GvG

[Lurker Wyrm]

Meeting time for GvG is 8:30 PM EST, Fridays.

Here's the build we're going to use for the time being:

Originated by: Need Before Greed [imo]

W/Rt
"Fear Me!", Steady Stance, Drunken Blow, Desperation Blow, Disrupting Chop, Bull's Strike, Heal Sig, Flesh of My Flesh

W/E
Flail, Rush, Devastating Hammer, Crushing Blow, Bull's Strike, Shock, Grasping Earth, Res Sig

N/A
Dash, Reaper's Mark, Malaise, Insidious Parasites, Faintheartedness, Signet of Sorrow, Price of Failure, Res Sig

N/E
Rotting Flesh, Rising Bile, Shadow of Fear, Deathly Swarm, Glyph of Lesser Energy, Icy Veins, Putrid Explosion, Res Sig

Me/E
Energy Burn, Glyph of Lesser Energy, Panic, Backfire, Wastrel's Demise, Spirit of Failure, Mind Wrack, Res Sig

E/Rt
Weilder's Boon, Weapon of Warding, Flame Djinn's Haste, Mind Blast, Fireball, Smoldering Embers, Fire Attunement, Mark of Rodgort

Mo/E
Heal Party, Jamei's Gaze, Words of Comfort, Glyph of Lesser Energy, Ethereal Light, Healing Touch, Healer's Boon, Dismiss Condition

Mo/A
Restore Condition, Spirit Bond, Holy Veil, Reversal of Fortune, Gift of Health, Dark Escape, Mending Touch, Return

Here's a list of the skills that will probably be used in the various builds we try:
Note: this list is pretty out of date. I need to add/remove quite a few skills.
Warrior
Elite
Axe - Eviscerate, Cleave
Hammer - Devastating Hammer, Backbreaker, Forceful Blow
Swordsmanship - Quivering Blade, Dragon Slash
Strength - Bull's Charge
Tactics - "Charge!", Steady Stance
No Attribute - "You're All Alone!"
Non-elite
Axe - Dismember, Executioner's Strike, Axe Rake, Penetrating Blow/Chop, Lacertating Chop, Critical Chop, Agonizing Chop
Hammer - Crushing Blow, Irresistible Blow, Hammer Bash, Fierce Blow, Heavy Blow
Swordsmanship - Sever Artery, Gash, Sun & Moon Strike, Galrath/Silverwing Slash, Savage Slash, Final Thrust, Barbarous Strike
Strength - Bull's Strike, Protector's Strike, Endure Pain, Sprint, Rush, Warrior's Cunning, Burst of Aggression
Tactics - Healing Signet, "Fear Me!", Desperation/Drunken Blow
No Attribute - Wild Blow, Distracting Blow, Frenzy, "For Great Justice!"

Ranger
Elite
Beast Mastery - Ferocious Strike, Rampage as One
Expertise - Escape, Oath Shot, Practiced Stance
Marksmanship - Crippling Shot, Punishing Shot, Burning Arrow
Wilderness Survival - Melandru's Arrows, Poison Arrow, Spike Trap, Smoke Trap
No Attribute - Quick Shot
Non-elite
Beast Mastery - Bestial/Tiger's Fury, Call of Haste, Charm Animal, Comfort Animal, Disrupting Lunge, Feral Lunge, Run as One, Fertile Season, Energizing Wind, Symbiosis
Expertise - Distracting Shot, Dodge/Zojun's Haste, Throw Dirt, Whirling Defense
Marksmanship - Favorable Winds, Hunter's Shot, Marauder's Shot, Read the Wind, Savage Shot, Debilitating Shot, Seeking Arrows, Screaming Arrow
Wilderness Survival - Apply Poison, Barbed Trap, Choking Gas, Dust Trap, Flame Trap, Kindle Arrows, Nature's Renewal, Quickening Zephyr, Serpent's Quickness, Tranquility, Troll Unguent, Natural Stride, Barbed Arrows, Trapper's Speed, Tripwire
No Attribute - Dual Shot

Monk
Elite
Divine Favor - Blessed Light, Spell Breaker
Healing Prayers - Healing Light, Word of Healing, Light of Deliverence, Healer's Covenant, Glimmer of Light
Protection Prayers - Air of Enchantment, Life Barrier, Restore Condition, Shield of Deflection, Zealous Benediction, Divert Hexes
No Attribute - Empathic Removal, Martyr
Non-elite
Divine Favor - Blessed Signet, Contemplation of Purity, Divine Boon, Signet of Devotion
Healing Prayers - Dwayna's Kiss, Ethereal Light, Gift of Health, Heal Other/Jamei's Gaze, Heal Party, Healing Seed, Healing Touch, Infuse Health, Orison of Healing, Resurrection Chant, Vigorous Spirit, Words of Comfort
Protection Prayers - Aegis, Convert Hexes, Draw Conditions, Extinguish, Guardian, Life Bond, Mend Ailment, Mend Condition, Protective Spirit, Reversal of Fortune, Spirit Bond, Shield of Absorption, Mending Touch, Dismiss Condition
Smiting Prayers - Balthazar's Aura, Balthazar's Spirit, Judge's Insight, Smite Hex, Zealot's Fire, Reversal of Damage
No Attribute - Holy Veil, Purge Conditions, Purge Signet, Remove Hex, Resurrect

Necromancer
Elite
Blood Magic - Blood is Power, Offering of Blood, Order of the Vampire, Well of Power
Curses - Feast of Corruption, Lingering Curse, Spiteful Spirit, Wither
Death Magic - Tainted Flesh, Virulence
Soul Reaping - Wail of Doom, Reaper's Mark
No Attribute - Grenth's Balance
Non-elite
Blood Magic - Awaken the Blood, Barbed Signet, Blood Renewal, Blood Ritual, Life Siphon, Lifebane/Shadow Strike, Mark of Subversion, Oppressive Gaze, Order of Pain, Strip Enchantment, Well of Blood, Blood of the Aggressor
Curses - Barbs, Defile/Desecrate Enchantments, Faintheartedness, Malaise, Parasitic Bond, Price of Failure, Reckless Haste, Rend Enchantments, Rigor Mortis, Shadow of Fear, Soul Barbs, Suffering, Vocal Minority
Death Magic - Consume Corpse, Necrotic Traversal, Animate Shanbling Horror, Animate Bone Fiend, Blood of the Master
Soul Reaping - Signet of Lost Souls, Signet of Sorrow
No Attribute - Plague Touch

Mesmer
Elite
Domination Magic - Energy Surge, Power Block, Psychic Distraction
Fast Casting - Mantra of Recovery, Stolen Speed
Illusion Magic - Crippling Anguish, Ineptitude, Migraine
Inspiration Magic - Energy Drain, Mantra of Recall,
No Attribute - Echo, Expel Hexes, Shatter Storm, Signet of Midnight
Non-elite
Domination Magic - Blackout, Cry of Frustration, Diversion, Energy Burn, Guilt, Hex Breaker, Mind Wrack, Power Leak, Power Spike, Shame, Shatter Delusions, Shatter Enchantment, Signet of Disruption, Signet of Weariness, Unnatural Signet, Spiritual Pain
Illusion Magic - Accumulated Pain, Arcane Conundrum, Clumsiness, Conjure Nightmare, Conjure Phantasm, Distortion, Illusion of Haste, Illusion of Weakness, Images of Remorse, Imagined/Kitah's Burden, Phantom Pain
Inspiration Magic - Channeling, Drain Enchantment, Energy Tap, Ether Feast, Ether Lord, Inspired/Revealed Enchantment, Inspired/Revealed Hex, Mantra of Concentration, Mantra of Persistence, Power Drain, Signet of Humility, Spirit Shakles
No Attribute - Arcane Echo, Lyssa's Balance, Web of Disruption

Elementalist
Elite
Energy Storage - Elemental Attunement, Ether Prodigy, Master of Magic
Air Magic - Invoke Lightning, Blinding Surge
Earth Magic - Sandstorm
Fire Magic - Searing Flames
Water Magic - Ward Against Harm, Water Trident
No Attribute - Glyph of Energy, Glyph of Renewal
Non-elite
Air Magic - Air Attunement, Blinding Flash, Enervating Charge, Gale, Lightning Hammer, Lightning Javeling, Lightning Orb, Lightning Strike, Shock, Windborne Speed, Storm Djinn's Haste
Earth Magic - Ward Against Elements, Ward Against Foes, Ward Against Melee, Ward of Stability, Stoneflesh Aura, Armor of Earth
Energy Storage - Aura of Restoration
Fire Magic - Breath of Fire, Fire Attunement, Fireball, Immolate, Meteor, Meteor Shower, Rodgort's Invocation, Liquid Flame, Glowing Gaze
Water Magic - Armor of Mist, Blurred Vision, Deep Freeze, Ice Spikes, Freezing Gust
No Attribute - Glyph of Concentration, Glyph of Sacrifice, Glyph of Elemental Power

Assassin
Elite
Dagger Mastery - Temple Strike
Deadly Arts - Assassin's Promise, Shadow Prison
No Attribute - Aura of Displacement
Non-elite
Critical Strikes - Black Lotus Strike, Twisting Fangs, Unsuspecting Strike
Dagger Mastery - Disrupting Stab, Exhausting Assault, Falling Spider, Fox Fangs, Golden Phoenix Strike, Horns of the Ox, Jagged Strike, Repeating Strike, Wild Strike, Black Spider Strike
Deadly Arts - Crippling Dagger, Entangling Asp, Impale, Deadly Paradox
Shadow Arts - Caltrops, Dark Escape, Death's Charge, Return, Shadow Refuge, Shadow of Haste, Way of the Fox, Feigned Nutrality, Death's Retreat
No Attribute - Dash, Recall, Signet of Malice

Ritualist
Elite
Communing - Wanderlust
Restoration Magic - Preservation, Tranquil was Tanasen
Spawning Power - Ritual Lord
No Attribute - Soul Twisting
Non-elite
Channeling Magic - Ancestor's Rage, Spirit Burn, Painful Bond
Communing - Bloodsong, Displacement, Earthbind, Pain, Shadowsong, Shelter, Soothing, Union, Anguish
Restoration Magic - Flesh of My Flesh, Life, Mend Body and Soul, Recuperation, Soothing Memories, Spirit Light, Spirit Transfer
Spawning Power - Boon of Creation, Sight Beyond Sight

Dervish
Elite
Mysticism - Avatar of Melandru, Avatar of Grenth
Scythe Mastery - Reaper's Sweep, Wounding Strike
Earth Prayers - Ebon Dust Aura
Non-elite
Mysticism - Heart of Fury, Extend Enchantments, Imbue Health
Scythe Mastery - Eremite's Attack, Mystic Sweep, Lyssa's Assualt, Wearying Strike, Chilling Victory, Victorious Sweep, Twin Moon Sweep
Earth Prayers - Mystic Regeneration
Wind Prayers - Featherfooted Grace, Harrier's Grasp, Harrier's Haste, Lyssa's Haste

Paragon
Elite
Leadership - Crippling Anthem
Motivation - Song of Restoration
No Attribute - Cautery Signet
Non-elite
Leadership - Anthem of Flame, Blazing Finale, Signet of Return, Glowing Signet
Command - "Brace Yourself!", "Go for the Eyes!", "Stand Your Ground!"
Motivation - Aria of Zeal, Aria of Restoration, Ballad of Restoration
Spear Mastery - Spear of Lightning, Wild Throw, Harrier's Toss, Merciless Spear, Swift Throw, Disrupting Throw
No Attribute - Remedy Signet

If I have anything under the wrong attribute line let me know and I'll fix it. I don't have much experience playing as or with paragons, so that list is probably the weakest one to go by, but it's a start anyways.

I'll think about sorting the list by campaign later, but for right now that's too big of a task to think about.

[Seijin]

I sucked, but I had to say, it was fun...except for playing against those *POOF* idiots.

School is starting up this week for me. Mondays and Wednesdays I'm at school for the better part of the day. Wednesdays I'll probably be playing basketball in the evening. But other than that, I'll try to free up time at night to play.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that Fridays might be bad at least for the next 8-10 weeks.

[Hureg]

I sucked, but I had to say, it was fun...except for playing against those *POOF* idiots.

Wednesday nights EST are good for me... though I wouldn't be against starting a little earlier than 10pm. Your entire night on Wednesdays will be booked out Seijin?

Having said that this week could be a bit of a problem as I've got a deadline I really can't afford to miss out on... If I get it sorted early I'll come play, if not, I wish you all luck.

[Lurker Wyrm]

I sucked, but I had to say, it was fun...except for playing against those *POOF* idiots.

Yeah... What's disturbing about that loss is that we could have beaten them. Ergo why it's important to run a team build rather than just whoever doing whatever.

Wednesdays I'll probably be playing basketball in the evening.

I thought you were doing that on Thursdays? Come on now, make up your mind.

Well anyways, let's try out a Wednesday or two. If it turns out no one can make it then I guess we'll have to figure something else out.

I'll add something to the guild welcome message to see if that generates interest among the non-forum-people.

Edit: Ok, so I'm looking at all the PvP prebuilt characters, thinking that we can use some of those to put together a simple balanced build to start out with. If you don't have a PvP slot, talk to me and we'll work on getting you the elite skills (since normal skills can be bought fairly easily) and runes you need to use it.

1x Final Master (not thrilled about the Hex Breaker, but whatever)
1x Frenzy Theory
2x Cripshot Ranger (both should replace Storm Chaser with Dual Shot to help with spike damage)
1x Energy Denied (maybe use a different res, i.e. Resurrection Chant)
1x Boon Prot
1x Blessed Light Monk
1x Blinding Prodigy (Replace Enervating Charge with Windborn Speed and possibly Lightning Strike with Gale, also replacing the sig with a hard res)

- This should work in both normal and split situations.
- The Blinding Prodigy will act as flag runner.
- The Cripshot rangers should be alternating targets until it's time to spike someone, spreading the poison and cripple to as many people as possible.
- The Energy Denied Mesmer should be harrassing either a monk or other spellcaster, using Shatter Enchant to give a little extra damage when spike time comes.
- The two warriors attack whoever they want to for pressure until their adrenaline is charged up, at which point the target caller (which will be one of the warriors) picks a target for everyone to unleash their attacks on. The Final Master should use Charge to help get the team around.

[Hawkmoon]

Ok, so I'm looking at all the PvP prebuilt characters, thinking that we can use some of those to put together a simple balanced build to start out with. If you don't have a PvP slot, talk to me and we'll work on getting you the elite skills (since normal skills can be bought fairly easily) and runes you need to use it.

I'm more than willing to give this a regular try. Since the D2 Seven Samurai team finished up and I am no longer devoting my Monday evenings to that game, I can switch to Wednesdays as a regular gaming night. The 9 pm starting time works well for me, too, though I might be a bit late, due to a tae kwon do class just before that. But if we're going to be spending time initially swapping skills and stuff, I guess that won't matter.

I do have an open slot available for PvP, but I will require some (*cough* okay, probably a lot) of assistance to get the elite unlocks and rune unlocks I'll need. I'd be happiest in the warrior or monk roles, at least at this point. Maybe we can chat about it online tomorrow night, before Nudists? (or in place of Nudists, as the case may be!)

[Lurker Wyrm]

I do have an open slot available for PvP, but I will require some (*cough* okay, probably a lot) of assistance to get the elite unlocks

That's part of the beauty of the prebuilts, you don't need to have the skills unlocked that they use (hence why I put together a build based on them). For example: Frenzy Theory uses Eviscerate as its elite, so even if you've never played the game before and haven't gotten any skills, you can still use it on that char. As for the runes, I know you have a superior axe rune, so if you use the PvP slot, all you'll need to make sure you have unlocked are minor tactics, minor strength, Vigor (superior is nice, but major can work as well), and Absorption (ditto with Vigor). As for weapon mods, well, we can worry about those later since they aren't as important.

I'd be happiest in the warrior or monk roles

I would recommend against you being a monk in GvG for the time being as it's a completely different feel from PvE. Watch 1 or 2 of the Championship games for a few minutes and you should see what I mean. If you really want to give it a go though, try out monking in AB for a while first; it's not as high-pressure, but you can still get a feel for what it's like.

[Hureg]

1x Final Master (not thrilled about the Hex Breaker, but whatever)
1x Frenzy Theory
2x Cripshot Ranger (both should replace Storm Chaser with Dual Shot to help with spike damage)
1x Energy Denied (maybe use a different res, i.e. Resurrection Chant)
1x Boon Prot
1x Blessed Light Monk
1x Blinding Prodigy (Replace Enervating Charge with Windborn Speed and possibly Lightning Strike with Gale, also replacing the sig with a hard res)

Are some of these pre-build's prophecies or is there some other reason I can't access them?

I don't see Frenzy Theory, Cripshot Ranger or Boon Prot.

As for runes... well... I don't have many of them unlocked at all. Is there any way i can speed up the process of unlocking them?

[WarBlade]

I do have an open slot available for PvP

Oh BTW, have you caught up with the fact that there's an online store built into the game now and that you can purchase extra character slots?

As for runes... well... I don't have many of them unlocked at all. Is there any way i can speed up the process of unlocking them?

Chest run: Taking the higher end keys in the game to their respective chests will draw many gold and purple items that will assist the process of item upgrade unlocks.

Balthazar Faction: PvP tends to generate Balthazar Faction which is handy for filling in holes. Note however that PvE unlocking is generally the quicker route. Faction is good for specifically targeting the things you really want.

Lastly, advertise to your guildmates of the various runes your short on. You may be able to improve your rate of unlocking by identifying items for you're UAX guildmates.

[Lurker Wyrm]

Are some of these pre-build's prophecies or is there some other reason I can't access them?

Yes, a few of them use Prophecies only skills, just as some use Factions only skills (aside from the rit lord and assassin, the BL is also Factions only).

As for runes... well... I don't have many of them unlocked at all. Is there any way i can speed up the process of unlocking them?

Something a lot of people don't know about is that you can geet 1k Bal Faction every day for free (basically) by doing the Battle Isle NPC battles. These include: Zaishen Training (accessable via the Isle of the Nameless in Great Temple of Balthazar), Zaishen Challenge, and Zaishen Elite. I've been using the Zaishen Training myself, since you can solo it with the henches available in the Temple and can get the 1k Faction in 2 runs through the course (takes less than a half hour for both).

Aside from that, the fastest way to get Balthazar Faction is to go into Random Arenas. Granted, you're going to get a lot of crap teams and will probably get a few losses without a kill before you get a decent team; once you do find a team that works, however, you can usually get at least 3-4 wins in a row before being taken out. If you're lucky to get a balanced team you can make it to 10 in a row, which lets you off in TA. It's a rather long and often boring grind, but it works. You can usually get close to 5k faction in a few hours. Of course, staying in RA for that long can often lead to massive headaches.

If you don't have anything/very little unlocked, then yeah, PvE is going to go faster. Once you get to the point of around 3 mods per weapon left or 1 rune for a profession, then you're going to find faction faster. Personally, I would only get runes and weapon mods through faction. Skills (especially elites) are infinitely easier through PvE.

[Lurker Wyrm]

I just had a brief chat with Fang and he said that as long as they're not on a mission, TNE can help us fill in the missing spots.

He did remind me of something important as well -- make sure you've all got TS working. Communication is really critical.