[snip]
Now, I have two main problems with the weapon:
- It does not provide any party-wide buffs
- Locust Swarm tends to be annoying and counter-productive.
Both Ranger and Warrior warhorns provide AoE buffs for allies. Why should Necromancer’s version be different?
[snip]
Doing this would allow us to have some useful party utility in WvW from warhorn, as well as retain the current (and very strong) utility in form of locust swarm. It would also let us decide whether we want the cripple effect, which as I mentioned before, is sometimes counter-productive (aggroing mobs you just want to run by).
I’d like to know what you’re thinking. What other ideas would you have for our warhorn?
From my experience playing a necro, this is by design. Very few of our skills (sans combo fields) provide party-wide buffs. The only ones that immediately come to mind are Deathly Invigoration, Ritual of Protection, Transfusion, and Well of Blood.
Our’s is a “selfish” profession. This doesn’t mean we can’t benefit a party, but we do so indirectly. It’s easy to see how a Guardian buffs a party when they use a skill and you witness a boon icon pop up on your character.
For Necromancers, it’s more subtle. I “buff” my party by aggroing a boss with my high toughness, taking pressure off my party members in a dungeon. I help my server by outlasting in a fight in WvWvW until reinforcements arrive to wipe the invaders. I hold an opposing team’s focus on a single point in sPvP while the rest of my team caps the other points. To accomplish this requires a skill set that is more self-focused than party-focused. Thus the emphasis on skills and traits which predominantly benefit the Necromancer alone; at least, ostensibly.
Consequently, I’m happy with the current warhorn skills. As a blood necro, it’s a natural compliment to the dagger for locking down opponents. Daze with Wail of Doom. Immobilize with Dark Pact while they’re dazed. Locust Swarm to close the gap, grant me swiftness while crippling my opponent, give me Life Force with each pulse that hits that opponent, and damage with each pulse (the amount of damage isn’t the important point; it’s the opportunity to deal a critical hit – triggering Vampiric Precision – that’s key).
I do agree that Locust Swarm is terrible as an open-field speed buff. I don’t think that was ever it’s intended purpose, though. It’s meant as an offensive melee combat skill; not an out-of-combat swiftness boon. For open-field running in WvWvW, use Signet of the Locust, instead (then swap to a more offensive utility skill as you approach a fight, if you prefer). Despite the Necromancer’s reputation as one of the slowest professions in combat, Signet of the Locust gives us respectable cross-country speed.
[snip]
What do we get for the horn? One slow casting daze(2s) on a 30s cd and a slow casting self swiftness skill that adds a bit lifeforce(only useful in certain situations) and a cripple to enemies in melee range. I won’t even mention the “damage” .
Our horn is pretty selfish, and it is still not very good for a selfish weapon(no damage, easily avoided daze on long cd and a bad hunting skill)
Give horn some love.
To the best of my knowledge, Wail of Doom is a 1/2 second cast.
As mentioned above, Necromancy is a “selfish” profession. The warhorn’s “selfish” skills are in keeping with that spirit. That said, I agree warhorn could use a little love. A reduction in the cooldowns to 20 or 25 seconds would be welcome along with a reduction in the cast time of Locust Swarm from 1 second to either 1/2 second or even 1/4 second. It is – among other things – a swiftness skill; it would be nice to be able to cast it swiftly, as well. I believe the devs mentioned in the SotG video that they were taking a look at Necromancer cast times. Maybe there’s hope of seeing some changes to warhorn in this regard.
