Do you prefer buffs (Major Brutality/Sorc, Major Resolve) as separate abilities or tied to attacks?

taugrim

I guess it really boils down to whether you want to be able to pre-buff before / buff during engagements (e.g. Netch, Rally, etc) or buffing with targeted abilities (e.g. Degeneration).

E.g. the following classes can pre-buff Major Brutality/Sorcery and Major Resolve pre-engagement without a target with class abilitie:

• DK: Molten Weapons, Spiked Armor
• Sorc: Surge, Lightning Form
• Warden: Netch, Frost Cloak

taugrim

I prefer buffs I can activate at any time, even without a target (e.g. Spiked Armor, Netch, Surge, Lightning Form, etc)

I find that I'm much more comfortable buffing without a target. That way I can enter an engagement fully buffed, and I can refresh buffs as I'm running away bravely.

I can definitely see the argument the other way: buffing through a targeted ability saves a GCD in-combat.

Braffin

I prefer buffs tied to attack abilities (e.g. Degeneration, Jabs, etc)

taugrim wrote: »

I find that I'm much more comfortable buffing without a target. That way I can enter an engagement fully buffed, and I can refresh buffs as I'm running away bravely.

I can definitely see the argument the other way: buffing through a targeted ability saves a GCD in-combat.

Exactly what you said about GCD (and also saving a slot) let me choose targeted abilities, although I also use the other variants sometimes for convenience (depending on content in the end).

In the end I think both options are viable and definitely should stay.

LunaFlora

I prefer buffs I can activate at any time, even without a target (e.g. Spiked Armor, Netch, Surge, Lightning Form, etc)

i prefer oakensoul so i don't have to activate the buffs anymore

TechMaybeHic

I don't have a preference

It's not about prebuffing vs buffing with an attack for me. It's more about other purposes of the ability. Rally, as an example; I used to have on every stam build. Now with hybridization; I use it much less and in favor of an on demand burst heal.

One thing Oakensoul showed me at it's height, was how tedious it is if 4/10 of your regular ability slots are buffs to keep up and monitor

katorga

I don't have a preference

I absolutely hate "buffing" and having to maintain or waste slots on buffs, especially given the short duration of most buffs.

But, not being able to pre-buff puts you at a disadvantage in pvp.

I have really grown to enjoy Oakensoul as a way to maintain buffs with no wasted GCD.

xDeusEJRx

I prefer buffs tied to attack abilities (e.g. Degeneration, Jabs, etc)

For PVP I rather have a buff that requires a target, because in PVP it's basically a never ending fight with how big zergs tend to congregate.
You don't really have lots of time to back away and reset buffs, so just targetting someone with a damage ability and getting your buffs is the preference, you hit get 2 birds with 1 stone.
On DK for example I used to run molten armaments as soon as they hybridized weapon and spell damage, but I quickly dropped it and used a combination of degeneration + shattering rocks because I was using shattering rocks anyways, degen would just give me more damage and I'd get my minor brutality off shattering rocks, resulting in better usage of bar space.

I also like the Stamplar approach where Biting jabs gives you major brutality regardless of whether you hit a target or not, saves me bar space and I can slot a different damage skill, which is what templar lacks for pvp at the moment. However, Magplar is still forced to run an outside source of sorcery/brutality which puts it behind Stamplar. As much as I like using degen, I'd rather just use jabs to get my brutality/sorcery than having to use Jabs + degen at the same time. I'd rather use the other morph, structured entropy if possible. But ZOS doesn't like the idea of having puncturing sweeps give sorcery.

TLDR: I prefer the abilities that are tied to attacks(like degen or biting jabs) because then you don't have to back away or reset a fight, and it's far more convenient for bar space than having to use a skill for just 1 single effect, meaning I can get more damage in on my bar.