Guild Wars 2

Tulisin.6945:

Kurow.6973:

Black Powder can also be fairly good in these situations as a teamplay factor, however, it forces you to bunch up really close as the field is extremely small…and for its initiative cost, it does not offer too much.

Nobody has to “bunch up” except you and the mobs, Black Powder is a condition-applying offensive skill, not a boon-applying defensive skill. You group the mobs up and drop it on them to virtually negate all outgoing damage, you don’t hide in it. The benefit is more than worth the cost, especially for things like shutting down knockback harpies or groups of hard-hitting non-boss mobs.

I guess you missed what I was saying…but that’s okay.

If you are black powder combo-ing, it’s a pretty small radius. The skill’s effect is EXTREMELY underwhelming in sPvP as well. Any decent player won’t face tank you in the field. It is NOT worth the 6 initiative…AT ALL!!!

I know very well how black powder works. Thanks for your input though, appreciate it.

PS: Please don’t contradict yourself!!!

I’ve said it and I will say it again: P/P needs to be revisioned and changed to be on par with other weapon sets.

Kurow.6973:

It is NOT worth the 6 initiative…AT ALL!!!

That is a judgement call you have to make depending on how much you value your initiative, which is going to depend largely on your weapon set. With P/P you’re heavily initiative-dependent for damage, which means dropping 6 for utility is going to be quite expensive. With S/P? Not so much, since you aren’t relying on initiative for damage. With D/P? A heartseeker→backstab combo with the black powder field could actually pay for itself in damage.

As for PvP opponents “not facetanking” you, it isn’t their job to fall prey to your abilities, it is your job to have enough battlefield control to get your opponent where you want them. Whether that means locking them down into black powder, canalizing the fighting area, or even using black powder itself to canalize with zero intent of them actually going through it, it is your job to make a skill effective. Every skill is useless if your plan is “I hope the enemy runs into place and stands still”.

If you have a decent crit chance and maximize your initiative regen, you can make a spec that allows you to use unload ad nauseam. 8 20% projectile finishers tends to be of use with skills like smokescreen and shadow refuge. I like it greatly in PvE since it provides support and synergy with combo fields from a safe distance. However, you sacrfice burst for consistency meaning it might not be as useful as a quick burst out of the shadows in PvP.

Tulisin.6945:

Kurow.6973:

It is NOT worth the 6 initiative…AT ALL!!!

That is a judgement call you have to make depending on how much you value your initiative, which is going to depend largely on your weapon set. With P/P you’re heavily initiative-dependent for damage, which means dropping 6 for utility is going to be quite expensive. With S/P? Not so much, since you aren’t relying on initiative for damage. With D/P? A heartseeker->backstab combo with the black powder field could actually pay for itself in damage.

As for PvP opponents “not facetanking” you, it isn’t their job to fall prey to your abilities, it is your job to have enough battlefield control to get your opponent where you want them. Whether that means locking them down into black powder, canalizing the fighting area, or even using black powder itself to canalize with zero intent of them actually going through it, it is your job to make a skill effective. Every skill is useless if your plan is “I hope the enemy runs into place and stands still”.

Do you like stating the obvious…and irrelevant things?

PS: You’re still continuing to contradict yourself. Please…just stop!