So I'm looking at the realm abilities with their new & improved descriptions, trying to figure out what to spend my points on that either makes me (a) more damage output and/or (b) longer life.

Naturally, I'm looking at Viper since I'm partial to poisons in the first place, and double damage is pretty nice. Then I notice that for the same price (not consider prereq), I can get Bladedance, which is on the same 30 minute timer.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any reports of the damage Bladedance does to someone standing right next to you. (After this last patch, before that it wasn't too impressive.) Anyone have any idea?

If it's sufficiently high, then it might be a better damage alternative than Viper since it can't be purged and delivers all of its extra damage up front. The fact that it hits more than one person is just frosting. Ciardha Sidhe, Elven Nightshade of Guinevere
"The sword cuts both ways... but not at the same time."

for bladeddance to be good it'd have to do like .. 400-500ish to yellow con opponents. i doubt it does this :/ and i can't get on test to check it out

Even 300 damage to someone right next to you would be worthwhile as a nice companion to PA/CD/SS. Viper can add another 400ish damage to Lifebane, but it takes a while to do it. Being able to start with an additional damage boost, especially using Enervating on the main weapon, might be better.

Still no numbers from anyone I've talked to. Interesting.

From the latest patch notes:

Quote: Realm ability Bladedance has had its damage changed so that it is more effective and scales with level.Anyone? Anyone? Edited by: Ciardha Sidhe at: 5/16/02 12:25:38 pm

You get to be a pioneer

*Waits patiently for the results of the test *

Train and respec if it's weak... We need people to try things... 50 Ranger, 41 eld, and 16 other characters lvls 30-40.
Aes, upcoming PvP ShadowStalkr (Modified ShadowZerker) Paranoia is only the beginning...

I'd love to be the one to test it, but I'm a few RP shy of being able to afford it just now, even with a respec. (Rank 2, Level 5... I don't get out much.)

Guess I'll keep lurking at the Guardian boards...

Someone got around to testing it. Full report on Bladedance and Hail of Blows is here: vnboards.ign.com/message.asp?topic=29867214

Unfortunately...

Quote: How much damage does bladedance do? Well as you may/may not know it's a PBae (Point Blank area effect) spell in the middle of the radius you can expect your Bladedance to hit for 100-150 damage 150 being highly unlikely reaching out to the outer edges I'd say not even 15 feet away it dramatically decreses to the 25-40 damage range.Not worth the 14 points by a long shot.

Ciardha, I think that test was pre that patch note...
I'll give it a try with one of my RS respecs on Pen, if I can afford it... (Unfortunately, missed the latter half of realm skill testing due to loss of internet access until now)