Monster Madness

[FoxBat]

So some of Hawkmoon's clever Alliance names (Charrmen of the Board, Rain Titan Acolytes, Wind Riders United) got me thinking of a variant theme. It probably won't go anywhere and if it does someone will need to flesh it out, but here goes.

The idea is to copy and play skillbars from various AIs in the game; be it balanced groups like charr, wardens, and margonites, strange beasts like madness titans or hydras, or even henchmen and special NPCs like Rurik and Togo. One might form a themed monster group to "play the role of charr" for an area, composed of blade warriors, shamans, and ash walkers. Or instead , mimic whatever opponents faced in the next zone or mission, whether just for the fun of it, or to insist on a fair fight, defeating foes with superior tactics rather than skills and build. You could add to the skill bars things that make you function more "monster-ly", like a run stance to emulate elementalist drakes, health/energy/armor boosts or health/energy regen that most critters have in abundance, faster recharge/IAS to emulate hard mode, or even skills that simulate monster skills (abbadon's chosen -> shielding hands) My feeling is that one might start to feel like Ember the Firebolt sorceress having to make do with such limited skill options against overwhelming foes.

You could also extend this the "Diablo" route (e.g. BloodKnight) by inventing all sorts of lore-related limitations, but then you'll be developing e.g. a specific "Charr" variant instead of the general thing I outlined here. Still fun stuff though.

[KingOfPain]

Quick thoughts
Cool ideas
Monster Madness (as in mimicking all the monster groups) would be fun and can be done as events. Would take much work to coodinate.

I would like to focus on a single team variant for HM, or better yet GW:EN. The Charrmen of the Board is perfect since Charrs are making a comeback in GW:EN. (and what better way to kick off GW:EN with a CotB variant?) We'll play out as Charrs and see where they failed, or turn the tide of their fate ;p

As an added bonus, we are too desync'd in game advancement (more so with each new chapter) which led to the lack of co-op fun Lets make this variant and start recruiting! If there are enough interests, we can start on HM Ascalon, and then move to GW:EN when it comes out.

Something to kick this off. Restrictions should be simple.

Skills:
Can only use skills Charrs use +rez
Not sure how GW:EN is setup but we could restrict to using only Charr skills available up to where we are questing/had been.

Skill set is based on the role taken. Single profession.

Should we allow a full skills bar?

Premade roles:
Parody of Charr bosses - such as
Garfazz Bloodfang

The Charr that fought with Viggo and lost, he's fled to the outer reaches of the Diessa Lowlands and surrounded himself with allies in case someone comes to finish him off.

Would be Garfazz Toothless.

Of course, you pick your own role and name. I don't mind starting a new toon and lvl it to 20 just for this - doesn't take long to make a lvl 20 these days.

That's all for now... Will look more closely at Charr later and may be flesh out a story, and quests

KoP

[mucco]

Uh, I want to start a new toon

Jaw Smokeskin, Elementalist Fire Boss.

Jaw Smokeskin is one of the Charr bosses responsible for the Searing. He is one of the underlings of Bonfaaz Burntfur, as he accompanies him on the final battle at Rin.

--> Jaw Smokeweed

Something like that?

What about skills? This boss only has four skills, so basically I would run Aura of Restoration, Conjure Flame, Flare, Lava Font, Res Sig all the time? Looks like a decent restriction

[FoxBat]

GWEN already provides an awesome story hook, as its mentioned that there are some Charr heretics that turn on the Orthodox Shamans and their Titan Gods, creating strife within Charr society. So we can start off fighting against the Orthodoxy in Ascalon and continue to whatever story awaits in GWEN.

All the critters supply an elite in HM, so you could add an elite to those lists. Charr bosses mostly have the same skillset per profession so there's not much difficulty in choice there. A Hard Rez I'd justify, since no matter how often you kill the furry monsters, there's always more of them.

I'd suggest allowing any skill used by any charr to be used, while sticking to one profession. Here's a sample of how to clobber together skillsets (and I can do this to save everyone else the trouble if they like the idea. )


Charr Axe Fiend: Cyclone Axe, Frenzy, Eviscerate

Charr Captain: Cyclone Axe, Healing Signet, Penetrating Blow, Shield Stance

Player Skillbar: Cyclone Axe, Frenzy, Healing Signet, Eviscerate, Penetrating Blow, Shield Stance, Rebirth


Now if we look at the end-game Charr from the Titan quests, even more options are avaliable. (Maybe too many)

Charr Axe Lord: Axe Twist, Cyclone Axe, Dismember

Player Skillbar: Frenzy, Cyclone Axe, Eviscerate, Axe Twist, Healing Signet, Penetrating Blow, Shield Stance, Rebirth


I suggest this approach because it gives people more skills to play with which can be fun, while keeping a charr feeling to things. Now this warrior skillset isn't so bad, but lets look at the monk;

Charr Shaman: Bane Signet, Banish, Heal Area, Infuse Health, Shield of Judgement

Charr Shaman Lord: Healing Seed, Orison of Healing, Zealot's Fire, Scourge Healing

Can you even imagine Hard Mode with just the first skillset?


I'd be hesitant to force people to roll new slots though, as that's going to exclude many that might be otherwise interested. (Then again we only need 4 in Ascalon...) Though cool charr names are a bonus. as would appropriate armor. (Charr Hide wars...)

[KingOfPain]

Rolling new toons would not be a requirement but the RP value is worth it, both the work to lvlup, and the $5 for an extra slot (if I am full). Especially if we are going to write a journal about it. Come to think of it, I did that with Vex, rerolled a new one on my main account and lvl'd her to 20.

KoP

[Seijin]

I have too many toons already, no way I'm spending another $5. That money is going towards GWEN.

I could always just reroll my LoL character anyways.

EDIT: Actually that's about $10 per extra character slot, not $5.

[FoxBat]

So here's the complete list of all Charr skills, with 7-skill sample templates (room for a rez). Extra choices are listed below it.


Warrior

Cyclone Axe
Frenzy
Eviscerate
Wild Blow
Healing Signet
Penetrating Blow
Shield Stance

OQATEHJX5IoKdqSVrBQvAAA

Axe Twist
Hundred Blades
Dismember


Ranger

Dual Shot
Greater Conflagration
Ignite Arrows
Serpent's Quickness
Troll Unguent
Penetrating Attack
Distracting Shot

OgATcTcm541PmxOG5+O6AAA

Favorable Winds


Elementalist

Fire Attunement
Fire Storm
Mark of Rodgort
Conjure Flame
Meteor Shower
Fireball
Flare

OgBCoMzAuFrrv2KMwAA

Aura of Restoration
Lava Font


Monk

Infuse Health
Heal Area
Orsion of Healing
Healing Seed
Zealot's Fire
Bane Signet
Shield of Judgement

OwAT0YnCxwgkMjYUio8hAAA

Banish


Necro

Faintheartedness
Life Siphon
Mark of Pain
Rend Enchantments
Life Transfer
Putrid Explosion
Lingering Curse (Defile Flesh as substitute, to get to 7 skills)

OABEQahGeK0mfWeYgN+FAA


Mesmer

Shatter Enchantment
Shatter Hex
Power Block
Backfire
Chaos Storm
Energy Burn
Mantra of Flame

OQBDAqwDCFoSTcU0QHAA

Energy Drain
Illuson of Haste
Conjure Phantasm
Ether Feast

[KingOfPain]

Monk
Skills:
Infuse Health
Heal Area
Orsion of Healing
Healing Seed
Zealot's Fire
Bane Signet
Shield of Judgement

OwAT0YnCxwgkMjYUio8hAAA

Banish

Ranks: Charr Shaman Lord, Charr Shaman, Charr Overseer, Charr Martyr

Bosses:
Blaze Bloodbane
Cruc the Reborn
Rrrack Whitefire
Scaar Sternclaw
Swag the Lasher
Taag Relicbinder

----------------------------------------

Elementalists
Skills:
Fire Attunement
Fire Storm
Mark of Rodgort
Conjure Flame
Meteor Shower
Fireball
Flare

OgBCoMzAuFrrv2KMwAA

Aura of Restoration
Lava Font

Ranks: Flame Keeper, Charr Flame Wielder, Charr Flame Lord, Charr Fire Caller

Bosses:
Bonfaaz Burntfur
Fume Kindleflail
Jaw Smokeskin
Singe the Malevolent
Slaug Firehide
Smoke Kindlefist
Suurg the Hateful
Torch Spitfur

---------------------------------

Warrior
Skills:
Cyclone Axe
Frenzy
Eviscerate
Wild Blow
Healing Signet
Penetrating Blow
Shield Stance

OQATEHJX5IoKdqSVrBQvAAA

Axe Twist
Hundred Blades
Dismember

Ranks: Ember Bearer, Charr Warrior, Charr Blade Warrior, Charr Blade Warrior, Charr Blade Warrior, Charr Blade Warrior, Charr Blade Warrior

Bosses:
Brand the Brawler
Cess Corpselighter
Drub Gorefang
Garfaz Steelfur
Gorgaan Hatemonger
Lumps Ruinator
Phlog the Indomitable
Puugh the Slasher
Spar the Ravager

---------------------------------------

Necromancer
Skills:
Faintheartedness
Life Siphon
Mark of Pain
Rend Enchantments
Life Transfer
Putrid Explosion
Lingering Curse (Defile Flesh as substitute, to get to 7 skills)

OABEQahGeK0mfWeYgN+FAA

Ranks: Charr Ashen Lord, Charr Ashen Claw, Charr Ash Walker

Bosses:
Burr Mankiller
Cess Corpselighter
Garfazz Bloodfang
Kaargoth Bloodclaw
Lugg the Malignant
Maul Riptear
Red Eye the Unholy
Roarst One Eye
Smuuz the Unfeeling

----------------------------------

Mesmer
Skills:
Shatter Enchantment
Shatter Hex
Power Block
Backfire
Chaos Storm
Energy Burn
Mantra of Flame

OQBDAqwDCFoSTcU0QHAA

Energy Drain
Illuson of Haste
Conjure Phantasm
Ether Feast

Ranks: Charr Mind Lord, Charr Mind Spark, Charr Chaot

Bosses:
Craze the Unforgiving
Druul the Untamed
Ghast Ashpyre
Marr Burnhorn
Mirash Dreambreaker
Phang the Deceiver
Scint the Malign

-------------------------------------------

Ranger
Skills:
Dual Shot
Greater Conflagration
Ignite Arrows
Serpent's Quickness
Troll Unguent
Penetrating Attack
Distracting Shot

OgATcTcm541PmxOG5+O6AAA

Favorable Winds

Ranks: Charr Stalker Lord, Charr Stalker, Charr Hunter

Bosses:
Drim Cindershot
Felinam the Whip
Fling Bloodpelt
Grimm Sharpfang
Klaww FeatherStorm
Maim Deathrain
Slur Scarchest
Staggh the Fervid
Vatlaaw Doomtooth

----------------------------------
Special:

Charr Scout
Warrior
Skills Used:None


Garfaz Steelfur
is a member of the Oddbodies, a group of misfits among the forces of Forgotten fighting Abaddon in the Realm of Torment. Garfaz is a flamboyant and courageous charr warrior in the band, but in a previous life, when he walked the surface of Tyria, Garfaz was a vicious warrior who helped sack and burn Ascalon after the Searing.

He later came to the Realm of Torment with a warband of other Charr to serve his Titan gods. However, the demons in the realm, who like to devour the souls of mortals, started to feast on his band and he quickly realized the nature of the Titans. He joined Captain Yithlis to fight his former masters.

Skills:
# Cyclone Axe
# Executioner's Strike
# Flail
# Headbutt

Scorch Emberspire
Scorch Emberspire found himself trapped in the Realm of Torment, and wonders why the Titans that his people worshipped did not save them.

---------------------------------------

So double up on monks if possible. Anyone have a preference on a profession? I have too many active Nec atm, so I will take anything but.

Should it be ok to use non core professions, and non-restricted attribute point distribution, as long as we stick to the Single Profession Skills Bar (except Res)?

This promotes more unconventional combos, as well as a preparation for what may come in GW:EN.


KoP

[FoxBat]

Double monk? Bah . One should be OK if smart, between shield stance and faintheartedness (for 4-player maps anyway). Greater conflag + mantra of flame is also tech.

[KingOfPain]

Are you insinuating we are smart!?
Okay, that one monk has better show up all the time

KoP