Mikau.6920

Also, mace as well. And buff DH longbow 2 damage to where it was before the nerfs (PvE only).

And the Stoic Demeanor trait is useless.

Its sad how often there are topics about changing the scepter - which is fine - when are bad weapons there: mainly Staff and Mace and no one post about them.

I not complaining about your suggestions, I do know there are weapons that don't fit to us and the scepter is the only really ranged weapon that Guard has, so no alternatives. When they change the Scepter #2 to symbol the weapon become amazing, not only because its now a symbol, but mainly because reduced the RNG by a lot. Before it was really sad when it hit like 2 or 3 times (which happened a lot).

They could redesign Staff #1 so it could the weapon would be a real alternative to Scepter. Staff now is just too lame.

Is open world build that you want or raids/fractals?

For raids/fractals you can use the CptAurellian link, but for open world you might want to add some vitality, if you use the grieving(POWER/COND/precision/ferociry) or the sinister(COND/power/precision) version, just swap some parts for carrion(COND/power/vitality). I like to achieve at least 15k of life on open world.

I do use a full Viper FB for Fractals and the DPS difference is just too low to justify a change to Grieving.

I use this setup:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQNArfXnkICdBjFBDODBEEhF/BzKAUBqTZJhKUGa/i2RHpA-j1hAQBgU5X0OBA6c/BIq+DAeCA2UJIA1HQIgFrBA-w

Adter the last nerf to Firebrand, taking Virtues instead of Zeal and Loremaster instead of Quickfire you get a higher DPS. Also, taking Virtues (w/ Loremaster) was already a DPS increase if there was multiple targets. I'm sorta glad for the nerf, because I hated to use quickfire and keep track of it, so I was playing DH instead. Now is really fun to play.

This is funny, but I moved my gear to my Berserker until the Quickfire nerf. I liked to play as Berserk, but I like to play as FB more.

Did you guys post on the bug section? Also, send /bug in game, so the Devs can know the issue.

Taking so long to fix it, they might not know about it.

For open world I use a zerker/marauder mix. Its a bit hard to keep up in certain places without vitality and on some HoT maps you'll get one shot very often as glass cannon. But lately I'm playing as FB on open world maps.

For Fractals I don't believe you would be able to get far without Agony Resistance (you need ascended equipament to slot the AR). You should try to get the ascended trinkets from LS3, it is very cheap and easy.

I was using Zeal/Radiance/DH, but I find a higher DPS with Radiance/Virtues/DH instead with pugs. This is my build (I use on t4 fractals):

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQNAR7fnkICVdiddCGCBkdilBiKrAXwGU+6z+z3KAq22E-jhRBABAcRAwT3gZKBpU9nHeCAXt/o8DA-e

Taking Indomitable Courage trait instead of Permeating Wrath triat on Virtues seems better not only to get a Stun Breaker but allows to keep Unscated Contender trait more often. Also, you want to keep the Spear of Justice on cooldown, so doesn't make any sense to take this trait. Taking Virtues instead of Zeal allow a much higher Retaliation up time without taking away a utility slot on both retal duration and on Virtue usage.

Also, I often change Test of Faith for Stand Your Ground or Wall of Reflection on some fractals.

I don't belive that you need Light's Judment anywhere, its very easy to get 25 stacks of vulnerability as DH, even more if you use Zeal instead of Virtues. Big Game Hunter trait alone grants very high vulnerability stacks.

> @otto.5684 said:

> It will be nice if projectiles are a bit faster. I do not get this scepter is “underwhelming.” It is the strongest ranged weapon in the game and strong in both PvE and sPvP.

>

> I would rather Anet address the following underwhelming weapons:

>

> Axe

> LB

> Staff

> Mace

>

> Way more important than mace.

I agree.

The LB True Shot needs something else if they think the old damage was too much.

The Staff auto needs to be 450 range at least or be completely redesigned (I prefer to redesign into a 1200 projectile attack that can hit at least 3 targets in splash).

Mace symbol need be be a bit faster, 0.75 second cast time would be fine.

For me the axe symbol cast time is still too high, 0.75 second would make more interesting. Or keep the cast time but add 1~2 seconds of quickness to allies (including self) on symbol creation.

You should be able to get energy while mounted. All cooldowns work while mounted and energy that is basically a cooldown should work too.

If getting over 50% energy while mounted is the problem, just don't allow to go over it.

> @Mikeskies.1536 said:

> > @SneakyTouchy.6043 said:

> > I've been trying a power support firebrand.

> > The cleansing, stunbreak, stability and block spam can be good in some cases, but...

> >

> > Quickness firebrand is a joke. Even with 100% quickness duration, I struggle to keep and average of 10% quickness uptime for the 4 players in my group because the radius of sharing is insanely small. Don't waste Firebrand runes on Firebrand.

>

> Quickness Firebrand works, but you don't use Firebrand runes. You're basically a DPS, but with Sigil of Concentration in Torch instead of Bursting, and a couple of trait and utility changes. And the radius isn't that small. If you are able to land Quickfire on 4 teammates, you're keeping Quickness on them as well. It is your teammates fault for not stacking. My group tested Firebrand and Renegade combo and we had better Alacrity and Quickness uptime than the Chronomancer,

That is the problem playing Firebrand in that way. It only works on organized groups, on pugs it is worthless, everyone spreads out. I wanted to play as Firebrand on Fractals but I shall keep playing as DH instead, even quickfire is hard to work with spreading people :#

My only problem with Firebrand are the Stoic Demeanor trait that is useless and the mantras channel are too high.

Also, the # 3 of Tome of Resolve should at least be a blast finisher, this skill is pointless other than giving swiftness.

In my opinion, they should just go to a mid ground. Instead of 5% per second, they could go to 4% per second.

There are a lot of cool shield skins. I also have the flameseeker, but not always use it. You should just search up.

In my opinion, they just should reduce the cast time a bit. Almost 3 seconds is too much cast time. Something like 1.75 ~ 2 seconds would still be very high, but not insane. There is already a cooldown to "punish" for using the last charge, just don't need that extra "punish" as cast time.

So, is Loremaster strict better than Quickfire now?

> @otto.5684 said:

> I kind of guessed that Ashes of the Just to get nerfed. Stalwart Speed, did not seem to be a necessary nerf.

>

> Man, we kept telling Anet from day one to scrap the silly cone application and stick to circle AOE. And guess, we are getting closer and closer to that now..

>

> I was hoping Stoic Demeanor, core Virtues and Virtues line get some changes. Nope :(

I also find very strange. They didn't touch anything that is useless at all (like Stoic Demeanor).

> @Saiyan.1704 said:

> Ashes of the Just isn't even OP in PvP... the F1 reduced burn nerf alone, from the previous balance patch, was what killed Condi FB guardians. So this Ash's stack removal was not warranted at all. Neither was Guardian rune's 2 second ICD. Lack of cd was what gave the rune uniqueness. Now not a single person will use it. If they do, they're just kitten around.

>

> What ever happened to, "separating balance to game modes"? Anet loves walking over their own words... This patch was a missed opportunity and a huge disappointment.

I was thinking to make a build around the runes of Guardian, but they're pretty much junk now. Why does they kill builds instead of increase the options? Also, the 6th bonus of Runes of Firebrand is really bad - 1 stack of 2 seconds on 45 sec CD, really? It could at least be +20% of burning duration if they want to avoid bursts.

Now is actually interesting to use mantras as support. At fractals was a real pain because of the instability that applies agony when too close. Also, more interesting at WvW too.

Patch up!

https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/14429/game-release-notes-november-7-2017

For this update, we are focusing on the usability of firebrand mantras, which we feel are currently underperforming. By increasing the radius of these skills, we hope that they will be easier to use to support parties in conjunction with the existing tome skills. A few firebrand traits are also having their internal cooldowns adjusted to better synchronize with each other.

* Firebrand Rewards: Updated available stat combinations to use Viper, Trailblazer, and Marshal options. This change will reset your current helm pieces and weapons and will require you to reselect your stat preference.

**Skills**

* Firebrand tome skills now set each other on a 0.5-second cooldown upon equip.

* Mantras: Fixed a bug that prevented proper resetting of mantra charges while mounted.* Mantra of Flame: Increased the range of this skill from 300 to 450. Increased the radius of this skill from 120 to 180.

* Mantra of Lore: Increased the range of this skill from 300 to 450. Increased the radius of this skill from 120 to 180.

* Mantra of Liberation: Increased the range of this skill from 300 to 450. Increased the radius of this skill from 120 to 180.

* Mantra of Potence: Increased the range of this skill from 300 to 450. Increased the radius of this skill from 120 to 180.

* Mantra of Solace: Increased the range of this skill from 300 to 450. Increased the radius of this skill from 120 to 180.

* Mantra of Truth: Increased the range of this skill from 300 to 450. Increased the radius of this skill from 120 to 180.

**Traits**

* Healer's Retribution: Fixed a bug that prevented this trait from granting retaliation when using Mantra of Solace's active skills: Restoring Reprieve and Rejuvenating Respite.

* Liberator's Vow: Reduced the internal cooldown on this trait from 12 seconds to 8 seconds.

* Stalwart Speed: Increased the internal cooldown on this trait from 5 seconds to 8 seconds.

* Quickfire: Reduced the stacks of Ashes of the Just granted by this trait from 2 to 1. Reduced the internal cooldown on this trait from 10 seconds to 8 seconds.

* Retribution: Fixed a bug that was erroneously displaying increased damage on sword and spear attacks.

Hey.

I have a full Viper Firebrand that I use for Fractals and I want to try a Berserk there. Since I have everything, except a longbow, it is actually cheap to build up (I'm broke, I only have 40 gold). I'm thinking of:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNAsfTnckCtkidfA2eA0hglpALpEcCmdHDwAwI7N1+artA-j1RGQB56UAAgnAwHVCmO9Bjc/hEq8Lfq/QKAeWDA-w

My armor already have Renegade Runes and I don't want to swap them out. Same for the torch with sigil of bursting.

I want to be condi DPS with some support (through PS).

The questions:

* Should I use other Elite skill? Head Butt, Signet of Rage?

* Should I swap Banner of Discipline or For Great Justice?

* Is Empower Allies better than Burning Arrows?

* Other suggestions.

Thanks.

I also think the cast time of mantras should be reduced. 1.75~2 seconds would still be very high, but not insane like is now.

I use mantras, but I aways avoid to use the last charge. The cooldown already is higher than the "count recharge", so I see no reason to the cast time be so high. What really punish when using all charges are the cast time, not the cooldown.

I want to see a tank/support spec in the next xpac. Off hand mace or warhorn are the weapons that makes the most sense for this. Maybe even short bow.

I also would love to see land spears. But I don't believe that gonna happen.

> @otto.5684 said:

> > @Mikau.6920 said:

> > They need to reduce VoC/SoC/ToC passive to 30 seconds down from 40. And to 20 sec if traited. I don't know how a 30, even a 20 sec random block is too powerful.

>

> The active part that is what is debatable. The passive is just meh, a random whatever block. I do not think anyone consider it or it’s effect in any game mode. If it was reduced from 40 to 20 I probably would not notice.

My suggestion is to reduce VoC cooldown so it makes sense. I agree that the active VoC is really weak and should have some type of buff, but doesn't make sense to reduce its cooldown to 30~35 seconds if the passive stays at 40 seconds.

I'm not sure what could be done to VoC be more useful. Maybe change the Aegis to 0.5~1 seconds invulnerability instead of aegis? Or even a pulsing aegis (2~3 pulses, 1 sec of each other) might work.

They need to reduce VoC/SoC/ToC passive to 30 seconds down from 40. And to 20 sec if traited. I don't know how a 30, even a 20 sec random block is too powerful.

That is another option to make it more viable at least.

I did a similar suggestion on Shield of Avenger. Sadly, I don't believe they want to spirit weapons to be viable.

They decided to redesign them instead of buffing/changing the old one. They just ended up being weak or even more useless than before.

Hopefully they fix it soon.