What Skills are "Overused"?

Im Using The Force

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2007

Primal Fire

N/

Who decides or What factors are used to decide a skill is "Underused"? I think a better measure is to decide what skills are "Overused" & work backwards or are these skills judged to be perfect? Certainly Wards are "Overused". Are they perfect? Theres quite a list of Perfect skills by this measure.
Too many for me to list but the constituency surely has an opinion.

Sirius-NZ

Sirius-NZ

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Bellevue, WA (I know ... but I moved out of NZ)

Xen of Onslaught

D/

IMHO overused == popular without good reason.

Cebe

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

Mending

Firestorm

Healing Breeze.

...are overused by non-Monks and non-Eles imo.

Turtle222

Turtle222

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

:D:D

D/W

This is probably for the Average gw player:

Monk: Mending, Orison of Healing

Warrior: Frenzy, Healing Signet

Elementalist: Meteor Shower, Flare

Mesmer: Empathy, Conjure Phantasm

Necromancer: Animate Bone Minions, Animate Flesh Golem

Ranger: Charm Pet, Power Shot

Dervish: AoB, Pious Assault

Paragon: Spear of Lightning, Mending Refrain

Ritualist - Pain, Bloodsong

Assassin - Unsuspecting Strike, Shadow prison

This is what i see on the average PUG...

FengShuiDove

FengShuiDove

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2007

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA]

A/

Charm Animal? That's the staple of some legitimate Beast based builds =P. Meteor Shower is a great skill in the correct setting (though nubs tossing it around in AB show up a lot) and in some setting an Empathy is a good non-elite alternative to Spiteful (for example) for an anti-melee hex. Orison is a great non-elite skill with a good investment in DF... it's basically a non-elite GoL that gives spammable, cheap heals.

I agree, however, with some of your listed skills. Flare is a good skill for Shing Jea island and isn't too bad in PvE but generally is weak and easily mitigated in PvP of any level. Animate Bone Minions is similar. Shadow Prison is absolutely true. I love it when SPs snag me on my Sin or Ele and the only thing the stupid hex is good for is for helping them kite after I drop them. Also, you neglected Mystic Regeneration. Boooo Mystic Regeneration, but hurrah for noobs who think it's a one-skill invulnerability potion.

Vaal 84

Vaal 84

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2007

UK

R/

I can only really answer for a ranger. but i never leave home without broad head arrow. and since eotn pain inverter is a also a mainstay in my builds. I wouldn't class them as overused though, i would argue that they are simply better skills than some of the others.

vaal

Sirius-NZ

Sirius-NZ

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Bellevue, WA (I know ... but I moved out of NZ)

Xen of Onslaught

D/

Yeah, that's like UB. You could say it's overused, but all that would mean is "people are using it more than I'd like them to", which is entirely subjective and thus not subject to any kind of definition. It certainly isn't used more than makes sense, because UB really *is* that powerful.

Uber Mass

Uber Mass

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2006

The Netherlands

retired from gw [agro] still ftw

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Turtle222
This is probably for the Average gw player:
Warrior: Frenzy,
if used correctly frenzy is an awesome skill. Still overused by pugs

Koning

Koning

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

Ursan blessing, obsidian flesh, searing flames, orison of healing.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

*cough* Ursan *cough*
SF, AoB (why, just WHY?!?!), Healing Breeze(again, WHY!?!?!)

Aera Lure

Aera Lure

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

In Baltar's head

Bring Out Your Dead [BOYD], former officer [LBS]

Mo/

Ursan of course. Anything you use everywhere, by every class, to do everything certainly qualifies as overused.

N1ghtstalker

N1ghtstalker

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2007

E/

ursan is way too overused
i hate it

Numa Pompilius

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

I've reinstated Healing Breeze on my hero monk skillbar. 270 health (15 seconds of +9 regen) for 10 e isn't to be sneezed at, it's a nice complement to WoH.

Also while everyone and their grandma runs Searing Flames and Ursan Blessing, they're pehaps overused, but they're powerful enough to warrant it.

Meteor Shower and Flesh Golem, on the other hand... they're not exactly bad skills, but that slot can usually be put to better use.

Sarevok Thordin

Sarevok Thordin

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Scotland

W/N

Warrior : Healing Sig, Frenzy,
Ele: Flare, Met Shower, SF
Mesmer: Diversion, PD
Ranger: Apply Poison, Troll, Whirling
Monk: Guardian, Healing Breeze
Necro: The usual SS/Minion/SV Builds
Sin: Horns of the Ox, Twisting Fangs, Shadow Prison
Rit: Shadowsong
Paragon: Defensive Anthem, Ballad of Restoration
Dervish: Mystic Regen

Oh and of course, that bloody Ursan skill.

Ouchie

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2007

[Leet]

R/

Rebirth
res Sig

all other rezes

Way overused - especially if people die a lot

lyra_song

lyra_song

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Oct 2005

R/Mo

Searing Flames
Spiteful Spirit
Flesh Golem
Energy Surge
Barrage
Burning Arrow
Word of Healing
Crippling Slash
Dragon Slash
Eviscerate
Wanderlust
Mystic Regeneration
Moebius Strike
Shadow Prison

Overused doesnt neccesarily mean bad anyway.

Burst Cancel

Burst Cancel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Domain of Broken Game Mechanics

It's not 'overused' if it's worth using. Ergo, Ursan isn't a good candidate as it's a prime option for people who otherwise fail at the game.

Ekelon

Ekelon

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

Rebel Rising [rawr]

A/W

Splinter Weapon

Aera Lure

Aera Lure

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

In Baltar's head

Bring Out Your Dead [BOYD], former officer [LBS]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Burst Cancel
It's not 'overused' if it's worth using. Ergo, Ursan isn't a good candidate as it's a prime option for people who otherwise fail at the game.
Something is not overused, by definition, if it has to be used. Anything you dont have to use, is then a candidate for overuse. Whether or not its worth using is largely irrelevant.

Maximumraver

Maximumraver

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

The Netherlands

Twisted Revenge [TR]

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by lyra_song
Overused doesnt neccesarily mean bad anyway.
Ok:

Res Signet.

Nevin

Nevin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ekelon
Splinter Weapon
Not since the nerf.

MMSDome

MMSDome

Raged Out

Join Date: Sep 2005

Ursan Blessing, please dear lord remove this from the game all together -_-

Racthoh

Racthoh

Did I hear 7 heroes?

Join Date: May 2005

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

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevin
Not since the nerf.
People stopped using Splinter Weapon??

carnage-runner

carnage-runner

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Aug 2006

Canada, B.C. Vancouver. aka.. amazing.

[Sith]

W/Me

Go PVP... WoH is overused like a mother Red Engine Goring Red Engine Gorer. Same with Ride the Lighting no adays. I see at least 1 of those every 2 or 3 games.

Flem

Flem

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

NA

N/Me

Some of these responses confuse me. How can the staple of the class ever really be "over-used"? Any built in self heal for melee is practically req. Warriors without healing sig, Rangers without troll, etc.... those are people I wouldn't want to party with as a monk. The "I won't help you if you don't help yourself" mentality still rings true.

That's like saying that assassin's over use daggers or something. It just doesn't make sense.

undeadgun

undeadgun

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

US

Its Rainning Fame Hallelujah[伞回伞], also as guild leader

N/

LoD was on every monk's bar before the nerf, the reason is just simple:because it is a better skill. you wanna use Healing Hands in PvP? go for it.

the_jos

the_jos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Hard Mode Legion [HML]

N/

Quote:
I think a better measure is to decide what skills are "Overused" & work backwards or are these skills judged to be perfect?
The question is, are skills overused because they are overpowered, because they are the best in most situations or because they are the best of the worse.
Or is it about skills that are used by 'ignorant' players?

Yichi

Yichi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Guild Hall, Vent, Guesting, PvE, or the occasional HA match...

Dark Alley [dR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by carnage-runner
... WoH is overused like a mother Red Engine Goring Red Engine Gorer...
Because this is the only decent healing elite there is to be able to "red bar" in this game since the LoD nerf.

englitdaudelin

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

East Coast

Soldier's Union [SU]

N/Me

Welll.... Rodgort's Invocation / Rodgort's Mark seem pretty common. Meteor/Meteor Shower/ Fireball... I feel like they're on every PuG Ele's skillbar. I can't complain much for what Meteor Shower does, but that 25e is a lot...
My rit and ranger overuse splinter, even since the nerf. It STILL puts a hurting on clustered up mobs.
Bloodsong on my rit, but again, it has a purpose...keeping me lightly healed, and meeting the condition for some channeling spell spamming.


Not overused: Glimmering Mark. :P

TheRaven

TheRaven

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2006

Virginia

Spirit of Elisha

W/

I have to say Ursan Blessing only because if you don't have it you cannot play with others. You must H/H. Ursan is a great skill, so for that reason it isn't "overused" to have it on your bar, but if it becomes a requirement to be included in any group then that is definitely overuse.

My Ele has recently finished NF and so I went to visit the DOA. I'd never been there and was looking forward to checking it out. Unfortunately I could not find a pug. Several groups were forming asking for Ursan warriors and monks. I saw a non-Ursan warrior trying to find a group and about 5 people told him to leave or get Ursan. He replied that he didn't own EotN. Many folks then said that only Ursan warriors or monks could do DOA. All others had no business even being in the Gate of Anguish.

I left. I could tell that my nuker would never find a group so now I'm working on getting my warrior thru NF so that again, I might explore the DOA area. This isn't right. I'm sure there were sucessful groups beating the DOA quests before EotN was published.

EDIT: Englitdaudelin, you'll be happy to know that only 1 of the 5 Nukes you named is a staple on my nuker's bar and that's Fireball. I won't say that I don't use MS on occasion, but it isn't my favorite. I prefer Echo/Savanna Heat. I run with 102 energy and rarely dip below 40 energy. It's nice not having a 25e spell.

Jenn

Jenn

Resigned.

Join Date: Sep 2006

I'm pretty sure this thread is the pre-cursor to aNet's next big nerf bat. Thanks guys

But in light of the topic at hand, anything spirit-ish for spiritway.

trobinson97

trobinson97

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

Guildless :(

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vaal 84
I can only really answer for a ranger. but i never leave home without broad head arrow. and since eotn pain inverter is a also a mainstay in my builds. I wouldn't class them as overused though, i would argue that they are simply better skills than some of the others.

vaal

For me, speaking as a ranger, I'd say savage/distracting shot are never left behind. Ever.


Edit: Is it me, or do threads like this pop up with an ulterior motive (i.e. complain about Ursan)? Lol.

Burst Cancel

Burst Cancel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Domain of Broken Game Mechanics

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aera Lure
Something is not overused, by definition, if it has to be used. Anything you dont have to use, is then a candidate for overuse. Whether or not its worth using is largely irrelevant.
Plainly incorrect. 'Overused' implies that use is not commensurate with its merit. See: Overvalued, Overrated.

Ergo, it's largely impossible to overuse skills that are categorically better than all other options.

Sirius-NZ

Sirius-NZ

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Bellevue, WA (I know ... but I moved out of NZ)

Xen of Onslaught

D/

As expected, this thread is useless while there is still disagreement about what "overused" actually means.

stretchs

stretchs

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

Untimely Demise [Err了] - SOHK

Good lord enough with the UB whine, go play in the streets or be constructive to a thread.

Prior to it's nerf LoD was probably one of the most overused skills in all of gw. Now Shock, WoH, Animate *.

dont feel no pain

dont feel no pain

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2005

Uk,Wales



*hides behind anti-flame sheild*

TheLichMonky

TheLichMonky

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2007

Does it matter?

Im to good for guilds

Quote:
Originally Posted by stretchs
Good lord enough with the UB whine, go play in the streets or be constructive to a thread.

Prior to it's nerf LoD was probably one of the most overused skills in all of gw. Now Shock, WoH, Animate *.
Lol, good skills get overused because they are good... nerf one and a new skill will take its place until anet nerfs that one

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

Searing flames, but i love it with my ToF paragon.

I dont use AoEs like meteor shower or savannah heat anymore in PVE, but I use earth ones against destroyers. I just love -33% damage all the time from setting things on fire ^^

GrimEye

GrimEye

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2007

Rt/

Some skills are overused for the simple reason there is very little alternative skills that can "equal the efficiency" of "overused" skills.

To solve the problem of "overused", you must provide an "alternative". Of all the 1235 skills in GW, how many skills are actually useful and efficient that you can put in your skill bar of Eight? 10 Percent? Then divide that by 10 professions.

This is why ANET's action on updating "underused" skills is a good direction. Its a proactive move than reactive. Doing it littlle by little is a smart move too so every update wont turn to whinefest on both sides.

Maybe time is against ANET concerning GW1, but its a better solutions than be reactive to ghosts and demons conjured by some people.

My take.

freaky naughty

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2007

Mo/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by dont feel no pain


*hides behind anti-flame sheild*
It's overused because it's the best not because of noobs.