Curse

jibikao · Mar 28, 2006, 06:03 PM // 18:03

Equinox
Create a level {unknown} Spirit. Spells cast within its range that cause Exhaustion cause double the Exhaustion instead. This Spirit dies after {unknown} seconds.
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Do Rangers need more skills against Elementalists? LOL I mean seriously. The whole Ranger class is designed to kill Ele. Rangers have great elemental resistance, their arrows reduce their Wards to useless, they have so many interruption skills, they have skills that do CRAZY damage on enchantment foe (Melandru's Assault can easily do over +100 damage and there is Melandru's Arrow) and now we have this elite spirit that can potentially destory all Eles.

Oh my.

Mordakai · Mar 28, 2006, 06:05 PM // 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibikao

Equinox
Create a level {unknown} Spirit. Spells cast within its range that cause Exhaustion cause double the Exhaustion instead. This Spirit dies after {unknown} seconds.
--------------

Do Rangers need more skills against Elementalists? LOL I mean seriously. The whole Ranger class is designed to kill Ele. Rangers have great elemental resistance, their arrows reduce their Wards to useless, they have so many interruption skills, they have skills that do CRAZY damage on enchantment foe (Melandru's Assault can easily do over +100 damage and there is Melandru's Arrow) and now we have this elite spirit that can potentially destory all Eles.

Oh my.

Luckily for Eles, no Ranger would waste an Elite for this, especially since Eles suck so bad to begin with (not flaming, I want Eles to rock, believe me. But judging from the Preview, Mesmers and Necros got buffed, and Eles got jacked.)

Theos · Mar 28, 2006, 06:08 PM // 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

Mesmer:

Overload- It is my understanding that this is like an anti-ele type of skill. It's ok... but it's also nothing to be excited about.

You are most correct, but with Illusion this can become anti-caster. Its decent, the damage isn't bad. It needs more field testing though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

Unnatural Sig- The return of this skill is a big one. I love it. It's nice for killing annoying Rt spirits, it's nice as a finishing spike (Mesmers always seem to need the last move), and I can finally make a highly effective and damaging Sig mes.

Ya, this will Keystone Signet even more viability come Factions (along with the truckload of other good signets). Death to Spirit Spam.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

Accumulated Pain- Phantom Pain/Shatter Del alternative. I used it on top on Images of Remorse and Conjure Phantasm-> 10 degen, some minor spike damage, and a Deep Wound. Worked perfectly fine.

Even though it is Illusion, allowing for less of a spread I would still say PP/Shatter is better. Accumulated Pain is outdamaged, equally DW, and more conditional than PP/Shatter. Though it is only one skill. I guess only testing will tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

Conjure Nightmare- This skill is damn costly... I used it with Glyph of Energy. It is cool, because of its low cooldown you can spread it around and max degen a lot fo things and if u use GoE or smth similar to negate the cost, it can be really useful.

Lets not talk about bad skills as if they were good. GoE is really the only thing that would make this viable, and thats taking an elite slot and then another slot to boot. Hell if you want degen Illusion of Pain is so much better, for one it doesn't cost mad energy and its a very good finishing move.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

Images of Remorse- Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful new addition. Clumsiness meets Conjure Phantasm for a cheap, low recharge anti-war, ranger, assassin move. If your target isn't attacking- who cares- give them some cheap 5 degen anyway!

I agree this skill is good, how good I am not sure. If I remember correctly it was either to short on duration or it cost 15... I am not sure. If either of those are true, I'd dare say this skill shouldn't be run just for the degen.

Woo. I just hope Conjure Nightmare won't become the next backfire cookie.

jibikao · Mar 28, 2006, 06:09 PM // 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordakai

Luckily for Eles, no Ranger would waste an Elite for this, especially sense Eles suck so bad to begin with (not flaming, I want Eles to rock, believe me. But judging from the Preview, Mesmers and Necros got buffed, and Eles got jacked.)

I know 99% of the Rangers won't use this skill but A.Net just designed a skill that basically only affects Ele and no other classes. I just find it funny that A.Net gave Rangers even more power against Ele.

If Ele Spike becomes too popular, I won't be surprised if some top teams use this spirit to mess up Eles.

jibikao · Mar 28, 2006, 06:14 PM // 18:14

Images of Remorse
Hex Spell. For 5..9 seconds, target foe suffers -1..4 Health degeneration. If that foe was attacking, that foe takes 10..44 damage. (Attrib: Illusion Magic)
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Wow, so powerful. I mean the degen alone is great. The energy cost and recharge make it wonderful. 2s on a Mesmer isn't all that bad. Great addition!

Mordakai · Mar 28, 2006, 06:14 PM // 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibikao

I know 99% of the Rangers won't use this skill but A.Net just designed a skill that basically only affects Ele and no other classes. I just find it funny that A.Net gave Rangers even more power against Ele.

If Ele Spike becomes too popular, I won't be surprised if some top teams use this spirit to mess up Eles.

Oh, I agree totally. Like you said, it's not like Rangers really need another anti-ele spell... and one that effects the Eles weak point to boot.

Although I guess this will end the Warrior Gale for sure...

(Edited for clarity

)

Poor eles. Their best spells get nerfed because they are exploited by other classes...

How did what looked like one of the best professions become the worst?

jibikao · Mar 28, 2006, 06:15 PM // 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordakai

Oh, I agree totally. Like you said, it's not like Rangers really need another anti-ele spell... and one that effects the Eles weak point to boot.

Although I guess this could end the Warrior Gale for sure...

Well, Gale now costs 10E. Even my Ranger Beast Mastery can't use it now. Too costly. lol Imagine if double the exhaustion??!!!! Holy cow. Talk about ownage.

Hella Good · Mar 28, 2006, 06:19 PM // 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordakai

Luckily for Eles, no Ranger would waste an Elite for this, especially sense Eles suck so bad to begin with (not flaming, I want Eles to rock, believe me. But judging from the Preview, Mesmers and Necros got buffed, and Eles got jacked.)

I think this is a bit overstated. The thing I had the most trouble with while playing a MESMER in the FPE PvP was the close-range Eles. Maybe it was because I did mostly warrior's bane (too many noob assas, I just had to show 'em who's the boss there

) and e-denial (which isn't all too effective versus an 80 nrg ele) but still... stuff like Ride The Lightning-Shock-Aftershock or like the Phoenix-Flameburst combo, finished off with whatever assa skill they were using to tele out, was painful. Perhaps, if I had made a Migraine type of build with inters, it would've been easier but... don't forget that a lot of the point-blank skills have 3/4 sec cast so... not like you can easily inter that.

I think where the new ele skills are lacking is Exhaustion management. There really should be a skill to fasten the rate of recovery from Exhaustion, MIND YOU, WITHOUT causing Exhaustion.

But hey, only time will tell...

P.S. Jibikao, try not to double post, use edit instead.

Theos · Mar 28, 2006, 06:24 PM // 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibikao

Images of Remorse
Hex Spell. For 5..9 seconds, target foe suffers -1..4 Health degeneration. If that foe was attacking, that foe takes 10..44 damage. (Attrib: Illusion Magic)
----------------
Wow, so powerful. I mean the degen alone is great. The energy cost and recharge make it wonderful. 2s on a Mesmer isn't all that bad. Great addition!

Is that really it? Its lackluster, more like some confused indentities skill than anything.

jibikao · Mar 28, 2006, 06:26 PM // 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordakai

Oh, I agree totally. Like you said, it's not like Rangers really need another anti-ele spell... and one that effects the Eles weak point to boot.

Although I guess this will end the Warrior Gale for sure...

(Edited for clarity

)

Poor eles. Their best spells get nerfed because they are exploited by other classes...

How did what looked like one of the best professions become the worst?

I also want to say that almost all Spirits affect ALL members within the range so technically you always need careful planning in order to make spirits worthwhile. But this Equinox spirit really ONLY affects Ele primary who can afford the exhaustion cost. Luckily it's an elite but one spirit like this on a 8v8 or 12v12 team can totally mess up Eles who have spells that cost exhaustion (plenty of them!) or it's even worse for secondary Ele who use exhausion spells.

Hella Good · Mar 28, 2006, 06:34 PM // 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theos

Is that really it? Its lackluster, more like some confused indentities skill than anything.

When you max your Illusion, it gives same degen as Conjure Phantasm AND it gives a bit of spike damage if enemy is attacking (50). It's cheap, low recharge hex (2 cast never a problem on a mes). Like I said, I used Inepti + Images of Remorse + Conjure Phantasm + Cume Pain. It made short work of warriors, assas, and rangers. All the better, if some1 uses the Instant Death skill (Frenzy). All in all, it's probably one of the best new additions to the Illusion hex line.

Zhou Feng · Mar 28, 2006, 07:02 PM // 19:02

It sounds like the Elementalist have recieved the Shaft... sad but thats how it sounds. To many skills that give self Exhaustion with no way to deal with it except Glyph of Energy. Elementalist really need ways to deal with their exhaustion and magic costs not add more spells that are costlier to cast or deal exhaustion.

Theos · Mar 28, 2006, 07:05 PM // 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

When you max your Illusion, it gives same degen as Conjure Phantasm AND it gives a bit of spike damage if enemy is attacking (50). It's cheap, low recharge hex (2 cast never a problem on a mes). Like I said, I used Inepti + Images of Remorse + Conjure Phantasm + Cume Pain. It made short work of warriors, assas, and rangers. All the better, if some1 uses the Instant Death skill (Frenzy). All in all, it's probably one of the best new additions to the Illusion hex line.

Its wasteful, Ineptitude and Clumsiness alone destroy most of the HP of a warrior sure they are limited but your build is even more so. Hell I can easily throw in Shatter and PP to totally destroy a warrior/ranger in one spike with little conditionality. Your build is extremly conditional and requires the hexes to actually stay on the target to be effective.

Perhaps I am blind but there are better options already available. Also why would you run that identity crisis skill when you can simply run Clumsi and Conjure for definate full effects. You are already using clumsi as is.

Hella Good · Mar 28, 2006, 07:22 PM // 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theos

Its wasteful, Ineptitude and Clumsiness alone destroy most of the HP of a warrior sure they are limited but your build is even more so. Hell I can easily throw in Shatter and PP to totally destroy a warrior/ranger in one spike with little conditionality. Your build is extremly conditional and requires the hexes to actually stay on the target to be effective.

Perhaps I am blind but there are better options already available. Also why would you run that identity crisis skill when you can simply run Clumsi and Conjure for definate full effects. You are already using clumsi as is.

Because... UNLIKE Clumsiness it has 5(!!!!!!!) nrg cost and 5(!!!!!!!!) recharge, AND gives 5(!!!!!!!!!) degen. In other words: it is more for less. Also... UNLIKE Clumsiness, Images of Remorse is useful against spellcasters, too: 5 degen is 5 degen anyway you look at it.

In 10 seconds (recharge of Clumsiness) and for 10 nrg (nrg cost of Clumsiness) you can hit TWICE with Images of Remorse and so get:

* MORE SPIKE DAMAGE (over 100)
* 100 (!!!!!!!!) DEGEN DAMAGE
* MORE FLEXIBILITY (useful on non-attacking chars as well)

What more can I say... I'll be using IoR, you can stick with Clumsiness.

On a side note, no one said you can't combo the skills. Bottom line is: personal preference.

Theos · Mar 28, 2006, 07:50 PM // 19:50

The real key difference is ofcourse the fact that Clumsi is spike, IoR is not. The following are instances with only the skill, no others.

Clumsiness:
~ Spike of 100 damage upon an attack, easily timed to hit mid swing.
~ Ten second duration.
~ Ten recharge, ten energy.
Weakness:
~ Must have an attack occur, can be removed.
~ Long recharge and high cost in comparison to IoR.

IoR:
~ Spike of 50 damage upon attack, easily timed to hit mid swing.
~ 5 Health Degeneration for 10 seconds.
~ Five energy, five recharge.
Weakness:
~ Must have an attack occur, can be removed.
~ Half damage of Clumsiness, easily negatable overtime degen.
~ To reach Clumsi spike damage, it requires two attacks to be chained.

So we have: 100 damage, small conditionality, vs 50 + 50 damage, much higher conditionality and some degen.

To be honest I still don't see why you'd take this over Clumsi, its far more conditional and its "bonus" is good in theory, i'd dare say poor in real situations.

Linkusmax · Mar 28, 2006, 08:27 PM // 20:27

Shockwave - This skill is great, was running it in a rainbow spike and hit it at 1. Spreads some pretty high end damage around and confsues monks to where the spikes coming from. Really the only elite I would take besides ether prodigy.

Sliver Armour. - Great spell, especially for my Earth ele, I can bring wards High end damage (Shockwave --> Crystal Wave --> Teinais Crystals) and tank warriors all in one skillbar? Earth Eles are pretty much all I take in PvP except for fire nukers in specific builds (offensive preassure).

Sofia Sofia Sofia · Mar 28, 2006, 08:44 PM // 20:44

Well I played mostly ranger and Ritualist in Alliance battles... Here are my thoughts about some of the skills I was able to use.

Ranger:

Broadhead Arrow: Inflicts Dazed when hit; arrow travels twice as slow. Despite what people say about how hard it is to hit with this, it's not entirely true. Read the Wind and a short bow allows you to hit them almost everytime, just need to get close. Though... I'm not sure about it being an elite...

Marauder Shot: +37 damage (16 Marks) to next shot; all non-attack skills recharge for 5 secs. I think this skill is alright for pure damage rangers, it allows you to hit warriors (100 armor) for more than 60 damage, which is better than Dual Shot minus Orders. Casters usually take 80-100 damage. All not using a horn bow. It takes one more sec to charge than Dual, but that's not important.

Focused Shot: +26 damage (16 Marks) 2 sec recharge, 5 E cost, but causes all other attack skills to recharge for 3 secs. Either this or Marauder shot is bugged... they both do the same damage! But the 3 sec lockdown on other attack skills, worst of all Savage Shot, is inexcusable. But why does it hit just as hard as Marauder? I practiced against the dummies and I couldn't believe it.

Needling Shot: Does 21 flat arrow damage. Considering that a bow does 15-28 damage max, a flat 21 is not bad, tack on RtW and a weapon enchant, then the instant recharge begins to... be an asset.

Ritualist:

Flesh of My Flesh: Okay it takes half life, but so does Infuse Health. Me/Rt, with fast cast 16 and you have the best rez in the game, hands down.

Shelter: Just keep it alive, and you will be almost immune against all but pressure builds. This one really should be an elite. The key is to keep it alive, may not be a bad idea to have a dedicated Monk with heal area on this.

Shadowsong: Correct me if I'm wrong, but you CAN target this thing, no? Or at least it autotargets the greatest threat. I didn't know how effective it was until I tired to kill one as a ranger. It kept me blinded, I literally did not get a single shot off.

Wanderlust: OMFG! This one is a killer, I think we all know the spirit that goes with this one: the ranger one that causes all fallen enemies to bleed, then throw in the one that causes +2 degen on bleed = huge party wide pressure. It also makes it very hard for N and E because of the longish cast times.

Pain: terrible, not sure why people use it. It's damage is pitiful and it doesn't shoot fast. I don't think you can call targets on it either, wouldn't want to, it'd give away the called target.

Mordakai · Mar 28, 2006, 09:00 PM // 21:00

Oh yeah, I capped Consume Soul [E]. It heals all allies something like 158 health at level 12, by destroying touched spirit.

Pretty nice, especially against enemy spirits... (of course, you do have to run up and touch them, so I don't think it's overpowered...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sofia

Shadowsong: Correct me if I'm wrong, but you CAN target this thing, no? Or at least it autotargets the greatest threat. I didn't know how effective it was until I tired to kill one as a ranger. It kept me blinded, I literally did not get a single shot off.

Can you target with spirits? I didn't really pay attention...

Hella Good · Mar 28, 2006, 09:05 PM // 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theos

The real key difference is ofcourse the fact that Clumsi is spike, IoR is not. The following are instances with only the skill, no others.

Clumsiness:
~ Spike of 100 damage upon an attack, easily timed to hit mid swing.
~ Ten second duration.
~ Ten recharge, ten energy.
Weakness:
~ Must have an attack occur, can be removed.
~ Long recharge and high cost in comparison to IoR.

IoR:
~ Spike of 50 damage upon attack, easily timed to hit mid swing.
~ 5 Health Degeneration for 10 seconds.
~ Five energy, five recharge.
Weakness:
~ Must have an attack occur, can be removed.
~ Half damage of Clumsiness, easily negatable overtime degen.
~ To reach Clumsi spike damage, it requires two attacks to be chained.

So we have: 100 damage, small conditionality, vs 50 + 50 damage, much higher conditionality and some degen.

To be honest I still don't see why you'd take this over Clumsi, its far more conditional and its "bonus" is good in theory, i'd dare say poor in real situations.

I see we have a failure to communicate here. IoR is not attack-triggered. Clumsiness is. Clumsiness reads "if target foe attempts to attack," IoR reads "if (that) foe was attacking." If you were attacking but stop attacking Clumsiness won't hit, however, IoR will. Clumsiness triggers upon your next attack attempt, IoR your state of attack (which is as soon as you press that Spacebar on a target you are in a state of attack).

And you got your maths wrong- Clumsiness 97 damage, 2xIoR= 200 damage, for the same amount of time, and the same energy cost. Also feel free to remove IoR- inbetween you realizing you have a hex on, you wanna remove, clicking on the skill to remove it, and actually casting the remove hex, all I will lose is max 2 sec of degen, which is 20 damage... I will immediate recast IoR...

This said, I'm letting this conversation shift to other skills... you are free to have your opinions and I am free to disagree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordakai

Oh yeah, I capped Consume Soul [E]. It heals all allies something like 158 health at level 12, by destroying touched spirit.

Pretty nice, especially against enemy spirits... (of course, you do have to run up and touch them, so I don't think it's overpowered....

I didn't play much Rt this event, because I got a chance to do it last event and felt that I'd rather play my other fav classes instead. But from last event, boy... was Consume Soul a complete Rt killer... hell yea... I hated it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordakai

Can you target with spirits? I didn't really pay attention...

I wouldn't think you can... or maybe you can to the extent you can control minions... that is you can make suggestions, they can choose to abide or not abide...

Aerials · Mar 28, 2006, 09:07 PM // 21:07

Archer's Signet{E}:

All your non-attack skills are disabled for 15..9 seconds. for 30 seconds your next 1..6 attacks cost no Energy.

In alliance battles i would combo this with concussion shot along with hard hitting bow attacks and use rtw and beastial fury as an IAS...gg