Cull III...... /yawn

[Meldryn]

After finally going to the trouble of getting this ability, I was fairly underwhelmed. 889-938 damage with 101.2% spell damage? Once again, our spells continue to shock and amaze people with their sheer uselessness. Until they actually make our lifetaps generate agro, there is no point in ever casting this spell unless we're soloing, and we all know how much we solo at 50.... This isn't even equal to one swing from a mob in Rahz. Are our spells really supposed to be this weak, Xaices?

To make this spell useful, it should be instant cast, deal twice the damage it does now, and on a 30 second timer. Blood Mage's Conducive symbiote can give anyone an instant casting heal on a 45 second timer that can be used on anyone. Surely a self-only, class-defining spell should be a little more useful than a buff that can be placed on anyone?

[velzevul]

I agree it can use a serious improvement, as all our spells, it doesn't scale well, but I would not go so far as to say it is underpowered either.

few things here Meldryn -

I understand I am equipped better than average, and I understand my intelligence being in high 300s is way higher than average, and I am suffering from my Con and Dex being lower than ave probably.

So, anyways, with Cull II, I seldom find myself hitting lower than 900, and my lifetap crits if I score them can run up to 3k, mostly rotating around 1700 or so though. Cull II is only about 600-700, so with Cull III I should be able to pound a mob for 1300-1400 lifetap, and about 3k -5k crits.

I find it is decent DPS for when I am out of endurance and I want to fill a combat cycle.

Also keep in mind, Cull dmg is affected by DC +20% spiritual Dmg, +15% DRK only damage, by our stance +10% if you use it, by your intelligence, lifetap value can be raised by raising vitality or +healing if you happen to have such a piece of loot, and all other kinds of buffs debuffs there are.

And how about Orc DRK, when they pop a racial, and than follow up with WoD, Cull III, Bane? That is like what, 7-8k hp healed (if WoD crits nicely) ?

Cull is a decent spell. It can use a ramp up, I agree. Especially if it could exploit a Soulwracked weakness, and leave a Bleeding Weakness, would rule the world. Would make for a real nice self generated combo of Malice -> Cull -> SS/Harrow.

Whatcha think Xaices, is it doable ?

[Meldryn]

Originally Posted by velzevul

I find it is decent DPS for when I am out of endurance and I want to fill a combat cycle.

How do you run out of endurance with Ravaging Darkness? I Spam damage the whole fight and rarely run out with Ravaging Darkness on cooldown. The only way I could see that happening is if you're either consistently grouping with very low dps groups, or soloing. Our class should not be balanced around soloing.

Also keep in mind, Cull dmg is affected by DC +20% spiritual Dmg, +15% DRK only damage, by our stance +10% if you use it, by your intelligence, lifetap value can be raised by raising vitality or +healing if you happen to have such a piece of loot, and all other kinds of buffs debuffs there are.

The way EB is currently compared to AoD, I can't think of any reason to use it in either group or soloing, so that 10% is out. Vit and Healing Focus have never affected lifetaps, which is why Blood Mages laugh at healing focus unless they want to be sub-par Clerics. Lastly, DC 5 is a poor way to judge an ability's usefulness. How often do you hit DC 5? I'd say roughly 90% of the time I'm on my DK, I'm nowhere near DC 5. Fights simply do not last long enough to hit DC 5 unless they are 6 dot named.

And how about Orc DRK, when they pop a racial, and than follow up with WoD, Cull III, Bane? That is like what, 7-8k hp healed (if WoD crits nicely) ?

I should not have to be a specific race for a class ability to be useful.

Cull is a decent spell. It can use a ramp up, I agree. Especially if it could exploit a Soulwracked weakness, and leave a Bleeding Weakness, would rule the world. Would make for a real nice self generated combo of Malice -> Cull -> SS/Harrow.

I would be very happy with Cull exploiting a weakness. I think it is a little silly that none of our spells have any weaknesses or exploits attached. I don't see them giving us the ability to exploit our own weaknesses though. Only 2 classes that I can think of off the top of my head can do that. The whole idea behind vulnerabilities is interdependence between classes.

I understand that it is possible to spec a DK high int and get some decent numbers out of Cull, but to do so it requires ignoring stats that are needed for our primary role: tanking. A slightly higher return from Cull will not help when you don't take hits as well as a tank with higher hp and parry chance. Plus, at the moment, our lifetaps generate no agro, so you're focusing on raising your damage on abilities that do not help you hold agro. I'd prefer not having to reduce my efficiency in order to make a core ability usable.

[velzevul]

we must be playing our class differently. I have no trouble holding aggro unless against another tank, in fact i repetitvely pull aggro off of a defensive war left and right in my dps setup.

I wasn't aware about vita and healing focus not affecting if you say it right, thx for correcting me.

as for DC5 - I hit it every single mob, b/c im fighting in Rahz Inkur. I am not used to easier places by now, I remember going to Tehatamani once and thinking "WTF this is cake walk".

[Meldryn]

Originally Posted by velzevul

we must be playing our class differently. I have no trouble holding aggro unless against another tank, in fact i repetitvely pull aggro off of a defensive war left and right in my dps setup.

as for DC5 - I hit it every single mob, b/c im fighting in Rahz Inkur. I am not used to easier places by now, I remember going to Tehatamani once and thinking "WTF this is cake walk".

Heh, you must not roll with the same insane Sorc I do. He can pretty much pull agro at will, so whenever he dies we pretty much just laugh and say he brought it on himself. :wink: Between him, my fiance's Blood Mage, and my Psi, I never get the chance to hit DC 5 unless it's a named. Mobs just die too quickly. And yes, I do spend pretty much all of my time in Rahz.

[velzevul]

Originally Posted by Meldryn

Heh, you must not roll with the same insane Sorc I do. He can pretty much pull agro at will, so whenever he dies we pretty much just laugh and say he brought it on himself. :wink: Between him, my fiance's Blood Mage, and my Psi, I never get the chance to hit DC 5 unless it's a named. Mobs just die too quickly. And yes, I do spend pretty much all of my time in Rahz.

You are right, my static group is not DPS heavy. It is mostly 2 tanks 2 healers and 2 whichever else we pickup from the guild. Sometimes even 3 healers.

[pawnipt]

DK's can do some serious tanking, i've managed to solo tank even con 6 dot mobs..... tho i do have some pretty nice gear and it was a rather difficult fight 8) try soloing Zull Flametail without kiting it.