I wonder at the game design right now. I have done this quest on sunday with my new paragon. There is lots of quests you must do until you can go on the final mission on Istan. The reason for this I see is, that you should be lvl. 17 before going to Kourna (the Gandara mission). There is some additional quests to acquire more heroes like Olias, Ogden, Gwen and Vekk. Questing in the wider world makes reaching lvl 17 or unto 20 easier. If you dont do this it will be necessary to do every side quest in Istan. Anyway I have forgotten how much fun it is to play paragon. The theme of this class is best paired with warrior or mesmer, in my opinion. Keep up the good work! You have inspired me to play this game again and so far it was worth every minute, what a blast!
@@MrChristophSteininge yeah I noticed my level falling behind the enemies and even henchmen at this stage. I’m gonna have to start doing more of the side quests/bounties. I also preferred paragon to dervish when nightfall first came out. But in this playthrough I’m certainly starting to see the power of the dervish! I’m really happy to know that you were inspired to pick the game up again! Guild Wars is always waiting for us to return.
As best I can tell, Kodlonu Hamlet is the only outpost in the region that offers level 15 henchmen. (Blacktide Den goes back down to level 12.) For reference, my earlier proposed builds with lvl 15 upgrades: Timera (Sword Warrior) level 15: Counterattack, Barbarous Strike, Gash, "Watch Yourself!", Healing Signet, Rez Signet Notes: Game keeps at only 5 skills, but I've already gone to 6 at lower levels and will add a 7th here. The game starts Timera off with Soldier's Strike which I had replaced. Adding it back, as the chant or shout condition now more easily met. Counterattack, Soldier's Strike, Barbarous Strike, Gash, "Watch Yourself!", Healing Signet, Rez Signet Abasi (Ranger) level 15: Apply Poison, Hunter's Shot, Crossfire, Distracting Shot, Troll Unguent, Rez Signet Notes: Game keeps at only 5 skills, but I've already gone to 6 at lower levels and will add a 7th here. The game starts Abasi with Pin Down and Power Shot, but I dropped/replaced both earlier. Pin Down is tempting, but it's 15e and does no +damage. Wanting to add damage on top of the degen, so adding Keen Arrow. Apply Poison, Hunter's Shot, Keen Arrow, Crossfire, Distracting Shot, Troll Unguent, Rez Signet Kihn (Healing Monk) level 15: Healing Breeze, Orison of Healing, Words of Comfort, Signet of Devotion, Remove Hex, Resurrect Notes: Game keeps at only 4 skills through lvl 15, but I've already gone to 6 at lower levels and will add a 7th here. Since Dunkoro (Monk hero) should be leveled enough, adding a third line (Protection) for a more flexible role. Orison of Healing, Words of Comfort, Signet of Devotion, Guardian, Dismiss Condition, Remove Hex, Resurrect Odurra (Domination Mesmer) level 15: Empathy, Cry of Frustration, Shatter Hex, Power Drain, Ether Feast, Rez Signet Notes: Game doesn't add a 7th skill until lvl 17, Mistrust, which is a great skill but subject to getting smited in hard mode. Energy may start to cause issues as well. Adding Mistrust earlier at lvl 15 and replacing Ether Feast with Drain Enchantment for a hybrid self-heal. Empathy, Cry of Frustration, Mistrust, Shatter Hex, Power Drain, Drain Enchantment, Rez Signet Herta (Earth/Fire Elementalist) level 15: Aura of Restoration, Earth Attunement, Ebon Hawk, Stone Daggers, Ward Against Foes, Rez Signet Notes: Game keeps at 6 skills from lvls 9-15 but adds Glowstone and Stoning at lvls 17-20. The Corsairs have anti-knockdown in hard mode, and a third line at this level seems the way to go. Adding Glowstone at lvl 15 and replacing Stone Daggers with Liquid Flame (a Nightfall skill) for some aoe. Aura of Restoration, Earth Attunement, Ebon Hawk, Glowstone, Liquid Flame, Ward Against Foes, Rez Signet Sogolon (Motivation Paragon) level 15: Spear of Lightning, Spear of Redemption, Aria of Restoration, Ballad of Restoration, Leader's Comfort, Signet of Return Notes: Game keeps at 6 skills from lvls 9-15, only adding a 7th at lvl 17+, Hexbreaker Aria an 8a chant. That's expensive; however, an adrenaline chant/shout is needed and I see no better option. Adding earlier. Spear of Lightning, Spear of Redemption, Aria of Restoration, Ballad of Restoration, Hexbreaker Aria, Leader's Comfort, Signet of Return Gehraz (Dervish) level 15: Victorious Sweep. Heart of Holy Flame, Zealous Renewal, Eremite's Zeal, Irresistible Sweep, Rez Signet Notes: Game adds Rending Aura, which has a very improbable conditional benefit and the cracked armor not that useful in starter regions in normal mode. Replacing Eremite's Zeal with Grenth's Finger's and adding an adrenaline teardown attack skill. Game starts Gehraz with Twin Moon Sweep, so adding back. Victorious Sweep. Heart of Holy Flame, Zealous Renewal, Granth's Fingers, Irresistible Sweep, Twin Moon Sweep, Rez Signet
@@tarheel7406 I noticed some serious drawbacks this episode for mainly only bringing the “martial” henchmen. I’m going to try out the Mesmer and elementalist next.
@@UberOfficer1 First, I cleaned up the earlier comment, but there was no substantive changes. Istan is generally both condition and enchantment friendly. The three physical henchmen inflict conditions with the game provided builds. You're a player Dervish, and you now also have Koss (Warrior) and Melonni (Dervish), so the henchmen options of the same professions become much less unattractive unless they have some key skills not yet available. The game originally limited the party to include only 3 heroes. Will you respect this limit on this nostalgia run?
@@UberOfficer1 Ooh... The game seems to have Monk and Elementalist henchmen only invested in 2 lines while others invest in 3. An Assassin had skills from 4 lines. To me, at level ~10 or ~15, a third line should always be considered if not preferred.
@@tarheel7406 ohhh that’s an interesting suggestion. On my Mesmer I have already used a full team of heroes… but what you suggest might be nice to showcase the henchmen as well.
Call the Flamingo - Shoo
@@ireapsi3996 ohh thanks for the recommendation!
I wonder at the game design right now. I have done this quest on sunday with my new paragon. There is lots of quests you must do until you can go on the final mission on Istan. The reason for this I see is, that you should be lvl. 17 before going to Kourna (the Gandara mission). There is some additional quests to acquire more heroes like Olias, Ogden, Gwen and Vekk. Questing in the wider world makes reaching lvl 17 or unto 20 easier. If you dont do this it will be necessary to do every side quest in Istan. Anyway I have forgotten how much fun it is to play paragon. The theme of this class is best paired with warrior or mesmer, in my opinion. Keep up the good work! You have inspired me to play this game again and so far it was worth every minute, what a blast!
@@MrChristophSteininge yeah I noticed my level falling behind the enemies and even henchmen at this stage. I’m gonna have to start doing more of the side quests/bounties.
I also preferred paragon to dervish when nightfall first came out. But in this playthrough I’m certainly starting to see the power of the dervish!
I’m really happy to know that you were inspired to pick the game up again! Guild Wars is always waiting for us to return.
If i recall, failing to upgrade armor really starts to show in the deeper areas of Istan.
@@tarheel7406 oh you’re right! I upgraded my armor once. Maybe I missed an upgrade spot.
~02:50 I was hoping that you would check to see if Beknur Harbor was now accessible. Party of 8.
@@tarheel7406 oh I just assumed that it was locked until I finished the quest. But yeah I should have checked it just in case.
Well there was Freddy on T.O.T.S.
@@MrChristophSteininge ok! I’ll have to look that up I’m not familiar with that show. Thanks for the recommendation!
As best I can tell, Kodlonu Hamlet is the only outpost in the region that offers level 15 henchmen. (Blacktide Den goes back down to level 12.) For reference, my earlier proposed builds with lvl 15 upgrades:
Timera (Sword Warrior) level 15:
Counterattack, Barbarous Strike, Gash, "Watch Yourself!", Healing Signet, Rez Signet
Notes: Game keeps at only 5 skills, but I've already gone to 6 at lower levels and will add a 7th here. The game starts Timera off with Soldier's Strike which I had replaced. Adding it back, as the chant or shout condition now more easily met.
Counterattack, Soldier's Strike, Barbarous Strike, Gash, "Watch Yourself!", Healing Signet, Rez Signet
Abasi (Ranger) level 15:
Apply Poison, Hunter's Shot, Crossfire, Distracting Shot, Troll Unguent, Rez Signet
Notes: Game keeps at only 5 skills, but I've already gone to 6 at lower levels and will add a 7th here. The game starts Abasi with Pin Down and Power Shot, but I dropped/replaced both earlier. Pin Down is tempting, but it's 15e and does no +damage. Wanting to add damage on top of the degen, so adding Keen Arrow.
Apply Poison, Hunter's Shot, Keen Arrow, Crossfire, Distracting Shot, Troll Unguent, Rez Signet
Kihn (Healing Monk) level 15:
Healing Breeze, Orison of Healing, Words of Comfort, Signet of Devotion, Remove Hex, Resurrect
Notes: Game keeps at only 4 skills through lvl 15, but I've already gone to 6 at lower levels and will add a 7th here. Since Dunkoro (Monk hero) should be leveled enough, adding a third line (Protection) for a more flexible role.
Orison of Healing, Words of Comfort, Signet of Devotion, Guardian, Dismiss Condition, Remove Hex, Resurrect
Odurra (Domination Mesmer) level 15:
Empathy, Cry of Frustration, Shatter Hex, Power Drain, Ether Feast, Rez Signet
Notes: Game doesn't add a 7th skill until lvl 17, Mistrust, which is a great skill but subject to getting smited in hard mode. Energy may start to cause issues as well. Adding Mistrust earlier at lvl 15 and replacing Ether Feast with Drain Enchantment for a hybrid self-heal.
Empathy, Cry of Frustration, Mistrust, Shatter Hex, Power Drain, Drain Enchantment, Rez Signet
Herta (Earth/Fire Elementalist) level 15:
Aura of Restoration, Earth Attunement, Ebon Hawk, Stone Daggers, Ward Against Foes, Rez Signet
Notes: Game keeps at 6 skills from lvls 9-15 but adds Glowstone and Stoning at lvls 17-20. The Corsairs have anti-knockdown in hard mode, and a third line at this level seems the way to go. Adding Glowstone at lvl 15 and replacing Stone Daggers with Liquid Flame (a Nightfall skill) for some aoe.
Aura of Restoration, Earth Attunement, Ebon Hawk, Glowstone, Liquid Flame, Ward Against Foes, Rez Signet
Sogolon (Motivation Paragon) level 15:
Spear of Lightning, Spear of Redemption, Aria of Restoration, Ballad of Restoration, Leader's Comfort, Signet of Return
Notes: Game keeps at 6 skills from lvls 9-15, only adding a 7th at lvl 17+, Hexbreaker Aria an 8a chant. That's expensive; however, an adrenaline chant/shout is needed and I see no better option. Adding earlier.
Spear of Lightning, Spear of Redemption, Aria of Restoration, Ballad of Restoration, Hexbreaker Aria, Leader's Comfort, Signet of Return
Gehraz (Dervish) level 15:
Victorious Sweep. Heart of Holy Flame, Zealous Renewal, Eremite's Zeal, Irresistible Sweep, Rez Signet
Notes: Game adds Rending Aura, which has a very improbable conditional benefit and the cracked armor not that useful in starter regions in normal mode. Replacing Eremite's Zeal with Grenth's Finger's and adding an adrenaline teardown attack skill. Game starts Gehraz with Twin Moon Sweep, so adding back.
Victorious Sweep. Heart of Holy Flame, Zealous Renewal, Granth's Fingers, Irresistible Sweep, Twin Moon Sweep, Rez Signet
@@tarheel7406 I noticed some serious drawbacks this episode for mainly only bringing the “martial” henchmen. I’m going to try out the Mesmer and elementalist next.
@@UberOfficer1 First, I cleaned up the earlier comment, but there was no substantive changes.
Istan is generally both condition and enchantment friendly. The three physical henchmen inflict conditions with the game provided builds. You're a player Dervish, and you now also have Koss (Warrior) and Melonni (Dervish), so the henchmen options of the same professions become much less unattractive unless they have some key skills not yet available.
The game originally limited the party to include only 3 heroes. Will you respect this limit on this nostalgia run?
@@UberOfficer1 Ooh... The game seems to have Monk and Elementalist henchmen only invested in 2 lines while others invest in 3. An Assassin had skills from 4 lines. To me, at level ~10 or ~15, a third line should always be considered if not preferred.
@@tarheel7406 ohhh that’s an interesting suggestion. On my Mesmer I have already used a full team of heroes… but what you suggest might be nice to showcase the henchmen as well.