Should Illusiory Weapon be changed to a Weapon Spell? - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Cirian

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

European Union

The Amazon Basin

01 Jun 2006 at 11:32 - 1

I've not really thought about it beyond the concept - the new 'Weapon Spell' skill category, unstrippable Enchantments essentially that replace your weapon graphic with an obvious, magical construct. Wouldn't that be cool for IW, using the casting effect as a replacement for your normal weapon? Unstrippable? Hell yeah!

Is it time this old skill had its concept reworked to take advantage of this new skill category? I think so. Naturally the duration and recast would need rebalancing, but otherwise I think this could be rather neat. Say... 10s duration, 15s recast? Chuck it into testing!

Premium Unleaded

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

01 Jun 2006 at 11:34 - 2

So far, only Ritualists have access to weapon spells and IW being in illusion magic...well...

Terra Xin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2006

New Zealand

Me/R

01 Jun 2006 at 11:57 - 3

I suppose if it was tested, we could really see how effective it would be, but im not too keen on it,

It's a weapon... but not really a weapon, which fits in perfectly with the concept of an Illusionary Weapon.

Lordhelmos

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

Sentients of Shadow (noir)

Me/E

01 Jun 2006 at 12:48 - 4

I dont have a problem with how the skill is now. It would just be cool if the graphic was different. When they use the spell they bust out a giant pink laser blade. Would be kool if they swapped their weapon out for the energy sword and waved that around for a bit. I'm pretty shure the mesmer community would be happier swinging around a glowing pink death blade than having the graphic overlap their axe or staff and just end up looking really wierd for a bit before fading and swinging around nothing. But hey its an illusionary weapon so i guess have them run up to you and swing around nothing for a bit would make some sense.

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

01 Jun 2006 at 13:17 - 5

/SIGNED /SIGNED /SIGNED

Why didn't I think of this? The fact that it's an enchantment is IW's biggest problem. It has very little practical applications because of this. The reason why I think making it a weapon would not be unbalanced is because when you use IW, your entire build is made around it. That means if IW is removed, you're boned. Helpless, really. Completely ineffective save for the odd degen or slow hex you cast.

Actually, I think making it a weapon spell makes it a bit more realistic. After all, as it is now you're swinging around a sword. With IW the weapons spell you can be swinging around a glowing transparent thing that looks kind of like a sword. Graphically, they can simply replace what's in your hand rather than put an aura around a real sword.

It also helps the Mesmer's defense, which is important when you're doing an IW build, because now that Mesmer gains the benefits of the Ritualist's "if that ally is under the effects of a weapons spell" spells.

Retribution X

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

Check behind you again.

N/

01 Jun 2006 at 13:26 - 6

/unsigned. It's an enchantment because it's a very powerful skill. MUCH too powerful to be a weapons skill.

Why? Because it would charge adreniline, and then you could use Sun and Moon slash, which would make INSANE damage.

It's almost too powerfull already, no need to make it better.

And yes, I do play mesmer.

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

01 Jun 2006 at 13:34 - 7

Hmm... well it's powerful as a Warrior skill, that's true. It's annoying that ANet gives the mesmer so many spells that are only truely useful to classes other than the mesmer.

Perhaps it simply shouldn't charge adrenaline. Frankly I was surprised when I first found out that it did. I mean, you're not actually hitting them.

Cowboy Nastyman

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

Me/Mo

01 Jun 2006 at 13:36 - 8

it wouldnt charge adren if they still leave the skills other properties as is, such as your attacks not actually hitting

Gargle Blaster

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

01 Jun 2006 at 14:11 - 9

if you make IW an attack skill things like blind would now stop you... witch makes no sense as you are not really hitting anyone... not signed.

S!carius

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

Germany

Force of Arms [FoA]

Mo/

01 Jun 2006 at 14:14 - 10

I like the idea and it makes sense, but I think it would make the skill way to powerful.

Timoz

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

E/Mo

01 Jun 2006 at 14:34 - 11

Change the graphic so it looks nice

Not the skill.

lyra_song

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Oct 2005

R/Mo

01 Jun 2006 at 15:05 - 12

IW is a powerful elite. It rips through blindness, stances, wards and is not unlike Lifestealing that its unstoppable with buffs (correct me if protective spirit cuts down IW dmg?).

However...its an enchantment, and completely non-viable because it will be instantly stripped.

An unstrippable IW would be very hard and easy to deal with at the same time. It would be blind-able, and prot-able. X.x

IW is should stay as is i think. :/

Retribution X

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

Check behind you again.

N/

01 Jun 2006 at 17:14 - 13

If IW was made a weapon spell, it'd charge adreniline, which it currently does no do. A weapon spell adds an effect on your weapon, ANd it usually trigers on HIT. Not Miss.

IllusiveMind

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

Mehtani Keys

The Extraordinary Revolution [ReVo]

P/W

01 Jun 2006 at 19:00 - 14

Quote:

Change the graphic so it looks nice Not the skill.

Indeed, I would sign for the pink blade thing.

Syi

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/Mo

01 Jun 2006 at 19:09 - 15

Overpowered kthx.

Omnidragon42

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2005

Pantheon of Shadows [dei]

W/A

01 Jun 2006 at 21:18 - 16

Prot spirit does cut the IW damage if appicable, just usually doesnt trigger because most have over 420 hp.

Note: if they changed IW to a weapon spell, the ONLY thing that would change is that it would become unstripable, and change the skin of your weapon. It wont become affected by blind or whatever, because it specifically states each time you attack, not each time you would hit.

Zephyr Jackson

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2005

Kansas

E/Mo

01 Jun 2006 at 21:23 - 17

If you use a Me/A iw with daggars it is messed up because when you activate it it still make the pink blade, but without the blade :S

EagleEye33

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

In a House...duh

Untouchable Heroes

R/E

01 Jun 2006 at 21:31 - 18

IW is just about fine the way it is. It would be too powerfull to change it. The fact the it is an enchantment is most of its balancing.

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

01 Jun 2006 at 21:41 - 19

Only if weapon spells counted as enchantments. The idea that IW cannot be stripped is a very bad one.

It is an easy 30-40+ armor ignoring damage per hit.

NatalieD

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

01 Jun 2006 at 23:18 - 20

IW needs help, but making it completely unstrippable might be going a bit far. Maybe it should just get a reduced recharge to make it less disastrous when it does get stripped.

Other than that I think this is a fine idea. So what if weapon spells are currently ritualist-only? Maintained enchantments used to be monk-only, but now assassins have a couple of them because that allowed Anet to make nifty and useful assassin skills. I don't see any harm in making a single non-ritualist weapon spell if that fits the skill better than being an enchantment.

And just being a weapon spell instead of an enchantment wouldn't have to change anything else about the skill. Why would it? Many weapon spells don't even have anything to do with attacking, let alone hitting or gaining adrenaline.

Rieselle

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Melbourne, Australia

E/Rt

02 Jun 2006 at 03:31 - 21

I think what we need are some skills that protect enchants from being stripped.

Ignore the numbers, I'm just making them up without much thought. Concentrate on the concept :P

Something like "For 30s, you cannot be the target of an enchantment, however the first enchantment in your stack is unstrippable"

and "All your spells are disabled for 20s, however 1..3 of your current enchantments are unstrippable"

Make it an elem spell, so they can keep their attunements up :P

Avarre

Bubblegum Patrol

Join Date: Dec 2005

Singapore Armed Forces

02 Jun 2006 at 03:42 - 22

Hands off my precious.

/unsigned

Arcanis the Omnipotent

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2005

Nova Alliance

Me/

02 Jun 2006 at 03:49 - 23

He's my problem with it.

Were it made into a weapons spell, it would get reworked. Weapon spells are non specific, unlike IW. So IW would become non-specific. I.E. no more Melee requirement.

Now while this is a good thing because it'd be useable with anything, the downside is that IW's damage would have to get nerfed to balance this. I mean, a Tigers Fury Ranger with IW on?

Secondly, because its a Weapon spell, IW would probably get a Recharge Buff to fit the others.

So you're talking about a Mesmer who could use his Staff or Cane with IW and be dealing that much damage from afar, while casting spells inbetween shots.

Nah, that's ok.

Theos

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

River Dancing

Eternal Treachery [TimE]

Me/E

02 Jun 2006 at 05:02 - 24

Or they could leave IW alone, precious little thing, and make a basterdized lesser version for Mesmers in some later chapter.

dgb

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2005

Mo/Me

02 Jun 2006 at 05:05 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rieselle

I think what we need are some skills that protect enchants from being stripped.

It's called a cover enchantment.

Thom Bangalter

Grindin'

Join Date: Dec 2005

MO

E/Mo

02 Jun 2006 at 05:20 - 26

lol to dgb

Cirian

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

European Union

The Amazon Basin

02 Jun 2006 at 16:57 - 27

For me, I'd like it to stay as a self-only spell and still be melee only like it is now, but I'd like to change the vulnerability. The current vulnerability is that it's an Enchantment with a long recast, although when I think of the advantages... it ignores Blind, stances... it's actually a bit weird really isn't it?

Well ok, how about a totally new skill like Theos says that is a mesmer Weapon Spell that gives you glowie melee weapons, has all the vulnerabilities of normal weapons (Blind, stances and so-on), but does Chaos damage instead of Slash/Pierce/Blunt? A bit like... Judge's Insight I suppose.

I can't decide if it should just convert the damage type to Chaos, or if it should bypass armour or add 20% armour penetration... I think it should still be 'self only' though, so no casting it on barrage rangers etc!

A Me/Rt with Wielder's Boon could be a possible combo, just to throw out another idea.

Again, just raw ideas.

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

02 Jun 2006 at 17:36 - 28

I like the idea of a second skill similiar to IW that is a weapons spell in a future expansion, yet has limitations on it like Cirian is proposing.

However, if you all really wanted it, couldn't IW create a cool glowing looking sword/axe/whatever (nobody who isn't a noob would use a hammer with IW) and still be an enchantment? I mean, a.net programers can do whatever the heck they want. It doesn't have to be a weapon spell to create that effect.

A lot of people seem to have these "rules" like only ele skills have exhaustion and only monks and sins have maintained enchantments, etc. Those rules don't actually exist in the game's programming and can be broken whenever a.net wants them to be.