How to fix Spirit Idol

[Spaced_Shaman_]

[Brohg]

[Unmei]

[Tharkis]

[Zaviax]

[Trixs]

[Unmei]

[Tharkis]

[Zaviax]

[jdthomas]

[jdthomas]

[Jaraman]

Arguing for zero aggro is ridiculous. It has the effects of a detrimental spell, and every detrimental spell in game will draw aggro off of a mob. Granted, some may have a built-in hate reducer, like Vindictive Spirit, where multi-mob aggro is expected. While a hate reduction component may be nice, it is not necessarily deserved. It makes total sense than a detrimental AE effect is going to draw aggro. Therefore, the spell works as intended in this aspect, and playstyle adjustments need to be made. Just as the noob wizzy learns the hard way not to nuke too early in the fight, and the young shaman learns not to cast slow right away on a mob, or even to dot a mezzed mob, all shaman need to adapt to using Idol.

However, even if after the issues with aggroing thru walls and floors is fixed, we're still looking at 2 usage issues IMO.

1) Idol as a Replacement or upgrade to Malos
Surely we aren't expected to use TWO spell gems solely for debuffs on a daily basis. Are we supposed to un-mem Malos and use Idol instead? This may give us a mobs that are debuffed more quickly than could be done with Malos, but at what cost? At 15 less debuffed, that's what. This is less than casting Malo, a level 60 spell intended for use against pre-POP era mobs. Seems to me Idol as a replacement for Malos is not an upgrade at all, but merely trades one issue for another. Is this acceptable?

2) Idol as an alternative debuff
I've run across other classes using the new "sphere of influence" type spells continuously, every battle, every pull, in groups. Their new spells are on more than off. And why shouldn't they be? The new paradigm adds to their arsenal, and ultimately to group effectiveness. Not so with Idol. Being targettable, it gets in the way. Aggroing thru walls, around corners, and thru floors, it brings more harm than good to the shaman, and ultimately the group. And lasting only 2 minutes, it needs to be re-cast every other battle or so. Thereby tying up a gem slot. And still risking bounced spells due to a lower than practical amount debuffed. A shaky benefit at most. All these factors add up to make Idol a less than desirable alternative debuff. May as well not mem it -- which makes an underutilized spell that wasted the shaman's time questing for it, and the dev's time they put into developing the spell in the first place.

[Jaraman]

[Spaced_Shaman_]

[Brohg]

[jdthomas]

[Brohg]

[siludorf]

[jdthomas]

[Jaraman]

[Trixs]

Rytan will be discussed throughout history in the same breath as Hitler.

k, maybe not......but it sounded right.

[Spaced_Shaman_]

[Sharok]

Three cheers for another 'situational' spell . When did shaman became Rytan's personal lab rats for any cool new spell concept he has?

Stuff your situational experiments where the sun does not shine and give us regular updates to our normal spell lines.

Alternatively you could think new stuff through till the end before you create life spells with new functionality. Not like it wasn't obvious there were various problems with traps from the start. Problems that still aren't solved and i don't see them being solved anytime soon.

Situational my ass.

Sorry for ranting but everytime our favorite spell designer is called on basic problems with new spells since DoD, he is drawing the 'hey it was meant as a situational spell'-card. Why do we even buy that lame excuse?

[Jaraman]

[jdthomas]

[Veril]

[Jaraman]

[jdthomas]

[avelariel]

[Tekno]

[Unmei]

[ThraallFV]

[Ungkor]

[Veril]

[Tharkis]

I do say that having an aura with a lesser effect similar to what's on our OOW bp's would be a very nice idea, and get rid of the 'spell slot' problem because the aura's have long duration and short recast.

Lot of good ideas here (some bad ones too!) but any idea that coudl help us is a welcome one. Keep suggestions comming =D

[Giac]

[Tharkis]

[HuacaWuaca]

[Tharkis]

[Brohg]

If you don't want agro on spawning mobs, don't set a trap on their spawn points. If you don't want to possibly agro mobs that you can't see, don't place the trap so that it will hit where you can't see. Someone, please, produce the handholding quote so this whining can end!