However, d/d elemental was extremely mobile build.
Anet did make it possible to still have a 20 sec cd on rtl. Elemental just have to hit something
The first statement is forum propaganda. The Ele has never been “extremely mobile” for a significant period of time now, about half the other classes, which include heavily armored king of PvE Warrior, PvE easy mode Ranger, and noobcannon Thief have always had more mobility both in and out of combat. The misconception was fueled by RtL’s bugged range, which allowed Eles to escape combat. Which is necessary for survival, the D/D playstyle even with all boons cannot survive facetanking for any significant period of time. Eles NEED an escape tool, otherwise they are free kills.
The second statement ignores what players primarily used RtL for, to escape bad situations. As a front line, melee, PBAoE blasting, tissue paper armor wearing character, bad situations occur, frequently.
If ANet wants RtL to be a gap closer only, fine. Then make it like EVERY other gap closer, short CD (say 20s), with a 900 range. BUT given the Eles low inherent survivability (now more than ever) something else must be changed to allow Eles a chance to escape via mobility. Here’s a few suggestions:
1. Adjust Ride the Lightning to have a 900 range, with a 20s CD. Adjust the damage to compensate. This makes it a gap closer with a shorter range than Warrior’s Rush with a comparable CD.
2. Adjust Lightning Flash’s CD to 30s, keep the 900 range, allowing it to be used in tandem with other movement skills. This also helps Staff and Focus users and is comparable to a Mesmer’s Blink skill
3. Adjust Burning Retreat into a Sequence skill. First skill is Searing Blast, moving the Ele forward in the same fashion as Burning Speed, with a Blast Finisher at the end, giving the Staff Ele a second Blast Finisher bringing it in-line with the other available weapons. Burning Retreat then becomes the sequence skill but reverts shortly if not used. This skill would then function similarly to Illusionary Leap, but without need for a target, and would provide Staff users with a forward movement gap closer/creator.
4. Adjust Blinding Flash to a teleport. Would function exactly like Flashing Blade, but keep the 900 range.
5. Adjust Magnetic Grasp to function without a target. If no target is selected when using MG, it simply defaults to using Magnetic Leap to push you forward 900.
So all of the above changes give the Ele lots of in combat mobility which it desperately needs to survive, without allowing it to escape any fight it cannot win, forcing the Ele player to carefully weigh the odds. Why this kind of logical balance is so hard for the devs to fathom is beyond me. But to not give a light armored class in an MMO with no inherent survival mechanism some reliable means of survival is just ridiculous.