Jump to content

Page 6 Preview: Sonic Manipulation, Game Balance, Piecemeal's Workshop of Horrors


Jimmy

Recommended Posts

28 minutes ago, WindDemon21 said:

Touch of darkness being the sustain is also horrible. It would be much better if it was a pbaoe cloak of fear with a wider radius and sustain.

I haven't made a /dark blaster because of its maintain. It's also hard to center a character around a fear vs stuns and holds due to so few powers featuring it (I like layering mezzes). A PBAoE fear toggle might be better but … well.. cottage rule stops that?

Edited by Rejolt

Thanks for D-Sync Enhancements! Just wish things like Resist/End, Heal/End and Damage/Mez had a third stat that made them more viable. Suggestions - add Recharge to Ribosomes, Range to Golgis, and Slows to Peroxisomes. These changes would allow for an endurance cost/range, recharge/endurance, and slow/mez or slow/damage enhancements.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, Rejolt said:

I haven't made a /dark blaster because of its maintain. It's also hard to center a character around a fear vs stuns and holds due to so few powers featuring it (I like layering mezzes). A PBAoE fear toggle might be better but … well.. cottage rule stops that?

I don't think it's a cottage rule thing. More just about trying to have some variety among the powersets.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, csr said:

I took a minute to double-check this... the +Regen is scaling off the enemy, the +Rec isn't.  Tested against L16 and L20-25 using an L22 Blaster.

Yep, that'll be a bug then.

"If you can read this, I've failed as a developer." -- Caretaker

 

Proc information and chance calculator spreadsheet (last updated 15APR24)

Player numbers graph (updated every 15 minutes) Graph readme

@macskull/@Not Mac | Twitch | Youtube

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, WindDemon21 said:

Thats definitely a bug that also is affecting obscure sustenance in dark armor for sentinels. It's the same bug that was affecting sky splitter in staff that they FIXED, but needs fixed on these powers as well.

 

I would imagine it is also bugging soul absorption in troller dark affinity.

I believe all of the components (both +Reg and +Rec for each duration) of Obscure Sustenance inappropriately scale.  I don't think Soul Absorption has the same problem.  I tested both briefly to confirm my previous observations, but didn't do an exhaustive test.  Once Page 6 is on Open Beta I'll take the time to test such things more thoroughly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/1/2020 at 11:33 AM, Seed22 said:

No you don’t. Tell you what, you bring your TA/arch with my Fire/Atomic. Beat that at it’s own game.

 

EDIT: TA is a fun set and gets a bit of hate undeserved, but I’ve just been noticing a lot of my ‘X’ does better than a blaster or insert dmg AT(the most hilarious one is someone said their PB does more 😂😂😂) and, it’s  somewhat irksome. I try to ignore it but..yeah.

Sure thing. Time, place, server. I'll be there. I'll even get my Fire/Atom later and show you a few tricks.

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/20/2020 at 8:22 PM, Jimmy said:

Hello everyone!

 

Page 6 is almost ready for public testing, so it’s probably time to start talking about what’s in store. Today we’ve got a look at a new powerset, a discussion about our goals for game balance, and a developer diary from Piecemeal discussing the upcoming story arcs.


New Powerset: Sonic Manipulation
A new sonic-themed Blaster secondary with fairly well-rounded capabilities. It also features a Migraine mechanic, with many powers in the set having a small chance to inflict a short hold. This chance can be dramatically increased by using Sound Booster, the build up power of the set.

 

sonic1.thumb.png.7f7b9d4b9ad94f8079ca4231cf29cbbd.png

  • SonicManipulation_SonicThrust.png.9e4a591b5c34a2a1c3f1b4b850901164.png T1: Sonic Thrust (Melee, Minor DMG(Smashing/Energy), Foe Knockback)
    • A focused attack of intense sonic power that violently sends a nearby foe flying. Deals minimal damage, but can be very effective. Recharge: Fast
  • SonicManipulation_StridentEcho.png.75c9a3d2baf66dc56a4f6678f31502e6.png T2: Strident Echo (Melee, Moderate DMG(Smashing/Energy), chance for Hold)
    • Strident Echo deals minor damage over time. It has a low chance of causing a migraine, leaving the target shaking in pain and helpless. Recharge: Slow
  • SonicManipulation_EchoChamber.png.74ddfc2d1e863d828fbc1afd5a17539f.png T3: Echo Chamber (Ranged, Minor DMG(Energy), Foe Hold)
    • Encases the target in a field of sonic waves, dealing energy damage and holding them in place. Recharge: Slow
  • SonicManipulation_BuildUp.png.5ac1803a482553b4063bc6c5f9f328df.png T4: Sound Booster (Self +DMG, +To Hit, +Special)
    • Greatly boosts your attacks for a few seconds. Slightly increases chance to hit. Moderately increases the duration of mez effects. Moderately increases the chance for Sound Manipulation powers to induce migraines. Recharge: Long
  • SonicManipulation_DeafeningCry.png.1ed9159d34ebd539dbc79579b21c6f71.png T5: Deafening Wave (Melee (AoE), High DMG(Smashing/Energy), chance for Hold)
    • You create a large field of sonic waves, causing damage to all foes around you. It has a moderate chance of causing migraines, leaving them shaking in pain and helpless. Recharge: Slow
  • SonicManipulation_SoundBarrier.png.9ef8c213294b607131edc0eea0eda332.png T6: Sound Barrier (Toggle: Self +Absorb, +Recovery, +Res(Smashing, Energy, Sleep))
    • Creates a barrier around the caster which reduces incoming energy and smashing damage, provides protection against sleep effects and grants an absorption shield. Recovery is also increased. Recharge: Moderate
  • SonicManipulation_DisruptionAura.png.09aab2c08162aeeb6929ee31545eed17.png T7: Disruption Aura (Toggle: Foe -Res)
    • You emit a constant wave of sonic energy around yourself, weakening the Damage Resistance of all nearby foes. Recharge: Moderate
  • SonicManipulation_SoundCannon.png.912ac105ddfc93265d3b76192ff67407.png T8: Sound Cannon (Ranged (Cone), Foe Stun, Knockback)
    • You generate a powerful sonic wave that will knock back and disorient foes in front of you for a short time. Recharge: Long
  • SonicManipulation_Earsplitter.png.3b66ed36b218381f48f436c1aa92e784.png T9: Earsplitter (Melee, Heavy DMG(Smashing/Energy), chance for Hold)
    • You generate an Earsplitting sound wave right in the face of your foe, inflicting great damage. It has a good chance of causing a migraine, leaving them shaking in pain and helpless. Recharge: Slow

sonic2.thumb.png.7db756c42944b5a0680925d2ca9d3656.png

 

Sonic Manipulation also comes alongside a set of changes to Blaster Manipulation sets. We’ve made a standardization pass on the strength of Blaster crowd control effects whilst also shoring up the damage and survivability of some lower performing sets.


Game Balance & The Endgame
Next up: We’re commonly asked what our goals are when it comes to game balance, so we’ve written a post explaining our goals, both for page 6 and the future.

 

Check out the post here!


Dev Diary - Piecemeal's Workshop of Horrors
You may have seen Piecemeal skulking about the forum, posting cryptic messages and poems…

 

chopshop.thumb.jpg.dacf086c5bbae6fb9cb292891496a0f1.jpg

 

Well, now it’s finally time for them to introduce themselves and what they’ve been working on. Head on over to this post for a peek inside their head - reader beware, they've got a very active imagination...


And that’s not all!
Page 6 has several more features coming with it, including…

 

unknown.png.7a7fffff07a81e90a4aec2e12e8828d6.png

 

- The Homecoming Team

 

 

Edited by Tsuko

Vous souhaitez rejoindre un canal de discussion 100% Français ?

Vous souhaitez faire des TF Chill ou 4 étoiles avec des Francophones de tout pays ?

Vous souhaitez avoir accès à la meilleure base de données avec les meilleurs builds et ressources en Français ?

"La lune Bleue" est le canal de discussion qu'il vous faut !

N'attendez plus ! Contactez nous en jeu, ou notre Discord  https://discord.gg/GwTeNMrz6z

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The T8 Sonice Cannon power - I notice it has knockback. Must it?! One of the most annoying parts of the game! KB! Maybe there could be a power customization option that allows a player to switch it to either knockback or knockdown; maybe it can be done in the same manner as where you select your animations? I am not sure what works or if it's possible...KB is just annoying. My fave toon might be my Peacebringer but if it didn't have all powers changed from KB to KD, it might be my least fave toon! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, BurtHutt said:

The T8 Sonice Cannon power - I notice it has knockback. Must it?! One of the most annoying parts of the game! KB! Maybe there could be a power customization option that allows a player to switch it to either knockback or knockdown; maybe it can be done in the same manner as where you select your animations? I am not sure what works or if it's possible...KB is just annoying. My fave toon might be my Peacebringer but if it didn't have all powers changed from KB to KD, it might be my least fave toon! 

There is a crafted I/O enhancement that does just what you described.  I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I put them on my Energy/Energy blaster, and it immediately took away the stigma of letting those powers loose without worrying about making others on the team hate me with the white hot intensity of 10,000 suns.  I didn't like having to give up the extra ENH slot for each power that I did this to, but in the end it was worth it, because I could love my blaster again.

What was no more, is REBORN!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Abraxus said:

There is a crafted I/O enhancement that does just what you described.  I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I put them on my Energy/Energy blaster, and it immediately took away the stigma of letting those powers loose without worrying about making others on the team hate me with the white hot intensity of 10,000 suns.  I didn't like having to give up the extra ENH slot for each power that I did this to, but in the end it was worth it, because I could love my blaster again.

Pretty sure you are thinking sudden acceleration knockback to knockdown. It works well. Just uses up a slot that could be used for a different proc. However, you get mitigation from constant knockdowns so I suppose it’s fair. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All this talk about blasters and no talk about ninja training. It had nice utility but said utility is highly accessible to most others, namely the stealth. Beyond that, it's pretty mediocre. Please don't forget that set. 

 

The melee attacks are quite weak, the PBAoE is wonky (it either does too little damage or recharges too slow), the damage buff is just broken. I hear a lot of complaints about /dark's sustain requiring a target but it also does have a use to stack (the extra mez) while kuji-en toh really gets no benefit from using it more once it's recharged since none of its effects stack. 

 

There's a lot you can shift around to help the set. A recommendation from me: add some kind of mechanic to bring Shinobi's damage buff back after you attack. Like using a ninja training power brings up the +DMG for the next hit. So using kuji-en toh during a fight charges up the next hit. Using a katana skill also charges the next power. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/11/2020 at 11:38 AM, Abraxus said:

There is a crafted I/O enhancement that does just what you described.  I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I put them on my Energy/Energy blaster, and it immediately took away the stigma of letting those powers loose without worrying about making others on the team hate me with the white hot intensity of 10,000 suns.  I didn't like having to give up the extra ENH slot for each power that I did this to, but in the end it was worth it, because I could love my blaster again.

That's exactly it. It essentially costs a slot and you cannot finish a set in a power. Not the end of the world but yeah...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Wuuren said:

When are we gonna get development on the story? Right now fully incarnated and io'd ( at least I hope most people are..) the content is  a bit not to sound pre-k  a pushover.  

There are many ways to make content harder already. This update will not be adding any end-game content or anything "harder." 

 

1. Stop running paper missions. 

2. Increase your missions to +4x8 and only run 2-3 players.

3. Use TF settings to buff enemies...debuff yourself...etc - Run 2-3 man TFs with settings to challenge yourself (No I don't mean ITF...there are many more TFs out there that actually push players some)

4. Don't use incarnate powers outside of incarnate content..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, Burnt Toast said:

There are many ways to make content harder already. This update will not be adding any end-game content or anything "harder." 

 

1. Stop running paper missions. 

2. Increase your missions to +4x8 and only run 2-3 players.

3. Use TF settings to buff enemies...debuff yourself...etc - Run 2-3 man TFs with settings to challenge yourself (No I don't mean ITF...there are many more TFs out there that actually push players some)

4. Don't use incarnate powers outside of incarnate content..

Or just unslot your incarnate powers.

25 alts with all the badges!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Wuuren:  https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/22534-game-balance-the-endgame/

The specific reason listed by the Homecoming Devs in regard to their desire to rebalance Powers is in an attempt to eventually develop new endgame content.

There's quite the on-going discussion on the predicted merits and risks associated with that particular direction. 

There's also @Piecemeal's work with the Freaklok content which boasts new challenges and difficulty in the form of new unique enemies.  https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/22521-dev-diary-piecemeals-workshop-of-horrors/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

55 minutes ago, Burnt Toast said:

There are many ways to make content harder already. This update will not be adding any end-game content or anything "harder." 

 

1. Stop running paper missions. 

2. Increase your missions to +4x8 and only run 2-3 players.

3. Use TF settings to buff enemies...debuff yourself...etc - Run 2-3 man TFs with settings to challenge yourself (No I don't mean ITF...there are many more TFs out there that actually push players some)

4. Don't use incarnate powers outside of incarnate content..

There's a (to my mind at least) curious notion that so-called "endgame content" is (a) story and (b) the only story that matters. It's part of it, indeed, but, you know, if I for instance want to play Dare Devil, then why would I be looking for Galactus?

AE SFMA Arcs: The Meteors (Arc id 42079) Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part One. (Arc id 26756) X | Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part Two. (Arc id 26952) | Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part Three. (Arc id 27233) Darker Deeds: Part One (Arc id 28374) | Darker Deeds: Part Two. (Arc id 28536) | Darker Deeds: Part Three. (Arc id 29252) | Darkest Before Dawn: Part One (Arc id 29891) |

Darkest Before Dawn: Part Two (Arc id 30210) | Darkest Before Dawn: Part Three (Arc id 30560) |

 Bridge of Forever ( Arc id 36642) | The Cassini Division (Arc id 37104) X | The House of Gaunt Saints (Arc id 37489) X | The Spark of the Blind (Arc id 40403) | Damnatio Memoriae (Arc id 41140) X  The Eve of War (Arc id 41583) | Spirals: Part One. (Arc id 55109) |  Spirals: Part Two. (Arc id 55358) |  Spirals: Part Three. (Arc id 57197)

I Sing of Arms and the Man (Arc id 42617) | Three Sisters (Arc id 43013)

(Pre War Praetorian Loyalist.  Pre War Praetorian Resistance.  Pre ITF Cimerora.  Post ITF Cimerora. X = Dev Choice/Hall of Fame )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

*nods to @Darmian*

I've chirped on and on about it all over the place for the past . . . forever,

but yeah.  My ideal "endgame" would totally eschew the cosmic threats and focus on content which has a more down-to-earth impact.  It would be wonderful to see more focus placed on content which expands what it means to -play- this game beyond repetitive combat grind, and to have that content accessible at all levels and foe all walks of life.

For example:  The fire-fighting event in Steel Canyon is BARELY scratching the surface for the sort of content which we could be exploring.  The engine may be limited in a lot of ways, but we've seen that tech does exist which could be leveraged for some truly creative ventures.  The "evolving" sub-instances on Atlas Park and Mercy Island, or the Signature Character story missions.  These tools open a -LOT- of doors for more varied content.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Voltor -I've done everything you listed. I'm the type of player to test limits "shrug shoulders" .  But I get what you're saying and no I am not trying to be rude or dismissive - trust me I get it. 

 

@FoulVileTerror I read the piecemeal content.  I am patiently awaiting it trust me .  How come people don't offer up stories or  a contest to have story be made?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/17/2020 at 3:22 AM, Wuuren said:

@FoulVileTerror...How come people don't offer up stories or  a contest to have story be made?

I wrote a 15 slot (45 missions) story in AE that is broken into three "seasons". Plenty of Lore, went a fair bit out of my way to not contradict anything already established.  Does something like that count? Some have said that's excessive, but it plays in 5 mission bits so...

Edited by Darmian
  • Like 3

AE SFMA Arcs: The Meteors (Arc id 42079) Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part One. (Arc id 26756) X | Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part Two. (Arc id 26952) | Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part Three. (Arc id 27233) Darker Deeds: Part One (Arc id 28374) | Darker Deeds: Part Two. (Arc id 28536) | Darker Deeds: Part Three. (Arc id 29252) | Darkest Before Dawn: Part One (Arc id 29891) |

Darkest Before Dawn: Part Two (Arc id 30210) | Darkest Before Dawn: Part Three (Arc id 30560) |

 Bridge of Forever ( Arc id 36642) | The Cassini Division (Arc id 37104) X | The House of Gaunt Saints (Arc id 37489) X | The Spark of the Blind (Arc id 40403) | Damnatio Memoriae (Arc id 41140) X  The Eve of War (Arc id 41583) | Spirals: Part One. (Arc id 55109) |  Spirals: Part Two. (Arc id 55358) |  Spirals: Part Three. (Arc id 57197)

I Sing of Arms and the Man (Arc id 42617) | Three Sisters (Arc id 43013)

(Pre War Praetorian Loyalist.  Pre War Praetorian Resistance.  Pre ITF Cimerora.  Post ITF Cimerora. X = Dev Choice/Hall of Fame )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...