

E/Me

09 Feb 2006 at 11:34 - 37

I know I'd be real interested to see an all E/ and Mo/ GvG build.

I'm pretty sure a team of all squishies is probably an incredibly risky build to run but I somehow don't doubt that this could work.

You'd have tremendous spike potential as well as utility.

Yes rangers can spike better but a team of rangers can't provide the support spells that the eles can throw out for each other.

I saw a GvG the other day with 3 Obsidian Flame Ele's. Basically anything under about 60% hp got tri nuked and died.

It was a thing of beauty, granted using an easily abusable power, but still, was fun watching every person that fell under 60% hp instantly die.

Was even more fun watching a Warrior that had just used frenzy get spiked for 3 200+ obs flames.

600 damage in a second. Instant death hehe.

I cry for fire ele in pvp. Apparently, from what i've seen, there is only one high rank guild that uses a fire ele. I cannot remember the name, but they use it for pressure. Echo Rodgort's Invocation mainly, along with things like incendiary bonds, fireball, and basically ANY instant damage AOE with or without burn.

The purpose was just to put pressure on the monks to heal while the mesmers screwed around with them.

I long for the day that a Fire Ele is a thing to be feared. I will not allow myself to think that an ele is a pure support character. It can be BUILT that way, but I'll be damned if I go Elementalist primary to become some sort of high energy monk.

I firmly feel that fire needs more "burn" to it if the damage doesn't get raised at all.

I wish they would change searing heat to a 3 second burn on each pulse of the spell, that way even if you get hit with one tick of it and run out of the AOE you still get 3 seconds of burn, if you stay in you get burn for 5 seconds and the burn 3 seconds after it's over.

For the energy cost it should work this way. But that's just me.

frojack

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

London, UK

Rite Of Passage [RP]

E/Mo

09 Feb 2006 at 14:42 - 38

Yeah, more burning skills would make fire more usefull in pvp, as burning is afaik the only condition that can't be removed. Perhaps a new Fire Elite...

How about 'Lava Crawl'...sends out a white-hot fireball at the enemy location

cost 40-50 nrg, cast time 2, recharge 30, causes Exhaustion

Strikes for 7-91 fire damage in an area
Causes Burning condition for 1-5 seconds
Causes Crippled condition for 1-5 seconds

What's cool about this is that this Elite isn't conditional (stupid Mind Burn), Causes crippled con. (like lava does) and is quick to cast. Plus, It has a fairly long recharge, isn't guaranteed (since fireballs can miss), and requires line-of-sight to work. Why the Ridiculous nrg cost? So that this skill is ONLY abused by eles, plus it's a real gamble. more than half your nrg for a spell that can easily miss (running skills, swirling aura etc. )? Plus cripple can easily be removed.

Over-powered? Quite possibly. Abussive? (Arcane Echo, Echo) definitely, Loadsa fun? Oh yes

.

Imagine, no more Kenyan Olympic runners in pvp...

Okay I know I'm insane but still

.

Malchior Devenholm

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

The Dragon Arena!!!

Pshycho Ninjas [oGod] | Vent Rage [vR] | Zealots of Shiverpeak [ZoS]

09 Feb 2006 at 21:53 - 39

Most ppl dont realize the power of the Geomancer, my group wouldn't have beaten Defend Denravi if I wasnt a Geomancer

With ele resistance and wards against ele-their atks did 3-5 and chain lightning *to me* did 25 :P

unienaule

I dunt even get "Retired"

Join Date: Aug 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

09 Feb 2006 at 21:58 - 40

Quote:

Originally Posted by frojack

burning is afaik the only condition that can't be removed.

What? Burning can definitely be removed with remove/mend condition or anything else that removes conditions for that matter.