What secondary profession should I pick?

I played Guild Wars back when it was released and haven't played it for roughly 5 years now. Today I bought the complete edition and figured I'd give GW another go. I've decided to create a Necromancer, and I will probably Start off with a Minion Master build I found on the wiki to play through the campaign with. Having said that, I'd like to know what secondary class is considered best for necromancers overall.

I will start off with pve, but I'm looking to do some pvp in the long run, and I'm guessing the MM build isn't really viable in pvp? If that is the case then I would rather not pick a secondary class just to support the minion master build, as once I've played through the campaign etc. I'll probably want to focus more on pvp.

If you really want to play as mm, the best secondary is probable monk, for self healing. However, for pve there are more viable builds, based on curses or blood. The role of mm is usually given to an hero. For starting mesmer could be a good option, or assassin. These are a couple of nice choices:

http://pvx.wikia.com/wiki/Build:N/Me_SS_Nuker
http://pvx.wikia.com/wiki/Build:N/A_Mark_of_Pain_Nuker

As pvp is concerned, mm is not a choice, a part from ally battle e some very specific builds (lichspike in HA, for example). My advice is to create a pvp character, so you can easily change the secondary profession, obtain skills (normal and elite) and the equipment. With pve character it is more complicated, and you can not experiment many option, since the time you need to unlock skills is longer.

For a character starting out, I'd recommend /Ele for all casters. It gives you access to early Glyph of lesser energy, which is great basic energy management for all casters.

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll have some time to think about it seeing as every single name I've tried so far has already been taken, and I'm not even talking about some basic cookie cutter names but names that always tend to be free for the taking in most other online games.

I'll direct you towards the Necromancer sub-forum in The Campfire:

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/n...ncer-f208.html

There is a stickied thread with useful information for Necros and lots of threads with relevant information.

Also: once you Ascend (a point during the main story in the game) you will be able to change your secondary profession to any of the others available.

As far as names and the 19 char limit, if you have a name you like, just add a last name that matches your toon idea, preceived background, etc. Your limited to 19 chars, but you can always break up words to make them fit as well. So if you really wanted to be Chuck Norris, you could be Chuck Norris Smith or something.

I would go with ritualist secondary, it gives you access to channeling magic, which has a few good support and offensive skill as well as siphon spirit, a good energy management skill.

But Necros should be okay with energy w/o any help with soul reaping.

It doesn't really matter. You can do just fine with only Necromancer skills until the point where you can change your secondary profession at will. That occurs very early in the grand scheme of things, in the first half of whatever campaign you start in.

Didn't see anyone say this, so I will: After about half the game you can change your secondary profession whenever you want. You are not in any way bound to your decision.
For the casual player I usually advice monk as secondary profession because that gives you a hard resurrection skill.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I think I'll go for Mesmer as my secondary profession.

On a side note, how long would you estimate that it takes to get the Defender of Ascalon title? I read the title description and how you're supposed to get it, so I do realize it's a pain to get, but I'm still curious.

LDoA
if you work only at that title and nothing else maybe within a month or two?
dunno my presearing character is over 4 yrs old and only level 17, lol

Holy crap. I thought the title name was cool so it would've been nice to get it but that's just insane haha. Especially considering that I haven't played through even one of the campaigns so far. Maybe I'll manage to get the survivor title instead then, even though the name isn't nearly as cool.

EDIT: Btw, do you get to keep the titles you get in GW1 once you get GW2?

Only God Walking Amongst Mere Mortals [GWAMM] transfers directly if memory serves.

LDoA is a chore because it takes a long time. But I'd bet NEDM has not been death leveling for 4 yrs. I have a lvl 15 perma pre that I've only recently even started to death level. It takes a few months once you start, if I understand. Check out www.presearing.com for more info on that.

Go /ele, Glyph of lesser Energy is a godly energy managment skill for low level characters, and when you have enough attribute points to actually use your secondary you are most likely already in the position to switch it freely in any outpost/town.

I know you say you played a while back, and probably already know a bit about the game, but I would strongly recommend against making your first character either Legendary Defender of Ascalon or Legendary Survivor. The former would take a long time and prevent you from really experiencing what the game has to offer, while the latter requires a knowledge of the game to succeed (unless you go the gimmick route). Either way, you'd probably end up very frustrated. Just roll whatever profession you'd like and have a blast -- explore, take chances, unlock skills and mods (which will help your heroes, your future PvE characters, and any PvP characters you might make), and experience the game. You have plenty of character slots with which you can more seriously go after titles (though if you get attached to your "pioneer," know that GWAMM is totally possible even without LDoA or LS). By then, you'll know what you're doing and will be able to succeed with fewer headaches.

Thanks for the heads-up. I was actually planning to continue with my char even if I die, just thought I might give survivor a try. Also, I'm sure I wont get the legendary survivor title, but don't I get the first survivor title quite early by comparison to the last one?

The time it takes to get Legendary Survivor varies greatly depending on how you go about it. In the halloween event that just past people were getting LS in less than an hour of character creation due to an incredibly lucrative quest. If you do it 'properly' and go through the content without specifically going for high XP rewards (like skill capping or buying quest rewards to hand in) it could take you several months depending on how long you play each day, how careful you are, and what campaign you're in.

Oh ok. I'm not sure but you might've misunderstood me since I wrote it a bit unclearly. Just to clarify, I assumed that the survivor title is quite a lot easier to get than the legendary survivor title, I mean doesn't the LS title require like 10 times more experience to get?

Yeah, it does. LDoA is 140,600XP, LS is 1,337,500XP. Keep in mind though that someone going to LDoA will be getting XP very very slowly compared to someone progressing normally though the game. You don't get XP from foes 6 levels lower than you, and the highest level foe in pre-searing is only level 11. Thus to get from level 17-20 you need to stand around letting the foes kill you so they level up sufficiently (people usually let this run overnight or while they're off at school/work). This gets you a few hundred XP and then you start over.

Just to clarify a bit further about the Survivor title, there are 3 "tiers" to it: 140,600 experience (basically just reaching level 20) without dying is the first tier with the displayable title of "Survivor"; 587,500 is the second tier, "Indomitable Survivor"; the third and final tier is "Legendary Survivor" with 1,337,500 experience without dying.

Only "Legendary Survivor" can be displayed in the Hall of Monuments. As far as prestige is concerned, "Survivor" isn't a very impressive title, but it can be pretty substantial for a new player. Nothing wrong with trying for it, but don't beat your head against a wall if you lose it. (I'm speaking from personal experience here -- I started my first character over several times in an attempt to get the title, but my lack of understanding of game mechanics made it very frustrating. After about 3 tries, I said, "screw it" and dove head-first into the rest of the game. It made for a much more enjoyable experience. That character is now working towards "God Walking Amongst Mere Mortals." )