Don't change Phantasmal Blade...

[Lusain]

Hey guys.

I just wanted to point out that before the last round of changes, one of the items on the block was Phantasmal Blade.

Last night doing Graystone, as a second tank in the group, I took over CC duties and I have to tell you, I didn't realize how good we were at handling 4-5 adds with Phantasmal Blade but we *are* in fact able to CC multiple mobs.

Here's what you do:

There's about a 3-4 second delay after hitting PB before you are considered out of combat and can hit it again. So the first mob is instant, the second mob can be mezzed 3 seconds later, and so forth.

If you ever enter combat by accidentally hitting a rescue, having an add attack you as you move around, or you begin hitting a mob then you can no longer mez, so awareness is key. If you just stand back you can safely crowd control 4-5 or maybe even 6-7 adds with PB as long as your group is assisting, and you don't pull aggro or attack a mob.

I did this last night for several hours and I just thought I'd pass it along. A couple of times the situation got very sticky as I'd attract the attention of a wanderer or repop and would lose my ability to mez, but that's why God gave me plate armour, defensive stance and lifetaps!

Also, once you engage a mob you can't remez, so you have to be very sure, if you are going to be your group's CC, that they aren't ever breaking mez and that you don't start swinging your axe until you know your CC duties are handled (when we were pulling doubles, I'd just mez and then attack the other one with the group, most times the mob died well before mez ran out. In the cases where it didn't, I'd simply offtank).

I just wanted to let you know that there is a whole dimension to PB that I hadn't bothered to discover, as I'd been mostly busy tanking for groups. But this secondary feature of our class actually allowed me to be quite helpful in our group last night, and it was also fun! Certainly I'd prefer to tank, but this was a great backup plan.

Bottom line is: please don't change PB. It's fun as it is now.

[Sodieq]

Sure this was never intentional as we are probally ment to be thrown into combat after the first PB

[Lusain]

Originally Posted by Sodieq

Sure this was never intentional as we are probally ment to be thrown into combat after the first PB

I don't necessarily believe that to be true. There are a zillion challenges involved in being able to CC for us -- for example, the other mobs in the group have to be aggro'd on someone else already and if we are involved in any way in the pull, or prox aggro, or whatever then we can no longer mez.

If we hit the mobs even once, we can no longer mez.

If our group breaks our mez after we've engaged, we can not remez it.

If we pull aggro from a pather or repop, we can no longer mez.

Other classes with similar from-behind stuns (monk, rogue) aren't pulled into combat either.

There is nothing to suggest this skill isn't working exactly like it should. Simply put, we can be a solid CC class in the right situation, like a warrior can act as a DPS class and a paladin as a support healer, we can back up a group via CC when not tanking.

I just thought you might like to know.

[velzevul]

As far as I am concerned -

Thank you very very much Lusain for posting this thread, as I have NEVER, not ONCE thought of an ability to use PB more than once per pull. I guess my mind was in a box.

I am looking forward and clapping hands in my mind at the expectation of getting out or Rahz now, and screwing around in an area where PB actually works )

[Vladamier]

I use and love PB. It is a not only a value tool asset but one of the few utility spells we get that benefits the group.

Only change I would ask is being able to use in in-combat.

[Jooma]

Another use for PB is if you're about to face off against a mob that has an ok chance to kill you, you can PB the mob and start casting all your debuffs and raise your DC with Dreadful Visage. Little better than waisting Terror Incarnate.

[labrat]

Originally Posted by Lusain

Hey guys.

I just wanted to point out that before the last round of changes, one of the items on the block was Phantasmal Blade.

Last night doing Graystone, as a second tank in the group, I took over CC duties and I have to tell you, I didn't realize how good we were at handling 4-5 adds with Phantasmal Blade but we *are* in fact able to CC multiple mobs.

Here's what you do:

There's about a 3-4 second delay after hitting PB before you are considered out of combat and can hit it again. So the first mob is instant, the second mob can be mezzed 3 seconds later, and so forth.

If you ever enter combat by accidentally hitting a rescue, having an add attack you as you move around, or you begin hitting a mob then you can no longer mez, so awareness is key. If you just stand back you can safely crowd control 4-5 or maybe even 6-7 adds with PB as long as your group is assisting, and you don't pull aggro or attack a mob.

I did this last night for several hours and I just thought I'd pass it along. A couple of times the situation got very sticky as I'd attract the attention of a wanderer or repop and would lose my ability to mez, but that's why God gave me plate armour, defensive stance and lifetaps!

Also, once you engage a mob you can't remez, so you have to be very sure, if you are going to be your group's CC, that they aren't ever breaking mez and that you don't start swinging your axe until you know your CC duties are handled (when we were pulling doubles, I'd just mez and then attack the other one with the group, most times the mob died well before mez ran out. In the cases where it didn't, I'd simply offtank).

I just wanted to let you know that there is a whole dimension to PB that I hadn't bothered to discover, as I'd been mostly busy tanking for groups. But this secondary feature of our class actually allowed me to be quite helpful in our group last night, and it was also fun! Certainly I'd prefer to tank, but this was a great backup plan.

Bottom line is: please don't change PB. It's fun as it is now.

so your saying that if you never damage the mob during an encounter you can keep the mob in constant stun? sounds good but what a exploit that is, sorry but I really find it hard to believe that this was an intended outcome.

will have to start using it more often until they get around to fixing this.

side note it would be nice if it was combat usable.

[imported_Judas]

Labrat is it really an exploit? Keep in mind all that tank can do is CC, once he attacks he can no longer use PB. So basicly that DK's dps is gone for the group in return for using CC or PB. Its a choice, use the DK for CC or not.

[Lusain]

Rogues and monks, who share the same skill, can perform the same "feat."

Based on the reaction to what is a situationally excellent tool in our arsenal, I posted this because it took me 44 levels to figure it out. I thought maybe I'd be helpful.

Rather than be awakened to the fact that we have a cool ability and *you* just didn't notice (EXACTLY like how the old Bastion worked, it was VERY COOL you (the community) just woudln't open up your eyes to it) and now, rather than say "hey cool, you are right, thanks!" you start tossing around the word exploit and abuse and do nothing but try to nerf our secondary group role?

Please stop destroying our class abilities.

I've learned my lesson. I won't post any more helpful info.

[Vladamier]

I went ahead and experimented the other night. To my girlish delight I was able to use it multiple times on multiple targets. I had never thought of the concept till now. It truely is a more versatile ability now.

And no it is not an exploit, it is no more the same as a Psi staying out of combat the whole time holding a mob at bay. Only difference is we have to be behind the target. The whole night I was running around in circles holding Xenn fishies (the one that comes in 3's) while the rest of my group hammered away. It was truely a fun and different experience.