Do you have trouble using synergies?

rosy_ariete · August 2017

I find that the most difficult one to activate is the Nova (templar ultimate). I really have to move around much to find the synergy and be lucky enough to activate it.

esotoon · August 2017

I have synergies bound to the F key to make it quicker, but over half the time I struggle to set the synergy off.

Not only do some synergies either fail to appear or only appear after a long delay (such as DK's Standards & Talons and Templar's Nova Morphs), but even when they appear it can quite often take a second or two of continually repositioning yourself before you can finally get them to go off.

tommalmm · August 2017

Yes. On DD I pop a random synergy every now and then on the move between pulls or mechanics. In battle? Rarely. Out of everything shards are the easiest to catch, but since I'm mostly playing a range caster, it is rather difficult without staying in melee range all the time.

Orbs? Forget it. Unless healer just spams 5-6 in a row, there is no chance to activate them without chasing and then I realize that had I just heavy attacked, I would get more resources back plus some bonus damage.

The prompt pops in, while I can't actually activate it, then the prompt disappears without me activating synergy, then reappears... and so on and so forth.

I have pretty much given up on using synergies in battle. It's not only skill/ulti synergies, though. Even in ICP I have to stay at the green blob for about 2 seconds before the synergy prompt appears. Then it takes a few tries to activate it.

On a tank it's a little bit less frustrating, but god how many times I tried to activate that nova synergy for few seconds before succeeding. Shards also sometimes just plain refuse to show up synergy for entire fight. For no reason, as the synergy appears just after the fight is over... Good my tank is completely self sustained and doesn't need any resources return to survive (in dungeons at least, I'm always at 90-100% stamina, HA+skill HA+skill, block when needed, it drops only at the beginning of fights with heavy hitting adds, when I try to taunt every single baddie).

Ankael07 · August 2017

I would love an option for us to activate our own synergies.After say... 1-2 seconds. It would add much to the gameplay as both sides must pay attention to such thing.

ninibini · August 2017

I can only agree with what's being said. I'd like to hit a synergy, but as soon as I'm not casting the synergy is gone...

I find it has become a whole lot worse since the synergy no longer affects the group. (talking specifically about the orbs)

Before, the one lucky person being able to hit it, would at least share some regen with the group. The whole sustain changes made this issue of not being able to hit them so much more important.

AcadianPaladin · August 2017

This is frustrating for a healer to hear. If synergies were easier to catch, I'd remorph Blazing Spear for Luminous Shards and drop the destro ult for Nova. Urg.

Strider_Roshin · August 2017

I don't have an issue activating synergies. The reason why I picked "other" rather than "no" is because I don't think the current way to activate a synergy on console is necessarily good.

I believe it needs to be moved to the jump/action button.

Right now the priority is:

Loot -> jump/roll

It should be:

Synergize -> loot -> jump/roll

Yubarius · August 2017

I personally find it pretty easy on pc just using X

BrightOblivion · August 2017

As a DPS, my biggest problem is knowing what synergies I should be using and when I should be using them. I absolutely see them pop up on my screen (if only briefly), but I'd rather avoid getting yelled at for taking it away from someone else (which has happened before).

Other things, like the really short reaction times with some synergies, and having to be at just the perfect spot facing the right way without even one nano-millimeter of leeway are also problematic at times....often.

I'm just glad that the Brace for Impact synergy during the Lord Warden fight in ICP doesn't require you to be facing a certain way to get it.

Yakidafi · August 2017

I have problems in a way, I have learned that they can only be activated from behind so I wait for that or move for that if I want to use them. But they could be alot more user friendly!

IwakuraLain42 · August 2017

Being forced to press two keys simultaneously (which double as skill keys) makes it extremely cumbersome to activate synergies on console. Couple that with an extremely small target box and a small reaction time makes for one of the worst systems in the game.

Savos_Saren · August 2017

This is actually interesting. I didn't realize everyone had an issue with synergizing.

I use an xBox controller on my PC... I just thought that the controller/PC interface was a little slow.

I'd say the main time that I realize my character won't synergize is with Nova. I'll be tanking right in the middle of that sunny side up egg-splat and spamming "x" to try to synergize.

I usually tank- so, I'm the one constantly using synergies (especially when I'm running with Roar of Alkosh). It's pretty crucial for your synergies to work.

CaffeinatedMayhem · August 2017

Anlace wrote: »

I don't even try anymore. Luckily I'm never in a situation where they're really vital. I miss the synergy from Ritual of Cleansing though, that one is pretty nice.

thatlaurachick wrote: »

I'm a tank, pulling ALL the synergies is part of my job.

2- The Y+B for controller is ridiculous. I'm pretty good and mashing it now, but it would be so much easier if gamepad mode allowed remaps (without using Xpadder).

You can remap it. Esc > Controls > Secondary Bindings. I had it bound to LS, which meant I had to remap sprint, but it was a lot better than any two-button mash.

Yes, but... you can't remap other binds to double presses, at least not on Xbox controller. So if you remove one double bind, you lose a function. I'm not willing to run Xpadder as my mid-range setup is at it's limits right now. I run TS/Discord on my laptop for trials.

Gamepad mode needs to be fixed period. Especially for those of us who use controllers.

Tasear · August 2017

Bringing this discussion further,

I think the tooltip could use some love on synergies. How many people actually know how to use blood altar synergy? Also can anyone answer this questions does each person need to proc bone shield or does only one person? Was having a debate last night... and I swear I knew, but now I am unsure

. Though fun fact for pet users... I know if the pet are close to an ally who gets the shield then it procs on the pet. It's very mysterious... even the range of the skill.

Edit

On topic

Not an expert, but maybe it could help if game allow synergy to be used during an attack. It would make seen since synerize with people means to work together, but right now it's not doing as well as it could be... Seems like just doesn't work while in the middle of fighting. Also seems delay before it actually except the command. For me, I have to stop everything for it to work even so there's seems like it's taking the system some time to accept even that I am not fighting and it can be used, but sometimes by then it's far to late. Maybe

tinythinker · August 2017

Just nodding along with:

prompt needing to show up to everyone eligible
prompt needing a decent radius
prompt needing to be up longer
multiple prompts needing a better way to be managed/selected

Savos_Saren · August 2017

thatlaurachick wrote: »

Anlace wrote: »

I don't even try anymore. Luckily I'm never in a situation where they're really vital. I miss the synergy from Ritual of Cleansing though, that one is pretty nice.

thatlaurachick wrote: »

I'm a tank, pulling ALL the synergies is part of my job.

2- The Y+B for controller is ridiculous. I'm pretty good and mashing it now, but it would be so much easier if gamepad mode allowed remaps (without using Xpadder).

You can remap it. Esc > Controls > Secondary Bindings. I had it bound to LS, which meant I had to remap sprint, but it was a lot better than any two-button mash.

Yes, but... you can't remap other binds to double presses, at least not on Xbox controller. So if you remove one double bind, you lose a function. I'm not willing to run Xpadder as my mid-range setup is at it's limits right now. I run TS/Discord on my laptop for trials.

Gamepad mode needs to be fixed period. Especially for those of us who use controllers.

@thatlaurachick

I remapped my Synergy to the "select" (or start) button on my Xbox controller. It's the button right next to XYBA. That way, when a synergy pops up, I just quickly move my finger from XYBA to synergize. No double buttons needed.

tinythinker · August 2017

tinythinker wrote: »

Just nodding along with:
prompt needing to show up to everyone eligible

prompt needing a decent radius

prompt needing to be up longer

multiple prompts needing a better way to be managed/selected

OK, done nodding.

How about we borrow/modify the basic concept behind the consumables wheel UI?

So...

1. Make sure ALL eligible players SEE the prompt
2. Increase the range of the prompt and its duration
3. If you click {whatever you have mapped} and hold it, a list of active synergies pops up allowing you to quickly select the one you want

paulsimonps · August 2017

tinythinker wrote: »

Just nodding along with:
prompt needing to show up to everyone eligible

prompt needing a decent radius

prompt needing to be up longer

multiple prompts needing a better way to be managed/selected

Those first 2 are very very important, 1st one even more so, that is the biggest problem of them all.

CaffeinatedMayhem · August 2017

jaburns wrote: »

[quote="thatlaurachick;c-4400351"

Yes, but... you can't remap other binds to double presses, at least not on Xbox controller. So if you remove one double bind, you lose a function. I'm not willing to run Xpadder as my mid-range setup is at it's limits right now. I run TS/Discord on my laptop for trials.

Gamepad mode needs to be fixed period. Especially for those of us who use controllers.

@thatlaurachick

I remapped my Synergy to the "select" (or start) button on my Xbox controller. It's the button right next to XYBA. That way, when a synergy pops up, I just quickly move my finger from XYBA to synergize. No double buttons needed. [/quote]

@ jaburns - see my comments above. I use controller as much as possible, because using keyboard/mouse hurts my hands and wrists (no, using ergonomic rests doesn't help). So, losing the ability to remap Y+B is not good for me.

I realize most people who use gamepad mode aren't actually impaired, but for those of us who are, it's a mess.

timidobserver · August 2017

I bound my synergy to my scroll button on my mouse. It helps, but hitting them is still annoying sometimes. Trying to hit orbs while maintaining dps is probably one of the worst things about PvE at the moment.

They should probably just make any buff or resource return from a synergy be also applied to the 6 nearest people, but anyone that gets it applied to them still gets the cooldown.

PlagueSD · August 2017

tinythinker wrote: »

3. If you click {whatever you have mapped} and hold it, a list of active synergies pops up allowing you to quickly select the one you want

Only if we can set it up like our consumables so each synergy pops up in a specific location. I'm not about to hold my key down and spend 2-3 seconds trying to find the synergy I want while I'm in combat.

technohic · August 2017

I'm not sure. At first I could but it seems like over time; it's gotten to whee maybe someone in a group keeps spamming the button to get it right away as it just pops up for a split second. Probably doing it to try to get one in themselves.

Maryal · August 2017

Rarely, very rarely, am I able to activate a synergy in Cyro ... The pop-up message (advising a synergy is available) seems to be very brief. I do my best to press my synergy button as soon as I see the message, but most of the time nothing happens. I assume the problem has to do with lag, but I don't know. The only time I have any luck with synergies working is if I see someone cast shards ahead of me ... then I will spam (and keep spamming) my synergy button even before I see the pop-up message ... this works the best, but 'best' is less than 50% of the time.

leeux · August 2017

Problem is (IMO) you cannot activate a synergy while you're mid-animation (attack, skill, moving, rolling, whatever...) and you have to *stop* what you're doing and wait for the prompt to reappear (if it's still available by that time) in order to be able to use it.

Plus, the synergy activation radius is too small (for some synergies.) As example, for activating DK's talons syn you have to stand RIGHT beside the DK and wait for the prompt to appear while you're probably in the middle of some heavy combat situation (on the plus side, DK talons is one of the most satisfying synergies to press

)

Also, button spamming (i.e. what the combat has become due to non-responsiveness/lag.. you see it all the time in... people mash a skill button two or three times sometimes to have the game register it being pressed and not skip it during a rotation) goes against use of synergies since the game HAS to purge the input queue before realizing you pressed 'X' or whatever key you have mapped to it.

And lastly, you have no way to know if someone else already used the same synergy, so if you chose to stop what you're doing and wait for it to appear again, you're probably waiting something that won't happen unless the original player reuses the ability again.

All of those are my current gripes with the synergies mechanism.

What I'd do to fix it is:

1. Synergy prompt HAVE to stay longer in screen
2. Synergy prompt SHOULD NOT be hidden/disabled when you move/use a skill while in combat.
3. You NEED to be able to QUEUE your synergy press like you can queue any skill use
4. You need a way to see/know that the synergy has been already consumed directly from your UI (some skills have animation/effects for that, but they aren't visible in heavy combat situations like in a trial) perhaps by making the synergy indicador gray out/crossed out... or even, maybe, IF they issues 1) and 2) are fixed, you'd KNOW someone used them if they disappear from your screen.

Ulo · August 2017

My biggest problem with synergies is that using them usually messes up my rotation, they don't flow into combat very well as opossed to weaving in your own abilites while light/heavy attacking. Could be that some of the synergy animations drag out a bit and when your stacking with a group over other people in a trial it can really mess things up if you can't see that you're still mid synergy animation or it never even worked at all.

Brrrofski · August 2017

The fact on console that we have to press two buttons is annoying.

Wish we could choose to use the emote of pov button to a synergy button.

Same with ult as well actually.

PlagueSD · August 2017

Septimus_Magna wrote: »

It helps if you bind the synergy key to mousewheel up and down. Still its hard to reliably active them if you're moving around.

I'm actually going to have to try this. Good thing I can still have it set to "X" also. Not sure how long it'll take to retrain my muscle memory.

Sintao · August 2017

Just my two-cents worth and experiences as a solid casual player...

• Using synergies seems a lot harder than it needs to be in some (many?) cases. Especially those that only register when in a certain position relative to the area of effect of whatever causes the synergy.
• When there's a few synergies available, one word: arrgh. Frustrating to get the right one and usually not worth it.
• A lot of the time clicking X does not seem to register for some reason (subjective opinion). So a few clicks later...

All this becomes more of an issue for hard content (veteran dungeons for example).

So basically in casual relaxed play, synergies more or less work okay (or the shortcomings are not so bad). In tense consequential play, relying on synergies is a recipe for disaster. If they work it's 'oh well that's a nice bonus' rather than 'our strategy depends on these important things'.

(postscript: Two-cents worth isn't much I know, especially two Australian cents (given the exchange rate). Also for many APAC ESO players, a ping of approx. 250ms to NA (the closest) may put us at a disadvantage when it comes to all this, or give us a difference experience than the lucky players with 60ms pings)

lonewolf26 · August 2017

The most difficult to use synergy being that of Necrotic Orb and its morphs. Half the time the orb's synergy won't display even if you're not on cooldown. Many others it tends to flash the synergy just as it's already flown by you leaving you to chase after the ball and pray you can catch it before it despawns. Precious stamina why do you evade me so!

Raz415 · August 2017

I'm having huge amounts of trouble with synergies and using Blade of Woe.

It seems to work if I completely stop everything (moving, attacking) and wait for a bit for the synergy prompt to appear. But that just feels awful.

God, I miss Guild Wars 2's combo system...