Distortion, how bad is it now?

monkey grip

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

Nefarious Coterie [Cult]

R/

I just read the updates, and can't play right now. I have been using distortion for a year now and am a little bummed.

Is it messed up now? i always thought it was a little cheap, but effective

PS: i'm not whining, or complaining, what will be will be

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

Assuming you run 6 attributes in Illusion such as the Crippleshot build at GuildWiki, you will only get the effect of distortion for 3 seconds with a 5 second recharge. I don't remember what the energy loss at said 6 attribute level was using the skill before the change, but I think it was 2 energy just like it is now, so I don't think there is a change on that part.

Former Ruling

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Oct 2005

Cedartown, Georgia

R/

You have to have HIGH illusion it get it to 5 sec duration, i think its 15 illusion (have to be primary Mesmer basically)

Its also sad that it is stuck at 2 per evade, you used to be able to get 1 per evade if illusion was high enough.

Aun

Aun

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2006

Sweden

Its Gi [Joe]

N/

I'm very disappointed myself yeah... But I guess 3 seconds is ok too. Has to be some recharge otherwise you can say it's non stop defense with storm chaser.

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

I don't think it will work for what we were using it for. It's great for dodging a spike.. but it's not so great for making an invincible Crip Shotter.

monkey grip

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

Nefarious Coterie [Cult]

R/

yeah, was playing last night, it's useless now to a secondary mesmer, man, that was my meat and potatoes. oh well, time to work out some new builds, no biggie.

actually it will force me to find a better strategy than just standing there and keeping distortion up, but it sure was nice to plant yourself and launch some arrows.

Tartagan

Tartagan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

KRO

Me/N

Quite hard for a primary mesmer ... tried it a bit and with the e-management nerf and the static 2 energy lost ... I can t keep it without depleting my energy ...

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

Somewhere I read that Non-Ranger stances are no longer affected by expertise. IMO that would be the bigger and more crippling nerf to distortion on a Ranger Primary.

But truth be told, distortion wasn't ever meant to deal with pressure, it still works very well to catch a spike.... you just have to time it better.

Amy Awien

Amy Awien

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

R/

Yep, just tried it, Flurry took the full 5 energy. Huge nerf on rangers.

Evilsod

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

Theres just 1 thing i don't get... why the hell did they completely fcuk up Expertise making it absolutely useless for secondary class use with regards to everything BUT Touch Rangers?

duncan99

duncan99

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2006

Norway, Oslo

Glob of Ectospasm

what exactly happened to whirling? i heard from ppl they keep getting hit now but no changes on the discription..

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Evilsod
Theres just 1 thing i don't get... why the hell did they completely fcuk up Expertise making it absolutely useless for secondary class use with regards to everything BUT Touch Rangers? It's incredibly irritating. Unfortunately that freaking nerf got lost in the rest of the people whinning about farming and AoE nerfs.

I understand the reasoning behind the decision that shouts and such shouldn't be affected by expertise, but I think locking us out of stances was a bit too much. At least we kept the attack skills...

Crushedskulls11

Crushedskulls11

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

Oregon

R/

hmm odd jsut tried whirling, fury, dodge, zojuns and escape w/ exp. at 13 and they all were affected by exp. w/ cost fo 5 e and 2 e

sno

sno

Look into the Eye.

Join Date: Oct 2005

Detroit, Mi

Oh No Not These Guys [uhoh]

Mo/

Distortion on a crip shot is simply to put up apply poison without being interupted (and other preps you may have,) and as such it still works just fine. The update makes it impossible to keep it up indefinitely like before, which in my opinion is quite good. I stopped using it on my monk, but I think that's for the best anyways even without the update.

Amy Awien

Amy Awien

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnipiousMax
I understand the reasoning behind the decision that shouts and such shouldn't be affected by expertise ...
I've missed that discussion, why should shouts - and stances - not be affected by expertise? Energy Storage is not limited to spells either, why should expertise be limited?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crushedskulls11
hmm odd jsut tried whirling, fury, dodge, zojuns and escape ... and they all were affected by exp. ... Try a non-ranger stance, like Flurry.