Curse

JR · Sep 14, 2006, 09:18 AM // 09:18

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SKILL UPDATES

Assassin

* Black Lotus Strike: reduced recharge time to 20 seconds.
* Blades of Steel: reduced recharge time to 8 seconds.
* Blinding Powder: Blindness now affects target and all adjacent foes.
* Crippling Dagger: increased damage to 15..60.
* Critical Strike: decreased Energy cost to 5.
* Dark Prison: decreased recharge time to 45 seconds.
* Dash: decreased recharge time to 8 seconds.
* Death Blossom: increased damage to 20..45
* Desperate Strike: increased damage to 15..60.
* Fox Fangs: increased damage to 5..30.
* Golden Lotus Strike: increased Energy gained to 5..12
* Jungle Strike: increased damage to 10..25
* Locust's Fury: increased chance to double strike to 33%.
* Nine Tail Strike: decreased recharge time to 8 seconds.
* Repeating Strike: increased damage to 10..30.
* Scorpion Wire: decreased cast time to 1 second.
* Shadow of Haste: decreased Energy cost to 5, increased the duration to 30..60, and decreased the movement speed by 15%.
* Shadowy Burden: decreased duration to 3..15 seconds.
* Shroud of Distress: decreased recharge time to 15 seconds.
* Signet of Malice: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds, decreased casting time to .25 seconds.
* Siphon Speed: increased movement speed reduction to 33%, and this spell now has half range.
* Siphon Strength: increased duration to 5..20 seconds.
* Temple Strike: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, and increased duration to 1..10 seconds.
* Unsuspecting Strike: increased conditional damage to 15..75.
* Way of Perfection: increased Health gained from critical hit to 10..40.
* Wild Strike: increased damage to 10..35.

Elementalist

* Mind Burn: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
* Mind Freeze: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 8 seconds.
* Mind Shock: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 8 seconds.
* Ether Prodigy: increased damage per Energy to 3.

Mesmer

* Images of Remorse: decreased Health degeneration to 1..3.
* Leech Signet: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
* Signet of Disruption: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.

Monk

* Balthazar's Aura: decreased duration to 8 seconds.
* Bane Signet: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
* Banish: this skill now does double damage vs. summoned creatures.
* Divine Boon: increased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased amount healed to 15..60.
* Extinguish: increased cast time to 1 second, increased recharge time to 12 seconds.
* Purge Signet: decreased cast time to 2 seconds.
* Signet of Judgment: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
* Zealot's Fire: increased recharge time to 45 seconds.

Necromancer

* Plague Signet: decreased recharge time to 8 seconds.

Ranger

* Broad Head Arrow: decreased Energy cost to 15.
* Equinox: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
* Famine: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
* Greater Conflagration: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
* Lacerate: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
* Savage Pounce: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds.
* Tiger's Fury/Bestial Fury: decreased the attack speed to 25%.

Ritualist

* Ancestors' Rage: decreased recharge time to 8 seconds.
* Blind Was Mingson: decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased Blindness duration to 3..8.
* Bloodsong: decreased recharge time to 45 seconds, increased damage to 5..25.
* Boon of Creation: reduced Energy gained to 1..6.
* Channeled Strike: decreased recharge time to 6 seconds.
* Defiant Was Xinrae: decreased Energy cost to 15.
* Disenchantment: decreased recharge time to 45 seconds, increased damage to 5..20.
* Displacement: decreased recharge time to 45 seconds.
* Dissonance: decreased recharge time to 45 seconds, increased damage to 5..20.
* Dulled Weapon: decreased recharge time to 12 seconds.
* Essence Strike: increased damage to 15..60, increased Energy return to 1..9.
* Gaze from Beyond: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds.
* Ghostly Haste: increased spell recharge reduction to 25% faster.
* Grasping Was Kuurong: increaed damage to 15..75.
* Guided Weapon: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
* Life: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
* Mend Body and Soul: increased heal amount to 20..115.
* Pain: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds, increased damage to 5..30.
* Painful Bond: decreased recharge time to 12 seconds.
* Preservation: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
* Protective Was Kaolai: increased duration to 15..60 seconds.
* Recuperation: increased Energy cost to 25, decreased recharge time to 45 seconds.
* Ritual Lord: decreased Spirit recharge to 15..60%.
* Shadowsong: increased Energy cost to 15.
* Shelter: increased Energy cost to 25, increased damage taken to 75..45, decreased recharge time to 45 seconds.
* Soothing: increased Energy to 25, decreased level to 1..8.
* Spirit Burn: increased damage to 15..60, increased conditional damage to 15..45.
* Spirit Light: decreased Energy cost to 5, increased Health sacrificed to 17%.
* Spirit Light Weapon: Changed the way this skill worked to always heal for 1..10 Health per second, and an addition 1..10 Health if you are near a Spirit.
* Spirit Rift: increased damage to 25..135.
* Spirit Transfer: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
* Splinter Weapon: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
* Tranquil Was Tanasen: increased duration to 5..20.
* Union: decreased recharge time to 45 seconds.
* Vital Weapon: decreased recharge time to 12 seconds.
* Wailing Weapon: decreased recharge time to 25 seconds.
* Wanderlust: decreased recharge time to 45 seconds.
* Weapon of Quickening: increased duration to 5..25.
* Wielder's Boon: increased amount healed to 15..75.

Discuss!

glountz · Sep 14, 2006, 09:26 AM // 09:26

Only pleasure.
At last.
Ritualists may use another build than Ritual Lord one.

yesitsrob · Sep 14, 2006, 09:29 AM // 09:29

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Warrior

* Bull's Strike: increased recharge time to 10 seconds.
* Dismember: decreased adrenaline to 5.
* Eviscerate: decreased damage to 1..31.
* Irresistible Blow: increased recharge time to 6 seconds, decreased damage to 5..20.
* Wary Stance: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.

__

Looks like we still have inspiration

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* Tiger's Fury/Bestial Fury: decreased the attack speed to 25%.
* Irresistible Blow: increased recharge time to 6 seconds, decreased damage to 5..20.

I think that's pretty decent... it weakens them for sure but doesn't completely kill thumpers.

Quote:

* Shelter: increased Energy cost to 25, increased damage taken to 75..45, decreased recharge time to 45 seconds.
* Boon of Creation: reduced Energy gained to 1..6.
* Ritual Lord: decreased Spirit recharge to 15..60%.

I like.

The nerf to eviscerate and boon could make things a bit more interesting too. I think I like the update.

[EDIT: There is a thread on this topic in the GvG section, removed for now to stop derailment. - JR]

Buns United · Sep 14, 2006, 09:30 AM // 09:30

I like the recharge on the ranger elite spirits now though, they already changed it once from 60..45.

Tiger's Fury nerfed hmm..? Let's see how that affects IWAY/Thumpers, surely it'll be less pressure from them.

Spirit Light Weapon still seems to be kinda bad... since the healing can be reduced (deep wound, predatory etc...).

The extra damage on Ether Prodigy won't affect things too much, even though it's an damage increase of 50%.

Can't think of something else to say now tho

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Thom Bangalter · Sep 14, 2006, 09:32 AM // 09:32

har har. boon prot was nerfed. Take that for healing damage.

Interesting to note: will the decrease attack speed of tiger's fury and the divine boon change effectively balance each other out so that thumpers are just as potent?

and it's about time spirit spammers took a nerf. Huge problem In gvg, pretty rough in HA. making the other rit skills useful is pretty nice though.

The mind skills are almost good yay!

why did they touch ether prodigy? It wasn't broken IMO, and I doubt anyone else sees this as a positive aspect of the game.

they can do all they want to ranger elite spirits, they'll still rarely get touched except in HA gimmick builds.

nice to see the buffing of leech signet, I always liked that skill.

yesitsrob · Sep 14, 2006, 09:39 AM // 09:39

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why did they touch ether prodigy? It wasn't broken IMO

Compared to other elite energy management skills it is. the extra damage isn't really what was needed though :\

Undressed · Sep 14, 2006, 09:41 AM // 09:41

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Originally Posted by Thom Bangalter

why did they touch ether prodigy? It wasn't broken IMO, and I doubt anyone else sees this as a positive aspect of the game.

Well, it is still the best e-management skill in the game and it was overpowered in what it did and cost, though any crucial change to it would have made Eles useless. Anet's very aware of that.

Tainek · Sep 14, 2006, 09:42 AM // 09:42

Assassin:
Well Repeating Strike isnt so trashy anymore, but still, one guardian and its useless

the Shadow of Haste Buff is Very interesting, with a recharge of 30s, and the duration being 30...60 , prehaps builds that utalise other elites could begin to pop up, Prehaps keeping Siphon Strengh on the enemy Warrior/Thumper in a hex heavy team?

Ele: Finally the mind spells arnt AS awful , mind freeze and mind shock might even begin to see use. its nice to see them using 5E, 15 before was obscene, especially with Obs flame at 5e doing armour ignoring

Monk: Couple of small knocks to Dual Smite, Nothing too serious, but drainign that Zealots fire will really hurt now

Interesting knock to booners, its pretty slight, but the metagame really is hurting booners atm

Necro: Meh

Ranger
Broad head arrow still has to large an arc to be of use
i expect to see many more spirit pressure teams, not to mention those annoying greater conflag+Mantra of flame builds

Ritualist:
A good Nerf IMO, it needed somthing

Shelter and union can be cast more often, but Shelter now costs 10 more energy, dies faster, and you get less energy fromb boon, so riualists are less threatening now, but still evil on the enemy team

a Ritualist with 5 spirits can now do about 70/80 DPS just laying them down, and spread all the secondary effects

if standing in a ward of stability, only blackout and such can intturupt a Ritualist using tranquil ashes

Warrior
I Expect to see more Sever-Gash-Final Warriors, thanks to the eviscirate nerf, but thats a good thing, more elites and variety

Wilhelm · Sep 14, 2006, 09:45 AM // 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom Bangalter

nice to see the buffing of leech signet, I always liked that skill.

-I second that, a very underused skilled.
-Maybe Ritualists can play a more advanced build...not just sitting in a corner tossing spirit after spirit.
-And yes, It finally happened, Boon Prot semi nerf. I hate playing this build, hate playing against it, It just wasn't an "honest" way of keeping people alive imo.

JR · Sep 14, 2006, 09:49 AM // 09:49

Let me run through a few that strike me as especially good or bad:

Quote:

* Balthazar's Aura: decreased duration to 8 seconds.
* Divine Boon: increased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased amount
* Zealot's Fire: increased recharge time to 45 seconds.

I seriously have to wonder about this one, because it makes me a bit QQ. Smite had reach the point where it was fine balance wise in my opinion, and Anet has smacked it down pretty hard again. It has gone from being a viable and decent option to be included in a balanced build, to something I wouldn't considering using. It annoys me when they just bitch slap a whole attribute line for no apparently reason.

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* Divine Boon: increased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased amount

Wow. This one bugs me even more. The recharge change ALONE that they tested made people think twice about running boon prots, then they reduce the heal aswell? That is just too far, in my opinion. That and the fact that I fing hate running a B-Light. Q_Q

Quote:

* Tiger's Fury/Bestial Fury: decreased the attack speed to 25%
* Irresistible Blow: increased recharge time to 6 seconds, decreased damage to 5..20.

Both obvious digs at Thumpers, but not enough in my opinion. However it is better than nothing and I can appreciate that. We shall see how viable they still are.

--------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tainek

Ritualist:
A good Nerf IMO, it needed somthing

Not convinced just how nerfed they are yet, but we shall see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tainek

Warrior
I Expect to see more Sever-Gash-Final Warriors, thanks to the eviscirate nerf, but thats a good thing, more elites and variety

The Eviscerate nerf is miniscule, it shouldn't change anything.

Buns United · Sep 14, 2006, 09:50 AM // 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom Bangalter

they can do all they want to ranger elite spirits, they'll still rarely get touched except in HA gimmick builds.

Arcane Languor + Equinox might get more popular because of it, not saying it's good.

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Terra Xin · Sep 14, 2006, 09:58 AM // 09:58

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why did they touch ether prodigy? It wasn't broken IMO, and I doubt anyone else sees this as a positive aspect of the game.

wasn't this like the most effective way to gain back energy out of all energy recovery skills? The nerf isn't too bad...

With the chanelling buff, hopefully more people will stray away from the boring old ritual lord and move over to the active side :P

Tainek · Sep 14, 2006, 10:00 AM // 10:00

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Originally Posted by JR-

Let me run through a few that strike me as especially good or bad:

I seriously have to wonder about this one, because it makes me a bit QQ. Smite had reach the point where it was fine balance wise in my opinion, and Anet has smacked it down pretty hard again. It has gone from being a viable and decent option to be included in a balanced build, to something I wouldn't considering using. It annoys me when they just bitch slap a whole attribute line for no apparently reason.

Both obvious digs at Thumpers, but not enough in my opinion. However it is better than nothing and I can appreciate that. We shall see how viable they still are.

The Eviscerate nerf is miniscule, it shouldn't change anything.

Agreed on both Points, Smite Was Balanced before, now its so easy to counter, zealots is just too vunerable

and thumpers needed a little hurt, lets see how they do

As for Evis, prehaps a small nerf, but i stil feel it is anouther reason to run Sword warriors, and that is a good thing

Dragannia · Sep 14, 2006, 10:02 AM // 10:02

The Boon nerf is funky...in a weird sort of way. Modifying the metagame by twiddling with Boon, a stable part of the metagame, bugs me.

As for the smiters, wasn't that big of a nerf, just prevents them from steamrolling the weaker teams. All in all, I liked the skill update, although a few things are irritating. Firstly, the Boon nerf, and secondly, the Images of Remorse nerf. My poor IoR...at least it's still a good, usable skill.

JR · Sep 14, 2006, 10:11 AM // 10:11

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Originally Posted by Dragannia

As for the smiters, wasn't that big of a nerf, just prevents them from steamrolling the weaker teams.

They were already something that was just ok before; as if you ran into a build with lots of enchant removal you could be pretty effectively shut down, but they had nice defensive and offensive capabilities so you forgave them for that. Now they have been pushed over the line into something that simply isn't worth taking, in my opinion.

Ruben · Sep 14, 2006, 10:16 AM // 10:16

I <3 the Restoration buff, especially Mend Body and Soul and Preservation. Too bad they didn't buff Weapon of Shadow.
Leech Signet is more viable.

I don't understand the 1 second cast time on Extinguish, because it doesn't counter spells like Rodgorts Invocation as well as it used to, the burning lasts like 3 seconds only. Condition Degens got buffed I guess.
And why nerf Divine Boon, with all the new NR and monk builds it was already "nerfed".

I miss the old TF...

JR · Sep 14, 2006, 10:33 AM // 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruben

I don't understand the 1 second cast time on Extinguish, because it doesn't counter spells like Rodgorts Invocation as well as it used to, the burning lasts like 3 seconds only. Condition Degens got buffed I guess.

Indeed they did; the main hurt being that now Extinguish can be D-Shotted.

Wasteland Squidget · Sep 14, 2006, 10:40 AM // 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

They were already something that was just ok before; as if you ran into a build with lots of enchant removal you could be pretty effectively shut down, but they had nice defensive and offensive capabilities so you forgave them for that. Now they have been pushed over the line into something that simply isn't worth taking, in my opinion.

We ran our triple smite build through these same nerfs during the Nightfall preview weekend (before D/Mos took over.) We still managed to beat a lot of teams, but the build was a good deal weaker.

Smiters haven't even been all that popular recently, so I'm not really sure why they took such a hit. I'm also suprised at the complete lack of changes to death necros.

Dragannia · Sep 14, 2006, 10:47 AM // 10:47

With the Boon nerf, are Healing Monks becoming more viable? I'm asking this because my guild members are debating on whether to use a WoH healer instead of a Boonprot and having another Blessed Light Monk or something.

Thom Bangalter · Sep 14, 2006, 10:49 AM // 10:49

boon nerfed; common melee builds debuffed....

I think squidget might be on to something.