[Rasputina]

I've been trying to get some utility out of Intercept. The hate generation of it seems basically useless as it seems I would better off just trying to draw aggro by doing as much damage as I can.

If discussed ahead of time with those I plan to try to be secondary protector too, then the root part can be handy because after giving a heads up about intercept, squishies know to take a couple steps back if the root hits.

Just seems to me that Intercept, even by its name, suggests its a skill to give Rangers a little ability in jumping infront of a squishy for a short time. I doesnt strike me as something that is suppose to allow any utility in Tanking.

With that in mind, wouldnt it make much more sense for Intercept to be a Rescue that maybe drew aggro to us for a couple rounds kinda thing? That would actually make the utility it seems to be for actually be possible.

Right now when the tank loses aggro and the mob goes for my healer I try to intercept, but aside from rooting it, I have no effect. It never seems to help me pull aggro quickly (or at all really), which seems what a skilled called Intercept would be for.

[Laer]

Originally Posted by Rasputina

I've been trying to get some utility out of Intercept. The hate generation of it seems basically useless as it seems I would better off just trying to draw aggro by doing as much damage as I can.

If discussed ahead of time with those I plan to try to be secondary protector too, then the root part can be handy because after giving a heads up about intercept, squishies know to take a couple steps back if the root hits.

Just seems to me that Intercept, even by its name, suggests its a skill to give Rangers a little ability in jumping infront of a squishy for a short time. I doesnt strike me as something that is suppose to allow any utility in Tanking.

With that in mind, wouldnt it make much more sense for Intercept to be a Rescue that maybe drew aggro to us for a couple rounds kinda thing? That would actually make the utility it seems to be for actually be possible.

Right now when the tank loses aggro and the mob goes for my healer I try to intercept, but aside from rooting it, I have no effect. It never seems to help me pull aggro quickly (or at all really), which seems what a skilled called Intercept would be for.

Intercept does add a little extra hate, but you have to keep in mind that if a healer has just done a group heal, or a finger waggler has just dropped a 5 digit crit, it's up to the REAL tanks to take that agro back, and even then it'll take them some time.

What you do with Intercept is reduce incoming damage for that attack to zero, while smacking the mob in the face for a little bonus damage, and for very little endurance cost. And you're locking the mob in place, so if the healer/nuker is doing the right thing and moving back, proximity agro will often turn him back on the tank (or you).

Intercept is a pretty darn handy ability overall, but it was never intended to turn a ranger into a full-fledged rescuer, just to take up a little slack for the real tanks.

[Rasputina]

Originally Posted by Laer

Intercept is a pretty darn handy ability overall, but it was never intended to turn a ranger into a full-fledged rescuer, just to take up a little slack for the real tanks.

My point is that other than the root effect, it doesnt serve the purpose of taking up a little slack for the tanks.

I guess maybe the root effect is enough for you, but to me the whole add hate part is useless. As you allude to, when a healer or dps'er does manage to draw aggro, the piddly ammount of hate Intercept adds wont do anything.

To me it would make more sense for it to have a longer cooldown like a couple minutes, but actually have the effect of drawing aggro onto the ranger for a very short time.

Heck, right now if its an unattacked add I want to effect I would be better off just using grasp of earth. It will last alot longer and will do the exact same thing.

[Loreley27]

Except that Grasp of Earth breaks on hit

[Rasputina]

Originally Posted by Loreley27

Except that Grasp of Earth breaks on hit

I know, hence the part in bold.

Originally Posted by Rasputina

Heck, right now if its an unattacked add I want to effect I would be better off just using grasp of earth. It will last alot longer and will do the exact same thing.

[Laer]

Originally Posted by Rasputina

I know, hence the part in bold.

Stopping potentially 4 digit hits from hitting a healer/caster, AND parking the mob, AND doing damage to the mob in the process isn't enough utility for a class that isn't supposed to be doing a tank's job in the first place?

The complete damage reduction is the big thing. The hit never lands, no energy expended healing, no interupts, all for a few endurance. If you look at as an instant rune with a fast refresh that only costs endurance you might appreciate it more.

The other Intercept effects are just gravy.

[Rasputina]

Originally Posted by Laer

Stopping potentially 4 digit hits from hitting a healer/caster, AND parking the mob, AND doing damage to the mob in the process isn't enough utility for a class that isn't supposed to be doing a tank's job in the first place?

The complete damage reduction is the big thing. The hit never lands, no energy expended healing, no interupts, all for a few endurance. If you look at as an instant rune with a fast refresh that only costs endurance you might appreciate it more.

The other Intercept effects are just gravy.

Ok, first let me fix your first paragraph so its correct:

"Stopping potentially 4 digit hits from hitting a healer/caster, BY parking the mob, AND doing neglible damage to the mob in the process isn't enough utility for a class that isn't supposed to be doing a tank's job in the first place?"

Ok so the stopping comes from the parking. Thats the whole point of this discussion. The "stopping" has nothing to do with the hate generated by the ability. A point you seem to ignore..or I guess thats gravy to you. Funny, I always considered "gravy" some useful thats extra. There is no gravy here because the hate generation is so tiny it means NOTHING.

For complete damage reduction to happen, this means the one you are protecting HAS to move. Maybe you havent spent much time in dungeons in group content, but moving away from a fight has its own dangers. So its not as simple as you like to make it out to be.

We already have the ability to root. Intercept as it stands is just a halfassed redundent ability.

Nor the way the skill is now, or the way I suggest it change (as a rescue with a longer cooldown), would every allow a Ranger to do a Tanks job. My way however, could allow a Ranger to actually "intercept" an attacker for a short period of time, which is how I see the utility of the skill as being meant to be.

[Laer]

Originally Posted by Rasputina

Ok, first let me fix your first paragraph so its correct:

"Stopping potentially 4 digit hits from hitting a healer/caster, BY parking the mob, AND doing neglible damage to the mob in the process isn't enough utility for a class that isn't supposed to be doing a tank's job in the first place?"

Ok so the stopping comes from the parking. Thats the whole point of this discussion. The "stopping" has nothing to do with the hate generated by the ability. A point you seem to ignore..or I guess thats gravy to you. Funny, I always considered "gravy" some useful thats extra. There is no gravy here because the hate generation is so tiny it means NOTHING.

For complete damage reduction to happen, this means the one you are protecting HAS to move. Maybe you havent spent much time in dungeons in group content, but moving away from a fight has its own dangers. So its not as simple as you like to make it out to be.

We already have the ability to root. Intercept as it stands is just a halfassed redundent ability.

Nor the way the skill is now, or the way I suggest it change (as a rescue with a longer cooldown), would every allow a Ranger to do a Tanks job. My way however, could allow a Ranger to actually "intercept" an attacker for a short period of time, which is how I see the utility of the skill as being meant to be.

Are you missing the part where when you Intercept, you BLOCK a hit coming towards your defensive target?

That attack does not happen, the instant you hit the V key it is nullified.

Let me clarify that...when you intercept, not only do you root the mob and deal damage and add some hate, you STOP AN ATTACK COLD. Everything after that initial deflection IS gravy.

One more time, because after three posts, you still seem likely to miss this fact. The activation of Intercept, when it is successful, stops the next NPC attack from resolving on your defensive target. At the same time, it deals weapon damage+, adds hate to you, and roots the attacker for a short period, which are all bonuses, the fact that it instantly stops an attack from getting through is the real utility.

Hence the name Intercept.

BTW, I've spent plenty of time in dungeons doing group content, both as the Intercepting ranger, and as one of the "squishies". Quite a bit of time. Two steps back usually does the trick, we're not talking about running out to 25m from the mob here.

[Rasputina]

Originally Posted by Laer

Are you missing the part where when you Intercept, you BLOCK a hit coming towards your defensive target?

Here is the description of Intercept from VGRangers:

"Intercepts an enemy who is attacking your defensive target, dealing 125% weapon damage, adding 99 to 109 hate and rooting your opponent for 6 to 8 seconds."

Where are you getting this extra block feature?

I cant log on to test now, but I guess next time I am on I will try Intercept and look at the combat log to look for this block you claim exists. Can you link or quote something that backs up your claim in regards to this block?

[Laer]

Originally Posted by Rasputina

Here is the description of Intercept from VGRangers:

"Intercepts an enemy who is attacking your defensive target, dealing 125% weapon damage, adding 99 to 109 hate and rooting your opponent for 6 to 8 seconds."

Where are you getting this extra block feature?

I cant log on to test now, but I guess next time I am on I will try Intercept and look at the combat log to look for this block you claim exists. Can you link or quote something that backs up your claim in regards to this block?

My "claim" is based on more than 30 levels of using it, on a production server, in the real game, with real players. Who also happen to die less often when I use it.

The wording should give you a clue though...INTERCEPTS an enemy.... It's never been an extra block feature, the block IS the feature.

There's nothing to see on your combat log, or your %td's log because the attack essentially never happens once you trigger Intercept.

[Rasputina]

Originally Posted by Laer

My "claim" is based on more than 30 levels of using it, on a production server, in the real game, with real players. Who also happen to die less often when I use it.

The wording should give you a clue though...INTERCEPTS an enemy.... It's never been an extra block feature, the block IS the feature.

There's nothing to see on your combat log, or your %td's log because the attack essentially never happens once you trigger Intercept.

LOL..ok so you just assume thats the way it works. Ok nvm. I've said my piece, and have nothing else to add to this since you are just making claims based on your own imagination.

[Laer]

Originally Posted by Rasputina

LOL..ok so you just assume thats the way it works. Ok nvm. I've said my piece, and have nothing else to add to this since you are just making claims based on your own imagination.

Get freakin' real...go spend some time on VGRangers if you don't believe just me, or simply play the game. It stops the hit, always has. My imagination has nothing to do with it.

Real easy to verify...let your %td get agro, don't use Intercept, watch the HP bar go down right after you hear the scream. Next time, use it after the scream, and watch the HP bar NOT go down. Pretty simple.

Just make sure you have all hits turned on to see that the %td didn't evade/block/parry.

The scream/Intercept lightup message is sent to your client right before a mob is ready to attack, it has already made a decision to attack your %td on its next attack, and unless you Intercept, that attack will resolve.

Now, at that point the target DOES have a chance to evade outright using their own abilities, but that's a CHANCE...Intercept is a GUARANTEE that the hit won't land.

[Woeden]

Originally Posted by Laer

Get freakin' real...go spend some time on VGRangers if you don't believe just me, or simply play the game. It stops the hit, always has. My imagination has nothing to do with it..

I spend time on VG Rangers, and I play the game, and I also don't see how this is obvious. It doesn't say so on the tooltip in game, and the name of the ability isn't really very good evidence--if they meant all ability names literally I would be belting out a tune rather than swinging a sword when I use Windsong.

I would love it if Intercept blocked a hit, but could you direct me to the post or information that says it does? Or provide real test data? I searched VG Rangers, by the way, and couldn't find any posts about it (except one from you asking for backup on this thread, which was locked).

Thanks,

[elorei]

Just have your TD look in their combat log. It is really obvious that the attack does not hit them.

[Woeden]

Originally Posted by elorei

Just have your TD look in their combat log. It is really obvious that the attack does not hit them.

Does it give a block or dodge message, or something? If not, how do you know that the mob attacked them at all? Maybe ranger animations are just a little out of wack with the combat numbers, but I don't think I could exactly when an attack was supposed to hit based upon my combat animations. That's the only thing I could think to do with monsters. Is there some other method?

[Laer]

Originally Posted by Woeden

Does it give a block or dodge message, or something? If not, how do you know that the mob attacked them at all? Maybe ranger animations are just a little out of wack with the combat numbers, but I don't think I could exactly when an attack was supposed to hit based upon my combat animations. That's the only thing I could think to do with monsters. Is there some other method?

Like I said, it's really simple...the mob is agro on the td, the mob is showing in the encounter window as angry at the td, the mob is in range to hit the td, and the mob WANTS to hit the td on its next attack (hence the scream sound and lighting up of your Intercept button, that's your cue to hit the button, and it's a short window of opportunity).

After you activate Intercept, the td takes no melee damage for that round, essentially making sure that the attack that round does not happen.

Ask a defensive fighter how their rescues work, and you'll see it's the same way.

[Woeden]

Originally Posted by Laer

Like I said, it's really simple...the mob is agro on the td, the mob is showing in the encounter window as angry at the td, the mob is in range to hit the td, and the mob WANTS to hit the td on its next attack (hence the scream sound and lighting up of your Intercept button, that's your cue to hit the button, and it's a short window of opportunity).

After you activate Intercept, the td takes no melee damage for that round, essentially making sure that the attack that round does not happen.

Ask a defensive fighter how their rescues work, and you'll see it's the same way.

I was looking for something a little more scientific--that's not sarcasm, just in my experience, some assumptions, however much they sound correct, don't turn out how we would wish them to.

Is there a message when you intercept something? Does the other person get a message? Can you be certain when the mob was supposed to attack, and that its target didn't just dodge the attack?

Also, I don't believe Intercept can only be used in a small window surrounding a scream, anymore. From the March 19th Patch Notes:

"- Ranger – Intercept can now be used at any time. "

http://www.silkyvenom.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16079

My experience with Intercept is that I can use it any time the mob is on my defensive target, I have the endurance, and the timer is up.

[Shion]

Originally Posted by Woeden

I was looking for something a little more scientific--that's not sarcasm, just in my experience, some assumptions, however much they sound correct, don't turn out how we would wish them to.

Is there a message when you intercept something? Does the other person get a message? Can you be certain when the mob was supposed to attack, and that its target didn't just dodge the attack?

Also, I don't believe Intercept can only be used in a small window surrounding a scream, anymore. From the March 19th Patch Notes:

"- Ranger – Intercept can now be used at any time. "

http://www.silkyvenom.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16079

My experience with Intercept is that I can use it any time the mob is on my defensive target, I have the endurance, and the timer is up.

This guys right. You can use it at anytime, so long as your offensive target is targeting a defensive target you have targeted. And you have enough endurance. I routinely use it before the mob ever gets close to the puller. Futhermore, I see no evidence to support your assumption. I have never noticed any block, I use it, it works, I take damage. I use it, it doesn't push me to the top of the agro list, original target takes damage.

[Live]

Pushing "v' triggers intercept? Like "g" does chains? Damn I'm slow. Wish I'd known that.