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Best Of
Re: Shower Thoughts
Darker thoughts: I never used to get why medically assisted suicide was a thing. Suicide is bad, assisting with it has to be worse? But, watching my grandmother's decline into dementia has me reconsidering my thoughts on death, early death, and going out with all your mental capacities in check.
Mariena
2
Re: Affirmation Train: Say something nice about the last poster!
Kalinaar doesn't smell THAT bad...
Iesid
0
Re: Artifact ideas
I would really love something that makes you or the room you are in un-prism-toable. Depending on whether it gets worn or just kept in the inventory, it could be removed or dropped/put in a pack if you want to let people be able to prism again.
Alternately (or maybe in addition) a room upgrade to buildings that makes it so no one can prism into that room.
Alternately (or maybe in addition) a room upgrade to buildings that makes it so no one can prism into that room.
Sarita
0
Re: Quotes & Misquotes: Falling Off of Bridges
I log in to be told that there is a major in action, but then moments later it ends. @Moxie chimes in.Just in case someone asks, "Moxie, why weren't you at that major??"Tendrils of palpable energy disintegrate into the air around you as the major focal point collapses inward on itself. A surge of energies spill forth in a wash of crackling, untempered power from the Mamashi Grasslands and leave your flesh tingling. A few motes of pale, dying light flicker out of existence in eerie silence about you.
(The Side Line): You say, "Welp."
(The Side Line): You say, "There it goes."
(The Side Line): You say, "Hahaha."
(The Side Line): Moxie says, "Lol i think my dogs stole my contacts anyways."
(The Side Line): You say, "Wait, what?"
Only the best for you, @Benedicto
Moxie
2
Re: Character Creation
Some people genuinely like being able to revert to a nothing, they find it a fun character trait. That said - if you had the capacity to choose just-shifter as your starting class, that warning should be made all sorts of bold and in your face.
"YOU WILL BE PRETTY USELESS WHILE NOT IN YOUR SHAPESHIFTED FORM IF YOU START WITH TAKE THIS CLASS"
"YOU WILL BE PRETTY USELESS WHILE NOT IN YOUR SHAPESHIFTED FORM IF YOU START WITH TAKE THIS CLASS"
Zaila
1
Re: Announce post #2927: Team balance update
Further notes: Purgatory (8s balance, no actions during) takes 4s to complete, removing "anyone who has been aggressive" from the room. This, on a faction with access to 2-3 shield ally skills and defend, means that you can protect your 1 zealot for a round and banish every enemy fighter immediately, holding the point yourself. Or disperse an entire fight. All it takes is 4s of being paused- I wasn't able to test what stops it, but still. 4 seconds, save or die.
Golgotha, the 'equivalent', is a skill that takes an Indorani out of the fight while it's open. The pit flares slower than levitation balance, meaning anyone who actually keeps levitation up (unlike @Rijetta ) cannot be pulled in without another class who can strip levitation, or ANOTHER person keeping themselves out of the fight who is also Indorani class. This can be targeted to your enemy list, but any balance-using action (like attacking) interrupts it. The pit flares every 3 seconds, levitation sip is 1.5 seconds. So unless another Indorani more than doubles the proc rate, it will STILL be iffy on if it actually ever pulls anyone in.
One side gained the ability to banish all fighters, one has a slight buff to an ability that cannot mathematically succeed on its own. One side gained the ability to aoe fear, taking away an advantage that another (shadow) had, which is also now buffed- except the lifer equivalent can be done by a Zealot from an adjacent area so long as they leave their body behind (hi no aura!) and no risk is assumed by the user, whereas the Carnifex variant requires standing adjacent.
We gained solo block, which is great, except shaman pull requires either permanent icewall to stop, or permanent shield from everyone, which renders any attacks pointless because using them breaks shield.
To overview:
- Ranged options (non LoS):
Telepathy (Lifer-native guild), kai choke (Lifer-native guild), Psionics (Lifer-only), nature swap (Lifer-only), Sentinel archery from trees (Lifer-only), sand swap (Shadow-only), Doppleganger (Shadow-only), hound track (Shadow-only), Unravel (Shadow-only), cataclysm (split), packhowl (split)
Final tally:
Lifer: 5
Shadow: 5
Split: 2
Clarification: Unravel was added for transparency only, as it cannot be achieved from ranged, requiring patterns and the other pre-requisite afflictions. This makes it noteworthy only that it exists. I also left off traps and rites because they require lifers get there first- these are further advantages, but I'd rather say lifers have a slight edge and everyone accept it than argue about the huge edge (and difficulty in removing them) that is present with rites/traps. I also left star tarot off, because anyone can use meteor arrows (so far as I'm aware?) with archery- it might nudge things microscopically back shadow side with that, if only because you have to buy an artifact bow to meteor arrow (or play a native bow user, which Sentinel/Templar also are).
Summary: Lack of monks is something shadow side will always suffer from. Not having a guild means anyone who wants to play monk class is funneled towards Duiran by default, requiring us to apprentice for it. Monk is the most potent non-LoS class in the game, as it can do more than doppleganger can. Doppleganger is second, since it grants the option to attack, but its summon skill is blocked by the same thing that limits shaman/teradrim pull, and the doppleganger itself can be killed instantly by a 500 gold sigil.
Advantage: Whoever has the most monks (typically lifers)
- Ranged options (LoS/Adjacent): beckon aoe (lifer-only), sentinel ranged push (lifer-only), unblockable pull (lifer-only), fire damage/prone shaman (lifer-only), javelin/ranged throw LoS (lifer-only), Zealot lance (lifer-only), barge (lifer-only), beckon LoS (shadow-only), Archivist affliction (shadow-only), hammer throw (shadow-only), bonedagger (indorani), soul wail (shadow-only), snipe (shadow-native guild), beckon single (split), adduction (split), neckdrag (split)
Final tally:
Lifer: 7
Shadow: 5
Split: 3
Advantage: Lifers. Unstoppable (without a Teradrim) pull from adjacent means most of shadow's 'good' attacks can't be used without the risk of losing someone to them. Conversely, to get the same effect, some sacrificial shapeshifter has to dart in and try to neckdrag someone out while hoping they aren't one of the three lifer-accessible classes with access to forced movement immunity, and picking a target who does have it means you're stuck in the room for 4.65s. The room with all the enemies in it. The only edge shadow side has is a LoS fight, BUT LoS lure is stopped by block and icewall, neither of which can be touched from LoS. So you have to go adjacent to clear the icewall/block, then run back to LoS, which means you're going to get vinepulled instead. Javelin damage is comparable to snipe, when built for, Sentinel crossbow shots also hurt, and Zealots can be immune entirely to ranged attacks.
- Group disrupt (melee): force target call on demand (lifer only), culling blade for everyone - damnation (lifer only), passive webtell disable on demand (lifer only), defend/attack redirection (lifer only), 4s channel group banish (lifer only), room instakill - grove annihilation (lifer-only), attack immunity - blitz (lifer-only), aoe healing - spiritbomb (lifer only), aoe affliction - waterbomb (lifer only), targeted disable on entry - sentinel trap (lifer only), single target audit buff+damage reflect - thorncoat (lifer only)
single target dodge buff - ethereal (shadow only), single culling blade - rot (shadow only), single target aeon (shadow only), channeled enemy only banish that can't work unless curing is off or you stack several people on it (shadow only)
aoe aeon - wayfarer (split) cloudburst/tsunami (split), aoe aeon - retardation (split), aoe damage - holo/sing (split)
Clarification: I only bothered listing things that changed either targetting situation, or the dynamics of the group fight. I could go into details way, way, way more in a lot of ways, but the sheer amount of things here with JUST the limitation of "changes the targeting situation" or "hits everyone in a meaningful way", you can already see the clear winner.
Advantage: Lifers, with every thing Shadow has to disrupt/mess with a fight being out-shined by a better version of it on the lifer side.
Overall conclusion: Why would you ever want to fight on shadow side when everything you're capable of doing is done better by the other side? I'm perplexed as to what magical skill combination I and the rest of BL/Spines am missing that accounts for wisp, let alone the rest of these fairly clear, blatant advantages that are being under-utilized in almost every group fight. The closer to an in-room fight we get, the worse it looks for us. Our non-LoS siege is probably our best way to compete, but when fights take place in the orrery (cramped) or a lesser (5 room radius) at best, "non LoS" is a pipe dream. Additionally, our "useful" skill (doppleganger) has 3 ways to kill it, one of which is passive and one of which is a sigil anyone can buy.
I'm trying very hard to shake off the negativity from previous experiences where I felt that because we were doing well, and the other side was not, that there were steps taken to favor the losing side. I likewise keep hoping that, somehow, mage release will balance the field, but that's still a long time away, but for the lifers to get such massive buffs, especially on an already powerful group class - Sentinel - that I've only ever seen used dropping traps and using their autobasher to bounce off of my rebounding? I'm just baffled as to what we could be doing differently/better, because the already-stacked deck has become that much more in favor of light side pk.
Golgotha, the 'equivalent', is a skill that takes an Indorani out of the fight while it's open. The pit flares slower than levitation balance, meaning anyone who actually keeps levitation up (unlike @Rijetta ) cannot be pulled in without another class who can strip levitation, or ANOTHER person keeping themselves out of the fight who is also Indorani class. This can be targeted to your enemy list, but any balance-using action (like attacking) interrupts it. The pit flares every 3 seconds, levitation sip is 1.5 seconds. So unless another Indorani more than doubles the proc rate, it will STILL be iffy on if it actually ever pulls anyone in.
One side gained the ability to banish all fighters, one has a slight buff to an ability that cannot mathematically succeed on its own. One side gained the ability to aoe fear, taking away an advantage that another (shadow) had, which is also now buffed- except the lifer equivalent can be done by a Zealot from an adjacent area so long as they leave their body behind (hi no aura!) and no risk is assumed by the user, whereas the Carnifex variant requires standing adjacent.
We gained solo block, which is great, except shaman pull requires either permanent icewall to stop, or permanent shield from everyone, which renders any attacks pointless because using them breaks shield.
To overview:
- Ranged options (non LoS):
Telepathy (Lifer-native guild), kai choke (Lifer-native guild), Psionics (Lifer-only), nature swap (Lifer-only), Sentinel archery from trees (Lifer-only), sand swap (Shadow-only), Doppleganger (Shadow-only), hound track (Shadow-only), Unravel (Shadow-only), cataclysm (split), packhowl (split)
Final tally:
Lifer: 5
Shadow: 5
Split: 2
Clarification: Unravel was added for transparency only, as it cannot be achieved from ranged, requiring patterns and the other pre-requisite afflictions. This makes it noteworthy only that it exists. I also left off traps and rites because they require lifers get there first- these are further advantages, but I'd rather say lifers have a slight edge and everyone accept it than argue about the huge edge (and difficulty in removing them) that is present with rites/traps. I also left star tarot off, because anyone can use meteor arrows (so far as I'm aware?) with archery- it might nudge things microscopically back shadow side with that, if only because you have to buy an artifact bow to meteor arrow (or play a native bow user, which Sentinel/Templar also are).
Summary: Lack of monks is something shadow side will always suffer from. Not having a guild means anyone who wants to play monk class is funneled towards Duiran by default, requiring us to apprentice for it. Monk is the most potent non-LoS class in the game, as it can do more than doppleganger can. Doppleganger is second, since it grants the option to attack, but its summon skill is blocked by the same thing that limits shaman/teradrim pull, and the doppleganger itself can be killed instantly by a 500 gold sigil.
Advantage: Whoever has the most monks (typically lifers)
- Ranged options (LoS/Adjacent): beckon aoe (lifer-only), sentinel ranged push (lifer-only), unblockable pull (lifer-only), fire damage/prone shaman (lifer-only), javelin/ranged throw LoS (lifer-only), Zealot lance (lifer-only), barge (lifer-only), beckon LoS (shadow-only), Archivist affliction (shadow-only), hammer throw (shadow-only), bonedagger (indorani), soul wail (shadow-only), snipe (shadow-native guild), beckon single (split), adduction (split), neckdrag (split)
Final tally:
Lifer: 7
Shadow: 5
Split: 3
Advantage: Lifers. Unstoppable (without a Teradrim) pull from adjacent means most of shadow's 'good' attacks can't be used without the risk of losing someone to them. Conversely, to get the same effect, some sacrificial shapeshifter has to dart in and try to neckdrag someone out while hoping they aren't one of the three lifer-accessible classes with access to forced movement immunity, and picking a target who does have it means you're stuck in the room for 4.65s. The room with all the enemies in it. The only edge shadow side has is a LoS fight, BUT LoS lure is stopped by block and icewall, neither of which can be touched from LoS. So you have to go adjacent to clear the icewall/block, then run back to LoS, which means you're going to get vinepulled instead. Javelin damage is comparable to snipe, when built for, Sentinel crossbow shots also hurt, and Zealots can be immune entirely to ranged attacks.
- Group disrupt (melee): force target call on demand (lifer only), culling blade for everyone - damnation (lifer only), passive webtell disable on demand (lifer only), defend/attack redirection (lifer only), 4s channel group banish (lifer only), room instakill - grove annihilation (lifer-only), attack immunity - blitz (lifer-only), aoe healing - spiritbomb (lifer only), aoe affliction - waterbomb (lifer only), targeted disable on entry - sentinel trap (lifer only), single target audit buff+damage reflect - thorncoat (lifer only)
single target dodge buff - ethereal (shadow only), single culling blade - rot (shadow only), single target aeon (shadow only), channeled enemy only banish that can't work unless curing is off or you stack several people on it (shadow only)
aoe aeon - wayfarer (split) cloudburst/tsunami (split), aoe aeon - retardation (split), aoe damage - holo/sing (split)
Clarification: I only bothered listing things that changed either targetting situation, or the dynamics of the group fight. I could go into details way, way, way more in a lot of ways, but the sheer amount of things here with JUST the limitation of "changes the targeting situation" or "hits everyone in a meaningful way", you can already see the clear winner.
Advantage: Lifers, with every thing Shadow has to disrupt/mess with a fight being out-shined by a better version of it on the lifer side.
Overall conclusion: Why would you ever want to fight on shadow side when everything you're capable of doing is done better by the other side? I'm perplexed as to what magical skill combination I and the rest of BL/Spines am missing that accounts for wisp, let alone the rest of these fairly clear, blatant advantages that are being under-utilized in almost every group fight. The closer to an in-room fight we get, the worse it looks for us. Our non-LoS siege is probably our best way to compete, but when fights take place in the orrery (cramped) or a lesser (5 room radius) at best, "non LoS" is a pipe dream. Additionally, our "useful" skill (doppleganger) has 3 ways to kill it, one of which is passive and one of which is a sigil anyone can buy.
I'm trying very hard to shake off the negativity from previous experiences where I felt that because we were doing well, and the other side was not, that there were steps taken to favor the losing side. I likewise keep hoping that, somehow, mage release will balance the field, but that's still a long time away, but for the lifers to get such massive buffs, especially on an already powerful group class - Sentinel - that I've only ever seen used dropping traps and using their autobasher to bounce off of my rebounding? I'm just baffled as to what we could be doing differently/better, because the already-stacked deck has become that much more in favor of light side pk.
Toz
4
Re: Good RP and character background tips
Another one I could add:
- A character starting off as 18-30, being announced as being "new" to the game is another example of not holding someone hostage to game mechanics. If they play older (because of some age modifying artifact) or they sound more experienced, don't get caught up forcing them to pretend to be newbs and forcing your help down their throat. Allow people to play as they like
- A character starting off as 18-30, being announced as being "new" to the game is another example of not holding someone hostage to game mechanics. If they play older (because of some age modifying artifact) or they sound more experienced, don't get caught up forcing them to pretend to be newbs and forcing your help down their throat. Allow people to play as they like
Aloli
1
Re: Good RP and character background tips
I'm gonna disagree hard there. They're called age-falsifying for a reason, and the last time they got dragged out in a big way was to be condescending to everyone else because "I'm older than you". If somebody's new, they're new.I'm going to disagree with you too, Toz. Not everyone has to start off as a newbie if they aren't actually newbs...but if they are then that's fine!
If I wanted to roll out a new character who is a grumpy old hag living in Tasur'ke well...I shouldn't be restricted to "when the logs say I escaped slaver's isle" should I?
Aloli
1
