Some data for consideration:
My earlier post from another thread:
Stopped playing for awhile, just did a quick check.
My Ultos Warder lvl 76, Primal Strike
40k DPS, full Ultos set, non-Ultos pieces are mostly defensive, offensive devotion setup (Revenant, Widow, SotH).
My Ultos Warder lvl 76, Savagery
50.5k DPS, same setup. Haven’t used extra points that I got by going Savagery instead of PS, could had used to raise DPS even further with, say, Brute Force.
You might say that it’s okay because PS is an AOE skill, but Ultos set already gives two quite powerful AOE procs. If I had used Wyrmbone instead of Runic Bracers I would have had three quite powerful AOE procs.
Now, my 2H Melee Fire Strike Commando. Infernal Brimstone + 3pc Ulzuin + 2pc Flamekeeper, defensive (!) devotion setup - 40.5k DPS.
Conclusion:
- Savagery got significantly better DPS, and since in GD solving lack of AOE is easier than solving lack of single target, Savagery has an upper-hand. Also Savagery got zero energy issues, PS has some.
- 2H melee high end PS probably does less damage than 2H melee FS. FS has 150% WD and 21% Total from the transmuter, while PS has 140% WD and -35% Total (!!!). Although some of the DPS came from electrocute, it means that flat damage is stupidly high on PS, enough to offset lesser WD. High chances are if 2h-only restriction was to be lifted PS would become a fantastic 1H ability, probably the new meta for shield builds.
Now, on how PS could be changed.
First of all, the way it’s now, removing the restriction means that the skill will be probably too good for 1h, in which case it’s a guaranteed further nerf and PS becoming a dead skill for 2hs. I’m a fan of 2hs and I don’t like that. The solution is to increase %WD and reduce flat, but that’ll make non-CD PS a very similar skill to Firestrike.
As for making Torrent hit the main target I to be honest don’t know if Thunderous Strike total damage penaltiy actually affect Torrent, in which case Torrent working on the main target might result in PS even overshadowing Savagery, which is probably why it was fixed in the first place w/o just passing it as a feature. If total damage penalty works on torrent as well then making torrent affect the main target is still a decent upgrade, probably enough to significally close the gap between PS and Savagery.
My personal solution is
- Leave the base skill as is.
- Implement the ability to bind devotion procs to Torrent separately from PS. Would be damn fun.
- Attune the base skill’s damage so PS was just 5-10% below Savagery in DPS. The boost needs to be biased towards sub-ultimate or slightly-ultimate levels.
Maybe I’ll come up with other ideas later, but for now that’s it.
EDIT: this turned out to be a wall of text. FFS.