Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Comprehensive Review and Commantary on Patch 1.2 - Part 4: Sith Warrior/Jedi Knight

When it comes to SW/JK I'll be least able to comment on Juggernaut/Guardian changes, as that's one of the two classes I've not yet played to 50.  My notes on Marauder changes are a little sparse too, since it's one of my characters I play the least.

Also, I've given up trying to wrangle with the formatting errors that keep cropping up once I post these.  The spacing is gonna look wierd in spots.  Sorry.

To distinguish the patch notes from my commentary, all the original patch notes are in italics and my own comments will be in bold.

Sith Warrior
-General
--Disruption no longer costs Rage to activate.

---GOOD.  Though this problem wasn't exclusive to SW/JK (Powertech's/Vanguard's interrupt also had a resource cost) however SW/JK was more hurt by it (at least Powertechs/Vanguards are actively generating their resource the whole time).

--Intimidating Roar no longer costs Rage to activate.

--Ravage can no longer be interrupted.

---Not sure how I feel about this change.  On one hand it's not an oustanding PvP ability and will still be easy to deal with or disrupt (can still stun or knockback to cancel it presumably) but on the other hand all the change is really going to do is punish people who are paying enough attention to interrupt.

--Vicious Throw can now be used on targets at or below 30% of maximum health (up from 20%).

---Positive change, brings the ability in line with similar Sniper and Assassin execute abilities.


-Marauder
--Due to changes to the Marauder skill trees, Marauders have had their skill points refunded.

--Deadly Throw's "Trauma" effect can no longer be cleansed.

--Force Camouflage now additionally reduces all damage taken by 50% while active.

---This matches up with a corresponding nerf to the Annihilation tree.  This is assumed to be meant to make it harder for Marauders/Sentinels to be able to use this as a get-out-of-death free card.  Let's face it, having a free stealth+bubble on a 1 minute cooldown was a little OP.


--Obfuscate no longer has a Rage cost and is no longer limited by the global cooldown.

--Predation now affects all Operation Group members.

--Berserk (while in Ataru Form) now additionally reduces the Rage cost and global cooldown of Sweeping Slash.

--Carnage
---Ataru Form damage effects (procs) now deal weapon-based damage instead of Force-based damage. The overall damage of these effects has been increased by approximately 10%.
----This change is presumably to fix the fact that the damage procs from Ataru Form were sharing cooldowns with the relics from Karagga's Palace that occasionally deal extra damage.


---Ataru Form now correctly triggers when fighting very large targets.

---Erupting Fury has been replaced by Stagger, which increases Force Charge's immobilize effect.

---Unbound now additionally increases the movement speed bonus granted by Predation by 15% per point.

--Annihilation
---Ferocity has been replaced by Enraged Charge, which increases the Rage generated by Force Charge.

---Phantom no longer grants damage reduction while Force Camouflage is active. It now increases the duration of Force Camouflage by 1 second per point and increases the movement speed bonus of Force Camouflage by 10% per point.
----This used to give 100% damage reduction during Force Camouflage.  It no longer does, but Force Camouflage now always passively has a 50% damage reduction.


---Seeping Wound now applies a 50% movement speed reduction (up from 30%).

---Short Fuse is now located in Tier 1 of the skill tree.

--Rage (Marauder)
---Decimate is now located in Tier 1 of the Rage skill tree. It increases the damage dealt by Smash and Sweeping Slash and reduces the cooldown of Smash.
----This should be a nice buff to the Marauder Smash spec.  It sounds like this skill should replace Quick Recovery (in the Annihilation tree), but there's nothing about that talent being removed.

---Dominate is now a 3-point skill with the same overall effect. The effect now lasts 20 seconds (up from 15).

---Force Alacrity has been replaced by Overpower, which allows Vicious Slash critical hits to have a chance to refund 2 points of Rage while the Marauder is in Shii-Cho Form.

---Force Crush's cooldown has been reduced to 18 seconds. Its overall effect is unchanged.
----Down from 21 seconds.


---Gravity now specifically affects Crippling Slash and Force Crush.

---Obliterate now immobilizes the target for 1 second.
----This makes Obliterate like a mini-Force Charge.

---Ravager now increases the damage of Ravage instead of affecting Force Choke.
----This may be a bit harmful to Smash spec.


---Relentless Fury has been replaced by Berserker. It requires 2 points in Shockwave and causes Berserk (while in Shii-Cho Form) to immediately grant 2 stacks of Shockwave per point.

---Shockwave's buff effects now last 20 seconds (up from 15).
----I'd assume this is to help make up for the change to Ravager.


---Unbreakable Rage has been removed from the game.
----This used to make Ravage uninterruptable, which it now is passively anyways.


-Juggernaut
--Due to changes to the Juggernaut skill trees, Juggernauts have had their skill points refunded.

--
Added Crash, a new passive ability granted at level 10 that causes Force Charge to stun the target for 2 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once every 12 seconds.


--Added Enraged Defense, a new ability that allows the Juggernaut to spend Rage to lower threat. While active, one point of Rage is spent each time damage is taken to heal the Juggernaut for a small amount. This ability is usable while stunned and is not limited by the global cooldown.


--Vengeance
---Deafening Defense is now located in Tier 5 of the skill tree. It now increases the Juggernaut's damage reduction while Enraged Defense is active.


---Rampage now generates 2 points of Rage when it is triggered.


---Single Saber Mastery is no longer restricted to certain stances.


---Stagger is now located in Tier 1 of the Vengeance skill tree.


---Sundering Throw is now located in Tier 6 of the Vengeance skill tree.


--Immortal
---Battle Cry is now a 2-point skill that provides the same overall effect.


---Crushing Blow now generates 50% additional threat.


---Force Grip is now located in Tier 4 of the skill tree.


---Force Scream no longer consumes stacks of Revenge while the "Battle Cry" buff is active.


---Heavy Handed is now a 1-point skill with a slightly reduced overall effect.


---Quake is now a 3-point skill that provides the same overall effect.


---Shield Specialization is now located in Tier 5 of the skill tree.


---Sonic Barrier is now located in Tier 4 of the skill tree.


---Thrown Gauntlet no longer reduces the cooldown of Threatening Scream and is now located in Tier 5 of the skill tree.


--Rage (Juggernaut)
---Decimate is now located in Tier 1 of the Rage skill tree. It increases the damage dealt by Smash and Sweeping Slash and reduces the cooldown of Smash.


---Dominate is now a 3-point skill with the same overall effect. The effect now lasts 20 seconds (up from 15).


---Force Alacrity has been replaced by Overpower, which allows Vicious Slash critical hits to have a chance to refund 2 points of Rage while the Juggernaut is in Shii-Cho Form.


---Force Crush's cooldown has been reduced to 18 seconds. Its overall effect is unchanged.


---Gravity now specifically affects Chilling Scream and Force Crush.


---Obliterate now immobilizes the target for 1 second.


---Ravager now increases the damage of Ravage instead of affecting Force Choke.


---Relentless Fury has been replaced by Empowering Rage. It requires 2 points in Shockwave and causes Enrage to immediately grant 2 stacks of Shockwave per point.


---Shockwave's buff effects now last 20 seconds (up from 15).


---Through Passion, a new 2-point skill located in Tier 6, has been added. It reduces the initial activation cost of Enraged Defense by 1 Rage per point.


---Unbreakable Rage has been removed from the game.


Jedi Knight
-General
--Awe no longer costs Focus to activate.


--Dispatch can now be used on targets at or below 30% of maximum health (up from 20%).


--Force Kick no longer costs Focus to activate.


--Master Strike can no longer be interrupted.


--Sentinel
---Due to changes in the Sentinel skill trees, Sentinels have had their skill points refunded.


---Crippling Throw's "Trauma" effect can no longer be cleansed.


---Force Camouflage now additionally reduces all damage taken by 50% while active.


---Pacify no longer has a Focus cost and is no longer limited by the global cooldown.


---Transcendence now affects all Operation Group members.


---Zen (while in Ataru Form) now additionally reduces the Focus cost and global cooldown of Cyclone Slash.


--Watchman
---Focused Pursuit has been replaced by Focused Leap, which increases the Focus generated by Force Leap.


---Force Fade no longer grants damage reduction while Force Camouflage is active. It now increases the duration of Force Camouflage by 1 second per point and increases the movement speed bonus of Force Camouflage by 10% per point.


---Inflammation now applies a 50% movement speed reduction (up from 30%).


---Valor is now located in Tier 1 of the skill tree.


--Combat
---Ataru Form damage effects (procs) now deal weapon-based damage instead of Force-based damage. The overall damage of these effects has been increased by approximately 10%.


---Ataru Form now correctly triggers when fighting very large targets.


---Fleetfooted now additionally increases the movement speed bonus granted by Transcendence by 15% per point.


---Temperance has been replaced by Stagger, which increases Force Leap's immobilize effect.


--Focus (Sentinel)
---Felling Blow is now a 3-point skill with the same overall effect. The effect now lasts 20 seconds (up from 15).


---Force Exhaustion's cooldown has been reduced to 18 seconds. Its overall effect is unchanged.


---Gravity now specifically affects Leg Slash and Force Exhaustion. 


---Inner Focus has been redesigned. It now requires 2 points in Singularity and causes Zen (while in Shii-Cho Form) to immediately grant 2 stacks of Singularity per point. 


---Master Focus now increases the damage of Master Strike instead of affecting Force Stasis. 


---Singularity's buff effects now last 20 seconds (up from 15).


---Swelling Winds is now located in Tier 1 of the Focus skill tree. It increases the damage dealt by Force Sweep and Cyclone Slash and reduces the cooldown of Force Sweep.


---Unwavering Focus has been removed from the game. 


---Zealous Leap now immobilizes the target for 1 second.


---Zephyr has been replaced by Zephyrean Slash, which allows Slash critical hits to have a chance to refund 2 points of Focus while the Sentinel is in Shii-Cho Form.


--Guardian
---Due to changes to the Guardian skill trees, Guardians have had their skill points refunded.


---Added Forceclap, a new passive ability granted at level 10 that causes Force Leap to stun the target for 2 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once every 12 seconds.


---Added Focused Defense, a new ability that allows the Guardian to spend Focus to lower threat. While active, one point of Focus is spent each time damage is taken to heal the Guardian for a small amount. This ability is usable while stunned and is not limited by the global cooldown.


--Vigilance
---Commanding Awe is now located in Tier 5 of the skill tree. It increases the Guardian's damage reduction while Focused Defense is active.


---Single Saber Mastery is no longer restricted to certain stances.


---Stagger is now located in Tier 1 of the Vigilance skill tree.


---Sundering Throw is now located in Tier 6 of the Vigilance skill tree.


---Zen Strike now generates 2 points of Focus when it is triggered.


--Defense
---Blade Barrier is now located in Tier 4 of the skill tree.


---Blade Storm no longer consumes stacks of Courage while the "Momentum" buff is active.


---Command no longer reduces the cooldown of Challenging Call and is now located in Tier 5 of the skill tree.


---Dust Storm is now a 3-point skill that provides the same overall effect.


---Guardian Slash now generates 50% additional threat.


---Momentum is now a 2-point skill that provides the same overall effect.


---Pacification is now a 1-point skill with a slightly reduced overall effect.


---Shield Specialization is now located in Tier 5 of the skill tree.


---Stasis Mastery is now located in Tier 4 of the skill tree.


--Focus (Guardian)
---Felling Blow is now a 3-point skill with the same overall effect. The effect now lasts 20 seconds (up from 15).


---Force Exhaustion's cooldown has been reduced to 18 seconds. Its overall effect is unchanged.


---Gravity now specifically affects Freezing Force and Force Exhaustion.


---Inner Focus has been redesigned. It now requires 2 points in Singularity and causes Combat Focus to immediately grant 2 stacks of Singularity per point.


---Master Focus now increases the damage of Master Strike instead of affecting Force Stasis.


---Singularity's buff effects now last 20 seconds (up from 15).


---Swelling Winds is now located in Tier 1 of the Focus skill tree. It increases the damage dealt by Force Sweep and Cyclone Slash and reduces the cooldown of Force Sweep.


---Through Peace, a new 2-point skill located in Tier 6, has been added. It reduces the initial activation cost of Focused Defense by 1 Focus per point.


---Unwavering Focus has been removed from the game.


---Zealous Leap now immobilizes the target for 1 second.


---Zephyr has been replaced by Zephyrean Slash, which allows Slash critical hits to have a chance to refund 2 points of Focus while the Guardian is in Shii-Cho Form.

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