Psychic Instability: Bugged?

Saphatorael

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

15 Nov 2006 at 15:24 - 1

Hi there. (Yeah, I know... not an impressive first sentence, but I have to start this thread somehow eh

)

I've been messing around in Random Arena's today, testing new skill combo's.

I think Psychic Instability might be slightly bugged.

I've used it before (pre-NF), on a R/Me, and it works normally if i use skills like Distracting Shot (so it knocks down, since it's an unconditional interrupt, other than the fact that it must hit to interrupt), yet it didn't work with Savage Shot unless i interrupted a skill.
It knocked down when i tested a variation with Complicate in it.

Today I tested Web of Disruption+ Shatter Delusions+Psychic Instability.
Same thing, basically.
Web of Disruption gives an unconditional interrupt, yet it does NOT trigger Psychic Instability, unless I interrupt a skill, just like Savage Shot).

Clearly this doesn't follow the description, since PI should knock down on any form of an interrupt, and WoD being a double unconditional interrupt (I had to use Shatter Delusions to time the interrupt (and knockdown if it interrupted a skill))

Unless it's supposed to work like this, ANet should fix this... or just clarify the descriptions so I won't have to waste time actually testing skill combo's like this.

Sol_Vie

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Boston, MA

Blood Of Orr [BoO]

15 Nov 2006 at 16:21 - 2

While the skill description says that it should work on any interrupt, I would imagine that it should be working more or less how it is. If it were to operate based on any interrupt it would be, well, pretty insane. A R/Me could keep someone KD'ed virtually indefinitely. May as well exploit this though?

Saphatorael

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

15 Nov 2006 at 16:49 - 3

But it's an elite, so it shouldn't be that 'weak'... I mean, what's the use of having it then if it'll only knockdown so conditionally...

Besides, a knockdown isn't that important imo, it'll only last 2 seconds (since you don't have Stonefist Insignia)... but it's annoyance, and that's what I like/want to achieve with the build.

My actual plea to ANet is: fix the description, or make the skill do what it says it does. Please? (I prefer the second one, since it's still a hex, AND an elite, so there'd be no need to keep it a weak as it already is, I just want to be a more annoying mesmer than I already am)

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

15 Nov 2006 at 22:17 - 4

Actually, it is not broke.

Alot of interrupt would say it interrupt unconditionally, however the fact is that they actually meant "interrupt target foe ACTION" unconditionally.

If you hit a target that is attacking something with savage shot while psychic instability is on, he/she would be knocked down. Hence, attacking is an action.

Moving, standing still, getting hit, etc aren't condsidered as an action.

Edit: I forgot to mention. If web of disruption do not interrupt someone who isn't doing anything, it means it is another one of those "interrupt action" type. (I haven't play mesemer recently to know for sure)

TomD22

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

15 Nov 2006 at 22:28 - 5

Is it possible you're shattering Psychic not Web by mistake? That'd explain why it's not working, if you just shattered it off the target :P Just a possibility....

Phoenix Arrows

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

With many other ugly people

We Are All Pretty [ugly]

16 Nov 2006 at 01:30 - 6

He said it doesn't work with Savage Shot either, and Savage Shot is not a spell that removes a hex.

Taki

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

N/Me

17 Nov 2006 at 21:20 - 7

I believe it was changed in a patch. Before that I would use it with sav shot and dis shot to knock the condition npcs down in the Isle of the Nameless (the ones by the shore with blind, disease, weakness etc on them). Both skills would KD the npc when they were just standing there and me plunking away with a longbow. It was a lot of fun in the arenas but some time later I rerolled a r/me and targets could only be KD if I actually interrupted a skill instead of just hit with d/sav shot.

I definately felt dissapointed at the change but really believe the current form is the most balanced and they should update the description.

Terra Xin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2006

New Zealand

Me/R

18 Nov 2006 at 01:07 - 8

Quote:

I definately felt dissapointed at the change but really believe the current form is the most balanced and they should update the description. To say what exactly? If the skill is now working as intended, then distracting shot and web of disruption will not interrupt if there is nothing to interrupt.

Saphatorael

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

19 Nov 2006 at 22:27 - 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terra Xin

To say what exactly? If the skill is now working as intended, then distracting shot and web of disruption will not interrupt if there is nothing to interrupt. What about Wailing and Warmonger's Weapon? They interrupt quite 'conditionally' (Wailing if you hit an attacking foe, Warmonger's when you hit a foe that is not attacking, great against casters.)
These skills just popped up in my mind, but i think it's a bit too late to still test it (i'd best get some sleep, have class early in the morning); can someone please test the skill in tandem with PI?

Thanks, and hopefully it'll clear up the skill description/actions more.

Terra Xin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2006

New Zealand

Me/R

19 Nov 2006 at 22:48 - 10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saphatorael

What about Wailing and Warmonger's Weapon? They interrupt quite 'conditionally' (Wailing if you hit an attacking foe, Warmonger's when you hit a foe that is not attacking, great against casters.)
These skills just popped up in my mind, but i think it's a bit too late to still test it (i'd best get some sleep, have class early in the morning); can someone please test the skill in tandem with PI? um. What about them? I'll say it again, and with more clarity. An interrupt needs something in order for it to be interrupted. You can't interrupt someone if they wern't doing anything in the first place. That's the 'whole' point of interruption. If you need more of a definition, there's a dictionary :P. Just because a skill says that targets will be interrupted (full stop), you still have to consider that the interrupt itself has its conditions. In GW, an interrupt occurs on an attack, or an activating skill.

But if you really want to be proved wrong. Run a scrimmage with another friend, have them take Mantra of Resolve and use PI on them and Warmonger's Weapon on yourself. Now when a person is interrupted under mantra of resolve, they lose energy. I'm telling you now, nothing will happen.

I would also like to note that PI will cause knockdown on foes who have anti-interruption skills on them, like Mantra of Resolve.

Racthoh

Did I hear 7 heroes?

Join Date: May 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Guild Leader (Not Recruiting)

19 Nov 2006 at 23:55 - 11

To echo, the skill is working correctly. You cannot interrupt moving or standing still, your target must be attacking or using a skill to trigger the interrupt.