Guild Wars 1 --Augury to Elona (episode 25)

In this episode I try not to get lost in the Crystal Desert while attempting to find the next mission area, Elona Reach!
I'm going to try and keep the video lengths a little shorter, if you prefer longer videos covering more gameplay etc. please let me know in the comments! It's been a fun journey so far and thanks everyone for coming along!
#nostalgia #gaming #prophecies #exploring #desert #guide #quest #hydra #guildwars1 #guildwarsgameplay

[@MrChristophSteininge]

I remember there is a statue there, a huge thing, and it falls to the ground just prior to your arrival. You use it to get to some location otherwise unaccessible via the trunk of the statue. It was a scene most impressive in the desert. The origins of the statue has some lore to it, but I dont remember what it was.

[@UberOfficer1]

Awesome! While im exploring I’ll try to find it and find out about it!

[@GuildWarsMaude]

Nice that Power Drain should be nice energy management / interrupt!

[@UberOfficer1]

Thanks! Yeah it’s perfect against these hydras!

[@GuildWarsMaude]

Let’s try Thirsty River together. It’s a tough mission. Would be nice to get a few other players - maybe some of your viewers!

[@UberOfficer1]

@@GuildWarsMaude yeah man good idea! I’ll make a KZbin post about it!

[@tarheel7406]

Never started in Proph, so I had to check the Wiki. The first +15 attribute pts quest chain should be available. First quest in the chain can be obtained in Destiny's Gorge (NE of Augury Rock). BTW... As for your build, seems like the C Dessert generally has smaller but more powerful mobs. Epidemic may be disposable. With facing so many rupts, perhaps Manta of Concentration, which is available to purchase at this point in the game. (Mantra of Resolve is better, but not yet available. As an ele 2nd, you could cap and use Glyph of Concentration from a boss in the Borlis Pass mission.) With Stefan inflicting no conditions and neither are you except waiting for the delayed deep wound, I'd probably change from the Fragility strategy to something more basic Domination or Illusion: Domination: Backfire, Empathy (but Dunham has as well), maybe Wastrel's Worry to cover Backfire Illusion: I'd likely go this route. Use your Inspiration rupts for the big spells and put Conure Phantasm on everything. You just got Mantra of Persistence, perhaps as a hint. Clumsiness for the physicals. Could still spam Fragility if the team is inflicting conditions.

[@UberOfficer1]

I like your ideas! I’ll try out a more illusion based build with interrupts and degen like you suggested. You’re right about fragility, it’s not putting many damage numbers up anymore.

[@tarheel7406]

@@UberOfficer1 I know that a lot of experienced players just use meta hero builds that are supposed to work anywhere, but I refuse to accept, where's the fun in that, and isn't an option for this playthrough. I likely use a degen strategy more than others or I should, but it's game, BTW... Didn't you poo poo Leech Signet when you first got it?

[@UberOfficer1]

@@tarheel7406 you nailed exactly why I enjoy this run so much. It takes me back to what makes gw1 so great! And yeah I’m leech signet believer now lol

[@tarheel7406]

~20:33 Don't know whether to smile or cry. You kids are growing up so fast! Lina can only heal with Divine Healing (party, 12s recharge) and from Divine Favor with the Protection Skills. She really doesn't work alone unless you and the others spam their self-heals. When I anticipate using my self-heal outside of an emergency, I prefer it in slot #1.

[@UberOfficer1]

The first time I’ve ever changed the skill bar outside of town! 😅

[@tarheel7406]

@@UberOfficer1 I'll put my suggested Monk lvl 17 henchmen here: Alesia, primary Healing Orison of Healing, Healing Breeze, Dwayna's Kiss, Signet of Devotion, Protective Spirit, Mend Ailment, Resurrect 3 heals that can be used on self, 2 enchantments to buff Dwayna's Kiss and counter degen and damage, free heal, condition relief, full range rez Lina, primary Protection Protective Spirit, Mend Ailment, Guardian, Shielding Hands, Orison of Healing, Divine Healing, Resurrect Standard Protection skills with some condition relief. Basic spot and partywide healing, full range rez.

[@tarheel7406]

@@UberOfficer1 I'll also note that Lina's Aegis doesn't seem optimum here. It's relatively expensive at 10e, lasts ~9s, protects the entire parity, but has a 30s recharge and a 2s activation. Most likely, the mobs will focus on a single party member. In contrast, Guardian only protects one party member, but only costs 5e and can be recast every 5s.

[@UberOfficer1]

@@tarheel7406 I was very underwhelmed by Lina so far haha. But I’m sure I’ll update my stance at the 8-man party zones

[@tarheel7406]

@@UberOfficer1 The primary problem is that the Monks are only really effectively using 2 lines, Divine Favor and either Heling or Protection. All but Orion are leveraging 3 lines. A Protection Monk has to have some minimum Healing support from somewhere. Given your options, I'd either go with Alesia or both. If just Alesia, one must likely have to take Stefan for "Watch Yourself!" and Claude to keep Aleisa's energy up. Just poor design, especially since these skill bars were updated since the game dropped.

[@arniec6817]

9:00 how I miss solo farming these cows and hydras with my monk.

[@UberOfficer1]

Good times right?? Any good drops from them?

[@arniec6817]

@@UberOfficer1 sticks and dust, but golds can drop anywhere.

[@UberOfficer1]

@@arniec6817 true and dyes too I imagine!

[@arniec6817]

@@UberOfficer1 some times yes, good dyes from hydras there

[@tarheel7406]

Initial thoughts from my bird's eye perspective.... a) As we discussed but I didn't then think about the C Dessert, the M Jungle should have been structured similar. A starting outpost or main city with a primary quest to take you to a hub, followed by a series of additional primary quests that only appear after the next mission is ready to be completed in order. The C Dessert is a twist on that structure as there are no quests that takes one to the next three missions. The story doesn't require any order and a new player must actually explore blindly. There are quests that will take one to the other generic outposts. b) There is a missed opportunity with the 2 monk henchmen. Looking at their lvl 17 skill bars, neither look sufficient alone but both are overkill. A this point in the game, Alesia should be primary Healing with some basic Protection and Lina should be the reverse. The different areas could then have different enemy skill bars that would favor using one over the other. That concept really should apply everywhere to make the best henchmen choice be clearly impactful. In other words, tailor your skill bar and henchmen choices depending on the mobs one will face. c) Given that henchmen choice concept, additional henchmen should have been introduced here. Ignoring how I would tweak Little Thorn vs. Stefan and others, one could choice between: A damage/rupting or a condition inflicting Ranger A battery/hexer or a minion master/condition inflicting Necromancer A Domination/rupting or Illusion/rupting Mesmer A Fire/burning or Water/hexing Elementalist

[@UberOfficer1]

Yeah I mention in this episode it seems the devs intentionally made the desert a more open world feel in order to make the player feel lost. I kinda like that but still wish there were more quests or hidden artifacts or something. I agree with your comment about the healer I decided to only bring Lina to try her out and not having any healing skills was pretty bad especially vs conditions. (Watching Claude slowly succumb to his degenerating condition was tough…)

[@tarheel7406]

@@UberOfficer1 With your leave, I may consider indulging with proposed henchmen bars per my earlier comment.

[@UberOfficer1]

@@tarheel7406 go for it!

[@tarheel7406]

@@UberOfficer1 Alrighty, I'll start with a fresh look at the two Warrior henchmen (ignoring any prior comment with proposed skill bars). Skills limited to Prophesies, 7 total, no elite. Minimal changes preferred: Little Thorn, Axe/Tactics damage/deep wound: Healing Signet, Cyclone Axe, Dismember, Executioner's Strike, 'Fear Me!", Sprint, Rez Signet Self-heal, aoe and spike damage, increased critical hits to buff weapon, movement speed to attack more/move less Stefan, Sword/Tactics, damage/tank/party buff Healing Signet, Thrill of Victory, Galrath Slash, "Watch Yourself!", Balanced Stance, "To the Limit!", Rez Signet Self-heal, shout, and stance for self and party survivability maintained with a-gain skills, solid spike damage