[SW] Sweeping Slash
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 7:39 pm
The standpoint of the team seems to be that Sweeping Slash brings value to ASW as it deals "high AoE damage". Based on this, Sweeping Slash needs some work. Currently it deals okay damage, but a cooldown of 10 seconds and a tooltip range of 25ft which in reality is about 18-19ft makes it an absolute no to spec for. In fact, I would rather pick up Barrage any day, as assault stance offers absolutely no AoE apart from Sweeping Slash, while barrage gives you brief moments of okayish bombing with Focused Mind+LA+Barrage for killing blows. The only use Sweeping Slash has as it is, is to use as filler whenever slightly out of range for Grim Slash, but the range being so low and tracking being as bad as it is makes the skill land 1 out of 10 times even when almost standing in peoples faces.
So while the damage can be said to be okay, the overall dps and usability of the skill is non-existent. I proposed to remake the skill into something fitting of a melee singletarget spec, but as that was declined partially on the basis of the skill having good AoE damage, I will instead offer solutions to make the skill usable for actual AoE damage, even if the spec has no use for it, and it makes no sense for the ability to be AoE without a major rework of the whole kit.
Solutions
Sweeping Slash
Solution 1
Reduce cooldown to 5 seconds and increase range to 30/35ft. Might help it actually land, and also makes it synergize with WW. In itself this isn't going to make much of an impact, but the skill is at the very least gonna function as opposed to the current form.
Part below not for discussion unless a balance mod okays it!
Additional solutions proposed as Wrist Slash is no longer gonna be a guaranteed 100% uptime. I still do feel like these are dangerous additions for an AoE skill, but as it won't change to a singletarget one, the proposals are acceptable in my opinion.
Solution 2
Apply Whispering Wind for 5 seconds on-hit. Keep the skill as is in all other aspects.
Destruction has this buff present on two classes already, one of which can pop it without being in range of anything. Duration is lowered to 5 seconds to compensate for the short cooldown on the skill. SH on the other hand has Bad Gas, but as this debuff is already present in the form of Shatter Limbs, going for WW is a better idea.
Solution 3
Applies a 10 second armor debuff. Keep the skill as is in all other aspects.
AoE armor debuffs are mostly lacking on both sides, the only AoE armor debuff currently in the game is on the Zealots "Sweeping Disgorgement" tactic. It makes Demon Spittle into a 40ft, 9 second duration/5 second cooldown AoE DoT/Armor debuff/Corp debuff, which stacks with any other armor debuff on the target. Taking into account the stacking, range, and uptime on the tactic, I find it reasonable for Sweeping Slash to have an armour debuff that is at least in the 900-1k range. Should also be mentioned that Order already has access to one less regular armor debuff than destro, when not counting Sweeping Disgorgement. These armor debuff also either have significantly longer duration than cooldown, for example 5s CD 20s duration, or have equal CD and duration, but are undefendable. The proposed armor debuff would be the most unreliable one as it has matching CD and duration, and is defendable. As such it might even make sense for it to be uncleansable, at the very least by DoK.
Edit: Removed irrelevant parts, focus only SS.
Edit 2: Added solution 2 and 3 as a response to the only value the class brings being gutted outside of 6v6, and that the skill in reality would still be useless with the slight buffs already proposed.
Edit 3: The skill seemingly has an incorrect strength mod of .3 instead of .2. Does not affect actual use though.
So while the damage can be said to be okay, the overall dps and usability of the skill is non-existent. I proposed to remake the skill into something fitting of a melee singletarget spec, but as that was declined partially on the basis of the skill having good AoE damage, I will instead offer solutions to make the skill usable for actual AoE damage, even if the spec has no use for it, and it makes no sense for the ability to be AoE without a major rework of the whole kit.
Solutions
Sweeping Slash
Solution 1
Reduce cooldown to 5 seconds and increase range to 30/35ft. Might help it actually land, and also makes it synergize with WW. In itself this isn't going to make much of an impact, but the skill is at the very least gonna function as opposed to the current form.
Part below not for discussion unless a balance mod okays it!
Additional solutions proposed as Wrist Slash is no longer gonna be a guaranteed 100% uptime. I still do feel like these are dangerous additions for an AoE skill, but as it won't change to a singletarget one, the proposals are acceptable in my opinion.
Solution 2
Apply Whispering Wind for 5 seconds on-hit. Keep the skill as is in all other aspects.
Destruction has this buff present on two classes already, one of which can pop it without being in range of anything. Duration is lowered to 5 seconds to compensate for the short cooldown on the skill. SH on the other hand has Bad Gas, but as this debuff is already present in the form of Shatter Limbs, going for WW is a better idea.
Solution 3
Applies a 10 second armor debuff. Keep the skill as is in all other aspects.
AoE armor debuffs are mostly lacking on both sides, the only AoE armor debuff currently in the game is on the Zealots "Sweeping Disgorgement" tactic. It makes Demon Spittle into a 40ft, 9 second duration/5 second cooldown AoE DoT/Armor debuff/Corp debuff, which stacks with any other armor debuff on the target. Taking into account the stacking, range, and uptime on the tactic, I find it reasonable for Sweeping Slash to have an armour debuff that is at least in the 900-1k range. Should also be mentioned that Order already has access to one less regular armor debuff than destro, when not counting Sweeping Disgorgement. These armor debuff also either have significantly longer duration than cooldown, for example 5s CD 20s duration, or have equal CD and duration, but are undefendable. The proposed armor debuff would be the most unreliable one as it has matching CD and duration, and is defendable. As such it might even make sense for it to be uncleansable, at the very least by DoK.
Edit: Removed irrelevant parts, focus only SS.
Edit 2: Added solution 2 and 3 as a response to the only value the class brings being gutted outside of 6v6, and that the skill in reality would still be useless with the slight buffs already proposed.
Edit 3: The skill seemingly has an incorrect strength mod of .3 instead of .2. Does not affect actual use though.