Path of Darkness (sad face)

Tendeep · June 2014

Wow, really? Only a 6 point damage increase per second on this skill? The skill at base runs for what, just shy of 11 seconds now and at an increase of 6 dps per tick.

A 66 point damage increase per use? That is not even worth putting into a patch lol...

At its base now it runs 39 dps per tick for (rounding up) 11 seconds. 429 total damage after 11 seconds... For a skill that is not instant, and requires the enemy to STAY IN THE AREA, this is still a poor dps AoE skill.

Am I missing something here?

joshisanonymous · June 2014

You are missing something. They're planning on having it heal all friendly players. Also, it heals. Also, it can be used for mobility.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy buffs, but I didn't expect this to suddenly become a DPS tool.

Tendeep · June 2014

joshisanonymous wrote: »

You are missing something. They're planning on having it heal all friendly players. Also, it heals. Also, it can be used for mobility.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy buffs, but I didn't expect this to suddenly become a DPS tool.

Thanks for the added knowledge - because as a DPS tool, its garbage lol - lets hope they do make it a utility tool then, or else there is still no point in using it :-)

jelliedsoup · June 2014

Tried it had no use for it. I suspect few will use it.

darkopale · June 2014

it has been annonced that they will increase damage of this skill .... just hope that it will have a decent damage after this update

GeeYouWhy · June 2014

jelliedsoup wrote: »

Tried it had no use for it. I suspect few will use it.

This rather sums up the whole game really.

joshisanonymous · June 2014

darkopale wrote: »

it has been annonced that they will increase damage of this skill .... just hope that it will have a decent damage after this update

That happened today. The part where it heals friendlies did not happen yet, however.

Arreyanne · June 2014

GeeYouWhy wrote: »

jelliedsoup wrote: »

Tried it had no use for it. I suspect few will use it.

This rather sums up the whole game really.

Sad but very true.

Tendeep · June 2014

darkopale wrote: »

it has been annonced that they will increase damage of this skill .... just hope that it will have a decent damage after this update

Correct, this happened today, the increase in damage was 66 total points of damage over 11 seconds... 6 per second. Basically a 0 increase in damage lol

Liquid_Time · June 2014

I use it for the additional healing and mobility. I have been messing with it lately and it also has a stamina regen it seems...? Does anyone else notice this or am I losing my mind..

Tendeep · June 2014

Liquid_Time wrote: »

I use it for the additional healing and mobility. I have been messing with it lately and it also has a stamina regen it seems...? Does anyone else notice this or am I losing my mind..

You are getting that confused with the passive "Refreshing Shadows"

Lynnessa · June 2014

I use it frequently, and it serves my purposes quite well. I am glad for even a slight increase in damage.

Jaxom · June 2014

Even when they make Refreshing Path heal allies, I still feel it's useless. With only 5 abilities available per bar, I don't know how anyone can make a case for this. Also note that with that change, your enemies will now see the path and will easily avoid it.

Liquid_Time · June 2014

Tendeep wrote: »

Liquid_Time wrote: »

I use it for the additional healing and mobility. I have been messing with it lately and it also has a stamina regen it seems...? Does anyone else notice this or am I losing my mind..

You are getting that confused with the passive "Refreshing Shadows"

*Facepalm* Didn't think about the passives. Thanks

Liquid_Time · June 2014

Jaxom wrote: »

Even when they make Refreshing Path heal allies, I still feel it's useless. With only 5 abilities available per bar, I don't know how anyone can make a case for this. Also note that with that change, your enemies will now see the path and will easily avoid it.

I agree, but I have an odd play style, so I have been trying some skills that may enhance what I do just a bit more.

Jaxom · June 2014

Liquid_Time wrote: »

Jaxom wrote: »

Even when they make Refreshing Path heal allies, I still feel it's useless. With only 5 abilities available per bar, I don't know how anyone can make a case for this. Also note that with that change, your enemies will now see the path and will easily avoid it.

I agree, but I have an odd play style, so I have been trying some skills that may enhance what I do just a bit more.

Yeah.. I leveled it up to Refreshing Path just to see for myself. I love the speed increase but the lackluster size (length) of the path and terrible damage/healing isn't worth a slot on my bar. I think Twisting Path makes it larger? If I could get that speed increase during the duration of the skill whether I'm on the path or not, well then I would seriously consider it (though kind of defeats the purpose of the skill). It would make a very good mobility skill.

Tendeep · June 2014

Jaxom wrote: »

Liquid_Time wrote: »

Jaxom wrote: »

Even when they make Refreshing Path heal allies, I still feel it's useless. With only 5 abilities available per bar, I don't know how anyone can make a case for this. Also note that with that change, your enemies will now see the path and will easily avoid it.

I agree, but I have an odd play style, so I have been trying some skills that may enhance what I do just a bit more.

Yeah.. I leveled it up to Refreshing Path just to see for myself. I love the speed increase but the lackluster size (length) of the path and terrible damage/healing isn't worth a slot on my bar. I think Twisting Path makes it larger? If I could get that speed increase during the duration of the skill whether I'm on the path or not, well then I would seriously consider it (though kind of defeats the purpose of the skill). It would make a very good mobility skill.

The alliance war skill "Rapid Maneuver" its far better for raw speed boost.

Jaxom · June 2014

Tendeep wrote: »

Jaxom wrote: »

Liquid_Time wrote: »

Jaxom wrote: »

Even when they make Refreshing Path heal allies, I still feel it's useless. With only 5 abilities available per bar, I don't know how anyone can make a case for this. Also note that with that change, your enemies will now see the path and will easily avoid it.

I agree, but I have an odd play style, so I have been trying some skills that may enhance what I do just a bit more.

Yeah.. I leveled it up to Refreshing Path just to see for myself. I love the speed increase but the lackluster size (length) of the path and terrible damage/healing isn't worth a slot on my bar. I think Twisting Path makes it larger? If I could get that speed increase during the duration of the skill whether I'm on the path or not, well then I would seriously consider it (though kind of defeats the purpose of the skill). It would make a very good mobility skill.

The alliance war skill "Rapid Maneuver" its far better for raw speed boost.

Very True. Hadn't thought of that. Yeah, now that I think about it, I don't know what they can do to make Path of Darkness worthwhile.

Guppet · June 2014

joshisanonymous wrote: »

You are missing something. They're planning on having it heal all friendly players. Also, it heals. Also, it can be used for mobility.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy buffs, but I didn't expect this to suddenly become a DPS tool.

The heal is just one of the morphs. What about the other one, does that not need to function?

Not that I can ever see anyone taking anything other than the heal.

andreas.rudroffb16_ESO · June 2014

Jaxom wrote: »

Very True. Hadn't thought of that. Yeah, now that I think about it, I don't know what they can do to make Path of Darkness worthwhile.

really ....

Liquid_Time · June 2014

Jaxom wrote: »

Liquid_Time wrote: »

Jaxom wrote: »

Even when they make Refreshing Path heal allies, I still feel it's useless. With only 5 abilities available per bar, I don't know how anyone can make a case for this. Also note that with that change, your enemies will now see the path and will easily avoid it.

I agree, but I have an odd play style, so I have been trying some skills that may enhance what I do just a bit more.

Yeah.. I leveled it up to Refreshing Path just to see for myself. I love the speed increase but the lackluster size (length) of the path and terrible damage/healing isn't worth a slot on my bar. I think Twisting Path makes it larger? If I could get that speed increase during the duration of the skill whether I'm on the path or not, well then I would seriously consider it (though kind of defeats the purpose of the skill). It would make a very good mobility skill.

Oh... well it bugged out for me last night and the effects stuck to my charter despite the path. I could cast it for the 50% boost in speed and run in any direction. I could then use elusive mist for 30% more and wow.. It was fun while it lasted haha. I imagine I was reported a few times for speed hacks since there was that big of a difference. Also, I could cast it, mount my horse and it would increase my horse speed as well.

Mikalaus · June 2014

I've used it for some timely getaways in PVP when I was trying it out, besides that... yea... not worth it.

Loco_Mofo · June 2014

Good to see it's still useless and not worth the spot on my bar.

ShedsHisTail · June 2014

Think I would gt more use out of it if it were like a "Cloud of Darkness" instead of a path.

You know, an AOE effect that spawned around you, blinded enemies (Increased miss chance), and, yeah, maybe did a little damage and/or healed.

Having it shoot out in front of me, underground (so I can't see it), so I actually have to advance into it to gain the benefits is kind of a pain; and less than ideal if I'm surrounded.

TheWired · June 2014

I personally find Path of Darkness (Refreshing path morph) to be quite good and use it all the time in PvE. The damage was never that great but its a long and very efficient HoT given you use other skills/passives to boost your healing (healing staff passives, soul swallow...). Also, as other people have mentioned, it's a mobility skill and does damage. Why complain?

Worstluck · June 2014

I use Path of Darkness in PvE sometimes if I am tank. I used it on my bow pvp bar some of the time for quick getaways, but it's not worth the slot for my playstyle and I can see that is still the case. Disappointing.

Arsenic_Touch · June 2014

I didn't expect them to make it worth while, they're afraid to make any nightblade skills worth a damn. There are other mobility skills that are much more useful. The healing is hit or miss and the damage is just insulting for the magicka cost.

Tendeep · June 2014

I am all out of ideas here - They have their own agenda, and are not listening to the actual player base when they implement changes lol... Tickets for the Titanic anyone?

Dayv · June 2014

Tendeep wrote: »

I am all out of ideas here - They have their own agenda, and are not listening to the actual player base when they implement changes lol... Tickets for the Titanic anyone?

I really want to know who they do listen to. I don't think these forums really get taken very seriously by ZoS, it's just a tick in the box having a forum. It does seem like they're completely out of touch with the majority of players.

Evergreen · June 2014

Tendeep wrote: »

Wow, really? Only a 6 point damage increase per second on this skill? The skill at base runs for what, just shy of 11 seconds now and at an increase of 6 dps per tick.

A 66 point damage increase per use? That is not even worth putting into a patch lol...

At its base now it runs 39 dps per tick for (rounding up) 11 seconds. 429 total damage after 11 seconds... For a skill that is not instant, and requires the enemy to STAY IN THE AREA, this is still a poor dps AoE skill.

Am I missing something here?

It is the PTS server. They have Sorcerers and Dragon Knights who test and give awesome theorycraft/semantics about Nightblades so that the devs think they did something useful for the NB. Take shades for example which was nerfed not being able to distract an enemy and given a very minor damage increase as compensation. This was advice from a Sorc on the PTS server which the devs highly respect unfortunately. Then there are the apologists. ESO class balancing is making me even appreciate SWTOR now.

The only solution I can think of at this point is just make this a classless game where all skills are open for everyone to choose. All the Dragon Knights, Sorc, and (pretend Nightblades/apologists) will argue this kills variety of course since everyone will choose the superior abilities DKs and Sorc possess.

ipkonfigcub18_ESO · June 2014

They buffed something on a Nightblade ability? WOOHOO! Time to party!

oh wait