Guild Wars 2

“Unlike critical damage, in which all you need to do is close your eyes and swing your weapon away, condition damage requires more dedication in combat. "

Comments like this make me want to avoid this debate all together as I find condition damage so cut and dry as a ‘not good gameplay’ situation.

Condition damage and pet damage are both zero skill cap. You set it and forget it, generally hit tab from ranged to apply skill or direct pets, and you can spend the rest of your uptime running/dodging/kiting/doing whatever. The game’s gear is also weighted heavily toward condition damage builds, because to do the most damage you can with conditions you only need condition damage. EDIT: I do not consider increasing the length as doing more damage. With direct damage you need power and precision, which takes away from potentially using points for toughness or vitality, a problem condition builds do not have.

“all you need to do is close your eyes and swing your weapon away”

Does this person even play Guild Wars 2? I’m flabbergasted at comments like this and really the comment should, if anything, read ‘all you need to do is close your eyes, hit tab, and roll your face across the keyboard to apply ranged conditions.’

I would also like to add that everyone who says “There are ways to cure conditions” needs to think that through for another two seconds and admit that those abilities are generally on 45-60 second cooldowns, whereas all condition applying abilities are on an average 12 second cooldown. Now add to that two enemies hitting you with conditions and you are cannot ever keep enough of the poison, bleed, burning, confusion, or torment off your character.

Damage over time is simply not an interesting or rewarding game mechanic when it comes to skillful play. It hasn’t been, isn’t now, nor ever will be. It belongs, if anywhere, in PvE to allow kiting of mobs for small groups or solo players to kill elites, etc. I do exactly this on my Thief using shortbow bleeds. I do not find it interesting in PvE either, but it seems to be popular as game designers keep implementing it.

Please rebalance damage over time in PvP.