Change lightning strike & ground slam to cast/attack where you're standing

I know this is kinda late to the discussion but I will add my opinion anyways, if only to get a better view of how people use the skill. I will not comment on whether I think that someone is right or wrong, this is just my opinion.

I use Lightning Strike as a melee attack and always have. There may be a few occasions where I am running and turn back to use it from a distance but I often have much better range skills available for that, at least in my opinion. My 2h axe Lightning Strike Templar (now retired) did so much single target damage it was ridiculous. The projectiles that come out of Lightning Strike were just added bonus to clear up mobs behind the enemy. In my opinion, Lightning Strike does not have enough AOE damage to replace other skills I might use and has much more single target damage than other skills depending on the build.

Yeah my original post is too generalized and wrong on many accounts. But I like how the thread evolved :D

So, due to the mega-nerf to Life Regen nodes I have found myself using LS more as a ranged skill. I do like how it works that way, but I would be sad to lose the ability to use it as a melee attack too.

As it is, I can get a group of baddies to chase me to a corner, set up a rejuv totem and spam LMP lightning strikes to my hearts content. I do STILL use it as a melee skill though, so taking away that aspect would be sad for me.

This is how the support gem linking looks now.


That said, I think instead of changing the mechanics of LS maybe add a new skill that is a mix of GS and LS? The shift toggle would work too, but personally I can see myself forgetting to turn that off (or accidentally turning it on) and getting mad at the game/submitting bug reports

Just my .02
Also, thanks for the Shift+LS idea, I never would have used it as much as I do now if not for this thread, but I still would be upset to see the regular melee portion go away