DamonIsa
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Paragon Build Questions and Answers.
Eventually the Boss Man should move this over towards its own Forum.
Well, Nightfall is just starting. I'm sure most people have lept into the new classes rather than expand on their old characters (Though for Lady Naima I did get to play with an Elonian MM who had some new, kick ass Minions... Bone Horrors that when they die, they come back as slightly lower level Minions that inflict bleeding, for example).
So, I made a Paragon. This should be no surprise to people that know my Roleplaying Game history.  I've always like the Spearweilders. Ever since I first played Final Fantasy 4, and saw Kain.
So, what are some of my notes for others that might be playing Paragons later on?
Well, I'll break it down by Attributes.
Spear Mastery.
You know, looking at Spear skills, I've not really found very many I liked. The two spear attacks you get at the beginning, Lightning Spear and Barbed Spear seem by far the best. Disrupting Spear can be useful as well. However, many others I find, less than fulfilling due to some of their drawbacks. For example, a spear skill that inflicts Deep Wound but only if the target is below 50% health. Generally by the time you get to hit people with it, they're dead anyway. The others are spear attacks that TAKE A WHOLE THREE SECONDS TO USE! Yes, it is that frustrating, I must use all caps. So far I'm disappointed in the Spear attacks.
Command.
Can't say much about it. I've only see two command skills so far. None of which have wowed me enough into trying it in the face of other, better attribute lines I have. I look forward to seeing more Command Skills available to play with.
Has anyone been using Command? How well does it play? Something worth while on a Primary Paragon, or is it something like the Assassin's Deadly Arts? Nice, but not on an Assassin Primary. (I still like Warriors and Rangers the best for using Deadly Arts)
Motivation.
I wasn't floored with it at first, but now, well, now I hardly can imagine Paragoning without it. The skills generally sound humble, and not that powerful... Things like Mending Refrain. Echo, +3 Health Regeneration (At what I have Motivation at, 8). But, thanks to a Leadership skill I have, I can keep it going forever. +3 health Regen, forever? With no harm to your own energy pool? Why not?! Signet of Synergy has been a dual life saver as well. I find that using Zealous Anthem, or Aria of Zeal can really help your team keep in the fight, as the new enemy AI makes it much more likely you'll be fighting multiple mobs at once. I can only hope that Motivation gets better with time.
Leadership.
Primary Attribute. That should be enough said. I mean when has a primary attribute not been worth investing at least a little in? Excepting maybe my Tactical Warriors that don't use Strength except as a Point Dump.
Big home run so far has been Anthem of Flame. Right now it's giving my party "Your next attack skill (That hits) inflicts 2 seconds of burning."
I like the "That hits" clause they have going. If for some reason you miss with your first strike it remains active and ready for the next attack skill that hits.
Also with a 10 second duration and recharge, it is necessary for keeping up the Endless Mending Refrain. No other Shout/Chant I've found has a quick enough duration and recharge that it can be used to keep up the Echo.
Leader's Comfort is a less than top notch self heal. I was hoping it would at least be as useful as the Healing Signet. However, with a longer recharge time, and costing 5 energy, and having a max limit of 140 (Hell, my warrior gets about 150 some off the healing signet), it can be, a pain. Use only if you can't get a good heal going. Back up heal only. Especially if you're counting on Signet of Synergy to heal you, as sometimes that stupid monk will slap a pointless enchantment that won't help and screw you out of about 80 healing.
Other than those two, I find myself not using Leadership skills that much, except as situational, for example "Hexbreaker Aria" which requires 8 Adrenaline, but lets everyone remove a hex next time they cast a spell.
Still, good stat to pump points into. The energy gain off of Chants and Shouts really helps keep you more active in the late stages of battle than you normally would be.
Whee.
So, how is everyone building their Paragon? I've mostly seen Paragon/Monks, and Paragon/Rangers in my time out in the outposts and cities. Not sure why. With the low energy regen of a Paragon I can't imagine they'd be useful with a Monk Secondary. Unless it's the same thing that happened with Assassins. Everyone thought they could tank with them and did the typical "W/Mo" build thing.
I have a Paragon Ranger myself. Originally it was for a Pet. I figured a Pet would help up the "Ally" number for shout/chant energy gain. Which it did. But with 8 in my party I dont' need it. I thought about bow attacks, but they use too much energy, and I'm not sure if the Leadership energy gain could keep up.
Though about Trapper too. But again, even the cheapest traps are 15 energy. So I kinda ran into a dead end there.
I thought about eventually going P/W like I did for the PvP event. Add some more Tactical Shouts to my skill bar. Could be interesting. I'd almost be willing to dump Spear Mastery completely for it. As I've said, I havent' really found anything all that exciting in Spear Mastery. A grave disappointment for me. I love spears. I wish they kicked more ass. 
Any thoughts on how a "Battlefield Commander", someone that doesn't attack (Except weak attacks to build Adrenaline), but just shouts, chants, and echos could be on the team?
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Niva Reikan: Warrior/Monk, Kurzick Champion
Arcturus Highwind: Paragon/Ranger
Pet: ROUS
Walker Tam: Warrior, Defender of Ascalon in Training
Nikolia Vasburg: Ritualist/Necromancer
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10/30/2006, 3:59 am
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PeleusDorado
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Re: Paragon Build Questions and Answers.
Battlefield Commander as you lay it out is very similar to an Orders Necro in a B/P team. Someone who's primary job is to buff the team and also support fire when needed. If you are truly going backrow support you may want to go with monk (heal party, rebirth) or necro (BR, wells, life siphon).
Another option with the ranger secondary is Apply Posion. Then your spear attacks will be causing health degen and you really do not need a lot of points to make this effective.
With energy gain you could switch to ele secondary and go with the Earth line to help keep the backline protected.
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Peleus Dorado (warrior)
Skye Du Loch (necro)
Jhonnie Macdhal (ranger)
Wunder Kid (monk)
Son of Dhal (elementalist)
Spirit of Dhal (rit)
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10/30/2006, 8:30 am
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DamonIsa
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Re: Paragon Build Questions and Answers.
Yeah, my build right now is...
Leader's Comfort
Lightning Spear
Barbed Spear
Anthem of Flame
Zealous Anthem
Mending Refrain
Signet of Synergy
Signet of Return
Yeah, but I'm not sure if those other classes can work with a Paragon. Energy issues. I mean, You're only gaining about 5/6 energy per shout/chant. That's usually enough to just cover the cost of your skills. Not sure how I would maintain my energy using Wards, Necro Party Enchantments, or 15 Energy Heal Party/Extinguish monk skills. They do only have 2 regen after all.
Whereas the warrior gives me more shouts, everything from my old warhorse "Watch Yourself!" to "Shields Up!".
Hmm, I probably need to give Koss "Shields Up!" for the War mission. Though my problem was with the hammer warriors instead of the Archers. They archers just help Koss build up some DP.
And they executed a perfect spike against my Paragon.
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Niva Reikan: Warrior/Monk, Kurzick Champion
Arcturus Highwind: Paragon/Ranger
Pet: ROUS
Walker Tam: Warrior, Defender of Ascalon in Training
Nikolia Vasburg: Ritualist/Necromancer
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10/30/2006, 2:42 pm
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DamonIsa
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Re: Paragon Build Questions and Answers.
Got to a new area, and new Paragon skills.
I look forward to getting the Assassin Hero now, as I want to rebuild Gregor on her. Gregor being an A/R, using Barrage.
Which I invented on this forum before it got all cool.
Reason being two command skills I have found from the new skill trader.
"Go for the Eyes!" gives all allies a +63% chance to critical hit on their next attack.
And "Find the Weakness!" gives your next successful Critical Hit and added Deep Wound for 16 seconds.
As well there is the "Fall Back!" shout, which is nice for those times you realize you're overpowered, and need to escape and regroup.
Commmand skills got a major boost in my estimation today.
Motivation is still classy though. Look for the amazing "Agressive Refrain". Echo, giving +25% attack speed. Imagine how fast you'll swing that axe on your Frenzy warrior. And as it is an Echo, it again gets to the point where you can keep up the echo on your whole party with little effort.
Also look for the skill "Finale of Restoration". It doesn't SOUND that impressive at first. "Oh, wow, 25 health everytime a chant or shouts ends... big whoop..." but when you're like me, and have teammates shouting out "Charge", two or so chant spams, "Watch Yourself!", "Shields Up!" etc. (I seem to run a very heavy Chant/Shout party, if you can't guess) suddenly you're looking at a pretty nice boost to your battle healing.
Spear attacks got a nice kick too. Burning Spear is great. However, the one I was hoping would be decent is the "Heavy Spear", which deals + damage (15) and inflicts deep wound if the enemy has more HP than you. They just never happen to have more hit points than me. Making it less useful than the good old Lightning Spear.
Leadership didn't get anything that really wowed me.
---
Niva Reikan: Warrior/Monk, Kurzick Champion
Arcturus Highwind: Paragon/Ranger
Pet: ROUS
Walker Tam: Warrior, Defender of Ascalon in Training
Nikolia Vasburg: Ritualist/Necromancer
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11/1/2006, 9:51 pm
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