Xeres14 wrote: »

Well my NB is VR6 and I only do PvE (so far) so that's my frame of reference. A lot of how your class plays depends on your weapon choice. I use dual wield mostly.

My character is built to do single target DPS and he's very good at it - especially if I can get Ambush (Teleport Strike morph) from behind. A pack of 3 becomes 2 before the other 2 hit me. Also if the target is affected by Heated Blades (Sparks morph) it's going to die no matter how hard it hits.

Where my character gets into trouble is a large pack of mobs (6+). Like I said, he's single target and with Killer Blade, I *can * take a pack of 6 but I need to be careful that I don't spread the damage around - stay on one mob and kill it ASAP, move onto the next.

It's my favorite class to play.

Veil of blades. With this, you can usually pull every single mob in the area, from as far as their leashes allow. Having strife and regeneration on is usually enough to keep you alive against anything.

dwemer_paleologist wrote: »

oh, you think nightblades are strong?
here, click this link and watch the video if you want proof and truth.
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/136279/hova-1vx-indisputable-proof-of-purple-alliance#latest
go ahead, click it and watch the video, i know you want to.

Yea 1 of the big game killers, to me.
But go ahead the Dev teme are compltly blind when it comes to the DK, or the sorc for that matter.

CapuchinSeven wrote: »

DenverRalphy wrote: »

Aeratus wrote: »

DenverRalphy wrote: »

I don't really get why so many people claim NBs don't have much in the way if CCs. They have snares, stuns, an AoE fear, disorients, ability to negate melee attacks, and more. The real problem is that many NB players are quick to avoid using hotbar slots for those skills in lieu of DPS skills. Personally I think NB players should play a sorc up to VR10 just to get used to the concept of sacrificing hotbar slots. And learn that DPS and CC skills can coincide.

NB has crippling grasp, which also doubles as a dps skill, but the effect of the immobilization duration is so small that it is essentially insignificant (1.5 sec). The insignificance of the duration means that only magicka spell power builds will find crippling to be of any use, since the immobilization aspect alone is too poor. On the other hand, DK has a CC skill that immobilizes for 4 seconds and applies to multiple targets.

Crippling grasp is by far not the most effective NB CC ability. NBs also have a CC that completely immobilized enemies for several seconds (12 I think). No other class has that kind of a stun.

And my point was that playing a sorc would train players to become accustomed to sacrificing slots. Sorcs typically sacrifice DPS slots for increased crit (which NBs don't need to do), increased armor, etc..

LOL a cast bar skill that you get one use out with a tiny dot is not better than a spammable CC that can perma' root a player or mob and deals around 700 damage in a dot.

Yeah... you missed the point entirely...

Sorcs don't sacrifice hotbar slots in favor of CC. They sacrifice those slots in favor of other areas. Whereas NB's would need to sacrifice those slots for CC. Sorcs need Magelight for the crit, bound armor for protection, and summoned pets (pve not pvp), none of which NB's need. The Sorc's skillbar options of variety drops rapidly. NB's dont' have that problem. They can pick and choose their CC's as needed.

It's not a matter of "which class is better at CC". It's a matter of how well a player coordinates their skills.

Sure, a sorc has better CC's that lays down more damage. But a NB lays down a more effective variety of CC giving them the opportunity to pile on a boatload of damage as the need suits.

But hey... don't let me get in the way of your FOTM build.

DenverRalphy wrote: »

Crippling grasp is by far not the most effective NB CC ability. NBs also have a CC that completely immobilized enemies for several seconds (12 I think). No other class has that kind of a stun.

And my point was that playing a sorc would train players to become accustomed to sacrificing slots. Sorcs typically sacrifice DPS slots for increased crit (which NBs don't need to do), increased armor, etc..

You're talking about the Agony spell. That spell is crap because the effect ends whenever the mob takes damage. Almost nobody uses this for anything.

Sorc does have a long stun. It's called Rune Prison, but you've probably never used it because it's just as situational Agony.

Sorcs don't sacrifice hotbar slots in favor of CC. They sacrifice those slots in favor of other areas. Whereas NB's would need to sacrifice those slots for CC. Sorcs need Magelight for the crit, bound armor for protection, and summoned pets (pve not pvp), none of which NB's need. The Sorc's skillbar options of variety drops rapidly. NB's dont' have that problem. They can pick and choose their CC's as needed.

Meh, I don't use the pets. They aren't so good, and neither is bound armor.

You're talking about the Agony spell. That spell is crap because the effect ends whenever the mob takes damage. Almost nobody uses this for anything.

I have to disagree on this one. You're right that the effect is broken immediately by damage (so you have to be careful that any tick damage such a Blood Frenzy is finished prior to casting) but a 12 second snare has saved my ass on several occasions and gives plenty of time to top up on potions and reposition.

Not all World Bosses can be snared but when they can Prolonged Agony has also be a godsend (used as above but also to snare a Boss whilst I take out its support MOBS). There are plenty of crowd control applications if you use it tactically.

The spell also does damage when it ends and a repeat Focussed Aim (morphed Snipe)/Prolonged Agony/Focussed Aim combination can be pretty devastating in the right situation.

Overall NB is getting good. My experience started from beta, now VR14 and mostly PvE. Comparing to game launch, i think we now have some good, viable NB builds. I have also VR sorc and DK and really, NBs earn their place.

I still QQ with NBs that the buff percentages are half of others, and abilities are loaded with penalties. E.g. Blur is half of Cinder Storm percentage and Cinder has even more buffs. Siphoning Attacks and Mark Target have too hard-handed penalties.

Here is my personal rating of skills in PvE for magicka based NB (the builds i play and know). Other builds have different rating. (I used to play NB tank, until i took an arrow to the knee...)

Top skills which earn a DD place in trials, DSA and everywhere, almost always on bars:
- Veil of Blades, saves the group. E.g. Warrior rain of sparks. And DPS.
- Funnel health, good DPS + high HPS + ulti generation.
- Sap Essence, AoE DPS + HPS + very fast ulti generation.
- Impale, ZING ZING ZING happiness in AA DPS races.

Very Good skills, filling the bars depending on build and situation:
- Siphoning Attacks, allows a high-sustainability build that is really unique among classes.
- Shades, eats enemy stamina and reduce incoming damage. PvE Boss fights.
- Shadow Image, has it's unique uses. Seems to be good in PvP.
- Cloak + Concealed Weapon, Even with my limited PvP play, someone is gonna die *grin* ...
- Soul harvest, cast cloak, concealed, harvest, impale, win
- Cloak (alone), nirncrux farmer's best friend in Craglorn to bypass welwas and to teach ninja looters.

Good skills, but usually don't fit into bar:
- Ambush or Lotus fan, good stunning/snaring openers, but with funnel or sap there is no need for gap closer.
- Mass Hysteria, situational, but usually i just block and use Sap Essence with VoB and don't care about CC.
- Crippling Grasp, situational when kiting is needed. Overall damage is same as single funnel, not worth for DPS.

The rest, never used, not worth, QQ:
- Blur is too weak. Just compare to DK Cinder. Must have higher % or dodge instead of miss chance. One morph could be increased % for tanking and the other should have a spammable burst heal for non-restostaff players.
- Mark target is suicide skill, only for PvP.
- Haste is useless because of animation cancelling. Unreliable timing.
- Path of Darkness is still too weak.Using Sap and resto staff instead.
- Agony has very long cast time and breaks from any damage. Just compare to DK Petrify.
- Soul Shred, honestly, don't even remember this, always using VoB.