Just figured I would see how other Mages were finding the new abilities. I am only 33, and I am of the high END, high INT style (its almost 50/50) and I have fairly high defense (about 800). Basically, I wade into mobs and AoE them to death, and then try to outlast the Boss (or overwhelm the regen in HDoL).

One thing that does concern me is both new abilities are shadow based. Our class is already somewhat heavily slanted towards damage of that type. Not sure if that much matters but so much in one basket always bothers me.

I haven't tried the Smackdown ability. The damage is poor, and I am already running a bit short of places to put skills. I tend to need AoE power, DD power and resists. I will need to actually try it to see, but my thoughts on looking at the description is I would rather have abilities from the other classes that do much the same.

I will say that my first impressions of the passive ability are that it burns way too much mana for the cost. I have been using it, but the extra bolts are weaker damage for each bolt and are mana hogs. Plus it eats a slot. Between the loss of the slot and the mana, this is going to be a 'save it for pounding little mobs with AoE' ability. I am not even sure of that.

Fortunately I still feel like I can take on mobs, so thats going well. And the new abilities look interesting. Just not sure they are balanced right yet (can't really speak of Smackdown, just don't see myself using it with my style, but the Improved effect is a really mixed bag). I assume more testing and we will really know.

- Lex

I'm looking forward to playing the game with the new patch.

"Monster Bait"!! What a stitch!

I'm pleased to see the devs still aren't taking this game too seriously and still keeping it challenging.

*smiles*

I am very much enjoying the game. No complaints from that perspective. More just commenting on my experiences with the new abilities.

- Lex

All points on equipment changed; totally messing up resistance levels and INT/END.
Too much mana drain with passive Shadow and its effect.
xbow Mage: poison shot not working (only gives base damage; no poison damage).
Too much nerfing and changes with 51/53 patches. Developers need learn how to provide ability to redistribute points whenever patches are made.
Interest in game waning quickly with so much nerfing.

i am lvl 61 at the moment and smackdown is a must if you charge into a pack of mobs, this skill throws mobs on thier butts keeping the melee mobs off you more while casting. it starts with the mob you target then hits all others randomly. this skill is not for damage its more for keeping you alive.

Shadow smackdown is useful on just about everything and its one of the more handy skills to have hotkey it will save you life many times over. I do agree the mana cost is high but its still very good.

Its best use is disrupting mobs that have knockback like hulks or danacers that take a little extra time to kill them as they got more health and smackdown will give those few extra seconds. Also BBQ turkey you need to cast that at the start of a fight and if the mobs see you first they may not take the bait. You dont have that prob with smackdown and the BBQ bait is also pretty expencive to use for opener.

*Big Hugs*
Lestai