As someone that (when on PS3) regularly gets backstabbed from the edge of lock on range I will just say that I am really, really, really looking forwward to servers.
I don't have a huge issue with the Hornet Ring on PC, as the connections I get are usually pretty good, the players are usually into having a good fight and not just going straight for the backstab, and I can generally judge and avoid backstabs when they do.
HOWEVER, on PS3, against predominantly Japan, where the connection is horrible, and every players strategy is 'skillfully backstab fish', the Hornet Ring is the bane of my existance (literally).
75% of matches I get backstabbed from about Dark Anor Londo lock on distance, the other 25% I get backstabbed from almost outside the Forests lock on distance. There is no way to avoid it, it's bullsh*t and feels cheap. And it's almost always a one hit kill, because buff + Hornet Ring + Rapier or Greatclub is death.
Now I know that's mostly to do with lag, but there's also the part where I die in one hit just for having connected to someone through a potato.
My issue with the Hornet Ring is that you get a large boost in damage for just sacrificing a ring slot, which you can easily build around when you've got 100 levels to play with.
I don't have a problem with Glass Cannons one shotting me, because they've made a worthy tradeoff, they one shot me, or I one shot them. It's fair, and it's balanced. Having the ability to one shot someone through easy exploitation of a mechanic whislt still having 1500hp yourself isn't fair as there is no tradeoff (like I said earlier, imo -1 ring slot isn't tradeoff enough for the extra damage).
But do you have infinite casts with GMW?
HackWhat? Seriously?
But can the hornet ring be kited until it runs out?
There is no limit and the ring only effects parriesHuh.
But does GMW work against Great Magic Barrier?
No commentBut is the hornet ring affected by Vow of Silence?
What? It is a ring not a spell!Soris I think you completely missed the point on this.
Lmaousine was arguing against the point that Pirate made which is:
and I just explained and will for the 4th time now, if I put gmw on my weapon, it adds just as much or more damage than the hornet ring for many weapons, and frees the ring slot.
What Pirate is saying is that instead of losing a ring slot you would be better off buffing as you get the same (if not more) damage from buffing your weapon with GMW.
And what Lmaousine is saying is that the Hornet Ring is better than buffing because it's a permanent boost to critical attack damage (that is it's not limited to 3 60sec casts), and it can't be made null by Kiting (as it's not a buff and doesn't wear off), or by using GMB (as it's just a physical dmage boost, not magic based, so it can't be made null by GMB), or by using Vow of Silence (as it's not a spell so it can't be made null by disallowing casting).
FWIW I agree with Lmaousine on this one, to me a ring slot that gives a permanent boost to damage gained from critical attacks is a better option than putting 10 points into Intel (plus Att + End for catalyst) to use a temporary buff that can be avoided or made null and only has limited casts.
Sure if you're already using buffs then it (the Hornet Ring) is not really worth it as you've already got the extra 200ish damage, (although damage boost is a damage boost in both cases) but not everyone uses buffs.
Also, imo, the extra damage from buffs is balanced, as you have to spend upwards of 15 points to use them, you have to sacrifice a weapon slot for a catalyst to cast them, you have to take the time to cast them, and then you have to use them within their time limit, and they can be countered with three different miracles, whereas the Hornet Ring has no like counter to it's damage (maybe, at a stretch, Iron Flesh could be considered a counter), doesn't wear off, and doesn't directly cost stat points or weapons slots. Really it only costs that one ring slot, and maybe extra points into End/Vit (and that's only assuming you swap it for Havels/FaP).
Personally, I hope it's not in DaS2. It's easier to balance weapons by giving them individual crit bonuses for their crit attacks than it is to balance a ring like that.
by Lmaousine Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:18 pm
