12 replies to this topic

[Lablamb]

I am wanting to play the group-friendly profession.  I have thought about playing the Guardian but they do not have any ranged abilities (at least I could not find any of them and have been told they are melee-only).  That class seems to have the most healing abilities which is what I would like to play and have played in all games.  Which profession is the most like a typical healer/support role that groups will need the most of?

Thank you

[lujate]

I played a Guardian in BWE2 and thought the scepter was an OK ranged weapon (although only as backup to greatsword).

[VictoriaRxo]

There is no profession like that in this game. All professions have abilities that can heal/support if you spec properly for it.
Here's a site where you can play around with builds... http://www.gw2build.com/
If you're looking for typical healer casting type, then obviously the elementalist, but by no means is elementalist the best healer.

[Reticuli]

Elementalist is what you are looking for.

[VictoriaRxo]

This thread in the Vigil Academy forum might help you out...
http://www.guildwars...pport-the-best/

[FloridaOkie]

On first reading the headline to this post my thought was..."Dwarves!!!!"...but we dont have the ability to play 'em....So my second thought was, "Norns"...they are big, strong, and Im sure they like to party.     In all seriousness....either Elementalist or Guardian would do great for the group IMO.

[tbox]

Lablamb, on 15 August 2012 - 12:03 AM, said:

I am wanting to play the group-friendly profession.  I have thought about playing the Guardian but they do not have any ranged abilities (at least I could not find any of them and have been told they are melee-only).  That class seems to have the most healing abilities which is what I would like to play and have played in all games.  Which profession is the most like a typical healer/support role that groups will need the most of?

Thank you

All the classes can act as support in various roles. Some do some types of support better or different than others. Its hard to give you a easy answer because there is no real simple answer. I would suggest you do some research into each class and try out a few you think you will like in Spvp to get  a better understanding.   Personally I disliked Ele for support in WvW because staff abilities had such a long cool down.  Guardian's scepter I believe is 1200 range now.

[Ponzio]

I want to try some WvW orientated engineer specs when the game goes life with elixier R for mass reviving downed people every 70 sec (specced into) and grenades for mass chill, poison and blind effects. Should be alot of fun.

Edited by Ponzio, 15 August 2012 - 02:52 AM.

[Pipples]

Necromancer has a build that's good for absorbing conditions from allies and either converting them into boons or sending them back to enemies

And in the long run, conditions will probably do more overall damage than direct-damage abilities

[EasymodeX]

None of the classes are specifically oriented towards healing and/or support.

The Guardian, Mesmer, Engineer, Necromancer, Elementalist are probably more what you're looking for though.  All of those classes can spec and trait for a pretty good array of buffs, debuffs, CC, and heals.

Warriors and Thieves can pick up pretty good support stuff, but Thieves are focused on offensive group buffs (group poison for example), and don't actually have a big array of group support IIRC.  Warriors are reputed to have slightly lackluster group buffs, although they seem to have an OK set from what I looked at.  Not as much boon synergy as other classes though, it seemed.

[alucard13mmfmj]

seems elementalists are good at picking off siege weapons =s

[Th_ Magic_Bough]

It also depends on what you define as "support".  Anything that's non-DPS?

In that case, the Guardian may be your hands-down choice for WvW.  It has some of the best area control in the game with the Hammer/Staff combination, as well as decent group heals and condition removal.

[Ponzio]

Th_ Magic_Bough, on 17 August 2012 - 07:10 AM, said:

It also depends on what you define as "support".  Anything that's non-DPS?

In that case, the Guardian may be your hands-down choice for WvW.  It has some of the best area control in the game with the Hammer/Staff combination, as well as decent group heals and condition removal.

Well dunno the engineer has the best group heals, can aoe revive and has decent group condition removal.