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

[Heatstroke]

Great Blasters get yet ANOTHER power added to their secondary to get a total of 14.. for 182 possible combinations..

 

While Dominators sit with 88. The least possible number of combos across AT's ( not counting Epic AT's ) 

Was hoping it would be Sonic control for Controllers and Doms... NOPE.. Blasters.. sigh.. 

[kiramon]

22 minutes ago, Heatstroke said:

Great Blasters get yet ANOTHER power added to their secondary to get a total of 14.. for 182 possible combinations..

 

While Dominators sit with 88. The least possible number of combos across AT's ( not counting Epic AT's ) 

Was hoping it would be Sonic control for Controllers and Doms... NOPE.. Blasters.. sigh.. 

While I don't like this train of thought,

 

I do have to agree. Blasters needed some adjustments, but they have PLENTY of options whereas doms are like T_T. 

 

Oh well. I hope they eventually do another sound-based set using the siren spell graphics. 

[Wavicle]

The first step in creating a Sonic Assault secondary for Doms is making Sonic melee attacks, so this could get you there eventually.

[Mezmera]

1 hour ago, Wavicle said:

The first step in creating a Sonic Assault secondary for Doms is making Sonic melee attacks, so this could get you there eventually.

So you're saying there's a chance....     

 

 yyeeeaahhhh....

 

So I assume all we have to do is play the hell out of this set and until we are heard spam:

On 9/20/2020 at 11:22 AM, Jimmy said:

 T5: Deafening Wave (Melee (AoE), High DMG(Sonic/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

 

Or do they not care about doms and we are stuck in: 

 

On 9/20/2020 at 11:22 AM, Jimmy said:

 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

 

The Dominator in me will still be asking if we can have whips involved with all the screams.

Edited September 22, 2020 by Mezmera

[Mezmera]

1 hour ago, Heatstroke said:

Great Blasters get yet ANOTHER power added to their secondary to get a total of 14.. for 182 possible combinations..

 

While Dominators sit with 88. The least possible number of combos across AT's ( not counting Epic AT's ) 

Was hoping it would be Sonic control for Controllers and Doms... NOPE.. Blasters.. sigh.. 

I feel your pain.  I wasn't expecting much for doms this go since the revamp last year was a major update.  Was thinking a bunch of shiny stuff for other AT's was likely.  But why's it gotta be blasters...

[WindDemon21]

4 hours ago, csr said:

Absorb over time powers that refresh quickly work as you describe.  The other Absorb powers work much like a HP buff that ignores the cap and doesn't affect Regen.

 

As for Blasters... most Blaster secondaries don't get any Absorb.  Unless they are changing that in Page 6, the count will be 8 +Regen, 5 Absorb-over-time and 1 Heal-over-time.

Except for how tiny the absorb is and the lack of any base defense/resistance in their sets, such a tiny aborb is practically useless, and means nothing between mobs because it doesn't stack.

 

When I originally saw these powers in the patch notes for i24, I assumed that the absorb would stack with itself, which is the only real way it would be useful (besides increasing the absorb amount/ proc rate as i mentioned). Otherwise I would 100% prefer the regen or heal proc instead.

[plainguy]

What's the plans for page 7 ?

 

[Wavicle]

1 minute ago, plainguy said:

What's the plans for page 7 ?

 

Really?

[plainguy]

1 minute ago, Wavicle said:

Really?

Someone had to ask.. 

 

[Bopper]

30 minutes ago, plainguy said:

Someone had to ask.. 

 

I chuckled.

[Jimmy]

1 hour ago, plainguy said:

What's the plans for page 7 ?

 

Now that you ask....

Spoiler

nerfing regen

 

[csr]

6 hours ago, XaoGarrent said:

Please use reading comprehension.

On what?  Was there a post somewhere that stated that all Blaster sustains are now Absorb-over-Time powers?  If so, I missed it.

[Safehouse]

Page 6 is looking mighty fine! I knew there had to be some fun stuff in the works behind the scenes.

 

So glad to see a sonic manipulation set. As someone else says, it brings us one step closer to maybe having a sonic assault set for dominators. Moreover, I've always considered sonic assault to also work, thematically, as a "vibrations" power. I never really cared too much about sonic before, but now I'm thinking I may try out a sonic/sonic blaster to create a "vibration" style superhero.

 

If we ever get sonic assault, I could see earth/sonic being a good "vibes" combo as well, now that I think on it. Hmmmm 😉

[XaoGarrent]

3 hours ago, csr said:

On what?  Was there a post somewhere that stated that all Blaster sustains are now Absorb-over-Time powers?  If so, I missed it.

No, but there wasn't a post where I said that, either. The error is on your side.

[arcane]

10 hours ago, Heatstroke said:

Great Blasters get yet ANOTHER power added to their secondary to get a total of 14.. for 182 possible combinations..

 

While Dominators sit with 88. The least possible number of combos across AT's ( not counting Epic AT's ) 

Was hoping it would be Sonic control for Controllers and Doms... NOPE.. Blasters.. sigh.. 

Are you... closing in on 88 level 50 dominators or something?

[Golden Azrael]

What is the Tricks Arrow pending change?

 

I've heard two players mention it.  But I can't find it.

 

And Energy Melee.  Is this for the EM tank?  (For blasters?). A damage boost?  An Energy Assault style mechanic (The dominator?  Yes please...big fun to play) Or an Atom Smasher style AoE stun damage to replace Single target stun?  

 

Azrael.

 

PS.  At last!  A sonic blaster 2ndary!!!  Sonic Thrust!

Edited September 22, 2020 by Golden Azrael

[ABlueThingy]

37 minutes ago, Golden Azrael said:

What is the Tricks Arrow pending change?

 

I've heard two players mention it.  But I can't find it.

 

Not to be impatient but I'd also like to hear what kind of changes you're considering for TA.  We've been trying to balance that one for eons and I've seen millions of suggestions and I'd love to know what direction you're going in

 

[Vanden]

8 hours ago, WindDemon21 said:

Except for how tiny the absorb is and the lack of any base defense/resistance in their sets, such a tiny aborb is practically useless, and means nothing between mobs because it doesn't stack.

 

When I originally saw these powers in the patch notes for i24, I assumed that the absorb would stack with itself, which is the only real way it would be useful (besides increasing the absorb amount/ proc rate as i mentioned). Otherwise I would 100% prefer the regen or heal proc instead.

The Blaster absorb helps more than you’d expect. For example, some testing I did revealed that lava hazards in missions will kill a typical Blaster in around 30 seconds, but with an unslotted absorb toggle on it takes twice as long for the lava to kill you.

[arcane]

54 minutes ago, Golden Azrael said:

What is the Tricks Arrow pending change?

 

I've heard two players mention it.  But I can't find it.

 

And Energy Melee.  Is this for the EM tank?  (For blasters?). A damage boost?  An Energy Assault style mechanic (The dominator?  Yes please...big fun to play) Or an Atom Smasher style AoE stun damage to replace Single target stun?  

 

Azrael.

 

PS.  At last!  A sonic blaster 2ndary!!!  Sonic Thrust!

Of all the trick arrow feedback they’ve received, I think a need for a consistent -regen source is surely one of the most consistent requests, so hopefully that.

[CaptainLupis]

If that last picture is anything to go by what we are getting are bracers/bracelets that are so tight they cut off the blood supply to your hands...

[arcane]

Also, RE: blaster toggles, can we not understate the value of every secondary getting a very potent free recovery toggle? Not only is that highly valuable on its own, but far greater independence from Ageless Core can create an opening for using a Destiny power that further increases survivability.

[Wavicle]

Just now, arcaneholocaust said:

Also, RE: blaster toggles, can we not understate the value of every secondary getting a very potent free recovery toggle? Not only is that highly valuable on its own, but far greater independence from Ageless Core can create an opening for using a Destiny power that further increases survivability.

There’s no need to state the importance of that since in fact, with the exception of Energy Manipulation which gets a very potent endurance discount, every Blaster secondary DOES get free very potent recovery.

[WindDemon21]

1 hour ago, Vanden said:

The Blaster absorb helps more than you’d expect. For example, some testing I did revealed that lava hazards in missions will kill a typical Blaster in around 30 seconds, but with an unslotted absorb toggle on it takes twice as long for the lava to kill you.

Yes cause we're always just standing around in lava for no reason as a blaster...

 

When an even level minnion can break through that absorb it isn't doing anywhere near enough that it needs to. The way that blasters take damage they will take a burst damage and hopefully kill whatever is attacking them before more comes through.

 

Once that happens, when the absorb already did next to nothing since it was broken in .0454 seconds and then the blaster got all the damage after that, then yay they get another tiny tic of absorb and still left with no health for future damage.

 

Unless the absorb stacks with itself, or is large enough to at least stop a good bit of the first damage then it is next to completely useless.

 

Otherwise the regen/ heal helps a ton to get you back to full for whatever you're fighting next (or during).

[Wavicle]

2 minutes ago, WindDemon21 said:

Yes cause we're always just standing around in lava for no reason as a blaster...

 

When an even level minnion can break through that absorb it isn't doing anywhere near enough that it needs to. The way that blasters take damage they will take a burst damage and hopefully kill whatever is attacking them before more comes through.

 

Once that happens, when the absorb already did next to nothing since it was broken in .0454 seconds and then the blaster got all the damage after that, then yay they get another tiny tic of absorb and still left with no health for future damage.

 

Unless the absorb stacks with itself, or is large enough to at least stop a good bit of the first damage then it is next to completely useless.

 

Otherwise the regen/ heal helps a ton to get you back to full for whatever you're fighting next (or during).

This does not reflect my experience, which is that the Absorb powers are quite powerful. Note that they all come with significant debuffs as well which the Regen powers do not get.

[arcane]

11 minutes ago, Wavicle said:

There’s no need to state the importance of that since in fact, with the exception of Energy Manipulation which gets a very potent endurance discount, every Blaster secondary DOES get free very potent recovery.

Right, but no other AT gets such a thing so consistently across all sets. Blasters should be very grateful 🙂