I've played a bow/resto staff templar to V9. It's doable. I'm in the process of switching to a dual resto-staff build to maximize use of spell crit.
Here's the bow build I've used most recently in veteran content PVE. The bow serves four purposes in my build - a heavy stealthed opening attack, excellent crowd control with the Draining Shot skill, light attacks weaved in-between my skill attacks, and between light attacks and Draining Shot, a way to continue decent DPS while my magicka regenerates. Yes, it is far from a pure bow build, but it is one that has worked well for me throughout a good bit of the veteran content (Ebonheart and DC zones completed, currently in third AD zone).
Deacon's Bowplar
I usually open up with a stealthed heavy bow attack. What comes next depends on the composition of the mob group and how tough they are.
Here's how I deal with the "groups of three" in veteran content, depending on composition:
1) All melee. This one is easy. You won't dispose these as fast as an AOE build, but you'll do it without taking a single hit if done right:
a) Stealthed heavy bow attack
b) Power Of The Light on the same target
c) Vampire's Bane on same target
d) Binding Javelin on same target
e) Draining Shot on all other targets to CC them while you eliminate the first target.
f) light attacks or a second Vampire's Bane on the first target to finish out the extra damage buff of Power of Light. The target should die with the explosion of Power of Light. If you find that you are killing the first target before the Power of Light explosion, start (on future groups) spending those extra attacks on a second target.
g) depending on your magicka pool at this time, you can use a combination of binding Javelin and light attacks on the second target while you use Draining Shot to CC the third target.
h) If you are very low on magicka, use draining shot and kiting to kill the enemies with only using stamina while your magicka regenerates.
Now, if you really want to take the DPS up a notch, learn to weave a light attack or a partial heavy attack in between each of the skill attacks. Partial heavy attacks give you more DPS, but light attacks give you the best flexibility for CC of the second and third targets.
2) If there are 1 or more spell casters, after the opening stealth attack my next step is casting Total Dark on each of them (note, this only reflects single target spells back at them - dodge any AOE they cast). Usually the spell casters go down fast because they help you kill themselves through the reflected spells. Just an aside, it's quite satisfying to cast this on mages in AvA and watch them cast Crystal Shard on themselves. Anyhow, when you've got Total Dark on an enemy spell caster, try to avoid the itchy habit of throwing a Binding Javelin on them: you want them upright casting as many single target spells as possible to reflect on themselves.
3) If there are archers I cast binding javelin on them to stop any attacks from them for a few seconds. Then I use Draining shot on any other adds. A group of two or more archers can be a challenge. It's a dance of CC. Make sure you do not use Vampire's Bane or any other DOT when fighting multiple archers, and then you can depend on Draining Shot paired with Binding Javelin for constant CC.
Now, some will say this build really pales in DPS to AOE builds. And I will agree. But in the veteran zones, it's not just about maximizing damage output; in veteran zones it's first and foremost about survivability. This build is strong on survivability.
As a footnote, I'll mention briefly the 2nd bar of skills I use. With my larger mana pool, I always cast Combat Prayer and Mutagen before combat. This may mean, however, using mana pots during combat. For a particularly tough fight or for a boss fight, I open up with Quick Siphon instead of a stealthed heavy attack. Immovable Brute is useful in melee boss fights. It's not needed in a boss that is succeptible to CC. But for non-CC bosses, Immovable Brute and Quick Siphon are essential.
» Edited on: 2014-06-10 15:02:47
