[Innovation] Advanced Prototype - A Love Hate Relationship

[Briseius]

PLEASE NOTE: This post only looks at the ability in a PvP atmosphere - the proposed change wouldn't gimp it's use in PvE and is entirely intended to stimulate theory crafting among the community for Advance Prototype class.

 

Flamethrower can deal a tremendous amount of damage when paired with a 50% damage increase from Prototype Flamethrower talent procs. The issue at the moment however is even regarding it's additional 70% slow when used at 5 stacks is that more then half the time that ability isn't dealing a full duration worth of damage due to it being a 100% user controlled and easily avoidable - In certain situations when paired with Carbonize or other stuns it can be extremely effective, but seemingly relies heavily on those abilities - hence being limited to their cd's rather then its own. Other comparable abilities like Ravage lock onto their target making it impossible to evade, but must rather range or interrupt the ability, granted these are single target and not AoE like Flamethrower. So what does this mean? Sure Flamethrower maybe a bit more difficult and situational to use but that's the fun of it right? Admitted there isn't all that much wrong with it as it is now but that doesn't meant it cant be improved, and you may ask yourself why does it need to be? considering Flamethrower is THE 'Climactic Ability' of AP as Railshot is to PT, shouldn't its use be equally user friendly and damage almost as guarantied? The answer isn't as simple as yes or no, but rather why? The reason it may be desirable to have flamethrower stick to a target is it would actually 'hit' that target but that may come at the expense of the ability being 'fun' as it is now. So that excludes is as mirror of the Warrior ability. And it certainly cant be an instant cast 30m ability like Railshot, so where does that leave us? It leaves us pondering the question, does Flamethrower need re-imagining as an AP ability or should the spec itself be changed to allow for a more comparable output like PT?

 

 

Changes to the ability are certainly an option, below is an example of a potential change that may put AP at par with the burst potential of PT using Railshot procs:

 

[Prototype Flamethrower] "Flame Burst, Flame Sweep, and Immolate have a (50/100%) chance to grant Prototype Flamethrower, increasing the damage dealt by your next Flamethrower by (10%*) and granting movement during next channeled Flamethrower.[/i] Stacks up to 5 times. At 5 stacks, Flamethrower becomes immune to interrupts.

--or--

Perhaps the AP tree could allow for more source damage to come from abilities like Retractable Blade / Flame Burst / Rocket Punch, with greater burn / bleed effects. Maybe even a change to HEGC to allow procs for free use casts?

 

 

Its certainly difficult to weigh the options of changes and the potential effect if may have. Would a mobile Flamethrower wrack havoc in PvP or would it give the class a little added boost to put it on par with PT burst? Please reply, do you agree or disagree, other potential changes, or simply your experiences as a AP using Flamethrower in PvP.

Edited June 17, 2012 by Briseius