Help with Placate

[oedipus_tex]

I've never been able to wrap my ahead around what Placate (the status effect, not just the Stalker ability with the same name) actually does. The most I know about it is this:

 

• Like a Mezz, it comes in Magnitude (generally Mag 3 or Mag 4)
• In game instead of saying "Mag 3 Placate" like other mezzes though, it will say stuff like "300% Placate for 7 seconds"

 

I've seen Placate stop mobs from attacking before, and tested it in a variety of AoEs and single target powers. I've seen mobs stop attacking because of it before. But what is it inner logic? Also, do enemies have protection against it? What do the percentages mean? 

Edited May 6, 2021 by oedipus_tex

[merrypessimist]

It's mechanically a forced "Target cannot hit caster" status.  It breaks when you hit the mob (like a sleep) and enables them to attack you again.  I don't recalls seeing percentages on placate powers, but I also don't use the pool placate either.

 

All you really need in terms of actual usage is "Placate buys you a couple seconds of not being attacked" and stalkers get the fake-Hide effect too.

[siolfir]

13 hours ago, merrypessimist said:

All you really need in terms of actual usage is "Placate buys you a couple seconds of not being attacked" and stalkers get the fake-Hide effect too.

The fake-Hide effect is separate, though - it's part of the Placate power, but not part of the placate status.

 

You probably already know this, but this is to prevent people from coming in and thinking that Ninjitsu Stalkers get an extra hidden critical from Smoke Flash, which was a common misconception on the original forums.

 

@oedipus_tex, I've also seen the +300%/+400% as an expression of magnitude in taunt effects, so it makes sense it would be represented similarly given that it's the inverted effect: instead of "hit only me" it's "hit anyone but me." But unlike taunt, which also has a threat multiplier which affects the normal enemy targeting, placate needs to overcome the target's protection. This means that Placate, the power, doesn't placate Elite Bosses because it's only mag 4, and Smoke Flash doesn't placate bosses because it's only mag 3.

Edited May 7, 2021 by siolfir
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