A look into the WH and what skills need tweaking

[Edenwolf]

I've just been going over the class I love to see what needs some tweaking. Yes I'm aware other problems with the class my be present, some skills aren't even purchasable yet and that the WH class is already in a fine position.

1.Dragon gun needs to deal as much damage as rank 5 absolution, as it stands it's not worth speccing into and was hit with the blanket aoe nerf on live when it wasn't justified for this skill(not spammable, requires a build up of points to use and is a finisher).

2.Trial by pain needs a damage bump, it's lack lustre in the shadow of absolution.

3.Van Horstmann's speculum needs to double in damage output and/or damage ranged and casters too. The short duration, looong cool down and the fact that it cancels out better relics(SoM and SoD) leave much to be desired for speccing into the skill.

4. Witchfinders protection, would be nice if it included disrupt so vindication can be proceed more often and besides, witch finders need disrupt not parry as witches are mainly casters.

Do you agree? What other skills do you think need tweaking?

[Tklees]

I think WHs are pretty much fine except for the aoe tree. But then again we aren't meant to be an aoe class. If I could have any one thing on my WH though it would be wracking pains.

[Edenwolf]

I think WHs are pretty much fine except for the aoe tree. But then again we aren't meant to be an aoe class. If I could have any one thing on my WH though it would be wracking pains.

Right, I updated my post to include the fact that I think WH is in a good position already, I'm just looking at certain skills that aren't a good option(everyone wants their class to have all the skills in their arsenal to be a viable option, for diversity in specs etc.). I would consider dragon gun if it had more damage as I invest a lot of points into the tree already, coupled with the tactics that build accusations faster and return some after a finisher, it might be a interesting skill to use, if even for kicks.

[Tklees]

I think WHs are pretty much fine except for the aoe tree. But then again we aren't meant to be an aoe class. If I could have any one thing on my WH though it would be wracking pains.

Right, I updated my post to include the fact that I think WH is in a good position already, I'm just looking at certain skills that aren't a good option(everyone wants their class to have all the skills in their arsenal to be a viable option, for diversity in specs etc.). I would consider dragon gun if it had more damage as I like that tree already, coupled with the tactics that build accusations faster and return some after a finisher, it might be a interesting skill to use, if even for kicks.

Dragon Gun and sanc bullets would make an interesting self heal combo but Idk the WH tatics are pretty set in stone.

[Jaycub]

I've just been going over the class I love to see what needs some tweaking. Yes I'm aware other problems with the class my be present, some skills aren't even purchasable yet and that the WH class is already in a fine position.

1.Dragon gun needs to deal as much damage as rank 5 absolution, as it stands it's not worth speccing into and was hit with the blanket aoe nerf on live when it wasn't justified for this skill(not spammable, requires a build up of points to use and is a finisher).

2.Trial by pain needs a damage bump, it's lack lustre in the shadow of absolution.

3.Van Horstmann's speculum needs to double in damage output and/or damage ranged and casters too. The short duration, looong cool down and the fact that it cancels out better relics(SoM and SoD) leave much to be desired for speccing into the skill.

4. Witchfinders protection, would be nice if it included disrupt so vindication can be proceed more often and besides, witch finders need disrupt not parry as witches are mainly casters.

Do you agree? What other skills do you think need tweaking?

Buffing dragon gun you walk a fine line with it because of bullets, the AoE debuffs can get very strong, toss in good damage as well and it can become usable, OP etc..

A lot of classes suffer from their 3 second channels being absolute garbage, there is just so many problem with it compared to absolution. No AP regen, no autos, etc... you either buff it to make it flat out better than absolution or leave it in absolutions shadow like it has always been. Unless you totally rework the skill or add some kind of new modifier.

I think van horstmann's is fine, it deal pure damage only mitigated by toughness and is very strong in some cases.

Giving witch finders disrupt would be broken combined with shroud, you would essentially be immune to magic for up to 17 seconds while proccing damage buff etc...

Witch hunter is one of the most well made classes in the game, it has many playstyles and all it mastery trees have good stuff in them. They just ultimately depend on having masteries filled out to really come into fruition which is why they might seem a bit lackluster right now.

Literally every mastery ability is viable in some kind of sitution / meta except for dragon gun, and a couple tactics.

[Edenwolf]

I wasn't aware that the bullets would proc on all targets hit with dragon gun, the tooltip had me believe it would only be the initial target, could still use a damage buff though, perhaps not as much as I originally suggested if that's the case.

[Jaycub]

I don't think I have ever specced it once on live, I looked at the tooltip on the builder site and it doesn't state anything about only applying a debuff to one target. Maybe TK or someone else knows?

Either way the skill still isn't usable outside of being funny :^) or if you absolutely have to AoE grind PvE.

[Jaycub]

Lets say dragon can apply bullet debuff to all targets hit, even then when looking for utility you have...

>outgoing healdebuff with optional 5% to be crit w/ tactic

>ini debuff (a weak on compared to stuff like the mara one) that can heal you for 100 of the damage dealt with tactic.

>20 AP drain. with flowing accusation can get your AoE AP drain to about ~10? per second.

I dont think any of these would make dragon gun ever worth speccing into, even if you increased the damage. You have to think of what you are potentially losing... EW/BoL/PW/PTF etc...

Dragon gun has to be completely reworked if it will ever be considered over our other 13p finishers. WH will never be brought into a group for an AoE role, or some kind of semi-support hybrid role.

[Edenwolf]

I understand what they are giving up or the viability of the spec in a group, but this would be for solo rvr and sc play, something different and fun to try for a change.

[Jaycub]

SC play is group play, and solo RvR with dragon gun even if it was buffed would not hold any kind of advantage over the other specs WH has acess too. A slayer will have better AoE with 0 points invested into the tree, and BW even more so.

For dragon gun to be viable it has to be reworked into something else entirely. Maybe something like an AoE burn heretic that removes enchantments/blessings each tick, give it a 10 sec cd, and let bullets hit all targets and you have something that could be useable and fit into the WH theme. The utility then might be worth losing EW/BaL and depeding on how you spec PTF/PW etc...