Feedback:User/Luger/Shadow Form (PvP) - Making It Viable

Anybody remember the days when you'd be playing RA and you'd end up with a 'joker' on your team in the shape of a SF assassin who just wants to run around and rape everyone while the rest of his team dies? I know RA has been long-dead but this also occasionally happens in AB in my experience. It seems the only use this skill sees in PvP is either to annoy other players or PBAoE in FA (when there's more than enough bomber builds out there as it is). I know this is a discussion that has been going on since practically the dawn of time but i think Anet should just COMPLETELY rework this skill for PvP. The name is Shadow Form. While i can understand the spells and attacks failing (because you're metaphorically taking the form of a shadow) i don't understand where the damage output and sudden drop in health comes in. Obviously taking away the damage output from this skill would be pointless. The skill description may as well read:

Elite Enchantment Spell. For 3...13...15 seconds, you exist. GG.

This is why i feel that the PvP skill needs a complete makeover, but one that stays true to the skills name. I propose something along the lines of:

5e, 1sec casting, 20sec recharge Elite Spell. Summon a level 13...18...20 Assassin at target foes location. This Assassin has any stances, enchantments, hexes or conditions that the caster has active at the time of summoning with respective durations. It's attacks are life-stealing and heal the caster for 15...25 health with each successful attack. This Assassin lives for 5 seconds.

I know earlier i said how i don't understand how a shadow can cause damage, but i think that there needs to be an inherent link between the caster and it's shadow and that is shown through the sharing of stances/enchs/hexes/conditions and also through the life stealing. I think in this form it would see more use in PvP arenas as opposed to the PS sins that are everywhere. It's cheap, casting time is short but not impossible to interupt and it's 20 sec recharge and 5 second lifespan stops it being spammed. Furthermore, in keeping with the nature of an assassin, its infinitely more useful against stray opposition than groups of enemies. Having said this, it's still practical for use in AB/FA/JQ as it provides a temporary target for shrine NPC's to aim for, taking pressure off of your team while providing a decent self-heal for the caster. Combining it with an IAS or certain enchantments such as this, this or even more interesting combinations with skills such as this would introduce skill back into the assassin profession along with a whole range of new builds into the game. In short, it would introduce a load of new builds back into a PvP environment dominated by different players using the same builds. Just thought i'd throw this idea out there. Luger 19:25, 25 February 2010 (UTC)