April 23 patch notes : Skills "block" missiles — Clarification desired. =)

[Mieh Hammond.8903]

Hi! You might have seen in the April 23, 2019 Patch Notes where it says the following:

 

* Skills that destroy missiles will now block missiles instead. This change affects the following skills:

 

There seems to be some mystery concerning this note. Currently, as tested, several of the listed Guardian skills do not trigger block effects from the Might of the Protector trait. My main question is this: **Are these skills now supposed to trigger blocking effects from traits and runes?** If not, what was the purpose of this patch note?

 

Some additional minor discrepancies follow:

* While some of the listed skills have gained the "Blocks Missiles" skill fact, some others (including Shield of the Avenger) have not.

* The listed Mesmer skill "Illusionary Warden" references the skill's old name, having been changed to "Phantasmal Warden".

[Trise.2865]

The point of changing "destroy missiles" effects to "block missiles" effects is to allow unblockable projectiles, i.e. Trebuchet shots, to penetrate them.

[Kal Spiro.9745]

Multiple traits and abilities include unblockable as a function. If the power destroys the projectile it's just gone. If it blocks the projectile, that feature activates and it does not get blocked. It's providing counter measures.

[Mieh Hammond.8903]

> @"Kal Spiro.9745" said:

> Multiple traits and abilities include unblockable as a function. If the power destroys the projectile it's just gone. If it blocks the projectile, that feature activates and it does not get blocked. It's providing counter measures.

 

This insight makes the patch notes much clearer. Thank you.

 

> @"Trise.2865" said:

> The point of changing "destroy missiles" effects to "block missiles" effects is to allow unblockable projectiles, i.e. Trebuchet shots, to penetrate them.

 

On the topic of siege missiles, I was under the impression they could always bypass any player skill, even before the recent patch in question. There are however, yes, several unblockable player projectiles that will now pass freely through these "Blocks Missiles" skills.

 

For ArenaNet's technical writing team, the question becomes: how do we clearly document that the new "Blocks Missiles" skill fact does not trigger "blocking" traits and runes?

[alcopaul.2156]

> @"Kal Spiro.9745" said:

> Multiple traits and abilities include unblockable as a function. If the power destroys the projectile it's just gone. If it blocks the projectile, that feature activates and it does not get blocked. It's providing counter measures.

 

yeah. blockable is counterable/has weakness while destroy missiles has no counters/invincible.

[LaGranse.8652]

> @"Trise.2865" said:

> The point of changing "destroy missiles" effects to "block missiles" effects is to allow unblockable projectiles, i.e. Trebuchet shots, to penetrate them.

 

This is not true at all. No projectile block, destroy or reflect from a player can influence siege projectiles.

 

> @"alcopaul.2156" said:

> > @"Kal Spiro.9745" said:

> > Multiple traits and abilities include unblockable as a function. If the power destroys the projectile it's just gone. If it blocks the projectile, that feature activates and it does not get blocked. It's providing counter measures.

>

> yeah. blockable is counterable/has weakness while destroy missiles has no counters/invincible.

 

Skills that destroy (or absorb) projectiles are still bypassed by unblockable projectiles the only difference between a projectile destroy and a projectile block is that one triggers block traits and the other does not.

 

The reason projectile destruction was changed to projectile block for many skills in the patch was most likely to simplify this dilemma.

[alcopaul.2156]

> @"LaGranse.8652" said:

> > @"Trise.2865" said:

> > The point of changing "destroy missiles" effects to "block missiles" effects is to allow unblockable projectiles, i.e. Trebuchet shots, to penetrate them.

>

> This is not true at all. No projectile block, destroy or reflect from a player can influence siege projectiles.

>

> > @"alcopaul.2156" said:

> > > @"Kal Spiro.9745" said:

> > > Multiple traits and abilities include unblockable as a function. If the power destroys the projectile it's just gone. If it blocks the projectile, that feature activates and it does not get blocked. It's providing counter measures.

> >

> > yeah. blockable is counterable/has weakness while destroy missiles has no counters/invincible.

>

> Skills that destroy (or absorb) projectiles are still bypassed by unblockable projectiles the only difference between a projectile destroy and a projectile block is that one triggers block traits and the other does not.

>

> The reason projectile destruction was changed to projectile block for many skills in the patch was most likely to simplify this dilemma.

 

if you want to be more strict, siege ballista stick is not a missile. i would think that the engi has some skills that shoot missiles. if no, then you're right.

 

and omega golems have missiles. but it is not a generic siege. it is a robot that can be controlled by going in. generic weapons are ballistas, catapults and rams.

[MithranArkanere.8957]

It's most probably to have some consistency. The previous "destroys missiles" effect didn't have any visual cue other than those wavy effects on collision with the projectile-destroying area.

"Projectile block" shows a "Blocked" message like other blocks.

 

> @"Trise.2865" said:

> The point of changing "destroy missiles" effects to "block missiles" effects is to allow unblockable projectiles, i.e. Trebuchet shots, to penetrate them.

 

Unblockable attacks already bypassed both projectile destruction/absorption and projectile reflect.

 

Trebuchet shots are not unblockable, they are Siege attacks. Siege attacks can only be blocked by siege blocks like the golem bubbles and the shield generators.

Little bit of trivia here, the Axes thrown by the Axemaster in Dragon's Stand count as Siege attacks, and so they can only be blocked by the siege bubbles from the golems.

 

 

[Astralporing.1957]

> @"MithranArkanere.8957" said:

> It's most probably to have some consistency. The previous "destroys missiles" effect didn't have any visual cue other than those wavy effects on collision with the projectile-destroying area.

> "Projectile block" shows a "Blocked" message like other blocks.

>

> > @"Trise.2865" said:

> > The point of changing "destroy missiles" effects to "block missiles" effects is to allow unblockable projectiles, i.e. Trebuchet shots, to penetrate them.

>

> Unblockable attacks already bypassed both projectile destruction/absorption and projectile reflect.

That actually depended on specific skill combo (skill used to attack and skill used to destroy). Some skills did work for some unblockables, but not for others. Notice though, that the inconsistency was mostly towards _monster_ skills, not player ones.

 

As far as PvE goes, this was just one of the many nerfs to the projectile defence from skills.

 

[MithranArkanere.8957]

> @"Astralporing.1957" said:

> > @"MithranArkanere.8957" said:

> > It's most probably to have some consistency. The previous "destroys missiles" effect didn't have any visual cue other than those wavy effects on collision with the projectile-destroying area.

> > "Projectile block" shows a "Blocked" message like other blocks.

> >

> > > @"Trise.2865" said:

> > > The point of changing "destroy missiles" effects to "block missiles" effects is to allow unblockable projectiles, i.e. Trebuchet shots, to penetrate them.

> >

> > Unblockable attacks already bypassed both projectile destruction/absorption and projectile reflect.

> That actually depended on specific skill combo (skill used to attack and skill used to destroy). Some skills did work for some unblockables, but not for others. Notice though, that the inconsistency was mostly towards _monster_ skills, not player ones.

>

> As far as PvE goes, this was just one of the many nerfs to the projectile defence from skills.

>

 

That 'inconsitency' is intentional.

 

For example, the eggs from the triple trouble wurms have a chance to bypass projectile blocks. That was an effect given to them on purpose.

This update has changed nothing at least for any boss I've encountered since the change.

[dace.8019]

Another reason why the block was added: to provide feedback. When a skill destroyed projectiles they simply ceased to exist and in some cases this left ambiguity.