ArenaNet:Skill feedback/Elementalist/Swirling Aura

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Water Magic

Swirling Aura

FalseProphet's Issue -- 10:48, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

(updated 20 May 2008) Discussion

Issue

The only advantage of this skill is the long duration. Unfortunately, when you compare it to other similar skills even one in the same element it is vastly inferior.

Case 1: This is the killer, IMO - Armor of Mist: For 8...18...20 seconds, you gain +10...34...40 armor and move 33% faster - recharge 30s. This is the same cost and casting time, and at R15 1/2s all damage except degen and it recharges faster. There are advantages to block vs armor (no interrupt) and vice versa (armor works against spells) so for purposes of comparison, I consider them equivalent. Both effectively 1/2 damage.

Case 2: Lightning Reflexes lasts 1/2 as long but recharges twice as fast, and is 75% against all attacks, and gives 33% IAS.

Case 3: Ward Against Melee 5 extra energy, blocks all attacks for anyone inside the ward. Can't be removed.

Case 4: Blurred Vision: Hex spell, AoE on foes and causes 50% miss for roughly half duration and recharge, but also the possibility of multiple hexed foes that miss vs one only enchantment to remove that blocks.

Suggestions

many possibilities - any of the following: shorten recharge time to 25s, make 75% block, add an armor buff, block all attacks, lower energy cost to 5, cause damage when it blocks, speed buff, make it affect allies in nearby or in earshot (a missile only aegis), 50% miss rather than block + 1/4 cast (so it can be used as a counter to Magebane).

Macros's Issue -- 04:00, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Issue

Utterly useless.

Suggestion

Reduce recharge to 20 seconds. Make it a Ward Spell.

PT's Issue -- 18 April 2008 (UTC)

Issue

Way too underpowered.

Suggestion

This skill needs serious shorter recharge time, yes, as ward skil it would be more useful.

Terra Xin's Issue -- 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Issue

Same as above

Suggestion

5e|1/4c|30r - Enchantment Spell. For 1...15 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block projectile attacks and a 75% chance to negate damage from projectile spells. If you are hit by a projectile while under the effects of this enchantment, this skill recharges immediately. | with this sort of buff, it will deter spammers from constantly hitting you, particularly effective against Dancing Daggers, with a constellation against anti-blocking skills.

Olds's Issue -- 10 July 2008 (UTC)

Issue

Overshadowed by far better skills.

Suggestion

Reduce recharge to 30 seconds. Reduce duration to 4...14...16. All enemy attacks that target you have 50% chance to miss.

This skill is garbage

Issue

Weak and useless.

Suggestion

10e 1/4s 15r "For 4....7....8 seconds you have 50% chance to block attacks. Whenever you block a melee attack your attacker is knocked down."

Still WAY underpowered

Issue

Same as all the above - very long recharge, and only blocks projectiles.

Suggestion

Something like:

10 2 30

Enchantment Spell. For 8...18...20 seconds, you are enchanted with Swirling Aura. While enchanted with Swirling Aura, all adjacent allies have a 20...44...50% chance to block projectile attacks and all adjacent foes have a 10...22...25% chance to miss with attacks.

Not sure quite how you would make this work, since it seems a bit unfair to have people missing and not necessarily knowing why (i.e. if they don't get an effect on them), but still. A change like this would make it a bit different to your run-of-the-mill blocks and be more powerful since missing can't be got around while blocking can. To compensate, the activation might have to be increased so that it can be interrupted more easily.

Too Niche

Issue

This skill's use is way too specific and not useful enough. Now that skills like Magebane Shot cannot be blocked, the use of this skill has become even more pointless.

Putting this on your bar isn't worth the slot considering the downtime (even though it's a blocking skill in the elementalist line, there are mesmer interrupts and Magebane).

The ability doesn't suit elementalists.

Suggestion

Completely change it's effect. Give it a different use.

10 2 20

Enchantment Spell. For 5...11...12 seconds all foes adjacent to target ally are struck for 10...18...20 cold damage and move 66% slower for 2...3...3 seconds every three seconds.

Alternatively make it a Hex. I got confused with the wording. The idea is you hex one person and it deals damages and slows that person and anyone near that person. Because the slow duration is short but applies itself repeatedly for the hex duration, it encourages people to move away from the hexed target.

10 2 20

Hex Spell. For 5...11...12 seconds, target foe is hexed with Swirling Aura. Every 3 seconds target foe and all adjacent foes are struck for 10...18...20 cold damage and move 66% slower for 2...3...3 seconds.

Ward?

Maybe this could be remade into a ward. Water already has a ward, so it wouldnt be out of theme. Perhaps make it similar to ward vs melee, but that this one only works against projectile attacks? I could see it being used against heavy interrupts and so on.

79.185.224.233 14:46, 18 May 2009 (UTC)

Issue

Way too conditional, loses when compared to guardian.

Suggestion

Make it non-elite Ether Prism:

5 15

Skill. For 3 seconds, all damage dealt to you is reduced by 25...65...75%.