Make ANIMATE WEAPON not too bothersome to use

Hi!

with regards to the Animate Weapon Thread, we would like the following changes:

Must Have:
1. Ability to animate blue weapons which bypasses being unidentified
- its not like we're identifying for free considering there is no possible way to own the weapon after animating.
2. Ability to filter what to animate
- given the above condition, it would be bad to accidentally animate the wrong weapons which may have some use. In lieu of an actual settings menu, I recommend Uniques, Rare weapons and Superior weapons (items with quality) be unanimate-able unless we hold "SHIFT". This should make it easy enough to control.
3. AoE
- The multiple clicks is tasking. an AoE for all 0 quality white and magic items should be implemented for multiple instances of animation. Mana cost adjustment may apply per item affected and will only animate the number of items (closer to cursor) as mana allows.

Good suggestions:
4. Totem form
- so multiple clicking will no longer be an issue, even after new items drop. but this might limit the usability of #2 above.
5. A unique which targets the user's current main-hand weapon as the summoned weapon.
- This gives it a big umph in potential without making it too overpowered. Animated weapons should probably be limited to 1 though.
6. Animating ranged weapons
- The melee weapon limitation is really weird considering the fantasy setting. bows firing base damage arrows and wands casting a rotation of base-level magic doesn't seem too far fetched.
7. Increase skill duration (permanent?)
- 40 sec is really short considering you wouldn't be using this skill if you're really serious about using summons as there are way better options. a minute-long is good, permanent is better, but my suggestion below is what i'd personally like to see.
- My take on this is to make the weapons tick down their duration based on HP (ie. 1% HP lost per second), so it makes them squishier as time passes. This also makes them more sensible to support with gems that boost defensiveness and lifesteal.


I'm a dual-weilding duelist and i picked this gem up early. i've been using it since because its mob distraction potential and clearing helps tons for the lagging i sometimes get. I want this skill to be a serious part and not just tacked-on benefit to my build.

Thanks!

Edit:
To be politically correct, what i listed as "good suggestions" are what "I" think could work out. there are many other suggestions in the main thread and those that want them should post it below. Thanks!

^ bump for support?

I won't be bumping this anymore if this doesn't catch on.

I really like your suggestions.

I'm doing an Incinerate build right now and use Animate Weapon for the same reasons as you and i like it. Could be a bit more powerful sometimes.

"

synergy453 wrote:

I really like your suggestions.

I'm doing an Incinerate build right now and use Animate Weapon for the same reasons as you and i like it. Could be a bit more powerful sometimes.

animate weapon is absolute bonkers with ele dmg auras + ee + 6l that is super useful for minions like chober chaber. animate weapon - multistrike - wep ele dmg - faster attacks - minion dmg - whatever added dmg gem you want here.