I got into an interesting conversation with someone after reading this remark:

Estarra:

I usually think the trans skill is the signature skill!

And was curious what everyone feels the signature move of each skill and class is! I think it'd be interesting to map out how different people view different skillsets! Here are my lists:


Trans Signature Skills:

Healing ------- Bedevil/Aurawarp (people confuse the two a lot)
Hexes --------- Doublewhammy
Tahtetso ------ Gahtirak'sho
Axelord -------- Execute
Wicca ---------- Toadcurse
Tp --------------- Mindburst
Sacraments --- Trueheal
Stealth ---------- Veil
Crow ------------ Crowform
Stag ------------- Stagform
Total: 10 skillsets

Other Signature Skills:

Acrobatics ------- Dodging
Astrology --------- Meteor
Athletics ---------- Surge
Celestalism ------ Angel
Harmonics ------- Balestone/Shatterplex
Nihilism ----------- Demon/Shackles
Transmology ----- Homunculus/Fleshmorph (nose)
Dreamweaving -- Sleepmist
Aeromancy ------- DysbaricPressure/Airnet
Aquamancy ------ Currents
Geomancy -------- Chasm
Pyromancy -------- Incinerate
Harmony ----------- Mantra Wind/Regeneration
Ecology ------------ Fetish/Smudges
Tracking ----------- Pit
Glamours ---------- Illusoryself
Phantasms -------- Phantomsphere/Phantasm
Nekotai ------------- Oothai
Ninjakari ----------- Chainyank
Shofangi ----------- Crunch/Butojo
Blademaster ------- Pinleg
Bonecrusher ------ Knockdown
Pureblade ---------- LegTendon
Necroscream ----- CarrilionKnell
Shadowbeat ------- Crowcaw
Starhymn ----------- PrincessFairwell
Wildarrane --------- CairnLargo
Druidry -------------- Sap
Psymet* ------------- ForcedSymmetry/Bloodboil/Pheremones
TK -------------------- Burst (not Heartburst, IMO)
Aeonics ------------- Aeon-
Necromancy ------- Crucify
Paradigmatics ------ Badluck
Runes --------------- Deathprophecy/Rad
Tarot ----------------- Soulless
Moon ----------------- Succumb
Night ----------------- Choke
Number: 37 skillsets

*I wasn't quite sure, as this skill is based on a bunch of passives, but these are the three I hear the most talk about.

EDIT: BLARGH, my Formatting died. Fixing.

Sounds about right, though I'd add raise staff to Geomancy and Maze to Glamours.

What do you define as a signature ability? The ones used most? The ones that represent the idea behind the skillset? The one that is the coolest?

That's easy - whichever one gets complained about the most.

Which, incidentally is why I'd add Rad to Runes too!

When you think of x skillset, what skill do you think of? Usually, that will be the move that skillset is based around or that is used the most (as people will associate that move with the set). That's not always the case though! Dreamweaving's actual core mechanic is eternalsleep, but when most people think of dw, they go to sleep attrition and then to sleepmist (though the actual attrition comes from deepsleep!).

Your choices for Druidry and the various -mancy skills confuse me. The signature skills there are pretty obviously Terrain and Meld. When I think "Hartstone Druidry", I think "those green ethereal forests"

Oh. I didn't count the terrain abilities because they aren't really distinguished between the different skillsets. They all do pretty much the exact same thing and sort of run together, honestly.

If you've ever faced a druid, then you know it's Sap. Definitely Sap. For Aeromancy, Pyromancer, and maybe Aquamancy I would think you have a little more leeway. Chasm for Geomancy is spot on, though I think Staff deserves an honorable mention.

I'd say Inquisition for Sacraments, not Trueheal. Though both probably qualify.

Oh hmm, good point.

Considering the general uselessness of cloud coils, I would put westwind as Aeromancy's 'best' ability. Passive allheale is niiiiiiice. Airnet is really only good in one situation (barrier), though it is very good in that particular instance.

For dreamweaving, I'd lean more towards memoryloss, considering the number of times I'm asked to spam it (always) versus the number of times I'm asked to meld so I can use sleepmist (never). If I am asked to meld, it's for embedded motes, usually memoryloss.

My signature skill is ZAP!

Estarra:

My signature skill is ZAP!

Any god can do that. Your signature skill is destroy the universe with your pinky while sipping tea.


Edit: And for aeonics, I'd say aeonfield over just aeon. Passive aeon was the big wtf moment when aeonics came out.

Hey I have zap too! Its just uhh, more like a mosquito bite and note quite as useful.

Also, trueheal is def what I would consider the signature sacraments ability. In large part due to, "Gah, truehealed again. Why won't you die already!"

Also, Necromancy. Lichdom is the sig skill there, not Crucify. You only rarely even see crucify.

Could add Hyperactive to Acrobatics. :D

Yeah, definitely Oothai for Nekotai. Though the new Discipline Hold Breathing will change all that, as it provides great asphyx DMP against the skill.

Would you say Blood Boil or Pheromones for Psymet?

Lilia:

For dreamweaving, I'd lean more towards memoryloss, considering the number of times I'm asked to spam it (always) versus the number of times I'm asked to meld so I can use sleepmist (never). If I am asked to meld, it's for embedded motes, usually memoryloss.

Yeah, though any time I hear anything major about Dreamweaving, it's about sleep attrition which most people equate to sleepmist! I was kinda leaning towards memoryloss also.

A lot of people still remember the days when cloudcoils were crazy, and the different wind abilities are confusing, imo. Two of them do pretty much the same thing (sorta), one pierces limbs (east?) and the other cures. There aren't any really big Aeromancy using combatants that I ever have to deal with, so I don't know what people think of first (besides TK/TP).

As far as Necromancy goes, being a lich is more of a Magnagoran thing then a signature Necromancer thing, imo. That comes from necromancy but isn't really the mark of a Necromancer. Though it doesn't happen as often, Crucify is more of their big flashy "Look, I'm a big nasty necromancer" thing.

Personally, out of those two, I'd say pheromones because it's way more annoying to me. I think that people are more familiar with Bloodboil though.

Regarding Runes, Rad is spot on the most complained about in large-scale combat and I went through 200ish Rad runes for ascension, but Deathprophecy isnt used at all, not ever, except maybe if your opponent is afk and prone and sleeping (that's a joke).

Doublesling (trans) is still the signature skill as much as doublewhammy is. Haegl/Gyfu/Cen are easily used more often than Rad except in huge fights.

Otherwise, I agree 100%. Trans skills are rarely the signature skill and when they are, they're not very defining (see example above).

Enyalida:

A lot of people still remember the days when cloudcoils were crazy, and the different wind abilities are confusing, imo. Two of them do pretty much the same thing (sorta), one pierces limbs (east?) and the other cures. There aren't any really big Aeromancy using combatants that I ever have to deal with, so I don't know what people think of first (besides TK/TP).

Cloudcoils haven't changed since they were made. Though what has changed is curing. Treant notably had a bug that broke the system when afflicted with coils. They could probably qualify for signature ability, though, if I can cheat, I'd say Aeromancy's signature ability is 'wtf too many herb cures'.

Personally, when I think of the various mage primaries, these come to mind:
Geomancy: Stonerain (aka rubble)
Aquamancy: Jellyfish/Deluge
Pyromancy: "Burnsy stuff"