Curse

The Hand Of Death · Sep 24, 2006, 08:03 PM // 20:03

So I was looking in the ritualist forum looking for a good build for a ritualist, which I didn't find. I looked at plenty of channeling builds and they all said that channeling isn't useful because it does little damage to heavy armored targets and that an elementalist can easily out damage a ritualist so they are inferior.

What I propose is another buff to the ritualist, aiming mainly at the channeling line. Why not make the channeling skill have 25% armor penetration like the elementalist's lightnign skills have? Frankly the ritualist is so bad right now that I see no sense in keeping it as a proffesion in Guild Wars.

Bale_Shadowscar · Sep 24, 2006, 08:48 PM // 20:48

Channelling did get buffed recently, but I agree that it is still quite weak compared to say, Ele. The thing is, it looks really good on paper: Lamentation for instance, says it will deal 100 + damage to a target near a spirit (at high levels of channelling), but when you actually use it you'll only deal about 60 due to the high armor on warriors etc.

I suggested moving a few skills about into channelling, such as the new skill Spirit's Strength, which is quite powerful. You can find the thread here: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10050139

floppinghog · Sep 25, 2006, 07:33 AM // 07:33

if you know its powerful why not make a build for it? i posted in your topic as well.

frojack · Sep 25, 2006, 01:19 PM // 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bale_Shadowscar

Channelling did get buffed recently, but I agree that it is still quite weak compared to say, Ele. The thing is, it looks really good on paper: Lamentation for instance, says it will deal 100 + damage to a target near a spirit (at high levels of channelling), but when you actually use it you'll only deal about 60 due to the high armor on warriors etc.

I suggested moving a few skills about into channelling, such as the new skill Spirit's Strength, which is quite powerful. You can find the thread here: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10050139

Last I checked Lamentation ignores armour. That's why it has the silly condition and a 30 second recharge. The 1/4 second cast is sexy though. Channeling really doesn't need to be buffed much higher than it already is. Maybe a few tweaks here and there but that's it damage wise. Anything more would make Ritualists as good at spiking as Air elementalists if not better (Essence Strike + Attuned Was Songkai of e-management). Which really shouldn't be the case.

Channeling Strike (with the conditions met) Strikes for 138 damage, costs 10 energy, and recharges is 6 seconds. Lightning Hammer hit's for 140 damage (with AL penetration) costs 25 energy and recharges in 15. I think that's pretty clear. (I didn't compare Orb as projectiles often miss.)

Then theres the ungodly damage from (the admittedly intermitten) Spirit Rift. While it has Meteor Shower like shity accuracy, it strikes an adjacent area for 142 damage and recharges in 5 seconds.

Then theres the 5 energy/5 second recharge/1 second cast Spirit Burn. Which with the conditions met hit's for 110 damage. The list goes on (106 from Spirit Boon, the 1 second cast 126 from Gaze, then theres the new skills, notably the pressure potential of Renewing Surge...).
I really don't think damage is a huge problem. Some of the conditions could be looked at (Lamentation could do with a 15-20 recharge instead) but if Anet 'think' Elementalist damage is fine (I don't know anymore/not bothered etc.) Then I don't see why Ritualist damage should be higher. Theres so much else that the class can do in addition to damage. It really wouldn't be fair would it?

EDIT:

By the way, Spirit's Strength should never be anywhere where other professions can abuse it. Warriors and Ranger primaries would cause havok with this skill. A Frenzied Hammer Freak (tm) with an additional 25 AL ignoring damage on every attack would be ridiculously good. Too good. As it is, it just lends itself to Ritualist flexibilty. There are occasions I have used wanding to do additional damage while using spirits (Brutal weapon) or funnily enough, healing. Maybe Anet want people to experiment with melee Rits. Bows even. How about Paragon Spears? Or even at a stretch, scythes. Ritualist Illusionary Weapon perhaps?
I am personally loving this, as all my Rit armour is +15 while affected by a weapon spell (don't ask. Seemed a good idea at the time ^_^).

I am starting to believe Anet want flexibility to be the key, unique feature of the ritualist class (runs off to make sure Nightfall collectors ed. pre-order is all good, and stocks up on shortbows).

The Hand Of Death · Sep 25, 2006, 11:59 PM // 23:59

And that 132 damage of channeled strike against a war is about 30-40 damage and same on a ranger maybe less. They are only effective against squishy characters and you need to make something that makes the class able to stand up against other classes. Like I heard somewhere else before, you don't see ritualist spikes because the damage is negated so greatly against certain characters.

frojack · Sep 26, 2006, 12:58 PM // 12:58

Well yeah...

Channeled Strike's 138 damage is 69 on 100 AL (Rangers) and 98 on 80 (warriors without shields).

Lightning Hammer's 140 damage is 83 on 100 AL and 106 on 80.

Not exactly a huge difference is there? (Whoever said Ritualists should be able to spike as hard as Elementalists?)
Anyways, that's just the benefit of armour. It's not exactly no damage is it?.
This is not new. Elementalists have been bitching about this for ages. Anet however are not interested and frankly, neither am I. I'll get eviscerated for this but "Ele damage is fine. It's E-management that sucks". There, I said it.

If you really want damage that ignores armour completely, put a good portion of your attribute points into restoration and spam Vengeful when you get attacked. Your aggressor will soon think twice. It's not made for tanking but it's a nice reprieve...