Why is Sundering so prized?

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Gaelic Storm

Howdy,

As the title points out, I'm wondering why the sundering mod is so prized. All I'm seeing is a ten-percent chance to get ten-percent armor penetration.

So what? :O

crazy diamond

crazy diamond

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

It's like increasing penis length by a quarter inch.

Nobody will notice but you.

FrogDevourer

FrogDevourer

on a GW break until C4

Join Date: Feb 2005

In your shadow

Servants of Fortuna

^
He said it all (I'm still recovering from the laugh)

+1%dmg for a perfect upgrade, how thrilling!

SilentAssassin

SilentAssassin

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

Remnants of Ascalon, KT alliance

R/N

well I like it, thats why... and alot other ppl like it to

sleazeh

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

good from far, far from good

Gaming Continuum

Mo/Me

Almost without exception, knowledgable players don't "prize" sundering mods at all, quite the opposite. Simple math tells the story.

And lol at crazy diamond.

Xonic

Xonic

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by crazy diamond
It's like increasing penis length by a quarter inch.

Nobody will notice but you.
but if that quarter inch is a significant increase from the original size then I am sure the girlfriend will notice

Bastard Son

Bastard Son

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2005

Upstate NY

Bastahd Sons of Zeus

Crazy Diamond is dead on correct.

Sleazeh: that avatar is awesome. I'm laughing my ass off over here.

Barinthus

Barinthus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

California

(TRUE)

R/Me

Generally vampiric string probably causes more damage but some people cannot be bothered with switching bows all the time due to health degen.

Personally I do use a sundering hornbow even although I know it's not the best deal - it's just a personal quirk.

Rilder

Rilder

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mystic Shadow Soldiers (MSS)

R/

I find elemental mods to be of more use here, especialy whenyou got the right conjure

SilentAssassin

SilentAssassin

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

Remnants of Ascalon, KT alliance

R/N

well I just love the idea having 10/10 sundering with:

weaken armour: -20% armour
penetrating attack: +17 dmg -20%armour
and then hoping you hit the string

Taeka

Taeka

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2005

CSUC

W/Mo

The answer is how often do you pick up a weapon and able to salvage 10/10 sundering mod out of it? You are paying the rarity here.

fallot

I'm the king

Join Date: Nov 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew: Grand Phallus and Chairman Pro Tempore

When the string procs, the damage dealt by the bow increases considerably. 10% AP is a lot. The only problem is the 10% chance that goes with it. It adds so little to your DPS that it might as well not be there.

BBoy_Manchild

BBoy_Manchild

Banned

Join Date: Aug 2005

dayton ohio

N/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by SilentAssassin
well I just love the idea having 10/10 sundering with:

weaken armour: -20% armour
penetrating attack: +17 dmg -20%armour
and then hoping you hit the string
yes hoping you will do like 5 more damage with the odds of landing a blow while blinded, SO UBER IM SPEACHLESS
Quote:
Originally Posted by fallout
When the string procs, the damage dealt by the bow increases considerably. 10% AP is a lot. The only problem is the 10% chance that goes with it. It adds so little to your DPS that it might as well not be there.
see above, but less damage, same sarcasm though

MSecorsky

MSecorsky

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

So Cal

The Sinister Vanguard

Me/

You know, my ranger found an Ivory bow, 10/10 sundering, 13>50, +29 health. He's positively giddy. To change that to a vamp means destroying the string, not something I'm likely to do.

I also salvaged a +30 fortitude grip... to put that on the bow destroys the +29... senseless.

So, to answer the question from one perspective, it's better than getting rid of the sundering.

As for buying the string... the appeal of damage ignoring armor and getting in is strong, especially without the constant detriment of health degeneration which, albeit negligible, is visually annoying.

Captain Arne Is PRO

Captain Arne Is PRO

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

also paying the the perfection. a perfect sundering axe haft = between 30k and 50k, a 10/9 is 8k-15k

Ruvaen

Ruvaen

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

CA

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xonic
but if that quarter inch is a significant increase from the original size then I am sure the girlfriend will notice
Hahahahaha dying here.

MSecorsky

MSecorsky

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

So Cal

The Sinister Vanguard

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xonic
but if that quarter inch is a significant increase from the original size then I am sure the girlfriend will notice
If that's a significant increase... she never noticed in the first place.

Plus we now know why she comes home late smiling.

XtrmEend

XtrmEend

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Netherlands

Searching

Mo/N

I notice atleast +15 damage when the 10% kicks in.

Ruvaen

Ruvaen

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

CA

W/

In the mind's eye of those who like the mod, it's their solution to maximizing the damage output from their weapon. I prefer vamp or even furious upgrades over sundering but that's just me.

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

Quote:
Originally Posted by fallot
When the string procs, the damage dealt by the bow increases considerably. 10% AP is a lot.
It's enormous. At 16 Marksmanship and with a perfect bow, sundering will add, on average, 4.3 damage every time it procs! AWESOME! It's even better if you crit, then it adds 6.1 damage to your critical hit! ZOMG! Those huge procs totally make up for it only triggering 10% of the time.

Sundering is k-rad I liek it a lot!!!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Studio Ghibli
Why is Sundering so prized?
Five reasons:

1) PvE players do not understand weapon swapping, or they do not believe in doing it. They want their one Ub3R weapon that they keep out *ALL* the time.
2) PvE players do not like things with drawbacks. When the math is poorly understood (ala, it doesn't make numbers on their character screen go up) they use things without drawbacks.
3) PvE players would much rather run around with terrible equipment that 'looks cool' than use something that's actually good.
4) 10/10 sundering is the rarest prefix for bows, and ties for rarest on melee weapons. If there's one thing we've learned from MMOs, it's that rarity = cool.
5) Everyone else likes sundering, and they're paying huge money for it, so if you want to be cool like the masses you need it too.

Peace,
-CxE

lord_shar

lord_shar

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

near SF, CA

I'll take a furious sword hilt or axe haft over sundering ANY day...

Ruvaen

Ruvaen

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

CA

W/

It's nice to trigger the furious mod when you're running high adrenaline cost skills.

Savio

Savio

Teenager with attitude

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

Vamp > other mods > no mod > Sundering.

Quote:
Originally Posted by XtrmEend
I notice atleast +15 damage when the 10% kicks in.
I want pics of your normal attacks versus Sundering attacks.

Osi Ri S

Osi Ri S

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA]

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by XtrmEend
I notice atleast +15 damage when the 10% kicks in.
how do u know when it "kicks in". i mean, i never saw anything say "Successfull armor penetratoon +15 dmg."

so i think youre only guessing it kicking in when you do +15 more dmg?

MSecorsky

MSecorsky

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

So Cal

The Sinister Vanguard

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruvaen
It's nice to trigger the furious mod when you're running high adrenaline cost skills.
Sadly, I've yet to find that perfect Furious bow string however.

azunder

azunder

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

I think it's because when they crit, they *think* the sundering kicked in. They then keep it with them forever without noticing that they're just getting crits and the sundering mod's not doing anything.

Malchior Devenholm

Malchior Devenholm

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

The Dragon Arena!!!

Pshycho Ninjas [oGod] | Vent Rage [vR] | Zealots of Shiverpeak [ZoS]

noone knows azunder-as for personal experience from me...


Bow-Vamp String

Hammer and Axe-Furious-high adrenal needed

Sword-Vamp-low adren needed

I kinda like to have a sundering on one of my longbows though, just for the draw and i might pick up the extra dmg

Deathqueen

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

The Vampiric is the best mod overall. Since all things rely on HITTING, even with the sundering when it does proc has to HIT at that moment. And you've all seen yourself swinging at air many times from blind to stances. The vampiric is a guarantee that everytime you hit you're claiming 3 extra health points from that individual and no percentages required. But, when you're using vampiric you have to work more switching back n forth (if you're a good player) for those times when swinging at air is just losing you 1pt of health for that period of time. Good idea to always carry Wild Blow at least you can smash those stanced characters IF it HITS!

Besides if you're using an axe, (which you should be if you're a good player) then penetrating blow is going to give you 20% armor penetratoin and if you want constant 20% penetration just use a W/Mo (not the best class nowadays) but, Judges Insight will give you that 20% armor penetration for quite some time if you smite yourself up.

Frenzy + Vampiric ftw. laffin

I also found the best way to test mods is to goto the 100 armor dummy in the training grounds and time how long it takes to destroy it with each mod. And not use any skills other than the weapon and the mod. Here you will find the vampiric is definitely better than the sundering. To test furious you have to use your adrinilin skills, furious is about like sundering though 10% "chance" just isn't good enough when guaranteed is much better as with vampiric.

Now if you hit "all the time" furious would be beneficial because it would bring your Eviserate up more often, but, that's always the key and point, you don't always hit all the time. Thus you have to rely on "chance" all too often.

Of course I expect arguements, but, I've seen what I've seen what I've seen (Abbott & Costello) and Vampiric just wins out overall. (smile)

eom

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

W/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Savio
Vamp > other mods > no mod > Sundering.



ahahaha...!!

I think it's highly prized for the same reason so many people have to sell every commodity for 10 ea.

jimmy_logic

jimmy_logic

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ensign
It's enormous. At 16 Marksmanship and with a perfect bow, sundering will add, on average, 4.3 damage every time it procs! AWESOME! It's even better if you crit, then it adds 6.1 damage to your critical hit! ZOMG! Those huge procs totally make up for it only triggering 10% of the time.

Sundering is k-rad I liek it a lot!!!




Five reasons:

1) PvE players do not understand weapon swapping, or they do not believe in doing it. They want their one Ub3R weapon that they keep out *ALL* the time.
2) PvE players do not like things with drawbacks. When the math is poorly understood (ala, it doesn't make numbers on their character screen go up) they use things without drawbacks.
3) PvE players would much rather run around with terrible equipment that 'looks cool' than use something that's actually good.
4) 10/10 sundering is the rarest prefix for bows, and ties for rarest on melee weapons. If there's one thing we've learned from MMOs, it's that rarity = cool.
5) Everyone else likes sundering, and they're paying huge money for it, so if you want to be cool like the masses you need it too.

Peace,
-CxE
Great points there Ensign.

My opinion on bow string upgrades are as follows:

1). Zealous
2). Vampiric
3). Elementals (I would take the bow with the most rare elemental damage so i.e. the one that most people dont bring armor for)
4). Sundering (Purely because its better than number 5.)
5). Condition lengthening ones (A good monk gets rid of conditions real fast)

Regards

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

Assuming you're using Apply Poison the Poisoner's String outperforms Sundering by a landslide. Outperforms the elemental strings too.

Peace,
-CxE

Evan The Cursed

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

I heard somewhere that Sundering does not compound with skills that give AP (even when it activates), is that true?

Soul Shaker

Soul Shaker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

Sunshine Coast, Australia

Soul Crusaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Deathqueen
The Vampiric is the best mod overall. Since all things rely on HITTING, even with the sundering when it does proc has to HIT at that moment. And you've all seen yourself swinging at air many times from blind to stances. The vampiric is a guarantee that everytime you hit you're claiming 3 extra health points from that individual and no percentages required. But, when you're using vampiric you have to work more switching back n forth (if you're a good player) for those times when swinging at air is just losing you 1pt of health for that period of time. Good idea to always carry Wild Blow at least you can smash those stanced characters IF it HITS!

Besides if you're using an axe, (which you should be if you're a good player) then penetrating blow is going to give you 20% armor penetratoin and if you want constant 20% penetration just use a W/Mo (not the best class nowadays) but, Judges Insight will give you that 20% armor penetration for quite some time if you smite yourself up.

Frenzy + Vampiric ftw. laffin

I also found the best way to test mods is to goto the 100 armor dummy in the training grounds and time how long it takes to destroy it with each mod. And not use any skills other than the weapon and the mod. Here you will find the vampiric is definitely better than the sundering. To test furious you have to use your adrinilin skills, furious is about like sundering though 10% "chance" just isn't good enough when guaranteed is much better as with vampiric.

Now if you hit "all the time" furious would be beneficial because it would bring your Eviserate up more often, but, that's always the key and point, you don't always hit all the time. Thus you have to rely on "chance" all too often.

Of course I expect arguements, but, I've seen what I've seen what I've seen (Abbott & Costello) and Vampiric just wins out overall. (smile)
Uhh...wild blow does hit all the time provided you ain't got a miss chance.

BBoy_Manchild

BBoy_Manchild

Banned

Join Date: Aug 2005

dayton ohio

N/Mo

its sad that elemental mods are more effective then sundering, even if you are not using conjures or hexes that are triggered by elemental damages
i just dont like it when warriors and rangers use the elemental weapon ALL THE TIME, do they enjoy doing less damage to rangers and wasting a preffix while attacking softies?
put that fiery newb stick away wammo, you shouldnt even be attacking other wars in the first place

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Gaelic Storm

.. with an elemental bow string, I assume I do extra damage against warriors 'cause their armor normally protects against physical?

Incidentally, is there a chart out there somewhere that calculates damage versus armor class with armor penetration in mind?

Cjlr

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

SMS

E/Me

If you actually work it out, sundering is a piece of crap. Well, not completely, but it might as well be compared to the extra damage a good vampiric mod will give you. I'll use 28 baseline damage, to represent an ideal hit with no extra modifiers. By the way, some of the math might be a little off, I didn't double-check it.

Casters normally have 60 armour, which as you (should) know means they take 100% damage from attacks. If the sundering kicks in, the target will in effect have 54 damage (60 x 0.9, or 90%), equivelant to roughly 111% damage (I think - correct me if I'm wrong here, someone), and hence take 31.07 damage. 3.07 damage beats the vampiric mod on an ideal hit - but only when it kicks in once every 10 shots. Vampiric = 30 extra damage/10 shots, Sundering = 3 extra damage/10 shots. Also, there's bonelace, judge's, noble, rogue's, etc, but I'm too lazy to go into those.

Warriors have a baseline of 100 armour against physical attacks, including arrows. That 100 is reduced to 90 by the sundering, and therefore the damage increases from 14 (the baseline off a max non-critical hit) to 16.65. That's 2.65 extra damage once every ten shots; even less than against casters. A theoretical (and impossible) elemental sundering bow would be better (it would hit for 2.94 extra damage), but too bad, you can't have one.

It's been my experience that rangers don't shoot other rangers very often (spike versus spike notwithstanding), but nonetheless: Against an AL of 70, the sundering will reduce it to 63 once every 10 hits and strike for an additional 3.03.

So, under ideal conditions, sundering will match vampiric for damage only one in every ten shots. Why is Sundering so prized? A good question indeed...

Moonshine

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Feb 2006

The Drunken Dragon

Mo/R

to awnser the opening posters question, "why is sundering so prized?"

it does extra damage and has no drawbacks. yes, other mods may do more damage or have a more noticable effect, but there is no worying about health degen, someone having extra elemental resistance u didnt know about, energy problems or switching between 4 identical looking collector bows when u cant hit to regen health/energy. however, dont pay for it the prices are rediculous. i use a 10/8 sundering mod on my bow, but i'm more interrupt than damage. but when i comes down to it, its extra damage for free, no strings attached thats what makes it good.

Avarre

Avarre

Bubblegum Patrol

Join Date: Dec 2005

Singapore Armed Forces

Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonshine
but when i comes down to it, its extra damage for free, no strings attached thats what makes it good.
There most certainly are strings attached... sundering bow-strings!

Sorry, I had to

I suppose it isn't too bad for someone who doesn't want to worry about degen and doesn't use conditions. Zealous is nicer for barrage, but if you're just using interrupts there isn't much else to use that really helps (assuming you don't want to worry about vamp).

Doesn't make it good, still.

Rilder

Rilder

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mystic Shadow Soldiers (MSS)

R/

My non max damage no damage mod Shocking Eternal Bow of Fortitude out preforms my 15^50 max sunderign short bow of enchanting any day.

Desbreko

Desbreko

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

California

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

I use a 10/10 sundering short bow on my ranger . . . while I'm trapping. When I'm actually shooting things, I'm either regaining energy with my zealous short bow or plugging away from long range with my fiery storm bow. Soon as I get a good composite/recurve/eternal bow, I'm ditching the sundering bow for it and will probably be looking for a 5/-1 vamp string to put on it.