To Rage? or not to Rage? What's the point?

[Norgoz]

Hello fellow Berserkers. The title is more or less to grab attention, I couldn't think of a better one to fit what I'm going to ask. I just hit 34 last night and had already bought App4 'Rage' ahead of time (for 1 Gold, I might add) after seeing I was going to get it soon. My question is... Is it just me, or is every upgrade to 'Rage' the <i>exact</i> same as the others? I noticed before getting the skill app2, app4, and adept1, all had the same <i>exact</i> effect benefits as one-another. I thought it may not show the upgrades until I got 34, so I went ahead and snagged the app4 to be sure. Here's the scenario. I ding 34, move 'Rage' into one of my hotkey bars, then examine both it, and the app4... still no change in description. I say, "What the hell" and scribe the app4... still no change in description. Same duration, same recast, same Berserk dps+% and haste+%. I would like to know if: 1. This is a bug? 2. The dev's intended there to be no increase in 'Rage' line of spells? 3. By some chance I am not able to read the upgrade, because of some sort of examine bug? 4. 'Rage' will get better as I level-up, and I should not worry about it, because all 'Rage' spells are identical until you get a few levels higher? Thank you for your replies, and my appologies if this has been stated in a previous thread that I haven't had the chance to read. <div></div>

[Dalensbane]

<DIV>Im now a 38 berserker, i remember when i got rage. I was like "wow 43% speed buff!!", but i was disappointed by the duration. It supposed to last 10secs but the animation makes you lose 2 secs so i found the spell pretty worthless so i never upgraded.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I wouldn't worry too much about rage, at 36 or so you get an even better improved version of it called Tides of war. It lasts a whole 10mins this time and it also gives you a chance to berserk each time you hit. I now use this spell with two quick attacking dual-wield weapons and my berserker goes absolutely insane. Goes berserk fairly often as i turn on all my berserker abilities like raging strike, etc apart from focus rage because that is obsolete. So my DPS is pretty awesome <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Dunno if i've helped you out at all hehe</DIV><p>Message Edited by Dalensbane16 on <span class=date_text>04-11-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:39 PM</span>

[-Aonein-]

<P>There is lots of spells that have this problem and lots of class's suffer from it. My thoughts are this, there not suppose to gain any quaility increasments, so they should be flagged as skills that you cannot increase.</P> <P>Now while that seems to be a logical answer, next question is why make them able to be increased in the first place? Well, seeing as if they were to gain in power if we increased there quaility OR we level up it would make the arts / skills overpowering, so maybe just increase the duration of these Combat Arts, Spells and Abilities that dont gain no quaility so they at least last a wee bit longer to compensate scribing the higher quaility upgrade to it. For example, App 2 = +1 min, App 3 = +2 min, App 4 = +3 min, Adept 1 = +5 min, Adept 2 = +6 min, Adept III = +7 min, Master 1 = +10 min. This way a potential 10 min buff that has no quaility enhancement from App 1 all the way too Master 1 could last 10 mins more. Keep in mind this is just a example, same can apply to arts like Rage seeing it only lasts for 10 seconds, then maybe Adept III could last for 30 seconds, this in return wouldnt be overpowering given that Berserk procs do not stack, and it takes the higher Berserk and over writes the lower one and seeing Rage could be just used as a "filler" for when you are waiting for your hogher level Berserks to proc.</P> <p>Message Edited by -Aonein- on <span class=date_text>04-12-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:11 PM</span>

[Fazzarya]

It makes a really good skill to use on the semi rare HO's that call for the "arm" buff. It's instant cast so you can get it off if your reacting late to an HO or something. Due to the long recast it isn't *always* up when you need it but I find that more often then not when I get the arm buff on my HO ring, Rage is available for me to smash. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Padi]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Dalensbane16 wrote:<BR> <DIV>Im now a 38 berserker, i remember when i got rage. I was like "wow 43% speed buff!!", but i was disappointed by the duration. It supposed to last 10secs but the animation makes you lose 2 secs so i found the spell pretty worthless so i never upgraded.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I wouldn't worry too much about rage, at 36 or so you get an even better improved version of it called Tides of war. It lasts a whole 10mins this time and it also gives you a chance to berserk each time you hit. I now use this spell with two quick attacking dual-wield weapons and my berserker goes absolutely insane. Goes berserk fairly often as i turn on all my berserker abilities like raging strike, etc apart from focus rage because that is obsolete. So my DPS is pretty awesome <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Dunno if i've helped you out at all hehe</DIV> <P>Message Edited by Dalensbane16 on <SPAN class=date_text>04-11-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>03:39 PM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Just so no one is mislead here, Rage and all other zerker state skills DO NOT stop you from attacking when you do the animation.  The animation is visual only.</P> <P>Another thing to note, Tides of War is not a replacement for Rage.  Tides of War is a replacement for Bloodlust.  Rage stacks on top of Tides of War.  It also stacks on Zerker state skills from either focus rage or Tides of War (not sure, but some zerker states are over written, some aren't).</P> <P>Rage also seems to have a high taunt ability, so you can use it to help get agro.  Mostly I use it to fill the gaps between waiting for big damage moves and zerker states when I'd like to boost my damage.<BR></P>

[AlienR]

Tides of War isn't a replacement for Rage.  Enrage is the replacement for Rage at lvl 47 or 48, and you have to buy it from a trainer...unless it's been fixed, you don't get the buff as an auto upon leveling.  Tides of War is on the same timer as Bloodlust...which is what it replaces.  Tides of War is a 10 min buff that stacks with Rage or Enrage for a very nice self haste that lasts 10 secs until Rage wears off.  Basically, Rage is a self induced Berserk...that doesn't stack with Berserk.  If you proc Berserk with Rage up, you'll notice your haste doesn't increase very much on your character hud....only slightly because Berserk is higher haste than Rage.  Hope that helps.