Guild Wars 2: Gamescom 2011 starts

Gamescom is already in full gear as I write, and all the GW2 info can't come fast enough.
Main things where I am going to look out for:

1. Moar Necromancer footage !
2. Warriors using the hammer. (which is easily my favorite weapon in GW)
3. All races in use, and hopefully some racial skills as well
4. PVP, customisation and everything else promised on the Anet blog in general

Also, I'm going to watch how the game is evolving overal. So far, it always seemed to me that they are on track with their plans, so I don't expect any suprises here.

Anyway, I'm off searching for footage and info.
Have a fun Gamescom week!

Sylvari week: design and redesign

Sylvari week has begon yesterday, and the honor of the first article on the Arenanet blog was for character artist and fashion guru Kristen Perry.

My initial reaction was to watch the screenshots to see how the sylvari look like after the redesign.
Amazing and stunning were the words that came to mind. But the best description is Kristen's sylvari description: noble, beautiful, plant.
My fears also got wiped off the table. They are not wood elf like people, nor are they humans with a plant wig. Instead we get that sweet spot in between humanoids and plant creatures. They look human, yet don't. They have that creature like thing, yet familiar enough to relate. They are... sylvari!

Reading the article, I noticed how much care there was put in the biology of plants, and how it could en should relate to designing the sylvari. And lot of these things are unseen at glance, but the details are there.

Growth sockets, the stem etc, all used in a way it would make sense from a biology point of view, but also in terms of the looks and feel of the characters. To me, it's a great thing in the long run, especially when playing with a sylvari. When you stick a long time with a character, you're bound to look more and more at the details. When they are done with care, like in this case, you're going to rediscover your own character over and over. Which is, in my opinion, a great thing.

There are also skins, to customise your sylvari even more. Both winter- and summer type skins are available, and with some coloring magic you can make a autumn and spring look. Simplified, you're choosing to look like a plant or more tree like. Which is great. Diversity amongst a race always makes a game feel more alive, like a real living world. This is one of my favorite features for Charr too, being able to change fur, horns etc.

Next up on the Arenanet blog is everything on the dialogue and audio of the sylvari.
I am excited to see what they have in store for us, especially after a great start like this one.

So, what do you guys think of the new sylvari? I'm sold, but I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time!

Guild Wars Build of the Month: Tainted Scythe

The first build of the month has arrived, and this one is an atempt to make a melee Necromancer in the spirit of the Guild Wars 2 Necromancer.

Tainted Scythe

 

Skills from 1-8:

• Crippling Sweep
• "Dodge This!"
• Radiant Scythe
• "You Move Like A Dwarf!"
• Tainted Flesh
• Grenth's Aura
• Signet of Pious Restraint
• Eternal Aura

This build is an attempt of mine to get some melee action going on with my Necromancer, for those times you don't feel like going MM or SS etc. It is a fun build so far, but I haven't tested it's effectiveness extensively yet. I picked Dervish here, because scythes look good on necro's, and because of the enchantments. Skills 1-3 are your weapon skills. Feel free to pick whatever you like for those slots, the ones I got here are the ones I like at the moment. You Move Like A Dwarf is there as interrupt, which I never go without.

Tainted Flesh is my answer to less armor. If you're getting hit, they will get diseased. Also makes you immune for disease, so it has multiple uses. Grenth's Aura is there for the same reason. You're going to lose health faster because of your armor, so we better have a way to gain life. It also lets you ignore armor, so offensive wise it's also a good skill. Then we have Signet of Pious Restraint, which I use to trigger the end effect of Eternal Aura. And Eternal Aura itself gives +100 health, and has no time limit. Perfect for our lower armor.

The way you want to use this build is to enchant yourself, en then go in battle with melee skills. Eternal Aura is cast when you enter a map, since it has no time limit. Then, before an encounter, use Tainted Flesh on yourself, followed by Grenth's Aura. Go into battle and use your 1-3 skills to increase damage.
Watch out for enchantment removal though, because they really do make the difference for our fragile Necromancer.

Again, this is a fun build, so I can't guarantee performance here. Then again, I find myself switching often to this build to play casually and when I'm not in the mood to be a caster.
Try this one out, and I promise you'll have a good time!

As always, comments can be posted with no registration, so don't hold back. And I'd love some feedback too!

Until next time!