DAGGERS! 15^50 vs. Energy +5!

Yanman.be

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

The 15% applies only to base damage, yet that doesn't mean you should ditch it. Any number adds up.

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

That is true. But for the same result (+5e), people are willing to wear Radiant. An alternative, as Shuuda proposed, is Survivor. Now we're talking +25HP (equivalent locations). This is 'a lot' too.

Maybe it's an attitude change. Despite generally running no self-heal anymore, I want to build 'to last'. If it entails sacrificing such a small percentage of damage to have this extra leverage - both in HP and Energy? I'd have to think it over.

In any case, at DM 14, a Blossom critical can hit 100+ still. So it's not like it plummets after the conditional +15% is removed.

segnisletum

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

N/

As said several times, its all a matter of preference. Pve I prefer the 5e to avoid using radiant/attunement runes. On top of that, lvl difference affects crit chance lowering the difference anyways. Living>+20 damage. And 20 damage isn't going to make or break a pve skirmish.

Pvp I switch daggers but usually in 15% more in some form or fashion. Only go to 5e if I have a chance for a spike and for some reason I don't think my energy is high enough for my chain.

Though why people bring up pvp in the campfire all the time I don't know...

Yanman.be

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

So like, switch daggers y'know.

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

Like, sure. ^^ Toying around with several weapon sets has proven quite useful at energy-management.

Sqube

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2006

Behind you...

A/

A lot of the people here seem to be operating under the assumption that you can only use one pair of daggers, ever.

Zealous 15^50 of Fortitude/Enchantment (general use)
Elemental 15^50 of Fortitude/Enchantment (Warriors, synergy with other skills)
Vampiric 15^50 of Fortitude/Enchantment (when you need every last point of damage)
Zealous +5E of Fortitude (for when you have DP)

Obviously, you bring your specialized daggers for when you're running a Temple Strike build, or if you want the poison to last for as long as possible, but I really feel like the above four daggers takes care of just about every imaginable situation.

You would probably replace the vampiric daggers with one of those +60 HP staffs for kiting if you're doing organized PvP; I've never done it, so I wouldn't know. But for PvE and disorganized PvP, I feel the four daggers I've listed above should be in every sin's toolbox. There. I said it.

Bowstring Badass

Bowstring Badass

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Character selection screen figuring what I want to play...

Purple Lingerie - :D

Let This Die Already It Is Annoying Carry A Pair Of Both. +5 When You Have Dp. Done End Of Story Stfu And Take Your Fail With You.

kazjun

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2006

HoVa

W/N

Sounds interesting, though I wonder why you don't just carry multiple weaps. You do get 4 weap slots after all.

Still, why don't you test this on the master of damage on the isle of the nameless if you want good numbers? See if the extra energy will let you spike for more or longer as compared to the damage from a 15^50?

Yanman.be

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

You can bring as many weapons as you have inventory slots.

I color code then myself for easy reconaissance.

Ekelon

Ekelon

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

Rebel Rising [rawr]

A/W

The only good thing about +5e daggers IMO is that you can pull off a combo with DP, otherwise, 20 damage is a lot (the difference b/w killing you're opponent or not killing him).

As many people have probably already pointed out, your tests are inaccurate, your average for no damage boost was 19.9, then with +15% it was 18 something... shouldn't it be higher?

Saphatorael

Saphatorael

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...0&postcount=43

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Simply put... to the original post and anyone else who uses the +5e...

If you cannot manage your enemy without using +5e weapons, Radiant Insignias or Attunement runes..... then you're not playing well. I've been there. I've learnt better.
I use Nightstalker's Armour and 15%/Enchant Daggers (No Critical Agility = Fail)... and have absolutely ZERO problems with energy 95% of the time (yes, even against packs of Roaring Ethers... though several Mist Vaettirs with AV/SV up can get the better of me).

If you're playing properly... +5 energy won't make a single shred of difference. You'd be better off with 10% faster spell recharge chance than that (because every Assassin almost has at least one spell on their skillbar).
That then leads to the next point made by Yan earlier:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yanman.be
The 15% applies only to base damage, yet that doesn't mean you should ditch it. Any number adds up. QFT.

Sqube

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2006

Behind you...

A/

SotiCoto, I don't know that I would say that not being able to run your assassin with 25 energy makes you an automatic fail... but I'm going to try it out. I'm running Zealous 15^50 daggers for the first time in my life, so I'm interested in how it's going to work out.

Besides, I've tried running with 38 energy, and it was funny. Pointless, but funny. I mean, I didn't need anything near the amount of energy that I had. 15^50 for my daggers and health runes all around will be quite a difference for me.

And +5e daggers will always be good for DP, so poo!

Shuuda

Shuuda

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Guildless

Me/

SotiCoto, do remember to post the combo you use. And as Sqube, when DP sets in, +5 comes out to play, it can make all the difference in PvP

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sqube
SotiCoto, I don't know that I would say that not being able to run your assassin with 25 energy makes you an automatic fail... but I'm going to try it out. I'm running Zealous 15^50 daggers for the first time in my life, so I'm interested in how it's going to work out.
Make sure you have at least 13 Critical Strikes and Critical Agility. The IAS definitely ups the Criticals-per-unit-time. If you're still having difficulty, bring Critical Eye as well.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuuda
SotiCoto, do remember to post the combo you use. And as Sqube, when DP sets in, +5 comes out to play, it can make all the difference in PvP [skill]Golden Phoenix Strike[/skill][skill]Critical Strike[/skill][skill]Moebius Strike[/skill][skill]Death Blossom[/skill]
Critical Strike is such an obscene energy-spike AND good for refreshing Critical Defenses... I never leave outpost without it.
And what was that about PvP?
PvP's lack of Critical Agility = fail. >_<;

Saphatorael

Saphatorael

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

Quote:
Originally Posted by SotiCoto
PvP's lack of Critical Agility = fail. >_<; Yeh, I demand that There Is Nothing To Fear! also gets put in PvP, Paragons suck without lolol

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saphatorael
Yeh, I demand that There Is Nothing To Fear! also gets put in PvP, Paragons suck without lolol This has nothing to do with Paragons (though I do like the skill in question); This is Sparta! .... Wait... no.... This is the Assassin Board!
*Coughs*
But really... compared to Critical Agility, any other IAS an Assassin can use is substandard. It really does wipe the floor with them.

Ben-A-BoO

Ben-A-BoO

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

Europe

Offtopic:

Quote:
Originally Posted by SotiCoto
... any other IAS an Assassin can use is substandard. There is a reason why there is no IAS under the assassin skills ... it's called game balance (for pvp - since it seems not to matter anymore in pve eg. consumables etc.) Remember what happened when Burst of Aggression was around?

On Topic:

Swap weapons

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by timebandit
There is a reason why there is no IAS under the assassin skills ... it's called game balance (for pvp - since it seems not to matter anymore in pve eg. consumables etc.) Remember what happened when Burst of Aggression was around? I don't know what happened to Burst of Aggression, but Assassins are still using short-duration Warrior IAS skills in PvP to the best of my knowledge... and it isn't giving them a major advantage above and beyond other classes, so I fail to see the issue.
Critical Agility probably would, if introduced... but it isn't going to be.

Yanman.be

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

BoA was a rather long IAS with short rc, and a downside that didn't affect sins, so they abused it.

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yanman.be
BoA was a rather long IAS with short rc, and a downside that didn't affect sins, so they abused it. And Flurry isn't?
The reduction doesn't do squat to attack skills, which is where Sin damage really is.

Bowstring Badass

Bowstring Badass

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Character selection screen figuring what I want to play...

Purple Lingerie - :D

Just when I thought this was going to die. Can a mod close please nothing but flaming now...

Sqube

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2006

Behind you...

A/

SotiCoto, if I'm running a dagger sin, I'm bringing 13CS and Critical Agility. Actually, outside of RA, I don't think I have any builds where that skill doesn't make an appearance.

And as far as Flurry is concerned, even though the 25% reduction in base damage doesn't matter much to 'sins, it is a reduction in damage. BoA, on the other hand, did absolutely nothing to reduce attack damage. There is a difference, although I understand the point you're trying to make.

Bowstring Badass, I don't really see who's flaming here. Perhaps you could show me?

Master Ketsu

Master Ketsu

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2006

middle of nowhere

Krazy Guild With Krazy People [KrZy]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by SotiCoto
And Flurry isn't?
The reduction doesn't do squat to attack skills, which is where Sin damage really is. Shhhh............

And the BoA nerf didnt do shit to stop SP sins since tiger stance can be used exactly the same way in the same build. what difference is +8 second recharge when your lead ( shadow prison ) also takes 20 seconds to recharge as well ? Answer: not much.

Bowstring Badass

Bowstring Badass

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Character selection screen figuring what I want to play...

Purple Lingerie - :D

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sqube

Bowstring Badass, I don't really see who's flaming here. Perhaps you could show me?
Open your eyes....