Smiter's Boon

Hanging Man

Hanging Man

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Deep in the Shire

Ok I realized that Anet nerfed [skill]smiter's boon [/skill] so it can not see any use.

But I want to ask you guys, why?

Why did Anet nerf this skill into oblivion, never to be seen again?
If anyone can shed some light, much appreciated.

Also, if this was already a thread, I searched and didn't find anything.

[Morkai]

[Morkai]

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Oct 2007

Heroes of Elonia [HE]

W/Rt

Because it got abused and they're bad at skill balancing, so they destroyed it.

turbo234

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2006

WI

Mo/

They said that monks were able to deal damage while supporting characters too well. Plus they can't skill balance for the life of them so they raped it.

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

1) Back when VoD was around, rawr won a mAT with 4 of those. (Same reason anything gets nerfed these days...)

2) Smiters are still freaking strong without the skill. In it's original version, it ought to be elite.

That said, I'd like to see something closer to the original uptime/duration, with the addition "you deal 25/33% less damage". There could be a fair tradeoff here in terms of damage ability that would keep this from making existing smite-pressure more powerful, while still enabling some favorite junk-pvp builds. (Of course, they'd have to un-nerf boon signet too...)

draxynnic

draxynnic

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2005

[CRFH]

What it boiled down to is that through combining it with skills like Smite Condition and Smite Hex, boonsmites were able to provide good healing, hex/condition removal, and pressure all in one package - and with Smiting knockdown skills and the likes of Reversal of Damage, decent disruption and/or prot as well. The result was that you could get away with parties that were composed pretty much entirely of boonsmites. Killing Smiter's Boon meant that such parties would be lacking on the healing side.

If you go hunting through the wikis, there's a "Development Updates" (or something similar" page where the devs briefly explain the reasons behind various changes.

garethporlest18

garethporlest18

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

[HiDe]

W/

The reason it was killed like it was, because to me it seemed like they didn't' wanna think about it and just said blah we'll take it out of commission!

Hanging Man

Hanging Man

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Deep in the Shire

To me, it seems kinda ridiculous to just nerf a skill so it won't be played, and not bother to make it use able.

MisterB

MisterB

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2005

Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy

[ban]

W/

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Arena...dates/20080821

Explanation was given there. Nerfing it to oblivion was easier than deleting it altogether.

fenix

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

ITT: Lots of bad players who don't understand balances.


Izzy ruined it like that because it's VERY VERY difficult to remove a skill entirely from GW. Plus, it wasn't changed for PvE, so why are you guys mad?

Ratson Itamar

Ratson Itamar

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2006

"Flame Shield On!"

I've just noticed that they didn't nerf the casting time. Could have been funny if they had nerfed it for 5 sec casting time...they can't even rape their own skills right..

Hanging Man

Hanging Man

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Deep in the Shire

Quote:
Originally Posted by fenix View Post
ITT: Lots of bad players who don't understand balances.


Izzy ruined it like that because it's VERY VERY difficult to remove a skill entirely from GW. Plus, it wasn't changed for PvE, so why are you guys mad?

I can see how it would be harder to remove it all together than to just nerf it.
I don't monk pve or pvp, but I was looking at monk skills and saw this.

At first I thought it was a joke or something.
Turns out i was right

fenix

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

It's harder because of the way that the coding works in GW. Easier to just nerf it so it is unusable. How does that not make sense?

Puebert

Puebert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2005

Mo/

Because 3 monks and 1 Ranger Packhunter is not an ideal meta when wtfpwn hexstacking is.

draxynnic

draxynnic

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2005

[CRFH]

Looking over the designer notes again, it also looks like they're also keeping their options open about 'restoring' it sometime in the future.

street peddler

street peddler

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2007

they destroyed it a while back before a monthly so that it wouldnt be used.

Dr.Jones

Dr.Jones

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2008

Simply put Anet dost know how to balance there own game this is also evident in the fact that heroes don't know how to use certain skills.

Luminarus

Luminarus

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Aug 2007

Sydney, Australia

Haze of Light [pure]

R/

Because Ether Renewal got un-ether renewaled, we needed a new skill to refer to when the raped a skill... now we call it giving it the Smiter's Boon treatment or something like that.

Also gave me a gud laugh when I read the update notes

Gift3d

Gift3d

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2007

Las Vegas

Enraged Whiny Carebears [oR]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by fenix View Post
ITT: Lots of bad players who don't understand balances.


Izzy ruined it like that because it's VERY VERY difficult to remove a skill entirely from GW. Plus, it wasn't changed for PvE, so why are you guys mad?
ITT: 4chan lingo and the inability to comprehend this thread.

He's asking why did they have to basically remove it from pvp instead of balancing it? I mean, it's there in plain english. Right there. See? No, not there... yeah right there!

I guess the reason would be that it's effectiveness came from the double divine favor bonus, which wasn't scaled to attribute. The only thing that was, was the duration of the spell. I guess upping the cost, or reducing the duration, or increasing the recharge slightly, they felt the original mechanics of the skill (double divine favor) was still overpowered. That's my only guess.

To sum it up, uncreative laziness.

Arkantos

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

W/

It was killed because Izzy realized that he made a completely unbalanced skill and he wanted it gone. He couldn't figure out how to balance it, and he wanted it gone fast, so the easiest thing for him to do was completely kill it.

The skill should have never been made.

ZenRgy

ZenRgy

Zookeeper

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australian Discussion Posse HQ - Glorious leader

҉ ̵̡̢̢̛̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟&#

N/E

Skill was bad. Got removed.

This thread is bad. What happens next?

RedNova88

RedNova88

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

Behind you!

W/

Rather than nerf it into hell why not get creative and change it's mechanics for PvP if it's so bad? I lose respect for them when I learn this was done deliberately to shun anyone in PvP from using it, which was already blatantly obvious. I understand class and skill balance is... well... A balancing act, but don't drop a boulder on one side and leave it like that.

Arkantos

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by RedNova88 View Post
Rather than nerf it into hell why not get creative and change it's mechanics for PvP if it's so bad? I lose respect for them when I learn this was done deliberately to shun anyone in PvP from using it, which was already blatantly obvious. I understand class and skill balance is... well... A balancing act, but don't drop a boulder on one side and leave it like that.
Apparently you didn't read this link posted above you.

Izzy wanted it gone fast. The balance team couldn't come up with a reasonable change fast enough, so they killed it. They may consider trying to make it usable. With over a thousand skills in this game, smiter's boon really isn't a priority. They should try balancing the game now (like Lingering Curse, Warrior's Endurance, etc) before they try and make this skill usable in PvP.

In the end, making this skill was a mistake, and they really could care less.

RedNova88

RedNova88

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

Behind you!

W/

I did see it and I do understand where you and they are coming from, I guess I just don't get people sometimes since it's been that way for a long time now. Not starting a great debate here, I guess if I were in their place I would have figured something different out besides killing it off completely for PvPers. Not that I'm a high-end PvPer, so I can't say that I've experienced it's OPness in the past.

Arkantos

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by RedNova88 View Post
I did see it and I do understand where you and they are coming from, I guess I just don't get people sometimes since it's been that way for a long time now. Not starting a great debate here, I guess if I were in their place I would have figured something different out besides killing it off completely for PvPers. Not that I'm a high-end PvPer, so I can't say that I've experienced it's OPness in the past.
It was very overpowered.

Completely killing it was the only reasonable thing they could do. It needed to be gone, and they couldn't figure out a way to make it usable and not overpowered. Balancing a game with over a thousand skills isn't a walk in the park. They did what they had to do.

zwei2stein

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by RedNova88 View Post
Rather than nerf it into hell why not get creative and change it's mechanics for PvP if it's so bad? I lose respect for them when I learn this was done deliberately to shun anyone in PvP from using it, which was already blatantly obvious. I understand class and skill balance is... well... A balancing act, but don't drop a boulder on one side and leave it like that.
That was before they figured out that changing skill functionality completely was "fair game".

Anyhow, I do like idea of it being restored with some "nerf" that adds element of skill to both using it and dealing with it.

(5e, 1/4c, 10r)
Enchantment Spell. For 10 seconds, your Smiting Prayers have double the Divine Favor bonus but whenever you would deal damage, you deal fire damage instead and whenever you receive damage you receive holy damage instead.

Go go, armor affected damage & fire shield sets for people on receiving end!
Go go, smiter now receiving more damage overall, easily convinced not to recast smiters boon on recharge by some pressure and easier to spike down.

Hugh Manatee

Hugh Manatee

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2007

Nice But Deadly[nice]

N/

Just make it work like [Divine Boon] after it's nerf and it''l be fine. 5e 1/4c 15r 1m , Divine Favor bonus is doubled for all smiting skills, you lose 2 energy when you cast a smiting skill or this enchantment ends.

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

that wouldn't work, simply because castigation signet will provide for all its energy needs.

frankly, the ability to deal damage AND heal/prot shouldn't exist. i have no problems about smiter's boon being unusable.

rohara

rohara

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2006

Rt/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arkantos View Post
It was very overpowered.

Completely killing it was the only reasonable thing they could do. It needed to be gone, and they couldn't figure out a way to make it usable and not overpowered. Balancing a game with over a thousand skills isn't a walk in the park. They did what they had to do.
i don't think anyone disagrees that SB was overpowered, but nerfing it into oblivion just because "they couldn't figure out a way to make it usable and not overpowered" is a cop-out. it's their job to figure this stuff out. the player base has come up with dozens of good ideas for this skill, so i find it hard to believe that izzy/linsey/whoever couldn't come up with something better than removing the skill from pvp. it was simply lazy.

Brett Kuntz

Brett Kuntz

Core Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Some skills have an effective-range and some are like light-switches. Effective-range skills can be balanced as small changes will tweak the line between useful and useless. Light-switch skills are either insanely useful or insanely useless. There is no between with them, there is no balancing them, just turning them on or turning them off. Smiter's Boon was turned off.

zwei2stein

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by kunt0r View Post
Some skills have an effective-range and some are like light-switches. Effective-range skills can be balanced as small changes will tweak the line between useful and useless. Light-switch skills are either insanely useful or insanely useless. There is no between with them, there is no balancing them, just turning them on or turning them off. Smiter's Boon was turned off.
[Frenzy], anyone?

I would disagree: SB had several variables that could have been used to tune it:

* Recharge
* Cost
* Duration
* Activation
* Even its effect (it does not have to be exactly double in smiters boon case ...)
* Adding malus effect to be played around by user / abused by opponent

However, that is slow process. Turning skills off is much faster. And easier. And its better to overnerf rather than undernerf.

Arkantos

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by rohara View Post
i don't think anyone disagrees that SB was overpowered, but nerfing it into oblivion just because "they couldn't figure out a way to make it usable and not overpowered" is a cop-out. it's their job to figure this stuff out. the player base has come up with dozens of good ideas for this skill, so i find it hard to believe that izzy/linsey/whoever couldn't come up with something better than removing the skill from pvp. it was simply lazy.
It wasn't laziness, it was a mistake. Izzy created it, Izzy didn't like it, Izzy killed it. The whole maintainable double divine spirit with smite skills concept is broken. As moriz said, being able to deal good damage while effectively protting/healing shouldn't exist. This one skill allowed monks to do the three things it can very good, and it was simply broken. If they want to bring it back, they're going to have to completely rework it. But before they bring it back, they need to fix the broken stuff now.

Um Yeah

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2006

Illusions of Grandeur [Illu]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by zwei2stein View Post
[Frenzy], anyone?

I would disagree: SB had several variables that could have been used to tune it:

* Recharge
* Cost
* Duration
* Activation
* Even its effect (it does not have to be exactly double in smiters boon case ...)
* Adding malus effect to be played around by user / abused by opponent

However, that is slow process. Turning skills off is much faster. And easier. And its better to overnerf rather than undernerf.
That's not the point. Just because those variable exist doesn't mean that tuning them would fix the skill. The concept of the skill was broken and retarded. Adjusting any of those too much would make it not worth bringing and too little would make it still be overpowered. The "just right" line, as far as balance is concerned, is where the skill is at now.

Hanging Man

Hanging Man

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Deep in the Shire

Quote:
Originally Posted by ZenRgy View Post
Skill was bad. Got removed.

This thread is bad. What happens next?

Why is there always an asshole for every thread?

I was just curious about a skill.

Back to point.

Doesn't it seem like more of a waste of time to nerf it like this than try and find a solution?

Shadow Slave

Shadow Slave

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

..My home away from home..

Currently looking ~

N/

[auspicious incantation] [glyph of renewal] [smiter's boon]

...Whats the problem?

Quote:
In the future, we may consider whether or not there is an incarnation of this skill that would be viable but balanced.
Incarnation / Incantation....the above build was definitely hinted at - read between the lines and gogogogo ~

*Sarcasm Warning* - Added for your benefit, with love.

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

so 3 skills for 50% uptime, each 5 seconds? very effective use of resources!

/sarcasm

Shadowmoon

Shadowmoon

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2006

N/A

N/

I think no one has a problem with it being removed from pvp like it was right before the MaT, BUT 6 month latter, and they skill being left in a broken state, it just a testimony of Anet's laziness. I think it time they did something with it, make it work like unyielding aura, have it work completely different in pvp and pve.

Arkantos

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

W/

Quote:
Doesn't it seem like more of a waste of time to nerf it like this than try and find a solution?
Coming up with a change to completely kill a skill - 15 seconds
Coming up with a change to make a very overpowered skill balanced, not overpowered yet still usable - much longer

What's the waste of time in this scenario?

Sniper22

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Ok, well here is my idea. Revert its recharge/duration/cost. Change it so that the caster receives the hp bonus heal instead of the target (unless caster is target).

Nerfing a skill to be the most useless in the game is just stupid.

aka Easy

aka Easy

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2008

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadow Slave View Post
[auspicious incantation] [glyph of renewal] [smiter's boon]

...Whats the problem?
You're not serious, are you? 3 skills from 3 different professions. Also wasting 3 skill slots in pvp for a single skill no matter how overpowered is still pretty bad.

Back OT; haven't they already had a few months to fix this though? Even changing the functionality is better than leaving it in game like this.

street peddler

street peddler

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2007

well theyve said they can change skill functionalities, but skill names are sacred. so im sure its easier to just leave the skill dead rather then coming up with a functionality they like that fits "smiters boon".