Curse

Almighty Zi · Mar 22, 2008, 11:30 AM // 11:30

I mentioned this in another thread but I thought I'd start a discussion about it here.

I like the recent change to Psychic Instability since it is now more useful, however, I believe that it still suffers from the fact that there is no real benefit in the knockdown effect.

Ok, so you can squeeze a couple of uses out of the KD (target can't kite temporarily, guaranteed return on Waste Not Want Not) but I don't believe that these are enough. Even Lift Enchantment looked interesting until I realised that it was touch range.

Now that Cry Of Frustration is correctly costed at 10 energy, I'm debating whether Psychic Instability has enough advantages over CoF to consider sacrificing your elite slot.

In comparison, CoF only costs 5 more energy and only takes an extra 5 seconds to recharge and to all intents does the same thing (even has the added benefit of interupting additional targets).

If I were to consider taking Psychic Instability and for it to be able to justify it's elite status over CoF I think the skill balancers should consider the following changes:

i) Make it like every other mesmer interupt who's effect is applied regardless of whether an interupt actually occurs or not. At present, the target is only KD if the spell is actually interupted. It would be a benefit to the skill if it could counter resolve or concentration etc.

ii) Since there aren't many skills that benefit from the KD or synergise well with PI, I'd suggest playing on the snaring aspect (can't kite temporarily after being interupted) of it and changing the KD to 3 seconds. I think this would be fine since it is a conditional KD.

Alternatively, consider applying a temporary after-effect such as 'if a spell is interupted in this way, for the next 6 seconds target foes spells are easily interupted (i.e daze effect but no extra cast time). Ends after 1 spell is interupted.'

Don't get me wrong, I like the skill, it just needs something extra (since you don't really gain much from the KD) to recommend it over CoF.

Edit: Sorry, just realised that I posted this in the PvE section. Could some kind moderator please move it to the corresponding PvP section. Thanks.

Edit 2: Nevermind, I just created a new copy in the correct place. Delete this one if you wish.

Boogz · Mar 22, 2008, 12:19 PM // 12:19

PI has no place on PvE imo, however, it works wonders as a spike assist in GvG, the only thing that i don't about PI, is the 50% failure, even when mesmers always have more than 4 on fast casting.
for PvE i'd rather stay with Psychic Distraction, Power Block or Simple Thievery as an elite interrupt, but i prefer running Energy Surge, Mantra of Recovery or Hex Eater Vortex.