Curse

Cirian · Jun 01, 2006, 11:32 AM // 11:32

I've not really thought about it beyond the concept - the new 'Weapon Spell' skill category, unstrippable Enchantments essentially that replace your weapon graphic with an obvious, magical construct. Wouldn't that be cool for IW, using the casting effect as a replacement for your normal weapon? Unstrippable? Hell yeah!

Is it time this old skill had its concept reworked to take advantage of this new skill category? I think so. Naturally the duration and recast would need rebalancing, but otherwise I think this could be rather neat. Say... 10s duration, 15s recast? Chuck it into testing!

Premium Unleaded · Jun 01, 2006, 11:34 AM // 11:34

So far, only Ritualists have access to weapon spells and IW being in illusion magic...well...

Terra Xin · Jun 01, 2006, 11:57 AM // 11:57

I suppose if it was tested, we could really see how effective it would be, but im not too keen on it,

It's a weapon... but not really a weapon, which fits in perfectly with the concept of an Illusionary Weapon.

Lordhelmos · Jun 01, 2006, 12:48 PM // 12:48

I dont have a problem with how the skill is now. It would just be cool if the graphic was different. When they use the spell they bust out a giant pink laser blade. Would be kool if they swapped their weapon out for the energy sword and waved that around for a bit. I'm pretty shure the mesmer community would be happier swinging around a glowing pink death blade than having the graphic overlap their axe or staff and just end up looking really wierd for a bit before fading and swinging around nothing. But hey its an illusionary weapon so i guess have them run up to you and swing around nothing for a bit would make some sense.

Undivine · Jun 01, 2006, 01:17 PM // 13:17

/SIGNED /SIGNED /SIGNED

Why didn't I think of this? The fact that it's an enchantment is IW's biggest problem. It has very little practical applications because of this. The reason why I think making it a weapon would not be unbalanced is because when you use IW, your entire build is made around it. That means if IW is removed, you're boned. Helpless, really. Completely ineffective save for the odd degen or slow hex you cast.

Actually, I think making it a weapon spell makes it a bit more realistic. After all, as it is now you're swinging around a sword. With IW the weapons spell you can be swinging around a glowing transparent thing that looks kind of like a sword. Graphically, they can simply replace what's in your hand rather than put an aura around a real sword.

It also helps the Mesmer's defense, which is important when you're doing an IW build, because now that Mesmer gains the benefits of the Ritualist's "if that ally is under the effects of a weapons spell" spells.

Retribution X · Jun 01, 2006, 01:26 PM // 13:26

/unsigned. It's an enchantment because it's a very powerful skill. MUCH too powerful to be a weapons skill.

Why? Because it would charge adreniline, and then you could use Sun and Moon slash, which would make INSANE damage.

It's almost too powerfull already, no need to make it better.

And yes, I do play mesmer.

Undivine · Jun 01, 2006, 01:34 PM // 13:34

Hmm... well it's powerful as a Warrior skill, that's true. It's annoying that ANet gives the mesmer so many spells that are only truely useful to classes other than the mesmer.

Perhaps it simply shouldn't charge adrenaline. Frankly I was surprised when I first found out that it did. I mean, you're not actually hitting them.

Cowboy Nastyman · Jun 01, 2006, 01:36 PM // 13:36

it wouldnt charge adren if they still leave the skills other properties as is, such as your attacks not actually hitting

Gargle Blaster · Jun 01, 2006, 02:11 PM // 14:11

if you make IW an attack skill things like blind would now stop you... witch makes no sense as you are not really hitting anyone... not signed.

S!carius · Jun 01, 2006, 02:14 PM // 14:14

I like the idea and it makes sense, but I think it would make the skill way to powerful.

Timoz · Jun 01, 2006, 02:34 PM // 14:34

Change the graphic so it looks nice

Not the skill.

lyra_song · Jun 01, 2006, 03:05 PM // 15:05

IW is a powerful elite. It rips through blindness, stances, wards and is not unlike Lifestealing that its unstoppable with buffs (correct me if protective spirit cuts down IW dmg?).

However...its an enchantment, and completely non-viable because it will be instantly stripped.

An unstrippable IW would be very hard and easy to deal with at the same time. It would be blind-able, and prot-able. X.x

IW is should stay as is i think. :/

Retribution X · Jun 01, 2006, 05:14 PM // 17:14

If IW was made a weapon spell, it'd charge adreniline, which it currently does no do. A weapon spell adds an effect on your weapon, ANd it usually trigers on HIT. Not Miss.

IllusiveMind · Jun 01, 2006, 07:00 PM // 19:00

Quote:

Change the graphic so it looks nice Not the skill.

Indeed, I would sign for the pink blade thing.

Syi · Jun 01, 2006, 07:09 PM // 19:09

Overpowered kthx.

Omnidragon42 · Jun 01, 2006, 09:18 PM // 21:18

Prot spirit does cut the IW damage if appicable, just usually doesnt trigger because most have over 420 hp.

Note: if they changed IW to a weapon spell, the ONLY thing that would change is that it would become unstripable, and change the skin of your weapon. It wont become affected by blind or whatever, because it specifically states each time you attack, not each time you would hit.

Zephyr Jackson · Jun 01, 2006, 09:23 PM // 21:23

If you use a Me/A iw with daggars it is messed up because when you activate it it still make the pink blade, but without the blade :S

EagleEye33 · Jun 01, 2006, 09:31 PM // 21:31

IW is just about fine the way it is. It would be too powerfull to change it. The fact the it is an enchantment is most of its balancing.

LifeInfusion · Jun 01, 2006, 09:41 PM // 21:41

Only if weapon spells counted as enchantments. The idea that IW cannot be stripped is a very bad one.

It is an easy 30-40+ armor ignoring damage per hit.

NatalieD · Jun 01, 2006, 11:18 PM // 23:18

IW needs help, but making it completely unstrippable might be going a bit far. Maybe it should just get a reduced recharge to make it less disastrous when it does get stripped.

Other than that I think this is a fine idea. So what if weapon spells are currently ritualist-only? Maintained enchantments used to be monk-only, but now assassins have a couple of them because that allowed Anet to make nifty and useful assassin skills. I don't see any harm in making a single non-ritualist weapon spell if that fits the skill better than being an enchantment.

And just being a weapon spell instead of an enchantment wouldn't have to change anything else about the skill. Why would it? Many weapon spells don't even have anything to do with attacking, let alone hitting or gaining adrenaline.