Curse

Racthoh · Jun 19, 2009, 04:28 AM // 04:28

PvE

"Brace Yourself!": functionality changed to: "For 5..12 seconds, the next time target other ally would be knocked down, all nearby foes take 15..75 damage instead."
"Can't Touch This!": functionality changed to: "For 20 seconds, the next 1..5 touch skills used against allies within earshot fail."
"Fallback!": decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
"Find Their Weakness!": functionality changed to: "For 5..20 seconds, the next time target ally attacks, that ally also inflicts a Deep Wound and does 5..50 additional damage for 5..20 seconds."
"Go for the Eyes!": decreased recharge time to 0 seconds; increased chance to land a critical hit to 30..100%.
"Help Me!": decreased recharge time to 10 seconds. Functionality changed to: "For 1..10 seconds, you gain 15..90 Health and other allies' spells targeting you cast 50% faster."
"Incoming!": decreased Energy cost to 5; decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
"Never Give Up!": decreased recharge time to 15 seconds.
"Never Surrender!": decreased recharge time to 15 seconds.
"Stand Your Ground!": decreased Energy cost to 10; decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
"We Shall Return!": increased Energy cost to 25; increased recharge time to 30 seconds. Functionality changed to: "All party members in earshot are resurrected with 25..50% Health and 5..20% Energy."
Anthem of Disruption: decreased casting time to 1 second.
Bladeturn Refrain: functionality changed to: "For 20 seconds, target non-spirit ally has a 5..20% chance to block incoming attacks. This Echo is reapplied every time a Chant or Shout ends on that ally."
Blazing Finale: increased Burning duration to 1..7 seconds.
Defensive Anthem: decreased Energy cost to 10.
Signet of Return: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.

PvP

"Help Me!": functionality changed to: "For 1..10 seconds, you gain 5..50 Health and other allies' spells targeting you cast 50% faster."

In case you missed the update notes.

DokkyDok · Jun 19, 2009, 04:37 AM // 04:37

Some good changes. Motivation was forgotten, though.
"Incoming!" (PvP) is again a damage reduction shout.
EDIT: Nevermind, its description indicates it is a damage reduction shout, but it still retains the function it had yesterday.

**Marty Silverblade** · Jun 19, 2009, 06:09 AM // 06:09

Was thinking a Godmode War (I know this is the Para forum, but it's a P skill) with GftE could be interesting - runs like SY but with massive party-wide crit boosts instead.

FoxBat · Jun 19, 2009, 06:12 AM // 06:12

TL;DR throw We Shall Return on your imba bar and ignore the rest.

That said there is room for more creative stuff with para hero teams.

Axel Zinfandel · Jun 19, 2009, 06:22 AM // 06:22

I'm liking Bladeturn Refrain and "Find Their Weakness!"

Unfortunatly, either the desc or functionality of Find Their Weakness is bugged. As it is now, It ends on the first hit, without buffing damage for the allotted time, like the description makes me think :P

Though that might be OP

Racthoh · Jun 19, 2009, 06:54 AM // 06:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axel Zinfandel

Unfortunatly, either the desc or functionality of Find Their Weakness is bugged. As it is now, It ends on the first hit, without buffing damage for the allotted time, like the description makes me think :P

The description is poorly worded on the concise description, full is correct. "For 5...20 seconds the next time target attacks that ally deals +5...+50 damage and inflicts a deep wound for 5...20 seconds." would've read better. In any case it can be considered a slightly weaker non-elite Decapitate/Eviscerate or even a second "Finish Him!".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxbat

TL;DR throw We Shall Return on your imba bar and ignore the rest.

I have mixed feelings about it on that bar, depending on which version you play that is. I never played it with Signet of Return unless an Essence of Celerity was in play freeing up the slot "For Great Justice!" occupies. In the presence of Dark Fury energy was always abundant to hit attack skills on recharge as well as "There's Nothing To Fear!". With "We Shall Return!" on the bar at 25 energy you'll force yourself into using the +energy set for your res, jeopardizing the ability to hit "There's Nothing To Fear!" on recharge and possibly losing Aggressive Refrain. On the other hand it does fit nicely into the mix because it is an instant cast skill that doesn't draw from your adrenaline pool.

Axel Zinfandel · Jun 19, 2009, 05:55 PM // 17:55

As if energy for paragons wassnt already a joke, we have GFTE, buffed, at 0 recharge, so we can again spam away like crazy.

Koning · Jun 19, 2009, 06:55 PM // 18:55

Bladeturn refrain, gfte and find their weakness are pretty cool now imo

Hugh Manatee · Jun 19, 2009, 07:11 PM // 19:11

Awakened cavaliers are soooooo going to suck now....

ShadowbaneX · Jun 19, 2009, 08:06 PM // 20:06

a question for you Racthoh, namely about the heroes that builds you have going with the Imbagon build. What do you think that the Command Hero could swap SIgnet of Return and Anthem of Envy for the new "We Shall Return!" and "Find Their Weakness"?

I know that it'd be harder to get the energy required for a Hero to cast "WSR!" as you cannot swap to a high energy set, and that "Find Their Weakness!" whild it does more damage and adds in Deep Wound, it has a recharge so you might actually be able to use Anthem of Envy more often. Something to add though, if you do add "FTW!" (heh) you could pick other spear skills instead of Vicious or Merciless to get more damage that way.

Racthoh · Jun 20, 2009, 02:57 AM // 02:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowbaneX

a question for you Racthoh, namely about the heroes that builds you have going with the Imbagon build. What do you think that the Command Hero could swap SIgnet of Return and Anthem of Envy for the new "We Shall Return!" and "Find Their Weakness"?

I know that it'd be harder to get the energy required for a Hero to cast "WSR!" as you cannot swap to a high energy set, and that "Find Their Weakness!" whild it does more damage and adds in Deep Wound, it has a recharge so you might actually be able to use Anthem of Envy more often. Something to add though, if you do add "FTW!" (heh) you could pick other spear skills instead of Vicious or Merciless to get more damage that way.

Actually I'd swap Anthem of Envy back to "Go For The Eyes!" since the recharge has been removed and the critical rate increased. I'd consider dropping the Signet of Return for "Find Their Weakness!" on that character and keeping the Motivation with the signet. With the recharge knocked down to 5 seconds a single Paragon can get the party back up quickly. I'd consider swapping out Swift Javelin for "Find Their Weakness!" as well since the difference in recharge is only 5 seconds with the additional damage and deep wound application.

I'm really not sold on "We Shall Return!". I can't think of anyway to really make it... good. For it to be useful multiple people are going to have to die at once which really doesn't happen frequently. Basically I'd imagine myself sitting there with one person dead watching the health bars to see if someone else might be dying soon. That's not what hard resses are for. When someone drops, you use them. As such I'd reserve the skill for Urgoz or The Deep where AoEs are abundant and multiple deaths are always a possibility. Signet of Return on a 5 second recharge will work better otherwise.

Bill Clinton · Jun 20, 2009, 07:01 PM // 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Manatee

Awakened cavaliers are soooooo going to suck now....

Oh christ yeah. Gates of desolation just became an even LONGER mission. Urgh.

Great skill now, though.

Reverend Dr · Jun 20, 2009, 07:38 PM // 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racthoh

I'm really not sold on "We Shall Return!". I can't think of anyway to really make it... good.

Its instant and not-interruptable. Also recovering from a DPS death.

I don't know what to say about this update. Paragons have needed some work for a while, but I really didn't feel that a group of buffs would be a good answer.

ShadowbaneX · Jun 20, 2009, 11:47 PM // 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racthoh

I'm really not sold on "We Shall Return!". I can't think of anyway to really make it... good. For it to be useful multiple people are going to have to die at once which really doesn't happen frequently. Basically I'd imagine myself sitting there with one person dead watching the health bars to see if someone else might be dying soon. That's not what hard resses are for. When someone drops, you use them. As such I'd reserve the skill for Urgoz or The Deep where AoEs are abundant and multiple deaths are always a possibility. Signet of Return on a 5 second recharge will work better otherwise.

What about using "We Shall Return!" on like an E/P? They'd generall have the energy to cast it, but there isn't much else in command to go with it.

snaek · Jun 21, 2009, 01:07 AM // 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by racthoh

I'm really not sold on "We Shall Return!". I can't think of anyway to really make it... good. For it to be useful multiple people are going to have to die at once which really doesn't happen frequently.

disagree. ["we shall return!"] is an effective single-target res. the fact that its a multi-target res is just an added bonus. also, its just as good on an x/p than it is on a p/x.

["find their weakness!"] i'm not terribly buying due to the fact that ["go for the eyes!"]+[vicious attack] would be a better option in almost every situation imo.

ajc2123 · Jun 21, 2009, 01:13 AM // 01:13

Just got a couple *grumble grumble* about the update. Nothing big, love the updates....just a little grumble.

"Help Me!"...The biggest flaw I found with this is my paragon is never the target of enemies O_o. Never had to bring leaders comfort or any self target heal, so this will still be useless to me. Might be the 80 armor, might be the monsters see my 60 AL targets more tasty, not sure exactly. If they made this target an ally and change the name to "Help Him/Her!", Then I might use it.

....

thought I had more but actually thats the only grumble I had with this... Good job Anet! ^_^

As for desolation, just bring Frozen soil. I'm sure one hero can take it if you dont.

snaek · Jun 21, 2009, 01:23 AM // 01:23

^since that was the only skill updated for pvp... i'll assume it was a pvp-minded change for low-lvl and 4v4 arenas.

ajc2123 · Jun 21, 2009, 01:29 AM // 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

^since that was the only skill updated for pvp... i'll assume it was a pvp-minded change for low-lvl and 4v4 arenas.

It was buffed for PvE too, with a more powerful self heal.

It's PvE version is what makes me grumble lol.

snaek · Jun 21, 2009, 01:33 AM // 01:33

yes, but i meant the thought process behind the mechanic change was meant to be used for pvp. therefore, even though they increase the numbers for pve, the mechanic itself isn't very suited for the pve environment.

Racthoh · Jun 21, 2009, 06:36 AM // 06:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowbaneX

What about using "We Shall Return!" on like an E/P? They'd generall have the energy to cast it, but there isn't much else in command to go with it.

"We Shall Return!" and "Find Their Weakness" would be decent enough. Instant res and instant Decapitate. I'd save "We Shall Return!" solely as an emergency res if like 3+ players are down and have two Paragons with Signet of Return.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

["find their weakness!"] i'm not terribly buying due to the fact that ["go for the eyes!"]+[vicious attack] would be a better option in almost every situation imo.

I don't see a point in Vicious Attack really. You can pre-cast "Find Their Weakness!" before the fight ensuring your first attack hits for huge damage when the deep wound is factored in and it'll be available for the next enemy you want dead. Vicious Attack plus "Go For The Eyes!" is much slower by comparison, isn't a guarantee, Vicious Attack itself can miss/block/dodge, and takes two skill slots. Don't get me wrong the combo is really good but "Find Their Weakness" packs a lot of punch into a single skill; it has the same +damage as Decapitate without the loss of all energy and adrenaline. Oh, and it isn't elite too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

["we shall return!"] is an effective single-target res.

It's a rather horrible single target res, costing 25 energy and recharging in 30 seconds. For the instant usage part to be useful the user pretty much has to be above the 25 energy threshold the instant someone drops dead. You could in theory swap to a high energy set to get the 25 energy if it isn't available immediately but then you're left with a revived character with less than 50% health, very little energy, and the caster of "We Shall Return!" with no energy to use themselves. A Paragon could spam "Go For The Eyes!" to get all of their energy back but I'd rather have my Paragons using Signet of Return instead since it keeps me with all my energy and revives the target with practically full health.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reverend Dr

Its instant and not-interruptable.

It's an emergency skill and a very powerful one under the right conditions. Against bosses with hard, fast hitting AoEs it would definitely prove its worth. However if the instant usage aspect draws your attention I'd consider burning an elite slot on Unyielding Aura instead, an instant to 1/4 cast 100% health/energy res that requires no spec on a 10 second cooldown.