Ideas to fix Smith of KItava (a litmus test of build variety)

Smith of Kitava is right there at the bottom of nearly every tier list, and for good reason. After doing a rush, I was able to get to level 77. It was actually pretty good for most of the campaign, and then it falls off a cliff VERY fast. And these are some ideas to help it. I did the ideas first, and then a little context blurb afterwards...

The ideas...

- please buff max resistance, at least for the ascendancy. It's kind of a core part of it.
- please give some AOE damage options that are actually accessible for a good map clearing flow.
- OR, ideally, please give a damage option that scales off of defenses, specifically resistances, since that is already part of his identity. Being a smith, it is great that it is focused on giving flexible and unique defense, but defense doesn't kill monsters or clear maps. Here are some more specifics...

- Make it something similar to righteous fire. If there was one ascendancy that should get it, it's this.
- Create a skill that allows Kitava to inflict ignite on itself with its own attacks, and then give him a multiplier for that ignite so it scales off of overflow fire resistance, health, and/or armour
- a damage multiplier that scales with over cap resistances
- something that converts any excess fire resistance into damage

Also, this also the ascendancy class that should be able handle 2 hand maces with a shield and no penalty. I mean, the characters identity is literally a smith, so it kind of makes thematic sense he would be the one that could forge himself a special weapon that could do something like that.

Just as a side, one thing that GGG has done a pretty good job at is giving an identity to each class. Witch's specialize with minions, rangers are bows and poison...and so on. And after going through with Kitava, there is no reason to pick it over the other 2 because they do literally everything better...almost

The identity of Kitava seems clear, but also failed. Kitava is pretty much the definition of build variety. With the way it lets you choose stats for armor and the fact you can get nearly all of your resistances from your ascendancy, it gives you an incredible level of freedom in picking gear and uniques since you don't have to worry about reaching resistances caps.

The failure, and why it falls of a cliff, is the damage. With bosses being buffed and required to clear maps, this is painfully clear because Kitava has 0 good offense options. It has no good options to survive in endgame. I do think GGG plays their own game, despite the hate it gets, but some things fall through the cracks, and there is no anyone play tested manifest weapon in endgame.