Sonic Manipulation Constructive Feedback

[Solarverse]

The Quick Rundown

 

In theory, I find this to be a well rounded secondary for Blasters. It couples Knock Back with Repel for one of the best Thrust type powers (which I wish like hell they would do this for Thrust in the Energy Melee set!) in game, second only to Ki Push, with a Smashing + Energy Resist Shield that also has a +Recovery component, a resist to Sleep and a small absorption component to boot.  Sure, 7% Resist may be a small number, but with the help of Elec Shield in the Epic Pool and IO's, you should easily be able to soft cap your resistance to Smashing and Energy Damage and only miss the mark by a small number to Lethal. Straight out of the gate, that is one kick ass power!

 

Sonic also comes with a Ranged hold that does a decent amount of damage when coupled with the other 2 melee damage powers; both of which have a threatening amount of damage themselves. The Build-Up power not only enhances your strength to damage and accuracy, but also gives a 25% strength to confuse or terrorize powers for a short amount of time, which may make this a good set to pair with Dark Primary; however, I feel that the set should have catered more to the Sonic Primary instead of adding bonuses to a powerset that has absolutely nothing to do with its Primary counterpart. It has an AoE that not only does on par damage with other sets, but also comes with a 30% chance for a 1.5 Mag Hold for 5.96 seconds that will temporarily put a few minions out of commission for a bit, giving you just enough time to escape melee range.

 

Disruption Aura as it stands I think is a power that you could easily skip due to its only function being a -14% resist to all damage AoE Debuff, but only within melee range. Since a Blaster spends most of their time at ranged, I think that power is going to be arguably the worst power in the set and many people will most likely feel that it will be well worth skipping.

 

Sound Cannon is also going to be a hit and miss due to the fact that it has no damage, is yet another knock back cone that stuns (if paired with Sonic Primary, that is just going to be way too many cone powers that virtually do the same thing) and costs even more endurance than the AoE Damage ability. For a 45 foot range power that does zero damage and has a function that other powers in the primary set already cover, I think the end cost of this power is going to cause players who might have taken the power to skip it once they realize the end cost is not worth the price of what the power actually does. I personally feel the set could have used another single target melee attack power that does damage rather than having this power that will most likely be skipped by a lot of players.

 

Earsplitter is a power that I think many will find very useful. It has great damage, has a 75% chance for a 3 Mag Hold for 5.96 seconds and does Smashing/Energy Damage. I don't see many people skipping this power.

 

Which leads me to my main concern with this set...it's simply not visually appealing when it comes to the set's animations and feels more like a Defender Primary set than a Blaster Secondary set. For me, animations, visuals and sounds are very important for theme of a character and this set simply put does not fit the bill in my opinion.

 

Animation and Visuals Rundown

 

 

• Sonic Thrust: This has a great animation, similar to Thrust from the Energy Melee Set and I would not change anything about this power's animation. This is perfect!

• Strident Echo: This power uses the same animation as Umbral Torrent (which I am not a fan of for that power, I think Unbral Torrent should have used the same animation as Torrent for Energy Blasters instead) which I most certainly associate more with a ranged power than a Melee Power. I feel the power should have used the animation for Havoc Punch with fists wrapped in Sound Vibration Energy which would have given it more of a melee feel than a ranged feel. The animation for this power is enough to make me skip it even though I know the set needs it for my play style.

• Echo Chamber: This power's animation is "okay" because it is a ranged attack, however, I think using the Umbral Torrent animation would have worked more here since that animation uses the hands and even though ranged, it is still a power in the melee set.

• Sound Booster: Leave this the same. Perfect as is.

•  Deafening Wave: This is the power that makes me truly hesitant on playing this set at all. The animation is that of a Toggle Buff activation, the current animation looks nothing like an AoE Attack power. When cast, this makes you feel like you are casting a buff rather than delivering a devastating blow to all surrounding enemies. In my opinion, this should have use a Ground Pound animation or the Psychic Scream animation; preferably the ground pound.

• Sound Barrier: This is another "okay" animation, but I feel it would feel much more natural and powerful if this was given the same animation as Build-Up. As a side note: Blasters can give themselves shields but Defenders can't? Defenders can cast bubbles large enough to engulf their whole team, cast bubbles and barriers that encase each of their team mates, but they just can't figure out how to give themselves a shield, eh? Look out! Here comes a Blaster! The Blaster has figured out what the Defender cannot! A bit silly, but that is just a side note gripe.  😄

• Disruption Aura: This power should have been given the animation that Deafening Wave has, it's a toggle power and would have made way more sense to use that animation here instead of giving it to an AoE Damage power. It's bad enough the power has a minimal use, but this animation just makes it even worse for me.

• Sound Cannon: This power is using a Single Target (or most relatable to single target) animation for a Cone. I feel the Howl animation from the Sonic Attack set would have fit much better here and made a lot more sense.

• Earsplitter: Yet another melee ability using the animation of a ranged Sonic Attack. The Power Crash (same animation as Stun) from the Energy melee set would have fit beautifully here and would have made the set feel more melee rather than a set that is confused.  😄

 

 

Wrapping it Up

 

 

So as we can see, my main complaint about the set is the animations and some visuals that make no sense to a melee set. Sure, I take a couple of small issues with individual powers, but over all I feel it is a great set with great functionality. I think this could easily be one of the most favored secondaries in game for blasters; if it were given a bit of love in the visuals/animations department.

 

Other than that, good work Devs. I can only hope you guys take some of this in to consideration when you are making/considering alternate animations/visuals as an option for this set.

 

Thanks for lending me your ear...or eyes as it may be and taking the time to read this.

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2020 by Solarverse

[Greycat]

*Chases Solar with a baseball bat yelling "you're wrong!"*

 

There. Preemptive reactive emotional rage taken care of. The thread may proceed. 🙂 

 

(Honestly, the only thing I can say in anything close to rebuttal to any of this right now is that Disruption Aura's usefulness is going to depend entirely on playstyle. Those more into blapping will probably find the debuff handier. But I think Solar knows that. Since I tend to stay at range, I'll probably find it skippable, or a "well, I have to take something" power I leave unslotted.)

[drbuzzard]

I made the point during the beta that the set lacks enough melee damage powers to be a proper blapping set, but has 2 AOE powers well suited to that. The set came across as confused as to purpose to me. Of course by the time the set was in open beta they probably didn't want to revamp the whole thing. I suppose some people might enjoy it, I just know I won't bother playing it. 

[Solarverse]

Just now, Greycat said:

*Chases Solar with a baseball bat yelling "you're wrong!"*

 

There. Preemptive reactive emotional rage taken care of. The thread may proceed. 🙂 

 

(Honestly, the only thing I can say in anything close to rebuttal to any of this right now is that Disruption Aura's usefulness is going to depend entirely on playstyle. Those more into blapping will probably find the debuff handier. But I think Solar knows that. Since I tend to stay at range, I'll probably find it skippable, or a "well, I have to take something" power I leave unslotted.)

I agree. I have my Blappers and I have my Blasters. For my Blappers it would be handy. Even still, I feel it could have used a DoT to go with it to make it more useful in the Enhancements department.

[Greycat]

Just now, Solarverse said:

I agree. I have my Blappers and I have my Blasters. For my Blappers it would be handy. Even still, I feel it could have used a DoT to go with it to make it more useful in the Enhancements department.

... A sonic doign DOT (without making you sound like a werewolf) is not unheard of - see the sonic repulsion fields in Praetoria.

 

Hmm. Lower the debuff, add a small Slow (for a non-Repel, non-KB emulation of repulsion,) and a degree of DOT? (Yeah, I know. "Should've said something during the beta." Idea just came up from this post. Happens when things are finally released into the wild.)

[Solarverse]

9 minutes ago, Greycat said:

... A sonic doign DOT (without making you sound like a werewolf) is not unheard of - see the sonic repulsion fields in Praetoria.

 

Hmm. Lower the debuff, add a small Slow (for a non-Repel, non-KB emulation of repulsion,) and a degree of DOT? (Yeah, I know. "Should've said something during the beta." Idea just came up from this post. Happens when things are finally released into the wild.)

Not a bad idea.