Focus Fire

[ChaosUndivided]

<div>Just Wondering how everyone Feels about this Skill and line in general.</div><div> </div><div>For the most part from a raiding perspective although the buff is nice the Duration is just too short, add in the fact that with Brutal Instinct and a Few buffs we can hit the DPS cap fast, I would definitely like to see the duration of this spell increased to be inline with the other short range buffs of other classes.</div><div> </div><div>I remember in Beta for DoF lockeye mentioned his goal was to remove the tedium from the short ranged buffs and I think Focus Fire as a 1 Min Buff was the best (Right after DoF). I would personally rather take a longer buff with less +ranged and +Dps rather than a 10second buff. Since it only effects Bow auto attack for the most part you'll be getting at max and fully hasted 3 shots off and that is a stretch assuming it is perfectly timed.</div><div> </div><div>My Suggestion.</div><div> </div><div>Make it a 1min or 30sec Buff, with 3-5Min Recast. Lower the amount of +ranged and +dps on it, and up the penalty if needed. This way it has a noticable effect on Bow Auto Attack over a decent period of time and has tangible benefits.</div><div> </div><div>Perhaps +50%DPS/Haste and +50 Ranged, with -200 Slash/Pierce/Crush at Master 1. 30 Sec Duration and 3min Recast, or 1 min Duration and 5 min Recast.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Another Suggestion is to make it a 30Sec Proc Buff, much like the half-elf training choice (although better). However I fear this could be a tad overpowering when stacked with the multitude of other procs we have.</div><div> </div><div>I would even Support a Pure + ranged Short Buff. Perhaps 30Secs of Greatly increased Ranged only and Greatly reduced Melee/Defensive skills.</div><div> </div><div>Something along the lines of +80 Ranged. -150 Slash/Pierce -45Defense. 30sec Duration 3 Min Recast or 1 min Duration 5min Recast.</div><div> </div><div>All numbers assume Master 1 and could be adjusted.</div><div> </div><div>Thoughts?</div>

[Jay]

<div></div><p>Generally in agreement with you - the 10 seconds for an autofire buff just makes it meaningless and silly. I like the idea of a buff that increases our Ranged skill, but it should actually enable us to score hits on mobs that we'd normally miss a lot.</p><p>Keep the duration relatively short, say 30 secs, with a significant boost to Ranged skill and perhaps damage. IMO another damage proc would tip the balance too far; if there was a proc effect it should do something more utility, like hate reduction, but that doesn't really gel with the meaning of the CA itself. "Focus Fire" implies intense concentration /and the increased accuracy that it confers - so increasing Ranged skill and bow DPS might be the best effects.</p><p>Right now I think the duration is the biggest problem here, it needs to be at least 30 seconds be at all useful.</p>

[Merkad]

While I concur that a proc buff may be a tad too powerful, I, in all honesty, think that that is the only decent choice listed.Currently, the only time I ever click it is when all my skills are refreshing and I am not allowed to go into melee range (because it is there, and maybe I will get some procs off it). As it stands, most of the time I am using either fulginate summoned (read grey) or iron hunting (again grey) arrows, so the damage is not all that even with the DPS mod (though summoned are not bad per se).My preference would be to modify the entire spell line up to the names. I would rather have one piece of utility. I think we are fine DPS wise.. and, though I know many will disagree, I never thought, nor think, that Rangers should be top tier DPS. That said, we are, so living with it I am. Even without this buff, we are still tops, so instead of yet more DPS, I would rather have a buff of a non DPS variety (unless it made my group better (an auspice of the hunter buff would be worth taking a DPS hit imo)). Though seeing things like crits are not in game yet, that is not likely, and I just said more DPS is not what I really want.Hmm. Honestly,I have no clue what I think would be nice to replace it with that would not be rendered useless by another class or overpowered. I just do not see +DPS +ranged +haste as being useful to a Ranger (I know "what?!? +ranged not useful?!" but mob level lowers buff effects, and since LU 13, individual and apparently mass points don't really seem to help, e.g. when did a master Focus Fire usage ever help you hit the Creature of Beauty in PP?). What I do find useful is procs, mobility, de aggro. Hmm, actually while writing this I thought that I would not mind if they made it a decent regen buff, even if I can only click it once every 5-15 minutes, for that odd moment when I may get caught in an AE, but make it clickable even if stunned. There have been times where I found myself with minimal health and minimal support classes.Merkades, 60th Ranger.Siege, Najena.

[xandez]

Almost useless atm... If they dont change that the increase in our ranged skill will affect our CA:s aswell... if it would be like that, i could even use it sometimes <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Anyway, the changes Chaos suggested sounds fine, something should be done to that line...++Xan<div></div>

[Lysanthir Ahmquissar]

<div></div>He he I have to admit I've never used the buff at all but then I've seen huge arguments about whether or not it affects CA's so it hardly inclines me to waste time with it as every time I re-read the description I think "why??".

[xandez]

Well if it would affect CA:s i wouldnt keep missing orange mobs as before i think... *shrug*Havent PROPERLY observed this thou, so an issue which can be debated, surely <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />++Xan<div></div>

[Hexus]

<div></div><p>As of right now, I only use it for one thing.</p><p>Brutal Instincts -> Cue Focus Fire -> Cue Improved Surveil -> Cue Sniper shot.</p><p>/shrug</p><p>and while I'm waiting for sniper to refresh, I sometimes do the same minus the improved surveil for Stream of Arrows.</p><p> </p><p>Just my 2 cents.</p><p> </p><p>Hexus Lupis</p><p>60 Ranger - Valor - Kithicor</p>

[Jay]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Hexus wrote:<div></div><p>As of right now, I only use it for one thing.</p><p>Brutal Instincts -> Cue Focus Fire -> Cue Improved Surveil -> Cue Sniper shot.</p><p>/shrug</p><p></p><hr></blockquote>Really? Without getting into the why, do you still have Focus Fire running by the time you fire off Sniper's?

[Deml]

<div></div>I really only see myself ever click on Focus Fire when I'm fighting the Creature of Beauty in Poet's Palace due to her insane parry skills, so I try to bump my bow skills higher to get a couple shots in.  All in all though, I think it's a worthless buff.  Any of Khalan's suggestions would be a massive improvement over the way this thing is now.  Ten second buff is 99% worthless.

[Hexus]

<div>Yes, it's still running by the time the sniper shot goes off, and I use it to #1 Ensure a hit on Orange-con and higher mobs, the +95 Ranged of Focus Fire Master I ensures that hit pretty much, and you can only do it with improved surveil as the casting time on sneak is too long to get the combo off.</div><div> </div><div>Hexus Lupis</div><div>60 Ranger - Kithicor - Valor</div><div>Just Another RAnger</div>