Aggressive Refrain now a terrible skill?

In a recent patch it seems that A.net has decided that [skill]Aggressive Refrain[/skill] was in need of a mashing with the nerfbat. It now causes you to suffer from Cracked Armor for 20 seconds when you activate it. High energy cost for only 25% IAS and now the Cracked Armor?!

Screw this, my para's dead. I'll make an assacaster or something instead, A.net doesn't seem to hate those.

The only problem I have is that Tahlkora spams RC on recharge to remove the cracked armour. As much as I like the heal, she just drains her energy.

The nerf is a bitch in PvP, but the only thing that affects it really in PvE is AI removing cracked armor every few seconds. Seriously, -20 armor isn't going to make a huge difference on a class with unremovable defensive skills, not to mention TNTF.

Quote: Originally Posted by OI-812

Actually, Cracked Armor reapplies every time a Chant or Shout ends, so you're paying quite often.

Quote: Originally Posted by I Phoenix I

Sorry, misinterpreted your post.

If you're really desperate, guildmate tested that placing a Purifying Veil on yourself will keep you clean from the Cracked Armor. Your call if the skill slot, and speccing motivation, is worth the 20 armor.

EDIT: I'm dumb, Purifying Finale, not Veil.

Making a paragon a 90ish armor target instead of 110 is just horrible...not really

You know, between WY!, SY!, TNTF!, Centurion's Insignia, a freakin' shield, and, you know... stuff, I never noticed that -20 armour. Weird.

If only I could tell Dunk to stop spammin' his condition remover...

I anything, I think Anet were too soft on it, AR is still overpowered:

-A constant 25% IAS
-No real set back like Warrior IASs
-Not a stance

Speargons in general are still overpowered:

-Have a constant IAS (see above)
- Have access to lots of conditions
- don't have to go up close like warriors or assassins
-have nearly the same range as bows, but do more damage.

Paragon's in general are broken:

- built around using skills that cannot be remove, nor are there many viable counters to.
- Have the damage of a warrior, but range of a ranger (see above)
- Too much passive defence (defencive Anthem)

Sorry to sound harsh, but saying AR is shit proves that people just complain over rather tiny things.

AR is not 33% IAS.

Quote: Originally Posted by random.name

I agree, the cracked armor affects me not at all. Just did a H/H shards run, and I had zero problems, and I am in AR all the time. -20 means nothing in PvE.

The cracked armor could also be beneficial IF (I haven't tried it yet) you can get it onto an opponent, for instance, using Plague Touch. This would certainly make skills like Aura Slicer, Chest Thumper and Distracting Strike a lot more practical to carry.

Cheers,
TB

If it is non-transferable, you could always go with Spear of Redemption to remove some of the strain off of your H&H and use some of that adrenaline that is pooling waiting for the refresh of GftE or WY!.

Cheers,
TB

Why not bring remedy signet and make sure you don't use too many shouts and chants?

Quote: Originally Posted by Winterclaw

Quote: Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex

well, im more worried about gfte, that nerf sucks