14 replies to this topic

[megashield]

Hey all, I have been 80 for some time yet I have only started running dungeons(explorer mode) recently. I was wondering what you have thought of it\what builds you have tried for our theif class .

For leveling\WvW, I've been running S\P and SB offhand which was fine and dandy for leveling and some pvp, Quickness + pistol whip is a lot of fun esp with a build that super focuses on precision\crit damage(runes of divinity though perhaps eagle may be better) and some power.

However after trying some explorer mode dungeons, besides having to use some general dungeon strategies to not do the gimmicky (and costly!) graveyard zerg rush, I feel as though my build is not as effective.

Keeping weakness ("Endurance regeneration decreased by 50%; 50% of non critical hits are glancing blows (50% damage); stacks duration.") on mobs with my SB is great, but if say a mage is already keeping weakness on, or for whatever reason that I wouldn't want to use my shortbow (is there a good reason?) I feel as though perhaps something like D/P? might be better since all I am usually doing with my S\P is going in. pistol whipping\cloud when appropriate and then jumping out, where perhaps a build more reliant on stealth\bleeds might have much more success.

Thanks for your time

[Scorpion]

Quick OT question, what does SB stand for?

[eviator]

Based upon the "One trick pony" thread (http://www.guildwars...one-trick-pony/), you appear to be doing about the best you can do in dungeons.

Scorpion: Shortbow.

Edited by eviator, 05 September 2012 - 10:10 PM.

[IDarko]

I discovered that for certain trap areas you might want to equip signet of agility. Having 4 dodges in total allows you (and your party) to traverse almost any trap corridor. Good stuff and even more reason to bring a thief besides our awesome venomsharing, AoE weakness, pro blast finisher and stealth reviving!

Oh btw, if you use high shadow arts, try sword/dagger. I know it sounds stupid but on most mobs (eccept champions and purple ones because it seems that they are immune for 10 secs or so after dazing?) you can get daze and blind up almost 247. Really fun build, just ignore flanking strike C&D -> Tactical Strike. Wait a few seconds and repeat.

Edited by IDarko, 05 September 2012 - 11:07 PM.

[megashield]

Just for funsies. Would it be possible to spec all healing(ish) and be the team healer and still be viable. Just for the lulz. I haven't experimented any on it yet. Too high of a fever for thinking XD.

[Minion]

I did the CM explorable; Butler quest line. I was level 65 or so when I did it, but running the same build as ever. I maybe switched to a ranged weapon once, whilst fighting that bastard bomb-tosser boss. No one should be put off from running around in melee in dungeons; the foes aren't too tough and thieves aren't so squishy.

Blind/Daze spam is fine, but you have other players for that. The best a THIEF can do for your team is stabby stabby.

[Burrid]

I love thief, but seriously, when I did my first dungeon yesterday, it was utterly boring!
Poison attack, bomb attack, autoattack, autoattack, poision, bomb, auto, auto, ...
It was the most boring 30 mins of my guild wars life.

I'm going to level another profession to 30 and see if it's equally boring.

[San Darkwood]

Dungeons are all about the team, and thieves can make great support characters if specced correctly. You can use D/P against Melee enemies to keep them blinded, S/P against casters, so that you have a quick condition removal with Shadow Return, and then swap out to SB when entering areas with lots of low-hp mobs.

I tend to use Utilities like Roll for Initiative and Blinding Powder to complement the weapons skills and Shadow Refuge for team support. I use Hide in Shadow as a quick get-away heal + condition removal. As for the elite, both Thieves guild and Dagger Storm can be good support skills (Dagger Storm + Black Powder = Blind all the things)

As for traits, I pick things that complement that build such as the one that gives nearby allies Swiftness, Fury and Might when you steal, Caltrop dropping dodge and Stealth when reviving allies.

[Lord_Ironmane]

Burrid, on 07 September 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

I love thief, but seriously, when I did my first dungeon yesterday, it was utterly boring!
Poison attack, bomb attack, autoattack, autoattack, poision, bomb, auto, auto, ...
It was the most boring 30 mins of my guild wars life.

I'm going to level another profession to 30 and see if it's equally boring.

I've had a much different experience with shortbow. For one, if you're just dropping the bomb you're wasting potential, you have to watch for when to detonate it for full bleeding and damage potential.

I've also had to kite mobs around in many instances, and have had to remain highly mobile. Did you just do CM? Because that's the easiest dungeon. AC you'll have to move around a good deal for some mobs, in TA you --defiantly-- have to move around and be very active with weapon switching and smart use of utilities.

In exploration this becomes especially true, where if you're remaining stationary, you're going to die.

EDIT:

And staying on topic:

Scorpion wire is amazing. The ability to pull one mob away from a pack is just game changing. Also, keep in mind that the wire will stretch to you till it hits you. That is, if I pull something then move back somewhere, the mob wont stop coming to me till it touches me.

Can any other prof do that?

Edited by Lord_Ironmane, 07 September 2012 - 11:42 AM.

[Burrid]

Lord_Ironmane, on 07 September 2012 - 11:40 AM, said:

And staying on topic:

Scorpion wire is amazing. The ability to pull one mob away from a pack is just game changing. Also, keep in mind that the wire will stretch to you till it hits you. That is, if I pull something then move back somewhere, the mob wont stop coming to me till it touches me.

Can any other prof do that?

I don't quite know what you mean here.

[xjohncandyx]

Burrid, on 07 September 2012 - 01:22 PM, said:

I don't quite know what you mean here.

If you pull the mob and run, the mob will get pulled extra distance until it makes it to you. Versus just standing there, you might be able to get it further away.

Never done it, but that's what he meant.

[Burrid]

xjohncandyx, on 07 September 2012 - 01:41 PM, said:

If you pull the mob and run, the mob will get pulled extra distance until it makes it to you. Versus just standing there, you might be able to get it further away.

Never done it, but that's what he meant.

That's what I thought he meant as well, but I tried it, the mob just gets pulled to the location where I started the skill.

[Lord_Ironmane]

Burrid, on 07 September 2012 - 01:49 PM, said:

That's what I thought he meant as well, but I tried it, the mob just gets pulled to the location where I started the skill.

Weird, I always pull and dodge back and the mob always pulls straight to my face.

[Omniabsent12]

I discovered that for certain trap areas you might want to equip signet of agility. Having 4 dodges in total allows you (and your party) to traverse almost any trap corridor

Can anybody clarify for me the effectiveness of Signet of Agility combined with Uncatchable.  Worthwhile or are peopling finding that the bleedstack caps too easily in most late game encounters?

[megashield]

Burrid, on 07 September 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

I love thief, but seriously, when I did my first dungeon yesterday, it was utterly boring!
Snip

I did another twilight arbor dungeon explorer run with....4 other thieves.
Easiest dungeon run I have ever done and it was so fun!!!!!

Except for when scorpion wire was needed, I made our group use shadows refuge and the other move that is aoe stealth(iPad at store ATM). 3rd utility was w.e. but we all chose ambush trap. Elite was thieves guild. Main wep set w.e. offhand we all happened to use sb. So much fun. 20 thieves on a boss? No hue problemo.

I recommend it to all.(at least try it once with guildmates, maybe with drinks too)

P.s. was really funny to see us all fire with our sb when kiting. Our arrows will block out the....

Edited by megashield, 07 September 2012 - 07:43 PM.