A few things to keep track of

Today I hit level 70.

Here's the build I've been using almost all of the time.

Basically,
1-5 rifle 10-20% of the time. Mainly for just me vs just one other thing.
6 Elixer H - I just prefer the simple self heal. I can also throw it with my toolbelt skill for a little help to others.
7 - Elixer Gun - probably 30-40% of the time. Good to help others out - if there are 2 or more players near me, this is my default - I have 3 buff options and some good damage over time. I also get a nice self heal.
8 - Flamethrower - over 50% of the time. Great for area of effect, a bit of support (firewall) and control with a push back and a blind (doesn't work so well on bosses though). The icing on the cake is the toolbelt skill, which lets me cause burning with my next three attacks - combine that with the number 1 skill on the E-Gun (tranquilizer dart) and I throw 3 conditions out at once. I'm also running some traits that help out when I'm using the FT, but I'll talk about that some other time maybe.
9 - Elixer B, i love you... it makes me faster, mightier and altogether more awesome. And I can spread the awesome around too...
10 - Supply Crate - It's just a big bundle of BAM! I've only found a couple of situations where other elites are better. Also have the traits set to make this even bigger!

Oh and here's my look. I change the colour of my shirt regularly. Will probably be losing this look soon as I level out of it. I'm standing in the swamp in Mount Maelstrom for this pic.

my first cultural armor

I figure I'm a plant... I can be bright if I want to...

a new look?

I was getting a little sick of looking just like everyone else. So, what’s the solution?

if you have any transmutation stones it’s quite easy – get some armor that’s your level, get some armor that you like the look over – combine the 2 – the look of one, the stats of the other.

If you use the trading post, just filter to look only at coats, or boots, or whatever – you can then right click on the item for a preview. I bought 3 different coats using this method. Probably go for boots or gloves next…   I have some really interesting looks that aren’t the stock standard starter gear.

the minuses

2 things about GW2 that i'm not entirely enthralled about... they have their pluses, but i'm not so sure i love em

1 - Farewell to Talyorca and the Moral Boost

Because everything in GW2 contains both text and audio there will no longer be the beautiful moments where we laugh at mick for mispronouncing something. Just to hear some audio this week than talked about Ebonhawk (a town), i would have pronounced it differently... This isnt the big one, but its worth mentioning.

2 - Hey! Check out that Ele... I mean Necro... I mean Mesmer...

In GW2 there are only 3 categories of armor - scholar, adventurer and soldier. So a Warrior and a Guardian can look identical (maybe different facial/body features) in what they wear. I really liked being able to see someone coming and know straight up what class it was. Especially with a persistent world i want to be able to know straight away who im fighting with. I guess i'll work it out quickly by the gun, or the shadow step or the minions... but still...

Well there you have it.

I think they are going for flexibility with the armor, and really the audio thing is quite amazing... but i thought i'd mention em...

something to show for all the hard work

after over a months worth of farming and jade quarry runs, tonight i cashed in on it all and bought my Luxon armor, taking my hall of monuments count to 24 points...

Yeah Baby!

i think I want to get to 30 points, so i can get a black widow spider for a certain character of mine... i was thinking of calling the spider "spider from mars"

jade quarry

another one to file under - things i love about guild wars. I'm getting into things i've never done before, and I'm loving it. Here's how it happened...

I was looking to buy jadeite shards for the luxon armor i'm trying to get, and found out that yo

u can trade faction (5,000) for one shard. Well... the Jade Quarry competitive mission is a great way to earn faction. If you play kurzick, you can trade faction for amber chunks at a kurzick

beaurocrat (the shards are from a luxon scavenger).

so here's what i suggest

step 1

pick the armor - kurzick need amber, luxon need jade... which ever side you choose you start the jq mission from their outpost.

luxon warrior - jadeite shards

kurzick warrior - amber chunks

luxon ranger (jadeite shards)

kurzick ranger (amber chunks)

step 2

pick a build

there's a couple of ranger one's in the meta category - burning arrows and crippling shot

there's lots of warrior builds... gale axe, a strong heals build (info in spanish i think), devastating hammer and earth shaker

step 3

head on over to the Jade Quarry (on the side that suit the faction you are after), enter the mission and go crazy...

i find that it takes between 1 and 2 runs to get the 5,00 faction needed.

The 5,000 faction will also contribute to your friend of the... title.

and it doesnt matter if its not the same as our alliance (kurzick).

step 4

save up all the materials you need, and of course a heap of gold... get your armor and throw it into you're hall of monuments! 2 points!!

shweet?

let me me know how you go.

materials and crafting

they are worth a bomb, so i imagine what i'm saying here is a little null and void... but there's a few things i'm looking for over the coming months, that i imagine you guys will all be after too.

amber chunks

jadeite shards

sapphires

rubys

globs of ectoplasm (yeah right)

obsidian shards

diamonds

onyx gemstones

i'm trying to farm some of these bad boys, but it aint easy. these are all the stuff needed for some of the elite armor and destroyer weapons (well the hard stuff anyways). Having just a few of these bad boys could save you a fair bit of coin in the scheme of things.

One more note of armor - if you are aiming for elite armor you dont need to buy all 5 pieces to be able to display it - you only need the bottom 4 (shoes, pants, body, gloves), not the headgear. It's not huge, but will save you a few materials and possibly 15 plat (again depends on the armor). I imagine particularly for you warrior types the helmets are cool as, so it might be worth doing it just so you look awesome.

Last thing to note, that is somewhat related is some info that had been popping up in a few articles. Each character in guild wars 2 will also pick a crafting ability. So, instead of going to weapons makers (for example) you will possibly be able to do it yourself. I reckon a blog article will come out in the coming months about this. I think it would be the sort of thing that we should talk about before choosing so we can have a few bases covered. I have no idea how it will work, but it might be good to be able to spread the love.

good to go - armor me up

today i spent a ridiculous amount of gold - i am now back below 10k
what?

i decided to have a look at dervish armor, and get ready to be able to craft it as soon as we get to the docks - and then dye it as soon as i've bought it! i decided to go against spending a ridiculous amount on armor and going for elite - so it only costs 5k plus materials (and yes i still have 5k)

if you're interested i'm going for Istani armor which you can check out here
and there is a fair bit of coin invested in dye... i always like to put in the effort.

armor suggestions

heres my suggestions for elite armor for you guys. I'm keen to help you all get some if you're keen. can probably chip in some bucks too.

mick - maisa trueshot
either
ancient (from nightfall)asuran (eye of the north - level 5 asura title needed)caine - zahran gammel
norn - (eye of the north - level 5 norn title needed)
primeval - (nightfall)copland - the stamp
silver eagle (eye of the north - level 5 deldrimor needed)or elite sunspear (nightfall)
there are some cool factions ones too, but i liked these. the prophecies ones are funny with their insignias and stuff - note sure, but have a look anyways
ranger armor link
warrior armor link

new armor for razah

i decided razah was next - man he looks funky

and in front of his monument