March 2 skill balance update! - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

lyra_song

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Oct 2005

R/Mo

03 Mar 2006 at 20:03 - 241

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger Rog

Not that it matters now anyway but the Ice floe chest did hold items, it would drop between 1 and 3 every time you opened it, you just had to buff yourself up a little so you lived long enough to pick up your drops once the Azures spawned. Made a few plat selling the Ritualist gear, dwarven & serpent axes it would often drop.

Ah. ic ic. Well now that i recall, everytime i saw that chest it was when i would do a grotto run or try to skill cap ice floe and usually with henchies, so they must have been taking my drops. Thanks for correction ^^;;

BTW: Anyone notice better drops? When me and my two other guildies went to kill the scarab queen, i got a gold hammer Heavy War Hammer of Enchanting: 19-35 (req 8) 15^50 with heavy and 15% enchant mod from the second scarab mob. Ive never gotten a 15^50 weapon before o.o;;; Almost always been "near" that.

Pandora's box

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Netherlands

Mo/W

03 Mar 2006 at 20:17 - 242

Why not make every enchantment timebased, without upkeep costs? Enchantments with upkeep have been pretty useless now for some time, since every update reduces their effect still more. Better to reconsidder the system of enchantments by replacing them with something more usefull... I mean: I play MtG and in that game I would never make an enchantment deck when playing an opponents with decks full of enchantment removal!

GW itself has become an enchantment removal game, should'nt enchantment using professions than get some replacement skills?

Swehurn

1,787,569

Join Date: Jul 2005

BC, Canada

03 Mar 2006 at 20:31 - 243

So, just to see what it was all about...I paid a visit to the griffons last night. (hadn't been there in about 5 months +) It was amusing to see the carnage! The new beasties aren't too bad... so long as after you kill one..you move slightly to avoid the well. Maybe I'm just cursed...but I killed them all and I didn't get any good drops....just 2 blue non-max bows...the rest were white. Sniff sniff.....
I haven't tried it with a 55 monk yet....I believe that would be instant death..

Zeegen

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2005

Shards of a Broken Crown

W/Mo

03 Mar 2006 at 20:38 - 244

For once an update I am happy with. Most of the skill updates were for the better, not worse. The A. Rock Griffon farming nerf kinda sucks (I used to get good drops out there), but I understand the reasons, and there are other places that you can go to get decent drops and make some quick cash.

Overall, I'm pleased. Finally a decent update: thank you Anet.

Bastard Son

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2005

Upstate NY

Bastahd Sons of Zeus

03 Mar 2006 at 21:22 - 245

Still haven't see an answer to my question:

Is the chest they got rid of in Dread's Drift the one that doesn't require a key and drops a LOT of loot?

f0s

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

03 Mar 2006 at 21:30 - 246

yes it is

onyo

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

03 Mar 2006 at 21:31 - 247

Cripple Shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooo

Lool

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2006

R O K S United

N/

03 Mar 2006 at 21:31 - 248

New Greens from Khepket

Monk greens!

I have:

Khepket's Refuge
Energy +10
Fire Dmg 11-22 Req. 9 Divine Favor
Halves cast of prot spells 20%
Halves recharge of prot spells 20%
Enchants 20% longer
Energy +5

frojack

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

London, UK

Rite Of Passage [RP]

E/Mo

03 Mar 2006 at 21:32 - 249

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savio

A couple of notes:

2. Unless I'm really, really blind, upping the Adrenaline cost on Eviscerate didn't do anything.

That's exactly what I thought. what a waste of time.

Oh and why did they fix Thrill of Victory

? The hp gain on finishing an opponent with it was as unlikely as it was meaningless. I mean really. At 16 tactics you gained something like 42 hp on a finishing strike. Not really earth shattering hp for a warrior now was it? Plus very few warriors roll with 16 tactics. I'd take the hp thing over the 2 second less down time anyday.

The change is not really a big deal or anything. It's just that I had fun with trying to finish off foes to gain the hp. Like a twisted russian roulette

. There wasn't any reliance on it. It's just a shame that I won't have it on my skill bar anymore since the fun has gone. Oh well

.

Ken Dei

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

W/Mo

03 Mar 2006 at 21:39 - 250

I really don't care about Griffons, they actually helped my soloing build, making Sheilding Hands recharge faster and making Mark of prot. on disable your prot. spells for 5 seconds. Now it'll be easier to farm avicara. And Titans. And just about everything else not in Prophet's Path.

Hint: Griffons can be found in Vulture Drifts, outside Dunes of Dispair. Where the Scarabs AREN'T. *Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.*

If anyone actually went exploring a bit, they'd know that. And if you can take the Enchants "Soldiers" outside, you can harvest Forgotten Seals, which you can then trade for an item in Amnoon and salvge for lots of materials. In my case 5 Seals>Helm>16-22 iron or 1-3 steel.

I think that the scarab thing is more a response for new "mean" monsters. Words of advice....do not step on 8-10 stacked traps....it sucks... team of 6, me and 5 henchies. See below.

Amount of time passed, in seconds:
1: Heavy damage.
2: half team below 50%, two more below 70%
3: 1 dead, all team below 50%
4: 2 more dead, panicking and getting off the traps.
5: Me and the two other henchies are off the traps, between 30-80% health, and surrounded by 7Scarabs.
6-45: Fighting
46: Victory, rezzing.
47: Dissconnect, but grateful for it.

lord_shar

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

near SF, CA

03 Mar 2006 at 21:40 - 251

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bastard Son

Still haven't see an answer to my question:

Is the chest they got rid of in Dread's Drift the one that doesn't require a key and drops a LOT of loot?

Correct. No more crystalline farming here...

impuls3d

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

front line guardians

W/Mo

03 Mar 2006 at 21:41 - 252

Great.. no more 55ing the desert

BannyD

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2005

Psycho Sanctus

Mo/Me

03 Mar 2006 at 22:00 - 253

hmm...so is this Anet's update...or Ensign's? :P

Fantus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

03 Mar 2006 at 22:08 - 254

Quote:

Originally Posted by impuls3d

Great.. no more 55ing the desert

Prophet's Path is NOT the only desert area....

VitisVinifera

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

Northern California

HoTR

N/Me

03 Mar 2006 at 22:23 - 255

so.....after about 30 Kepkhet kills, I got my refuge.....

The funny thing is I have nearly met my goal of collecting every green, and my next task was to build a 55 monk. Probably 2 days from doing that. Man am I glad I didn't do that now!

I'll just be regular warrior ettin farming and forget the Augury griffon thing ever existed.......

cool with me!

Kool Pajamas

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2005

Maryland

Mage Elites [MAGE]

03 Mar 2006 at 22:46 - 256

Outside of Destiny's Gorge there are Griffons and Minotaurs. AS far as I know that hasnt changed.

There will probably be a big drop in the price for monk sup runes.

LouAl

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

03 Mar 2006 at 22:50 - 257

Stealthc, thx for answering my question on what was killing me. I thought it was the Vamp touch, but didn't know why it would do it through PS.

Does anyone know if it is because PS prevents excessive dmg from attacks and spells and vamp touch isn't affected because it is a skill (not an attack skill, just a skill)? If so that is a dirty trick, and a good way to stop 55 farming.

I forgot to mention also, great job on dropping the cast time on firestorm! It made that skill almost useable (lower energy cost would help, but a HUGE step in the right direction).

Ghull Ka

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Seattle, WA

Grenths Helpdesk

N/

03 Mar 2006 at 22:58 - 258

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouAl

Stealthc, thx for answering my question on what was killing me. I thought it was the Vamp touch, but didn't know why it would do it through PS.

Does anyone know if it is because PS prevents excessive dmg from attacks and spells and vamp touch isn't affected because it is a skill (not an attack skill, just a skill)? If so that is a dirty trick, and a good way to stop 55 farming.

I forgot to mention also, great job on dropping the cast time on firestorm! It made that skill almost useable (lower energy cost would help, but a HUGE step in the right direction).

Prot Spirit doesn't affect Vampiric Touch because it is "life stealing" and not "damage".

Vampiric Gaze, Mark of Subversion, Soul Leech, Shadow Strike, Feast of Corruption and Vampiric Touch deal "life stealing" damage, which protection spells, armor, or whatever cannot mitigate. The amount of life gets removed from you and added to the caster, no questions.

Keyote

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2005

03 Mar 2006 at 23:00 - 259

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouAl

I forgot to mention also, great job on dropping the cast time on firestorm! It made that skill almost useable (lower energy cost would help, but a HUGE step in the right direction).

lol, were you being sarcastic there?

If not, how does a shorter casting time help the problems with firestorm?

CyberNigma

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

San Antonio, TX

W/R

03 Mar 2006 at 23:02 - 260

Quote:

Originally Posted by dargon

Ok, I'm happy with the majority of the updates, however there is still one thing that currently needs to be dealt with, not so much a skill problem as an equipment one. PVE characters are superior to PVP characters with regards to equipment. Hear me out before you think I'm a loony because you can make a pvp character with much of the pve equipment now that they've added the lieutenants helm to pvp.

The difference is simple, a pve character can go in with 4 or more customized weapons, pvp only has a choice of 2 during creation and has to either use non-customized from storage or pre-order equipment.

Secondly, a pve character can have multiple sets of armor, multiple head pieces, etc (ie warriors with an axe helm and a lieutenants helm), a pvp character does not have this option.

I like the current set of changes and I think they go a long ways towards balancing things out, but until pvp characters are on par with pve with regards to what is available to them, then more needs to be planned for down the road.

lol holy shiznit.. Where is Manic Smile.. you had better be reading this lol.. Did we not predict this very thing in another thread previously as the next stage of PvP vs PvE? lol... self-fulfilling prophecy.

twicky_kid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quite Vulgar [FUN]

03 Mar 2006 at 23:05 - 261

Still haven't answered my question. Why is shadow of fear a lower recharge than Faintheartedness?

Ghull Ka

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Seattle, WA

Grenths Helpdesk

N/

03 Mar 2006 at 23:12 - 262

Quote:

Originally Posted by twicky_kid

Still haven't answered my question. Why is shadow of fear a lower recharge than Faintheartedness?

Who would you like to answer your question? ANet? Me?

I'll give it a shot: Shadow of Fear has a lower recharge than Faintheartedness because Faintheartedness adds degen and has a much spooooookier skill icon.

Now someone at random can answer my question: Why does the "while hexed" shield that PvP only characters get come with +60 health and -3 damage, but the "while hexed" shield that is offered by the PvE collector still only has +45 health and -2 damage? WTF?

JEC006

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2005

ArdentAdversary [ADA]

R/Mo

03 Mar 2006 at 23:14 - 263

It seems silly to me to completely nerf griffon farming, and mess up UW farming. They seem to hate running, which is ok, can see that, but if I can't farm, can't run, can't do UW.... how am i supposed to make money?

1. Griffons are done as far as W/Mo goes because the scarabs kill all of them, then me, then each other and then all the collectors and other npc's in the area.

2. UW is messed up by the OoP and OoV change, while not completely nerfed its going to take longer now.

3. Why do they even care about Firestorm and other AoE spells? They are completely worthless now... They do more harm in most cases then they do good.

Looks to me like I am going to back to doing missions for people and running. Which is exactly what they don't want. Good Work Guys...

MMSDome

Raged Out

Join Date: Sep 2005

03 Mar 2006 at 23:17 - 264

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsunami Rain

Removed chests from Dreadnought’s Drift and Ice Floe.
^*cries*

i will miss the 80 million shiverpeak chests there used to be there.

RaabTheGuru

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2006

Southern California

Wizards Anomyous [WoA]

N/Me

03 Mar 2006 at 23:19 - 265

Argury Rock, District 1...

"Healer LFG 3 man Farm"
"Boss farm LF Interrupt"
"Queen farming group LF Boon Prot monk"

So congratulations on nerfing the Griffon farming. It's about time that place got shut down. But are people really that bored and obsessed with farming that they are going to continuously kill that pack of scarabs hoping to get the new green item?

I'm guessing the market will be flooded with those now too.

4runner

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2005

Cali!!!

cdxx/the420th.com

Mo/N

03 Mar 2006 at 23:21 - 266

there talking about the frozen chest and the strong bow!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

not the key chest!!!

kvndoom

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2005

Communistwealth of Virginia

Uninstalled

W/Mo

03 Mar 2006 at 23:21 - 267

Yeah well, in a few days you won't be able to give the things away, much less sell them, and then the world will move on. I'm just curious to see what the new "hot spot" will be.

Resette

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

Massachusetts USA

Xen of Onslaught

Mo/Me

03 Mar 2006 at 23:21 - 268

Bored and obsessed with farming? Those are the two reasons you could come up with as to why Queen runs are popular?

Lord Necromonger

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2005

Maryland

No Drama Allowed

Mo/N

03 Mar 2006 at 23:24 - 269

at 9 AM EST i heard about the new Item by chance in LA. Happened into Augry to find people spamming "LFG for Queen Run". At that time there was only 2 districts. I did the run and got mine but I only got one to drop. I logged in at 2PM EST and there were 9 Districts full of "LFG for Queen Farming" . That Item was selling for around 20k in the AM. I would asume that it will be down to 5k by this weekend. The run is so fast that it will be over farmed in no time.

Silvergun Superman

Banned

Join Date: Aug 2005

03 Mar 2006 at 23:28 - 270

Queeny, that's right

Minus Sign

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mo/N

03 Mar 2006 at 23:33 - 271

I like most of this; seems more balanced. I'm going to miss spamming mend ailment, but with all the conditions in PvP, it was a real nuke when cast. Peace and Harmony always rocked in PvE; with the dropped recharge, it may start making its way to PvP...though it would be even better if they made it a stance

Evicerate, I'm not too thrilled about, but its never been the core damage dealer when I farm so no loss there.

IWAY is nerfed. Its no longer nearly as flexible as it used to be, and that makes it static. Static is easy to counter.

The farming nerf hurts. I used to love going into Prophets for some easy pickings. Even if I don't farm there anymore, its a little sad to know its not there anymore; thank bot users for that one, I'm sure. But we get a yakslapper on crack to balance, so I call it a fair trade

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

03 Mar 2006 at 23:42 - 272

Definitely A.Net's update. There was a bit of overlap, but honestly most of the changes that overlapped were universally expected in the PvP community. Ala Distortion, everyone said it needed to scale harder.

I liked the flavor of several buffs, they worked in ways that I hadn't really thought about. The only thing that disappointed me with the update was how conservative it was, especially with buffs. I don't see a single bad skill that was made interesting because of the update. I was looking forward to some new characters being introduced to make PvP more diverse, but unfortunately it looks like we're going to have to wait for the next update for a chance at that.

Peace,
-CxE

Two April Mornings

No Luck No Time No Money

Join Date: Nov 2005

Amherst College, MA

Scars Meadows [SMS]

Me/

03 Mar 2006 at 23:55 - 273

loving it n trying to get -5 20% shield now

CyberNigma

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

San Antonio, TX

W/R

03 Mar 2006 at 23:57 - 274

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ensign

Definitely A.Net's update. There was a bit of overlap, but honestly most of the changes that overlapped were universally expected in the PvP community. Ala Distortion, everyone said it needed to scale harder.

I liked the flavor of several buffs, they worked in ways that I hadn't really thought about. The only thing that disappointed me with the update was how conservative it was, especially with buffs. I don't see a single bad skill that was made interesting because of the update. I was looking forward to some new characters being introduced to make PvP more diverse, but unfortunately it looks like we're going to have to wait for the next update for a chance at that.

Peace,
-CxE

Remember, both Gaile and the Frog said that there would be multiple updates (pieces at a time) over the next week. I don't think they want to over do it all at once, just in case something goes wrong.

Gares Redstorm

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

Nomadic

Elite Danger Society

W/Me

04 Mar 2006 at 00:00 - 275

So, bascially ANet is systematically nerfing all farming.

Perhaps they should work more on the lopsided economy. With farming going the way of the dinosaur, it would take players to get those most sought after items, like FoW or that weapon upgrade a player desperately wants. Perhaps making mods worth more than 25g at a merchant or have an exclusive mod merchant like material traders.

I'll be the first to say I farm, and farm a lot. With 4 accounts, 14 players, it takes money to get decent equipment. Unless you are willingly to pay for someone's services on eBay with real money. I think this is a bad idea on the part of ANet and I know it will only get worse. Anti-farming code wasn't enough, they have to completely shut down a whole area from farming. Next will be Sky Reach, then Snake Dance, until every area is farm-nerfed. And to soothe the masses, every area will have a nice new boss that has a green item. Perhaps even green items are a way for ANet to make sure what mods are being used and what are not.

That being said, I didn't buy 4 accounts because I think this game is crap. I love the skill updates and I can't wait for Factions, I plan to buy one for every account. I just hope ANet doesn't get too nerf happy and remembers the players are the most important part of the game, any game really. Without players a game is nothing.

Rant over........time to go farm for a new green

twicky_kid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quite Vulgar [FUN]

04 Mar 2006 at 00:01 - 276

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Necromonger

at 9 AM EST i heard about the new Item by chance in LA. Happened into Augry to find people spamming "LFG for Queen Run". At that time there was only 2 districts. I did the run and got mine but I only got one to drop. I logged in at 2PM EST and there were 9 Districts full of "LFG for Queen Farming" . That Item was selling for around 20k in the AM. I would asume that it will be down to 5k by this weekend. The run is so fast that it will be over farmed in no time.

Considering that Yakslapper kicks the crap out of this thing I'd guess it'll be 1k before long.

Hmmm....fast cast vs 20% deep wound

That's a no brainer. What are you going to cast faster in the prot line to begin with. The weakest skills are 1 sec casting.

MelechRic

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

RA

[ODIN]

N/Mo

04 Mar 2006 at 00:04 - 277

Lord Necromonger,

That's absolutely the point. Take the wind out of the farmer's sails by making items easy to get. Wasn't that the point of this game all along: you don't need absurd amounts of cash to get good gear. Greens are good gear and they should be had cheaply.

musefanalert

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2005

We Like Music [Loud]

R/

04 Mar 2006 at 00:23 - 278

Well theyve nerfed quite a few ranger builds....
trappers resolve and dust trap are worsened
r-spike order necro nerfed
cripple ranger flag runner cripple shot energy up and distortion costs up

rangers are used little enough as it is (normally we are in mainly ranger groups...) and now, apart from BM they make us even less appealing!

but i think ive come up with a couple of nice ranger team builds to replace the current order-spike anyway, just need to do some testing :P

Mysterial

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Servants of Fortuna

E/Me

04 Mar 2006 at 00:26 - 279

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberNigma

Remember, both Gaile and the Frog said that there would be multiple updates (pieces at a time) over the next week. I don't think they want to over do it all at once, just in case something goes wrong.

I don't see them making a whole lot more changes considering they'll almost certainly be locking the skills again when the next ladder season starts (March 7th at the moment, although I suppose they could delay it).

Infinity^

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2006

House Behelit

R/

04 Mar 2006 at 01:01 - 280

Maybe these periodic updates will include fixing interrupts now that they appear to be broken, Or fixing the bug that means I keep dissapearing through stairs and bridges. Or the bug that stops the titan from doing anything at the end of Abaddons Mouth.

But hey, at least that signpost points in the right direction.