A nerf that took 2 years ?

Qual

Qual

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

Denmark, Karup.

[PuG]

W/E

So "Shields Up!" got a nerf... I am just wondering, why does A-net nerf this skill now, it has been the same in two years and they nerf it now? Did it really take A-net 2 years to decide if this skill was "too good" or "overpowered". I am just wondering, not whining...

* "Shields Up!": decreased duration to 5..11 seconds, decreased armor bonus to 24.

Saelfaer

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2005

Belgium

The Blitzers Guild

Quote:
Originally Posted by Qual
So "Shields Up!" got a nerf... I am just wondering, why does A-net nerf this skill now, it has been the same in two years and they nerf it now? Did it really take A-net 2 years to decide if this skill was "too good" or "overpowered". I am just wondering, not whining...

* "Shields Up!": decreased duration to 5..11 seconds, decreased armor bonus to 24. just to make it clear,
no, they didnt need 2 years to see something was wrong with this skill
because in the beginning the skill was ok, but when guildwars became older
new skills were introduced, new skill changes were introduced, and those skill changes had their effect on this shields up! skill.
thats probably the reason why they changed shields up, to be more balanced with those other skills that got a change.*

*notice me using the word 'change' instead of nerf! i hate the word nerf, its not because duration was decreased, or energy cost increased that it is a nerf, A nerf would be making a skill useless, and so far arenanet only balanced skills, they never made skills useless! so therefor i hate to see the word 'nerf' beeing used.

Qual

Qual

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

Denmark, Karup.

[PuG]

W/E

no a nerf is not making a skill useless, a nerf is making a skill less good...

evenfall

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

"Shields Up!" did not remain unchanged for two years. The orginal skill during release reads

For 8-18 seconds, you and nearby allies gain 50 armor against piercing damage and 10...34% chance to block incoming projectile attacks.

It got buffed twice.
Once to fixed 50% block + in the area range. And then to within earshot range with the release of nightfall.

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

The skill also used to be much more narrow in that it only worked against rangers. You'd basically only take it if you were worried about r-spike, which has been nerfed several times.

Now it negates paragons as well, but more importantly it has incredible synergy with Aegis chain made popular by GoLE, since the shout protects you from one of the most common counters to aegis, bow interrupts. You know it was getting out of hand when dervishes started carrying the skill in the CT.

And I figured this was yet another topic on soul reaping...

Evilsod

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

Shields Up was always stupidly overpowered. A skill that gives an entire team +50 AL vs Piercing, a 50% chance to block arrows/spears and lasts for about 18 seconds...

They had to nerf it anyway, it was bette than most paragon elites.... and still is.

samcobra

samcobra

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

USA

Mo/Me

I believe it was due to the pressuring of a certain ranger-spike lover named Natures Renewal and his guild aptly named Shields Up [IMBA]