Curse

Alhazred · Sep 30, 2005, 02:53 AM // 02:53

Hmm... dang, i liked hex breaker the way it was.

If they're going to reduce my ability to deter people from stacking me with a billion hexes, then at least let me take my pound of flesh for the one or two hexes i get to block with it- beef up the backlash damage it does or add some extra recharge time to the hex it blocks, or do _something_ to make that necro/mesmer think twice about dropping something else on my head...

lord_shar · Sep 30, 2005, 02:54 AM // 02:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysterial

...<SNIP>...
Hundred Blades attacks twice, so it is actually a damage boost, and pretty significant if you throw in a Conjure, a Necro Order or two, etc. I haven't done the math myself but it seems like it could actually be significantly more powerful than Cyclone Axe (and thus worth the elite slot) in the right build.

Hundred Blades hits for much less than Cyclone Axe, and I've used them both on the same targets with the same warrior. Hundred Blades hits the primary target twice and adjacent targets to the primary but once. Cyclone Axe hits all of them with a damage bonus of +4 to +10, which is a lot once armor is factored into it. The two skills have almost the same damage output level, but one is an elite, the other is not.

Hundred Blades only became an elite to prevent it from being used with Illusionary Weaponry. Now that it's been upgraded to elite status, why shouldn't its damage or cool-down be similar to Cyclone Axe? It's an elite skill that has no business being an elite in its present state.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyX

Um...Hundred Blades is a lot like Dual Shot.

You need something on it to make it really good. Slap in a conjure flame, max out sword, and your max damage with hundred blades is around 130 (55, 55, 10, 10). No building up ald and very low eng.

I made a flaming sword warrior (no gay jokes, please) using hundred blades and cojure flame. Did an insane amount of damage.

Dual Shot is not an elite skill while Hundred Blades is. Yes, it combos well with certain other attack skills, but why should it be an elite skill if its current specs don't justify the elite label?

MarkyX · Sep 30, 2005, 02:56 AM // 02:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by lord_shar

Dual Shot is not an elite skill while Hundred Blades is. Yes, it combos well with certain other attack skills, but why should it be an elite skill if its current specs don't justify the elite label?

Low eng (5) and no damage reduction.

Seriously, try conjure "whatever" + hundred blades with sword mastery 16.

Now picture you spamming that shit, not wasting your ald, but gaining it faster too.

Rieselle · Sep 30, 2005, 02:57 AM // 02:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysterial

I've done that before, although with Arcane Echo instead of Glyph of Renewal. It's actually reasonably effective in PvP, especially on Altar maps. The problem is that it takes too many skill slots, so it's (maybe) massive damage and then not much for a long time. Still, when it works, it's great fun to see the mass of damage/XP/Faction numbers, so I sometimes run it when I'm bored.

Yeah, now if only meteor shower wasnt all show (or 2/3 show) and no blow

I wonder if the new Mind Freeze snares enough to keep someone in MShower's hitting zone?

(Edit: Yes, I admit it. I have a Meteor Storm fetish. Alway have. I judge the quality of an RPG by how good their meteor storm is. And I judge the quality of an RTS by how good its satellite beam is :P )

lord_shar · Sep 30, 2005, 03:10 AM // 03:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyX

Low eng (5) and no damage reduction.

Seriously, try conjure "whatever" + hundred blades with sword mastery 16.

Now picture you spamming that shit, not wasting your ald, but gaining it faster too.

I can already do the above by replacing Hundred Blades with Cyclone Axe. Almost the same adrenelin gain, but cycles faster, better damage bonus, better average damage + range, omnidirectional...

So, why is Hundred Blades an elite?

MarkyX · Sep 30, 2005, 03:14 AM // 03:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by lord_shar

I can already do the above by replacing Hundred Blades with Cyclone Axe. Almost the same adrenelin gain, but cycles faster, better damage bonus, better average damage + range, omnidirectional...

So, why is Hundred Blades an elite?

Are you telling me you can deal 130 dmg with cyclone?

Edit: Btw, how is it a better damage bonus when your second attack is the same as the first in hundreds? You can get from anywhere from 10 damage to 55 damage PLUS your first attack.

Xue Yi Liang · Sep 30, 2005, 03:22 AM // 03:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xue Yi Liang

OK - here's my gloom. My poor monk ...
While I do like the mesmer changes - the monk changes just stepped all over my favorite protection build that uses Draw Conditions. I used to spam DC for loads of free health - but with that 2 second recharge I'm afraid it's probably useless to me now.

[/whine]

[happy]I'm going to retract that statement. My monk is still functional.[/happy]

lord_shar · Sep 30, 2005, 03:22 AM // 03:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyX

Are you telling me you can deal 130 dmg with cyclone?

Edit: Btw, how is it a better damage bonus when your second attack is the same as the first in hundreds? You can get from anywhere from 10 damage to 55 damage PLUS your first attack.

I've never seen HB alone ever go that high against well armored targets. If you can post a screen shot, I'd appreciate it!

Rieselle · Sep 30, 2005, 03:24 AM // 03:24

Since 100 blades is an elite, we should be comparing it to eviscerate.

The point is, 100 blades is only about as good as cyclone axe. When it should be as good as eviscerate.

NightOwl · Sep 30, 2005, 03:24 AM // 03:24

Just a quick post, since I've only had about half an hour of playtime and an equal amount reading about the changes.

Ether Renewal-Just picked this one up today (wasted faction now, lol). Right from the beginning I knew this definately needed a nerf. However, it was nerfed too much and it's just not elite anymore. Reduced duration, reduced energy...it's not really worth it. 7 seconds? Seriously? I could see one or the other, not both.

Slightly related, smite took a hell of a beating. Hard to tell if it was too much, due to the ether renewal nerf. Traditional builds are shot, however, for emos.

Warriors...no nerfs. My favorite anyhow, smiter gettin reworked and possibly canned if not up to snuff.

Rangers..I don't play 'em anymore (the super short duration self buffs annoy me, but I did play one for a bit). Seems like they took a bit of a hit too, with the interupt spam. Some things were boosted though, so perhaps it'll average out for most builds.

Monks. Smite is in pain, otherwise I personally don't feel this (I tend towards a heal monk, using none of the skills listed). The 2 second cast on Aegis seems a bit over the top though...when you need it, waiting 2 seconds...and the duration never was something to jump for joy over (imo). Meh.

Necros. Just started one for pve, and it's been great fun. Looks like it's a bunch of unneeded love, but sure, I won't complain.

Mezmer. Never could play one worth a damn, so I guess that won't change much for me. GL to those of you out there though, it'll be interesting.

Bottom line. Too many changes in too short of a time frame. Less changes, seriously, it's TOO MUCH at one time...across the board nerf assault, shock and awe the players perhaps? Less on the nerf bat, see how some changes affect things before slamming more nerfs onto people.

Edit: Anybody notice the lack of emos, and huge numbers of warriors and rangers? Also, I used to run a Mo/Me heal monk with Hex Breaker, but that's going out the window. Just doesn't do the trick...and the lack of hex removal compared to the number of hexes available makes me cry.

Rieselle · Sep 30, 2005, 03:36 AM // 03:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightOwl

Bottom line. Too many changes in too short of a time frame. Less changes, seriously, it's TOO MUCH at one time...across the board nerf assault, shock and awe the players perhaps? Less on the nerf bat, see how some changes affect things before slamming more nerfs onto people.

I wonder if people prefer big "seasonal" changes like this one, or say, having one single skill change every week?

I dont mind either - having something every week would be fun tho.

MarkyX · Sep 30, 2005, 03:37 AM // 03:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by lord_shar

I've never seen HB alone ever go that high against well armored targets. If you can post a screen shot, I'd appreciate it!

Talking softies here.

-55, -55, -10, -10

Thats what you'll see if you land a nice hit on a monk. Then slap in some seeking blade, galrath slash...

Well, you have ONE dead monk.

audioaxes · Sep 30, 2005, 03:37 AM // 03:37

god they nerfed hex breaker too much

Xue Yi Liang · Sep 30, 2005, 03:42 AM // 03:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rieselle

I wonder if people prefer big "seasonal" changes like this one, or say, having one single skill change every week?

I dont mind either - having something every week would be fun tho.

It's probably best to do big blocks of change spaced farther apart. Otherwise people would have to repair or redesign their builds every week - then eventually leave because they can't get more than a couple of days our of each build.

Arathorn5000 · Sep 30, 2005, 03:42 AM // 03:42

I'd say that maybe casual energy deniers feel that their builds were unjustly nerfed...but they miss that (I believe) a lot of the top guilds were taking energy denial to extreme levels to the point of making matches very long and not very fun. I saw a few iQ concept(?) builds that almost made me cry

Nexx · Sep 30, 2005, 03:44 AM // 03:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyX

Talking softies here.

-55, -55, -10, -10

Thats what you'll see if you land a nice hit on a monk. Then slap in some seeking blade, galrath slash...

Well, you have ONE dead monk.

=T Well the monk must suck pretty bad.

But on back on topic:

I like the changes. Sure e/m smite and r/* were "tweaked" but I think it was for the better. Hopefully, they'll be more interesting build floating around in these next few weeks. =]

BigTru · Sep 30, 2005, 04:00 AM // 04:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Weekes

Before judging the Mesmer changes, it might be worth considering them in light of the fact that the new skill monitor potentially makes a Mesmer's job easier.

Would definitely be worth trying out the changes in-game, rather than theory-crafting skill balance changes in isolation from the other changes.

Before the update, the Mesmer could have 3 main jobs (in non-specialized builds) - interruption, frag bombing or energy denial. Now that you've taken away energy denial, we only have interruption (pretty much forcing us to all concentrate on Domination). You make an entire profession devoid of variety and fun and then you expect the mesmers to be happy because of the "new skill monitor"'s potential at doing a single job? Yay?

lord_shar · Sep 30, 2005, 04:25 AM // 04:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyX

Talking softies here.

-55, -55, -10, -10

Thats what you'll see if you land a nice hit on a monk. Then slap in some seeking blade, galrath slash...

Well, you have ONE dead monk.

Cyclone axe hits harder vs. all targets given its built-in damage bonus and higher criticals. All weapon damage scale upward based on present skill level.

I still don't see any compelling reason why HB is an elite. It's marginally better than cyclone axe given its +1 adrenelin/strike, but that's about it.

My sole point: Hundred Blades needs a little more teeth to justify its elite status, whether it be a 6-second cool down time or +4..+8 damage bonus. That's all...

Sorry about the derail... back to topic!

Dead Panda · Sep 30, 2005, 04:28 AM // 04:28

I highly doubt one of mesmer's role was energy denial. Sure it can do that job, but I don't think Anet intended the mesmer to that amount of energy.

Me thinks it was just supposed to be an added bonus to replenishing your quickly spend supply.

unienaule · Sep 30, 2005, 04:34 AM // 04:34

for those who said no love for fire:
Incendiary Bonds – Increased damage to 20..80.
Searing Heat - Removed Exhaustion.