Star Burst

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

This is a spell that is touch range, not a touch skill.

It suffer from everything a spell would have, such as spell breaker. While this is also a touch range skill that is weaker than flame burst, longer recharge, occupying elite spot.

This thing right now, is pure crap.

snikerz

snikerz

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

Rt/A

imagine starburst spike
anyone nearyby is spiked too, if the team is bunched up, the whole entire team is dead
u would probably have to be a E/A for shadow stepping to target then spike

anyway i think starburst deserved a elite spot because of its area effect is quite large, however its still not the largest, i think it needs a buff to "in the area" rather then "nearby"

Former Ruling

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Oct 2005

Cedartown, Georgia

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by snikerz
imagine starburst spike
anyone nearyby is spiked too, if the team is bunched up, the whole entire team is dead
u would probably have to be a E/A for shadow stepping to target then spike

anyway i think starburst deserved a elite spot because of its area effect is quite large, however its still not the largest, i think it needs a buff to "in the area" rather then "nearby" He was saying that Flame burst (a nonelite) has the same radius, only costs 5e more, has a lower recharge, and does more dmg...

Mercury Angel

Mercury Angel

Avatar of Gwen

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wandering my own road.

Not sure if Starburst has the standard .75 second aftercast or the PbAoE 1.75, but that could make a little difference. (You can't tell anymore these days. Anet set Conjure Nightmare to have an aftercast of 1.75 rather than .75, and it's certainly not PbAoE)

You can't generally 'spam' PbAoE spells, because of their long aftercasts. If you could chain 2 decent ones together, it might not make for a bad combo.

But honestly? It seems to me like a lot of the new elites are only barely, if at all, passable as elites. You have spells like Seeping Wound that, if they were NOT elite, nobody would cry 'broken'.

Maldibion

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

Project Zenora [zEn]

W/

Star burst has no after cast.

This meaning, you can run (or teleport) up to someone, touch them, then flame burst and doo 200+ dmg i nabout a second. It deserves an elite spot for this reason. and also, it only costs 5 energy, a 10 energy difference. This also meaning that you can cast it to finish someone and their team with only 5 energy.

ArianeB

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

Arthur

E/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilion Okeanos
This is a spell that is touch range, not a touch skill.

It suffer from everything a spell would have, such as spell breaker. While this is also a touch range skill that is weaker than flame burst, longer recharge, occupying elite spot.

This thing right now, is pure crap. I don't know, I kept on losing half my team due to Star Burst spikes in the first room of the Raisu Palace co-op.

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

It has the .75 sec delay, while arcane echo-able. (why would you want to A.echo it? Just use double dragon)

It doesn't help at all when double dragon is superior in every way.

Star burst may be justified by being more pressure based attack. But, telling a soft target to do close range pressure is a really dumb proposition.

Edit: To above post, that's because boss monsters and high level monsters both do far superior dmg with star burst than human players.

CoopaTroopa

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mo/E

I think the thing that makes this skill viable is that it only costs 5 energy and doesn't have exhaustion. Even if you could managed to hit a group of bunched up enemies, it would only cost 10 energy. As far as elementalist skills go, most of the heavy hitters seem to cause exhaustion. This one doesn't and as such can be used much more frequently. Even warriors can afford to run this; not that they'd want to, but they could. When all of the other highly damaging elementalist skills are so expensive, I don't think that this unusually cheap one should be overlooked so quickly.

beanerman_99

beanerman_99

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

In the clouds

[Sage]

E/

I have been using double dragon more than I have used Starburst. Starburst has an added 5 energy loss per target hit I believe which is not worth it to me.

In the Fort Aspen battles I tend to suprise combatants by using close-ranged fire attacks. They see me wanding them and think they are going to be Meteor Stormed or Air spiked. I wait till some of them group up and then I run in and cast Inferno, Double Dragon, and Flame Burst and watch them scatter. Then they realize I am a threat. I have killed more Assasins than I can count by doing this. I also throw in Rodgorts Invocation to set them a blaze. As a lark I took in Tehai's Heat and was suprised by how many people don't run out of its AoE LOL. Monks trying to heal their party especially suprised me by standing in it taking dmg. Then I run up to them and really lay on the "heat"!

CoopaTroopa

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mo/E

Starburst has an extra 5 energy lost if it hits more than one target, and not 5 energy per target as far as I understand... that would make it cost 10 energy whether you hit 2 enemies or 20, and without exhaustion I can easily see how that could be some vicious spike damage if enough people were using it. Even warriors running this would have enough energy to use it as soon as it recharges. While it may not provide as much damage per use, the fact that you can keep using it without having to worry about using up all of your energy on it and without causing exhaustion makes it definitely a skill that I could see using.

Aiiane

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

Claremont, CA

Correct, Starburst will never cost more than 10 energy no matter how many targets are hit. It's 5e for one target, 10e for more than one.

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by CoopaTroopa
Starburst has an extra 5 energy lost if it hits more than one target, and not 5 energy per target as far as I understand... that would make it cost 10 energy whether you hit 2 enemies or 20, and without exhaustion I can easily see how that could be some vicious spike damage if enough people were using it. Even warriors running this would have enough energy to use it as soon as it recharges. While it may not provide as much damage per use, the fact that you can keep using it without having to worry about using up all of your energy on it and without causing exhaustion makes it definitely a skill that I could see using. O.o don't tell me you are that monk in fort aspendwood that used start burst on me while I was running amber.

I have to say, it wasn't very effective in my opinion... No offense.

Hell Raiser

Hell Raiser

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

[PHNX]

Mo/

Start Burst can't simple be avoided by stepping away, like flame burst can. I think it deserves an elite spot, quite a nice skill most of the time. I think it should be changed to Skill. rather than Spell. though.

CoopaTroopa

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mo/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilion Okeanos
O.o don't tell me you are that monk in fort aspendwood that used start burst on me while I was running amber.

I have to say, it wasn't very effective in my opinion... No offense. No, I wouldn't want to run it on a monk where energy is so important... but something like a team with 4 warriors running max axe/fire and using conjure flame, starburst, and axe skills... I could see how that could deal some hefty damage (not saying it would be a winning build or anything, but it would be fairly easy to run), and even warriors could afford it with their tiny energy pools. Starburst to me definitely seems like a skill thats best used as part of a team build... that's why its so effective when the Shiro'ken (or however you spell it) use it; 1 starburst is puny, 4 starbursts and you have a half-dead party if you didn't plan properly. I'm not saying it's an incredible skill or anything, but compared to some of the other crap that elementalists got in factions, this is definitely not bad.

Mysterial

Mysterial

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Servants of Fortuna

E/Me

Star Burst is the best Elementalist elite in Factions (although that's admittedly not saying a whole lot). It has almost all the benefits of Flame Burst, can't miss, has no PBAoE aftercast (so has great synergy with Flame Burst) and costs less energy (and even less if you fail to hit a second target). Since PBAoE builds have good synergy with Channeling, it's also possibly the only Elementalist damage elite you can run and still have energy to cast frequently enough to keep up the damage for an extended period of time. I would however, for what little it's actually worth, agree that there's no reason it doesn't do Flame Burst's extra 8 damage.

Double Dragon, on the other hand, has the lowest AoE, won't hit anyone intelligent with the second strike, does subpar damage, has an insane recharge, and causes Exhaustion for no good reason. It's good against the AI and that's about it. (Note that the skill description here is wrong; it should read: "All adjacent foes are struck for 119 fire damage. After 2 seconds, all adjacent foes are struck for 119 fire damage." I.e, the first hit is not delayed and the second is 2 seconds delayed, not 1.)

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

The problem with star burst is that it doesn't help killing anyone.

Double dragon can reach a high potential, while star burst at most is energy saving. I would rather make my build able to pull off the double dragon than to use star burst.

Star burst is good at what others could have done better, which made it a pointless elite. I would rather throw out a bunch a spells and use ether prodigy etc to manage my energy, than using 1 single spell that doesn't do enough damage to manage my energy.

So as I said before, this is like a pressure spell that one keep using. The 10 sec recharge can get to 7 sec with serpent quickness, but that still don't help. An ele need to get in and get out, and fast. Staying there and put pressure is asking to be kill with the little robe they wear.

While warrior is much better off with other line of ele skill than fire. Warrior should use their 2ndary to support their dmg, not use 2ndary to deal it.

audioaxes

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

i think its yet another useless element elite

TheZens

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

Forgot the Ghostlyyyyy [ftl]

Mo/N

Im with Mysterial too many people here are under-rating this skill so lets get a few things straight.

Its not a spike skill at all its touch range its better suited in a pressure build.

It does cause you to lose 5 energy if you hit more than 1 target but it still caps at 10 so its no problem with proper management.

It doesnt cause exhaustion which is nice if your using other skill combo's like bed of coals + meteor.

Double dragon costs 15 energy for a non garanteed amount of damage and causes exhaustion while star burst costs 10 at most and doest cause any exhaustion.

In a 5 minute period double dragon can do 2380 damage to one person,
In the same 5 minute period star burst does 3570 damage to one person. This also is assuming someone is stupid enough to stand in double dragon range for 2 seconds and since star burst is touch they cant avoid that damage.

Its without doubt one of the best ele elites in factions and 50 or so Hall wins with this in our build seem to back that up.

Helll is for Heroes

Helll is for Heroes

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

True Cinema

W/

Starburst is awesome in Heroes Ascent.

Starburst -> Flame Burst -> Inferno.

A used flameburst ele combo. High raw damage in a short space of time.

however you cant have dual attunements, however, i think the fact that you have 3 close range fire skills instead of 2, much better than dual attunements.

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheZens
Its without doubt one of the best ele elites in factions and 50 or so Hall wins with this in our build seem to back that up. I agree star burst is under rated, and I agree it can be decent in dps. But honestly, and no offense... but everyone admit HA is a farming zone, not a real competetion zone, so using it as a base is a really bad idea.

Mysterial

Mysterial

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Servants of Fortuna

E/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilion Okeanos
I agree star burst is under rated, and I agree it can be decent in dps. But honestly, and no offense... but everyone admit HA is a farming zone, not a real competetion zone, so using it as a base is a really bad idea. So, GvG is the only 'real' competition zone? While it might be the best 'hardcore' competition, the reality is that lots of players play the other types and they don't and shouldn't balance skills solely on GvG, nor should skills be considered 'bad' because they don't work in that environment. If Elementalist damage was consistently on par or better than others in all environments except GvG, I wouldn't have a problem with the class. Unfortunately, Star Burst and Flame Burst are two of less than a skill bar's worth of useful skills that can actually put out DPS, but that's a seperate discussion.

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

Considering the HA teams are largely of PUG, random matching, FotM; you got plenty of room for gimmicks.


==============
now more about star burst.

While with elite energy management, you can deal the damage of star burst and from a range, and more often too. That just make star burst a laughable elite. It take about the preperation of running to the guy and get your self in closer danger, as to the 2-3 sec cast time. If you got an anti-caster sitting on you, neither is going to work. In all arguement of DPS, a fast cast mes with dual attune is far better off.

While the lamest part I have to say is, it is a freaking spell not a skill. That, I am sure no one have an argument about.

If in HoH, you stand in the middle cap zone, star burst -> flame burst indeed can be decent, as people come to you. But, double dragon -> flame burst at that moment would be even better.

If star burst is to give melee pressure, double dragon is to keep off melee pressure. Most people who know, would really rather not stand in the same area with a PBAoE ele.

Why aren't people spamming rodgort and fireball? I think we all know why.

Mysterial

Mysterial

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Servants of Fortuna

E/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilion Okeanos
While with elite energy management, you can deal the damage of star burst and from a range, and more often too.
No, you can't. The only ranged spells with any efficiency at all are Fireball, Rodgort's Invocation, and Incendiary Bonds (with the latter two being average at best because they cost too much for their effect). Besides that two of those are 'adjacent', not 'nearby', you can't cycle those spells fast enough to beat Flame Burst guy. Sure, if the enemy is stupid and sits in a Firestorm, you could do better, but then again, if they're doing that, I can take Bed of Coals and do even more.

Quote: That just make star burst a laughable elite. It take about the preperation of running to the guy and get your self in closer danger, as to the 2-3 sec cast time. That argument is terrible for the same reasons making it against Warriors is terrible. The 'danger' argument is valid in GvG and it's why you'll never see PBAoE there, but in other gametypes it's almost always a jumble of players anyway and in any position where you're impacting the battlefield you're in approximately the same level of danger as everybody else.

Quote: If you got an anti-caster sitting on you, neither is going to work. In all arguement of DPS, a fast cast mes with dual attune is far better off. No, he isn't, because the barrier is recharge times on the ranged slow spells, not casting speed.

Quote: While the lamest part I have to say is, it is a freaking spell not a skill. That, I am sure no one have an argument about. I actually like it as a spell because it helps me run Channeling, which is the primary reason I can afford to take it and still have energy to cast all the time. However, I don't think it matters that much either way.

Quote:
If in HoH, you stand in the middle cap zone, star burst -> flame burst indeed can be decent, as people come to you. But, double dragon -> flame burst at that moment would be even better. Unless they're melee characters coming to attack *you*, Double Dragon is almost always an extra high cost and weaker Inferno. If they are, then it's still not very effective because those melee characters have lots of armor.

Quote:
If star burst is to give melee pressure, double dragon is to keep off melee pressure. Most people who know, would really rather not stand in the same area with a PBAoE ele. If I'm a Warrior and I'm not Frenzying or using Healing Signet, I really don't care - you can't cause enough damage to a Warrior with armor-hitting spells to beat their Monk's healing.

Quote:
Why aren't people spamming rodgort and fireball? I think we all know why. What universe are you in where there are fire guys not spamming Fireball? And usually Rodgort's too - not because it's so good, but because there's really nothing else.

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

So why are you doing DPS with ele? Just as said before, ele simply can't dps, even with star burst. There are plenty of other better option than this, this is simply not good enough. Especially with the introduced ritualist too, that made matter even worst for ele.

The ranged spell have less after cast delay, while fireball have less recharge than star burst in exchanging the size, and also does not require chasing someone. Most of all, not elite.

Leave the DPS to the warriors, and have the ele stick with the support line or spike.

In my universe, there are no ele dps.

oh btw, if I see any ele getting close by for PBAoE without a teleport, i will jump the guy. Especially in a mob situation, where monk have it tough in the chaos.

Mysterial

Mysterial

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Servants of Fortuna

E/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilion Okeanos
So why are you doing DPS with ele? Just as said before, ele simply can't dps, even with star burst.
I'd love for you to show me the numbers on that one. DPS from Star Burst + Flame Burst + Fireball, every eleven seconds, hitting two targets on average, is (119 + 119 + 127) * 2 / 11 ~= 66.4 DPS, you have four skill slots to fit in the ~3.2 energy per second to run that and a couple of seconds of downtime to cast them. You also have the useful spike of 246 damage in 1.5 seconds from Star Burst->Flame Burst. I wouldn't exactly suggest you throw out all your warriors for it, but to say it can't do DPS is ridiculous.

Quote:
The ranged spell have less after cast delay Star Burst has standard spell aftercast, not the longer PBAoE one. That's a big reason it's elite.

Quote:
There are plenty of other better option than this, this is simply not good enough. Especially with the introduced ritualist too, that made matter even worst for ele. The Ritualist's skills can't really do damage any better than most Elementalist skills can - Ritualists just spike faster because their spike skills cast in one second.

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

We have a few mix up, lets clean that first.

The disscussion of my view seem to have moved to PBAoE vs AoE. Hence the argument of 1.75 cast delay. The AoE have .75 across, while PBAoE only have a single .75, the rest is 1.75. Lost focus i guess.

The ritualist are not meant for dmg in alot of area, hence I meant it as spirit ritualist. Providing and spaming union and shelter is a big issue.

While the dmg number look nice, have you look at the energy? What are you going to have to keep you going? and to get you back up? Channeling + energy tap? It would work for HoH for sure, but where else? Not even all the HA map this would work that decent.

Why don't we end it here.
===============
Star burst-
Possible of decent build combining with channeling in HoH.
Every where else, don't try it.
===============
Anything you like to add to that conclusion? We will keep editing that conclusion to as precise as possible. This way, we won't lose focus so easily. Guildwiki style ftw