Guild Wars 2

When I brought this skill up to one of my guildies the other night it turned out that he didn’t know that BiP applied 10 stacks of might to people in a 240 radius. This wasn’t too surprising but they were familiar with the skill and its uses, but this got me thinking. Might is often given out like candy across a few different profession who just do it better. And rather than suggesting that BiP be a viable means of competing with that I though why not go a different direction?

If there is one Philosophy that the necromancer doesn’t embody with any other skill type in the game other than corruptions its the very Philosophy that they are attributed to in pop culture. Which they themselves embodied in GW1. And that Philosophy is “Power! At any cost.” The reason I like corruptions as a skill type is because they are in their design supposed to be extremely powerful skills that have a very heavy price for using them. Power at any cost. However BiP doesn’t really feel like it. Its a decent DPS boost, but it could easily be replaced in the future for that and often times its DPS boost isn’t usually worth it if you fail, often draining you of HALF your life. Thats an extremely sizable chunk, but the question is what are we getting for that? In GW1, we had sacrifice skills which would provide a massive benefit to us or allies. For Blood of the master you could sacrifice about the same amount of health you’d lose from BiP, however the pay off was that you could sustain 12 minions that each struck with the power of about a warrior auto attacking. The Protection it gave your party and the wall of zerg damage that it helped to sustain we often well worth that life loss. BiP in GW1 could sustain multiple healers energy bar through long fights and it sacrificed 33% of your health. And it was worth it. Even losing 17% from Blood Ritual was often just good enough to bring along. But these sacrifice skills where highly impactful for the party. BiP in GW2 is a minor DPS boost for you and pretty superfluous in a party.

So what am I going to suggest? Well, why does it have to be a boon? Why not still have the incredibly painful drawback it currently has but have a sort of “Awaken the blood” type effect that gives a Buff to you and your allies. Perhaps a flat damage increase like 10% physical and condi damage. Perhaps increase everyone stats for 10 seconds. Its in the name. But a flat increase not linked to a boon would allow for it to stack nicely with other profession without stepping on the toes of others. BiP is an extremely painful skill and it should reward you greatly for that price you’ve payed. “Power at any cost.”

hmm and here I thought the design philosphy of necromancer was, have what other classes have, but worse, and it costing you and arm and a leg to use it (figuratively and literally). seriously tho, I agree with where youre going with this the whole ‘victory at any cost’. The buff youre suggesting through sounds a lot like what druids have with grace of the land. But considering AN gave revenants alacarity, maybe down the line necros could get a similar skill to GotL.

Khailyn.6248:

hmm and here I thought the design philosphy of necromancer was, have what other classes have, but worse, and it costing you and arm and a leg to use it (figuratively and literally). seriously tho, I agree with where youre going with this the whole ‘victory at any cost’. The buff youre suggesting through sounds a lot like what druids have with grace of the land. But considering AN gave revenants alacarity, maybe down the line necros could get a similar skill to GotL.

It was an example, more than anything. It could be something else entirely. Maybe life stealing or a buff that makes allied attacks bleed foes on contact. It doesn’t have to be that, but the pay off shouldn’t conflict with existing buffs other professions provide that are just better executed.

Also.. Dat Sarcasm. lol.

Khailyn.6248:

hmm and here I thought the design philosphy of necromancer was, have what other classes have, but worse, and it costing you and arm and a leg to use it (figuratively and literally). seriously tho, I agree with where youre going with this the whole ‘victory at any cost’. The buff youre suggesting through sounds a lot like what druids have with grace of the land. But considering AN gave revenants alacarity, maybe down the line necros could get a similar skill to GotL.

Ya know what? Screw the revenant! Since day one of it’s reveal, it’s been stealing crap from other professions (pre-launch Mallyx and Herald shield) so now it’s our turn!

Lets make BiP an upkeep skill! Except instead of energy, you just pulse bleed to yourself.

Coffietire.2783:

Khailyn.6248:

hmm and here I thought the design philosphy of necromancer was, have what other classes have, but worse, and it costing you and arm and a leg to use it (figuratively and literally). seriously tho, I agree with where youre going with this the whole ‘victory at any cost’. The buff youre suggesting through sounds a lot like what druids have with grace of the land. But considering AN gave revenants alacarity, maybe down the line necros could get a similar skill to GotL.

Ya know what? Screw the revenant! Since day one of it’s reveal, it’s been stealing crap from other professions (pre-launch Mallyx and Herald shield) so now it’s our turn!

Lets make BiP an upkeep skill! Except instead of energy, you just pulse bleed to yourself.

As someone once wisely said, “Revenant is proof Anet looks at the Necro forum.”

lol this thread. Yea, Im not always happy with AN in regards to how they handle necromancer. I dont mind that some of our best spells (heh), hurt us on top of providing its effect b/c we have death shroud, a few transfers and higher base hp pool. It’s that they also expect these same things to be the crutch that prevents us from having the defenses and mobility we deserve. I do play a a viper condi reaper, but once you favor in the backlash effects of corruptions with or without master of corruptions active, you feel like just another caster. the extra hp doesnt account for much imo.