ArenaNet:Skill feedback/Elementalist/Lightning Orb

• Lightning Orb (last update: May 1st, 2008)
• Lightning Orb (PvP) (last update: May 22nd, 2008)

Useless in PvP

Issue

Fails in PvP compared to Fireball. Fireball is in a better attribute, does AoE damage for the same cast time and marginally worse recharge, and only does slightly less damage. Lightning Orb costs more energy.

Suggestion

Add adjacent AoE.

Liondra's issue

Why nerf a balanced skill ?

Title says it all

Suggestion

Buff damage like it used to be

PvP Version Bad Again

Issue

This skill is pretty poor in PvP since its high cost and cast time are compensated for only by good damage, which would make it good in a spike except there are better options. 2 secs to cast also make it very interruptable.

Suggestion

Make it more like it was before the last nerf (i.e. more like the PvE version). Don't completely revert it, though, since the reason it was nerfed back still stands (unconditional CA makes this too powerful and Shell Shock worthless). However, adding a conditional Cracked Armour (probably with inferior duration or something) and/or an SF-like mechanic (i.e. CA OR damage) might work.

My idea is this:

15 2 8 .

Spell. Send out a Lightning Orb that strikes target foe for 10...58...70 lightning damage. If that foe is not suffering from Cracked Armor, it is inflicted for 2...8...10 seconds, otherwise that foe take an additional 10...22...25 lightning damage. This spell has 25% armor penetration.

My only worry is that if your foe was suffering from CA, this would do big damage since you get the armour penalty from CA plus the extra damage plus the armour penetration, but it doesn't do any more than it would as it is now, except that it has the power to inflict Cracked Armour itself, giving bar compression. I would make sure, however, that the CA was applied after the damage, so that it doesn't increase its own damage (or at least, not on the first hit).

An alternative would be to give it a conditional CA or some other utility, like interrupting attack foes or whatever.

Impaled's Issue - 19:41, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Issue

I miss the Cracked Armor too...

Suggestion

I like the above suggestion, but here's a variant.

Spell. Projectile: deals 10...82...100 lightning damage. Inflicts Cracked Armor (1...12...15 seconds) on attacking foes. 25% armor penetration.

CA would be easiest to apply on physical professions, and also has the best effect against them. The condition might be too annoying though, considering Ebon Hawk...