Updated my “About Me” page with the current progress on all of my titles.  This includes several completed dungeons in both NM and HM, at least 1 new vanquish in each campaign, and several more ranks in my reputation titles.

My next short term goal will be to complete my NM dungeon book by doing Rragar’s Menagerie and Catacombs of Kathandrax.  This way I’ll get my Vanguard title to near r8, but will be able to use my NM dungeon book to earn vanguard reputation (so it’s not a waste).  I’m pretty sure the other 3 reputation titles will take care of themselves by the time I finish all of the dungeons.  Only 21 (total) more dungeons to go!

Now, if only I could find a way to farm keys…..

Not a major feat really, but I had some free time so I thought I’d spend it wisely. I decided to whip out my Cryomancer build for this. It needs some work, but the energy management is great. I really need to get a 20/20 water item though to speed things up. Casting times killed me on this one. Still, the snares worked well to slow down the dwarves.

Cryomancer – N/E

Max out Soul Reaping and Water Magic

I used high energy armor and a +20 energy staff

Glyph of Energy [E]
Maelstrom
Deep Freeze
Ice Spikes
Freezing Gust
Glowing Ice
Signet of Lost Souls
Rez

Ok, a few updates. I Vanquished the rest of GW:EN and finished mapping it as well. I’ve bumped my second allegiance title over r8 (hard mode only from now on) and now I’m Not too Lazy. Despite my previous post, I used the same SS PvE build I’ve been using for these 3 vanquished areas…. SS, EVSinSupp., PainInverter, Enf.Blood, WeakArm, Barbs, MoP, rez. I wanted to do all 3 areas tonight so I went with simple.

Additionally, in unrelated news, I have stepped down as writer from GW Vault due to a RL busy schedule. As such, I’ve opened up Chronicles here on my blog for everyone to read. I’ll add to it when I can.

That’s about it for now. Off to bed.

I have 100 areas left to vanquish across the world. My mission, should I choose to accept it (and I do) is to vanquish each area with a different build. Now, I don’t mean 1-2 skills changed different, I mean something completely different from what I used in the area before. I like the idea of “anything you can do I can do better” though, what I’ve found for me at least is it turns out to be “anything you can do I can do also.” Realistically I won’t have a different build for every area because some of these areas involve caravaning, but you get the idea. I’m looking forward to exploring my 4 Necro attributes further and playing around with my N/X options. I gotta save up for some items though.

So, in the coming months as I successfully vanquish area after area, I’ll be posting the build I use. I have to say, listing my vanquishing accomplishments was an idea shamelessly stolen from Kousei, but I wanted to challenge myself further and try some new angles to playing a Necro, because frankly, I’m sick and tired of Spiteful Spirit.

Below is a list of all of the areas I still need to vanquish. If you’re in game, give me a whisper (Belzan Furu) if you want to tag along. Don’t bother clicking below if you don’t care about what I need to vanquish though…you aren’t missing much.

EotN areas left to vanquish

Alcazia Tangle
Magus Stones
Riven Earth

Elonian areas left to vanquish

Istan
Cliffs of Dohjok
Fahranur, The First City
Issnur Isles
Lahtenda Bog
Mehtani Keys
Plains of Jarin
Zehlon Reach

Kourna
Arkjok Ward
Bahdok Caverns
Dejarin Estate
The Floodplain of Mahnkelon
Jahai Bluffs
Marga Coast
Sunward Marches
Turai’s Procession

Vabbi
Forum Highlands
Garden of Seborhin
The Hidden City of Ahdashim
Holdings of Chokhin
The Mirror of Lyss
Resplendent Makuun
Vehjin Mines
Vehtendi Valley
Wilderness of Bahdza
Yatendi Canyons

The Desolation
The Alkali Pan
Crystal Overlook
Joko’s Domain
Poisoned Outcrops
The Ruptured Heart
The Shattered Ravines
The Sulfurous Wastes

Canthan areas left to vanquish

Shing Jea Island
Haiju Lagoon
Jaya Bluffs
Kinya Province
Minister Cho’s Estate
Panjiang Peninsula
Zen Daijun

Kaineng City
Pongmei Valley
Raisu Palace
Shenzun Tunnels
Sunjiang District
Tahnnakai Temple
Wajjun Bazaar
Xaquang Skyway

Echovald Forest
Arborstone
Drazach Thicket
The Eternal Grove
Morostav Trail
Mourning Veil Falls

Jade Sea
Archipelagos
Boreas Seabed
Gyala Hatchery
Maishang Hills
Mount Qinkai
Rhea’s Crater
Silent Surf
Unwaking Waters

Tyrian areas left to vanquish

Northern Shiverpeaks
Anvil Rock
Deldrimor Bowl
Iron Horse Mine
Traveler’s Vale

Kryta
The Black Curtain
Cursed Lands
Kessex Peak
Nebo Terrace
North Kryta Province
Scoundrel’s Rise
Stingray Strand
Talmark Wilderness
Tears of the Fallen
Twin Serpent Lakes
Watchtower Coast

Maguuma Jungle
Ettin’s Back
Mamnoon Lagoon
Reed Bog
Sage Lands
Silverwood
Tangle Root
The Falls

Crystal Desert
The Arid Sea
Diviner’s Ascent
Prophet’s Path
Salt Flats
The Scar
Skyward Reach
Vulture Drifts

Southern Shiverpeaks
Dreadnought’s Drift
Frozen Forest
Grenth’s Footprint
Ice Floe
Icedome
Lornar’s Pass
Mineral Springs
Snake Dance
Spearhead Peak
Talus Chute

My current line up for Vanquishing is a variant of SABway (see link under “Sites of Interest.” Since I am a Necro Primary, I cover the SS build and run the JaggedMM and WoR builds as well as a general mesmer interrupter.

But first! What are SABway and Dwarfway?

SABway is a 3 hero build consisting of 3 Necroes. The first Necro is a N/Rt that uses Weapon of Remedy, spot heals and partywide healing. In addition, this Necro uses weapon skills which can’t be stripped. The second Necro is a Minion Master with Jagged Bones and Death Nova for long lasting minions and spike damage from minion deaths. In addition, the second Necro doubles as a general Prot Monk with Aegis and Protective Spirit. The third Necro functions as a Spiteful Spirit curse Necro with some enchant removal. The SS Necro can remove conditions for all within earshot and the WoR Necro removes conditions and hexes.

Dwarfway is also a 3 hero build. This build consists of 2 MMs and a Healing Monk. This build shines due to the vast number of minions coupled with frequent spike damage from Death Novas (when minions die) and Putrid Bile/Explosions. The Monk takes care of healing with quick cast times and strong/cheap heals, while removing conditions and hexes. The Paragon secondaries provide defense (from the use of Command req shields) and allow for minions to move quickly and crit more frequently.

Rather than reprint SABway here, I’ll show you my variant.

Belzan SABway variant:

Player Necro (12+4 curses; 12+1 SR)

• Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support
• Spiteful Spirit
• Enfeebling Blood
• Barbs
• Mark of Pain
• Desecrate Enchants
• Defile Enchants
• Rez

I use the Sin + Barbs to spike targets such as Monks or bosses. He also serves as a distraction while my minions move into battle. Barbs + Mark of Pain + minions = lots of bonus damage. Minions focus on one target frequently which will quickly overwhelm the enemy monk (if it isn’t already dead). SS, Mark of Pain and Desecrate/Defile Enchants all do nice AoE damage. Enfeebling Blood is good for cutting down damage. It is an AoE condition that weakens foes, which I frequently use when a melee foe makes his way to the backline.

Jagged MM Variant (12+4 death; 9+1 SR; 9 prot)

• Jagged Bones
• Death Nova
• Animate Bone Minions
• Animate Bone Fiend/Extinguish/Remove Hex
• Blood of the Master
• Prot Spirit
• Aegis
• SoLS

Based on an older version of SAB’s build, I use Extinguish for nice condition removal in condition heavy areas. SAB’s current version has Remove Hex which is often more useful. I like to use Bone Fiends for their range and attack rate, though they tend to clump together so I opt for other minions in areas heavy in Elementalist foes. Energy isn’t an issue with SoLS.

MoR Mes (12+3 FC; 9+2 dom; 9 insp; 3 heal)

• Mantra of Recovery
• Power Return
• Power Spike
• Cry of Frustration
• Power Drain
• Drain Enchantment
• Remove Hex
• Rez Chant

I like having interrupts in my group. The Mesmer serves as a strong interrupt source and quick rez, as well as hex removal and foe enchant removal. With a Fast Cast of 15 and an increased 33% recharge time on spells, this provides constant interrupt pressure on foes. I tend to lock this hero on to a troublesome caster such as an Ele or Necro.

I generally run SAB’s WoR hero as is. Why mess with success?

This build has been successful for me many times and it is essentially the same build I used to vanquish all of Ascalon in one sitting.

Now, Dwarfway works in theory. I haven’t run this build yet (it was recommended by an ally Toffin the Dwarf) because I don’t have the hardware. I’m told I should run it with a Caster Spear (+5 energy and +5 defense or +7 vs physical…I added a barbed mod for increased bleeding from minions) and a r9 Command Shield (+16 armor and “riddle of steel”inscription for +10 armor vs slashing) on all 3 heroes. Slashing damage is one of the most common forms of non-elemental damage encountered. Against a Warrior or Assassin, these heroes have between +21 to +33 armor.

Dwarf MM 1 (12+4 death; 9+1 SR; 9 command; 3 blood)

• Jagged
• Shambling
• Bone Minions
• Putrid Explosion
• Putrid Bile
• Dark Bond
• BotM
• “Fall Back”

Ok, minions are self explanatory. Putrid Explosion/Bile deal AoE damage for spikes (usually in the middle of the foes). “Fall Back” is a speed buff for the party and the minions. Pretty simple build really. The downside of this build, in my opinion, is that it puts the hero into a hexer position by casting hexes on foes (making them a target). The increased armor should offset this danger however. Dark Bond helps by transferring damage to minions (thereby causing them to explode with Death Nova).

Dwarf MM 2 (12+4 death; 9+1 SR; 9 command; 3 blood)

• Jagged
• Shambling
• Bone Minions
• BotM
• Death Nova
• Putrid Bile
• Dark Bond
• “Go for the Eyes”

Pretty much the same as above. Death Nova and Putrid Bile provide AoE damage. “Go for the Eyes” increases the crit rate of minions as well as party members. More damage is always good.

Dwarf Monk (12+4 healing; 9+1 DF; 9 command)

• Dwayna’s Kiss
• Words of Comfort
• Word of Healing
• Healing Ribbon
• Cure Hex
• Healing Touch
• Holy Haste
• Rez Chant

Pretty straightforward really. Lots of fast and cheap healing with hex and condition removal. Enough said!

My third hero spot fluxuates. I usually run myself as SS and include both the WoR and JagMM heroes. From there I can add whatever is needed for the area. Frequent additions include an interrupt Mesmer, a hybrid or full prot Monk, a solid tank/damage dealer (usually Dervish or Warrior), a spirit spammer (offensive or defensive), a N/R Beastmaster with Flesh Golem, an Icy Veins spike Necro (Death Magic–AoE damage upon foe’s death), and a Nuker. Having the third slot open helps when using this build for Missions/Quests that require a specific hero.

Hope that helps!

I have taken a nice chunk out of my skill capping title for Elona this week.  I am down to needing only 16 skills to get my title (the rest are in the Realm of Torment–save the worst for last).  Thanks to an agreement with a guildie, I have been able to purchase the last cap sigs I will need to finish out both Elona and Cantha (89 skills in total I believe).

I sadly did not get to take full advantage of the vanquishing weekend.  I was able to vanquish Dalada Uplands for a cool 3k xp and gold, but my goal of finishing off vanquishing all of Eye of the North (need Grothmar and 4 Asura areas) was not met this weekend.

In other news, I’ve learned of a vanquishing build from an ally that is comparable to Sabway.  His version involves 2 MM and a hybrid monk (I think).  I’ll post more about Sabway (including my usual variations) and Dwarfway (my name for the build suggested to me) in a future post.