Guild Wars 2

This has been bugging me for a while but trying to learn tempest in raids pushed me to ask. Why all the damaging auras?

Bosses already have painful attacks, visible damage over time mechanics, and one hit KO moves/mechanics. I fail to see what an invisible ‘attack’ (it can be dodged or blocked) that hits everyone for 1000-1800 damage every ~4 seconds brings to any of these fights. It’s not interesting and it’s not fun; you just have to take it and heal through it.

If it’s to prevent players from getting out of combat for a free heal (if that would even be possible) why isn’t it like Stressed from the Molten Facility fractal? Or hey, moved to only when the enrage timer expires.

Chrury.4627:

you just have to take it and heal through it.

Since one of ANet’s design goals was to make a need for the healing role in raids, it seems that the presence of such damage does just that. Fwiw, I’ve seen bosses in other games’ raids who also did unavoidable raid-wide damage as part of the encounter mechanics.

Less the making healing a thing and more of keeping people in combat while adding risk to everyone.

If you’re not under some threat you’re liable to just afk range things to death and that’s less than a challenge.

IndigoSundown.5419:

Fwiw, I’ve seen bosses in other games’ raids who also did unavoidable raid-wide damage as part of the encounter mechanics.

Though that’s usually something totally different from what the OP describes.

TexZero.7910:

Less the making healing a thing and more of keeping people in combat while adding risk to everyone.

If you’re not under some threat you’re liable to just afk range things to death and that’s less than a challenge.

I’m pretty sure none of the fights would allow you to afk range it, even without the auras. Even at the end of escort, the dude teleports to the furthest player. And if it was possible, your DPS would drop significantly in doing so (Except maybe staff Ele?). Please correct me if I’m wrong in my postulation.

IndigoSundown.5419:

Fwiw, I’ve seen bosses in other games’ raids who also did unavoidable raid-wide damage as part of the encounter mechanics.

Do those other bosses/encounters have a visual indication of what’s doing the damage? Because in GW2 now, you’d have to have the combat log open to see what hit you. Which to me, seems counter to GW2’s “play the game, not the UI” idea.

Side note: none of the guides I’ve looked at mention the aura damage. That’s not the game’s fault but I can see this being annoying/frustrating to new raiders.

Chrury.4627:

Side note: none of the guides I’ve looked at mention the aura damage. That’s not the game’s fault but I can see this being annoying/frustrating to new raiders.

This is something I don’t understand. While there are quite a few Guides out there, the Aura Damage isn’t mentioned at all. Perhaps its because most of the Time it doesn’t matter but I still see People today getting killed off by the Aura and they just don’t know that there is an Aura, even veteran Players are falling to this.
In my Opinion, an in depth Guide should mention every Boss Mechanic so People can be prepared for everything and not be surprised by something thats trivial in 95% of the Time but can screw you at the wrong Time.

Fun Fact. There are still quite a few People who believe that the Damage you receive in the Gorseval Spirit Phase comes from the Spirits, not from the Aura Gorse has. Leading to going away from the Spirits, waiting for Damage to not come at you and then dying while believing the Spirits killed them.

Because… They’re hot?

:)

Because an added challenge would be to keep people watching their health. Without it, it’s all just standing around dodging mechanics. Also, by adding in the pulsing damage, your health goes down so a Druid can heal and apply grace of the land

It also prevents self-resurrection via downed skill 4.
Xera, Trio and Escort don’t have a damage aura.
I’m not sure about sloth or Matthias but I think they don’t have one either.

The constant aoe damage is there to apply pressure and to wipe people faster when they reach enrage.

Actually I think there are multiple reasons:

1. make healers useful – without it if you dodge properly you won’t be taking much dmg at any boss (i.e. VG, Gors, matthias, KC – all of them can be avoided or prevented via mechanics)
2. avoid ppl getting OOC like in old dungs to swap skills/build mid run (or possibly even letting other players res and run back)
3. no self res

And after all with competent healer the ticks are not big of a deal anyway.

Miellyn.6847:

It also prevents self-resurrection via downed skill 4.
Xera, Trio and Escort don’t have a damage aura.
I’m not sure about sloth or Matthias but I think they don’t have one either.

Sabetha doesn’t have an Aura.
Sloth has Volatile Aura
Matthias has Snowfall, Spontaneous Combustion and Downpour but these on Matt also have some added Stuff like Chill Knockdown etc.

While I’m still not happy with the auras, you guys make some valid points. I’m not sold on “makes healers useful” but the no self-res side-effect does instigate more teamwork.

Knowing that they’re here to stay; I would like to see an effect/condition on my toolbar for these auras. Even if they aren’t actually connected to the mechanic and just turn on when the fight starts.

Something like “Magic Aura: Crackling energies pulse through the air, damaging you periodically.” or similar.
As I mentioned in my first post; the worst part of these auras is how they’re not gameplay visible. It might be balanced but it feels cheap.