Curse

Frozen Ele · Feb 18, 2011, 12:24 AM // 00:24

Quote:

Intensity: changed skill type to skill; removed casting time; decreased recharge to 10 seconds; changed functionality to: "For 10 seconds, the next time you deal elemental damage with a spell to a target, you deal 40...50% of that damage to all other nearby foes."

What are your thoughts? Happy with it? Disappointed? Any skill combos itching to try?

**Marty Silverblade** · Feb 18, 2011, 12:26 AM // 00:26

It looks much like an Elementalist version of 100B. If it works the way I'm interpreting it; throwing in an AoE spell will cause damage like it used to, as well as triggering the splash damage for every target it hits. Looks like it could potentially become quite powerful given the right circumstances.

EDIT: Oh, nevermind, got too excited and missed the 'next time' part. Nothing particularly interesting then.

UnChosen · Feb 18, 2011, 12:45 AM // 00:45

I can't fire up the game to test it now...but if intensity triggers for every target hit, it could be quite good.

If it only turn air magic into an aoe then its total crap.

Elmindreda Farshaw · Feb 18, 2011, 01:00 AM // 01:00

just tried it out, it seems like it only triggers on one guy for only one round of the aoe. idk i could be wrong tho

OutlawFMA · Feb 18, 2011, 01:18 AM // 01:18

Just tested in with Invoke Lightning, and only the first strike was affected.

Kunder · Feb 18, 2011, 01:33 AM // 01:33

Still sucks ballz since base ele damage is horrible in HM. The only ele skill it even approaches usefulness is with the Air spikes, but even then its bad because its 10s per use (though instant cast). 50-60 damage per 10s... yay, my PvE skill is beaten by apply poison in DPS.

Outside of air spike, you can use it pretty well with stuff like Ancestor's rage that is armor ignoring elemental damage (assuming it works correctly).

Mashiyu · Feb 18, 2011, 01:42 AM // 01:42

Ancestor's Rage doesn't require a target - I don't think that Intensity will add the bonus damage to Ancestor's

UnChosen · Feb 18, 2011, 01:45 AM // 01:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kunder

Still sucks ballz since base ele damage is horrible in HM. The only ele skill it even approaches usefulness is with the Air spikes, but even then its bad because its 10s per use (though instant cast). 50-60 damage per 10s... yay, my PvE skill is beaten by apply poison in DPS.

Outside of air spike, you can use it pretty well with stuff like Ancestor's rage that is armor ignoring elemental damage (assuming it works correctly).

I don't think it works with AR because it only works "to a target"...AR is AoE damage around a target ally. I really don't want to spent effort to test out something that's probably not worth putting on a bar either way.

The funny thing is before this update I could at least stack Intensity with BuH and pump out a short burst of somewhat respectable DoTAoE damage.

After this update I can't even do that anymore because Intensity got changed (for the worse) and BuH got "nerfed".

Kunder · Feb 18, 2011, 02:20 AM // 02:20

Wait... ebon vanguard sniper support + Greater Conflagration ftw? Someone test if this works.

Can't see anyway else to take advantage of this though. Anet, raise it to 100% and then we will talk.

Frozen Ele · Feb 18, 2011, 02:25 AM // 02:25

Did a little testing. With DoTAoE, Intensity only causes the AoE splash effect with the first hit. Also, if you use Intensity with DoTAoE in effect, it will cause the AoE splash effect with the DoTAoE unless you use a spell before the next tick of DoTAoE (in other words, it will trigger with any spells in effect).

EDIT: More testing: With Mirror of Ice up, Intensity will "damage splash" that damage (MoI's damage) and not the damage of the water hex.

Also, Intensity is not like a glyph for those wondering - you must finish casting the elemental damage spell before Intensity's duration wears out to receive the "damage splash."

UnChosen · Feb 18, 2011, 02:32 AM // 02:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kunder

Wait... ebon vanguard sniper support + Greater Conflagration ftw? Someone test if this works.

Can't see anyway else to take advantage of this though. Anet, raise it to 100% and then we will talk.

I dunno if EVAS count as the ele's own damage. But even if it did count, Intensity would only work for the very first hit of the assassin, which is horrible. Most of the damage of EVAS comes at the end of its little combo chain....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frozen Ele

Did a little testing. With DoTAoE, Intensity only causes the AoE splash effect with the first hit. Also, if you use Intensity with DoTAoE in effect, it will cause the AoE splash effect with the DoTAoE unless you use a spell before the next tick of DoTAoE (in other words, it will trigger with any spells in effect).

EDIT: More testing: With Mirror of Ice up, Intensity will "damage splash" that damage (MoI's damage) and not the damage of the water hex.

In another word, Intensity is even more useless on DoTAoE than it was before.

FoxBat · Feb 18, 2011, 03:12 AM // 03:12

I really have to wonder what on earth they were thinking here. It's clear they have the tech now to buff specifically elemental damage, and then give us absolute garbage like this, when elemental damage is in a very sad state.

Fate Crusher · Feb 18, 2011, 04:13 AM // 04:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnChosen

I dunno if EVAS count as the ele's own damage.

He said Sniper Support.... Someone try this please, I'm nowhere near a computer.

Kunder · Feb 18, 2011, 06:58 AM // 06:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoxBat

I really have to wonder what on earth they were thinking here. It's clear they have the tech now to buff specifically elemental damage, and then give us absolute garbage like this, when elemental damage is in a very sad state.

My guess is that Anet just needed to change it since they are taking such a hard stance on generic +% damage buffs. Its a good idea, hopefully it can be improved to something along the lines of:

"For 10 seconds, when you deal elemental damage with a spell to a target, you deal 40...50% of that damage to all other nearby foes. Foes struck by elemental damage have cracked armor for 3...5 seconds. Enemies cannot be hit by intensity more than once per second. "

Idea being that Eles are begging for the armor reduction of cracked armor or something similar. Being able to trigger multiple times mean its actually... dealing damage. Cap on the number of hits per second so that we don't get exponential effects like 100 blades on everything. Pure single target spikers take advantage of cracked armor to maximize the blast, while AoEers spread cracked armor around like its disease so that everyone else in the party gets an indirect buff.

AndrewSX · Feb 18, 2011, 08:29 AM // 08:29

The sad thing is think that is the best Anet can do after endless discussion on guru about intensity....ONE strike of +40% pathetic damage, yea.

Mouse at Large · Feb 18, 2011, 08:44 AM // 08:44

TBH, my initial thoughts are that Anet either a) hate eles or b) are simply too dogmatic to listen to what the player base is telling them.

The "improvement" to Intensity is a complete joke. What eles have more of than other professions is DoTAoE. The AI scatter changes reduced their effectiveness as did the HM mob's AP thereby pushing eles further and further from actual effectiveness. Sometimes I think the only reason eles get playtime in HM groups is for their percieved rather than actual usefulness. And don't get me started on the whole E/Mo thing. If I'd wanted to play a monk, I'd have rolled a monk.

A pathetic amount of extra damage on the first tick of DoTAoE is completely inadequate.

I've been playing this game as an ele for over 5 years. I very rarely if ever play other classes and have no desire to. This latest disappointment has made me wonder if it's finally time to give GW up for good

Jeydra · Feb 18, 2011, 12:42 PM // 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Silverblade

It looks much like an Elementalist version of 100B. If it works the way I'm interpreting it; throwing in an AoE spell will cause damage like it used to, as well as triggering the splash damage for every target it hits. Looks like it could potentially become quite powerful given the right circumstances.

EDIT: Oh, nevermind, got too excited and missed the 'next time' part. Nothing particularly interesting then.

Yeah I missed it too.

I was so excited about this change, I was like "HELL YEAH FINALLY I CAN STOP USING AP", but then seeing that it is next spell only with 10s cooldown to boot, I don't think it'll amount to anything. If it were 5s cooldown then with a powerful-enough energy engine you might be able to use it with Searing Flames.

Khomet Si Netjer · Feb 18, 2011, 01:30 PM // 13:30

this skill is quite powerful, if it affected more than one spell it would probably be too much. the only thing holding it back is high armor levels on hardmode foes.
because it amplifies a single damage packet you want to use it with high-damage spells like Rodgort's Invocation and Phoenix rather than DoTAoE like Savannah Heat etc. It works on Shockwave but since the damage comes in multiple packets you get less damage than with Rodgort's etc. This would work pretty well with Deep Freeze.

On a related note, Glaiveway just got EVEN EASIER.

Essence Snow · Feb 18, 2011, 02:45 PM // 14:45

Imo it's horrid....I'm not sure bout the genius who thought this one up. Intensity shouldn't really see the light of day on any elementalists' bar, it might however find it's way onto other professions' bars.

Since most elemental dmg (not including rit amor ignoring lightning dmg)is laughable from the start, the 50% aoe for one hit means bascially, another skill can still "do it better".

I have to start agreeing with those who believe that A-net simply doesn't like eles. What other conculsion can one come to?

P.S.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kunder

Wait... ebon vanguard sniper support + Greater Conflagration ftw? Someone test if this works.

Tested, and it did not work =(

Jeydra · Feb 18, 2011, 03:33 PM // 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khomet Si Netjer

this skill is quite powerful, if it affected more than one spell it would probably be too much. the only thing holding it back is high armor levels on hardmode foes.
because it amplifies a single damage packet you want to use it with high-damage spells like Rodgort's Invocation and Phoenix rather than DoTAoE like Savannah Heat etc. It works on Shockwave but since the damage comes in multiple packets you get less damage than with Rodgort's etc. This would work pretty well with Deep Freeze.

On a related note, Glaiveway just got EVEN EASIER.

There's more than that though - you're giving up more than just a slot on your bar.

To use Intensity, you need to go Elemental. This in itself is a pretty serious drawback, because AP is simply more powerful at the moment. After that, you need to invest significantly into energy management. Intensity is getting used once every 10s, and it's a skill to which you don't restore energy from Attunement / Aura of Restoration. This would probably force at least the Attunement + Aura / Elemental Lord + Glyph, which significantly cuts down on your 8 free slots.

If you want to use it though, off the top of my head this is what I'd start with:

12 + 1 + 3 = 16 Air
12 + 1 = 13 Energy Storage

Invoke Lightning [E]
Chain Lightning
Lightning Orb
Intensity
Air Attunement
Ebon Battle Standard of Honor
Glyph of Lesser Energy
Elemental Lord

Having to use Elemental Lord is a serious statement of what the build lacks ...

Anyway it's 70 AoE damage at best every 10s, don't know if that's worth it.

PS: Lol ANet buffed Rits.