Guild Wars 2

Due to various balancing and server load issues, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see the condition cap removed or separate condition stacks for each player, so I had a crazy thought: how about condition bursts?

The basic idea is that you still have a cap on condition damage, but once the cap is hit the condition stack will instantly “burst” for its damage multiplied by remaining time left on the stack (so that condition damage and condition duration would remain desirable stats); once the condition has burst, it will wipe the condition and allow players to start building stacks again (possibly with a short buff that prevents additional stacks of that particular buff from being applied for a couple seconds, to mitigate possible condition burst spam).

This would allow multiple condition build characters to participate in group events without becoming uselessly redundant, provide a means for said characters to burst those massive HP pools that bosses enjoy, and introduce a new cooperative dynamic beyond the standard combos.

Of course, I understand that this would make conditions even more devastating in PvP/WvW, so perhaps instead of a straight damage * remaining time burst, it can be a burst for a percentage of health (of which is determined by condition damage and duration stats).

Or maybe I’m just babbling and should get some rest.

The idea is worth considering, but I think a simple single “burst” that would clear the stack damage all at once would be WAY OP. My thought has always been for the existing system to allow for an added packet of direct damage (based on stats already being kept up with by the stack code) when a stack becomes maxed and condition damage is “over applied”. Again, I’m sure the issue is limited computing resources that must be “managed” across an entire zone.

I think both players and Devs feel something needs to be done here, but I’m guessing the Devs have experimented with solutions and have come up empty handed on an acceptable solution.

Interesting concept, but I’m not fully aware of possible consequenses…

So, conditions will hit with “direct damage” on burst, based on applier’s condition dmg and condition duration, when that player adds X amount of stacks, to trigger the burst.

Should it prioritize conditions applied by players with high Condition DMG and Condition Dur. That high powered conditions are more likely to burst.

Should there be a threshold for burst, that prevents lower stat player’s conditions from bursting.

Should it keep the condition stacks still on the target, while weaker (As in, applier has below the trigger threshold cond dmg and cond dur) conditions will never trigger burst, but maintain the stack, and any additional condition with high cond dmg + dur will always burst over them, dealing “direct damage”.

For PvP ? I don’t know. Conditions are fine here and should not be changed a lot.

For PvE ? Why not! I’d like to see how this turns out.