11 replies to this topic

[SonofInnocence8309]

Hey all you practiced Thieflings! I had a question and was looking for some wisdom and thoughts! I've been leaning big time toward Rangers (and will most DEFINITELY roll one!) but something about the Thief has been calling my name (soul?). It may be that I played an Assassin in GW1 for a few years!

Anyway, as a beginner Thief who has no clue how to work them in PvE or WvW (I'm terrified of sPvP, I must admit. It'll take a while before I get the guts to attempt it without the fear of getting yelled at).

If you had any advice on how to start learning how to play the Thief and what to expect in terms of some basic advice for starters like me, it would be amazingly well appreciated. Thank you all!

[QuackzMcDuck]

I'm also interested. This is my first real MMO and I'd like to start off with a more difficult class. Unless someone else thinks I should roll something else.

[Gertrude]

I'm in the same boat, actually. I suspect I don't have the reflexes needed to master the thief properly, but screw it. I love it anyway. In the betas, I've used PvE to practice my mobility. Focus on using one skill til I felt comfortable with it, then looking for good combos with it, etc. I'll get there eventually

[Drekor]

Shortbow and venoms... learn to love em.

[SonofInnocence8309]

QuackzMcDuck, on 23 August 2012 - 02:23 AM, said:

I'm also interested. This is my first real MMO and I'd like to start off with a more difficult class. Unless someone else thinks I should roll something else.

You know, I keep hearing people saying to a lot of others: "Just pick a class that you enjoy the mechanics of, and go for it!" Worse comes to worse, you work your way to Lv. 10 or 15 and decide you don't really like it. Keep them, and roll a new class. Just try it and see if you like it. There's no waste of time, even if you delete them, so long as you had fun learning and growing!

Gertrude, on 23 August 2012 - 02:27 AM, said:

I'm in the same boat, actually. I suspect I don't have the reflexes needed to master the thief properly, but screw it. I love it anyway. In the betas, I've used PvE to practice my mobility. Focus on using one skill til I felt comfortable with it, then looking for good combos with it, etc. I'll get there eventually

You know, that's probably a smart move. Just pick away. Slowly learn the skills. My worry is dodging and mobility. Already I feel confused about using the "dodge" (which I put as "Shift" instead of "V". Mr. Piano Thumb tends to want to hit both at the same time. Hitting too many white keys). I'd be curious about how to use those dodges, mobility, etc... and use them well to survive and still do lots of damage. That part confuses me. Especially the lack of constant stealth like nearly all Rogue/Burglar/Thief classes in games.

Drekor, on 23 August 2012 - 02:28 AM, said:

Shortbow and venoms... learn to love em.

Shortbow's very CC, right? And venoms... I love the idea of spreading around conditions. I read that you can share them with others. However that works, it sounds like amazing "support". I'm curious since I adore support classes (but as I've said in a few other threads, can't stand playing the Guardian for some reason) so I wonder what the Thief will feel like.

[Nerd_Rage]

Learn how conditions and boons work, find a bleed/venom build.  Enjoy!

[SonofInnocence8309]

Nerd_Rage, on 23 August 2012 - 02:39 AM, said:

Learn how conditions and boons work, find a bleed/venom build.  Enjoy!

I shall definitely look into conditions and boons and how they function! Right now!

Interesting. A Bleed/Venom build. Is that the only build that seems to be effective? Or is it the only build that is popularly used?

[metalsazz]

circle strafing will be your best friend in pve, so will dodging, keep moving and attacking and you should have much problems, melee or range.

[SonofInnocence8309]

metalsazz, on 23 August 2012 - 02:53 AM, said:

circle strafing will be your best friend in pve, so will dodging, keep moving and attacking and you should have much problems, melee or range.

Thanks for the advice! So I'll find myself nonstop kiting I guess, huh?

[metalsazz]

pretty much, kiting while melee is something one need to get used to in general tho

[Drekor]

SonofInnocence8309, on 23 August 2012 - 02:32 AM, said:

Shortbow's very CC, right? And venoms... I love the idea of spreading around conditions. I read that you can share them with others. However that works, it sounds like amazing "support". I'm curious since I adore support classes (but as I've said in a few other threads, can't stand playing the Guardian for some reason) so I wonder what the Thief will feel like.

Shortbow is basically the swiss army knife of our arsenal... it does pretty much anything you want. It has AoE damage, evasion, conditions, direct damage and mobility. It's good stuff.

Venoms apply control, leech life and do this for yourself and allies nearby. It's often paired with both ambush trap(spawns a thief) and thieves guild(spawns 2 more thieves) so you can easily use it even when not around teammates. The damage potential is actually suprisingly high thanks to leeching venoms which leeches health on each venom application(spider has 6!)

[Exeunt]

But no burst damage. Cluster is almost there tho
Ez to dodge tho

Edited by Exeunt, 23 August 2012 - 05:24 AM.