Curse

Arcador · Oct 07, 2006, 09:20 AM // 09:20

We know how AoE spells work - many of them have range and almost all of them are struck spells (no projectile, insta hit). Struck spells are a little more expensive by default (like +energy, recharge, less dmg).
So, we put aside the normal 'one hit AoE' spells like Ice spikes, Rodgort's invocation, Energy surge (even fireball lol), and so on and focus on damage over time AoE spells:

Most of them are: Target near, adjustent, or in the are of the location where the spell was cast. So at the begining I thought - hey this must have very wide range, like area and if the enemies are near that area they take dmg! But seems that 'location' is a spot - absolutelly the same as the normal 'instahit' AoE spells but in continual effect.

So in other means, many of those spells have very short radius and are good as like only in pve...and not always.

Let me give you an example of the area:
Take the spell Eruption - see it is described as NEAR that location, and when testing in (on the dummies) you will see that it strikes all nearby targets to the spot where it was cast. A spell like firestorm, maelstorm, lava font, Chaos storm and some other - hit only the adjustent targets next to the spot. Spells like Savana's Heat (Nightfall) that hit in the Area of the spot are almost not being seen.

So, untill those spells see some sort of boost it is not likelly to see them in the metagame anytime soon (except some exceptional very inovative builds). The nonability to select location of the spell except casting it on a target (unlike almost all other games, where you can actually place the spell) limit the use of them. (I do not say we need such system, just mention drawbacks). Also I am not saying all such skills are trash - Meteor Shower got it's place in gvg nowdays (now everyone got 'hidden MS" :P ). Also some as Bed of Coals, combined with mass KD spell (Earthquake) can deliver a lot of burning dmg combo (but it is not very likely to be seen). Most of AoE DoTs server only 1 purpse - make the enemy move away of them, but for cost of 15+ and recharge near 30 secs is a TOO high price to pay.

Bring some heat on :P

Mercury Angel · Oct 07, 2006, 08:33 PM // 20:33

Savannah Heat has an AoE of Nearby, despite the description. I unlocked it over the PvP weekend and tried it out. Sorely disappointed by the reduction in range. It also currently has a crappy animation that is a hybrid of Searing Heat + Fire Storm. Hoping they give it something awesome with the actual release, with that just being a placeholder.

Arcador · Oct 08, 2006, 06:12 AM // 06:12

Oh :/ That is silly. I mean typing a range which is not correct.

Also there are some skills that do not have range, it is - foes at target location. Probably nearby as well.

The problem is like certain skills. If they boost it for the metagame, it will become imbalanced in other areas. For example throw dirt - 5 mana, touch blind. Got pretty hight recharge, but if they reduce it - it will become some sort of 80% disable of warrior in RA or TA, costing like ~3 energy to the rager.

Vermilion Okeanos · Oct 08, 2006, 08:36 AM // 08:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury Angel

Savannah Heat has an AoE of Nearby, despite the description. I unlocked it over the PvP weekend and tried it out. Sorely disappointed by the reduction in range. It also currently has a crappy animation that is a hybrid of Searing Heat + Fire Storm. Hoping they give it something awesome with the actual release, with that just being a placeholder.

I don't know how many ele were disappointed about that one... probably countless.

With the graphic bug, sometimes the firestorm part wouldn't even show.

Wish they would just make an ultra size of breath of fire or something.

Terra Xin · Oct 09, 2006, 12:03 AM // 00:03

Well then you have that sandstorm elite, its just a firestorm coloured yellow.

I heard they made some kind of update related to the wording of 'location', I cant access the gameupdates from this comp... however.

I still think Chaos Storm is useful for its draining capabilities, in PvP that is.

Many people have been experiencing that 'delay' bug also, like how someone instant casts MS but you dont see animation until you're already knocked down.

Mylon · Oct 10, 2006, 01:48 PM // 13:48

I'll agree that the AoE size for many spells is really lame. Meteor shower? It's possible to escape the first KD and damage at 100% movement. I laugh at firestorm every time I see it, because it does all of 60 damage and that's if I'm more concerned about not letting someone recover, otherwise it does all of 15-20 damage.

Chaos storm is nice, but it only works against opponents with long cast times (eles), and one might as well bring power leak instead, as it doesn't even give the option to let the opponent finish the spell and they loose energy anyway. I've only fallen prey to Maelstrom during the Factions preview because I had practically never seen the spell before and the graphic (from the angle I usually view) is practically invisible. Especially when, if you're a monk like I usually am, you are looking mostly at the health bars.

For the moment, firestorm is only good at scrubbing the spirits of a poor spirit spammer, or maybe 2 spirits of a good spirit spammer. Meteor shower is decent in PvE, because by the time the monsters get up they've forgotten they were trying to run, but it's only worth the 25e + exhaustion + 5s cost if it hits 3 monsters. Otherwise... Might as well use counter blow or some other KD skill as a warrior.

All of the AoE spells could do with a serious buff to the AoE. Honestly, imagine a firestorm like spell that had the same area as the aggro bubble! That's what a real firestorm should be. Plus it would make elementalists a decent threat.

Flopjack · Oct 12, 2006, 08:17 PM // 20:17

When I nuke, generally enemies don't have trouble killing themselves in it. People launch a small AOE spell and whine because the enemies run away for a second. I have 5 AoE spells. Enemies don't tend to try to avoid AoE 100% of the time. More often, they stay in it, or are blocked into it. If nothing else, I can lay down AoE spells near party casters and get enemies to run away from us. If they raised Firestorm to Nearby radius (one ring bigger), it would cost more mana, have a longer cast or something to make it balanced.

If people tried to figure out ways to keep people (PvP) into AoE they would think better of simple spells like Firestorm. Let's say an Ele with Firestorm, coordinated their spell with a Warrior ready to use his Backbreaker KD combo. You're on the ground for a solid 7 or so seconds. If Firestorm hits for 30 Fire dmg. a sec during that, you can tack on 210 damage to that combo! That isn't bad for 15 mana.

I agree AoE spells, at least new ones, should be bigger. But I also don't think people don't give it enough credit.