issue 27 Focused Feedback: Sonic Assault

[The Curator]

Sonic Assault

• New secondary for Dominators.
• Sonic Assault lets you use the power of sound waves to damage and weaken your foes.

Powers:

 Shriek  Ranged, Light DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe -Res
 Strident Echo  Melee, High DMG(Smash/Energy), chance for Hold
 Scream  Ranged, Moderate DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe -Res
 Shockwave  Ranged(Cone), Light DMG(Smash/Energy), Knockback
 Bass Boost   Self +DMG, +Special
 Deafening Wave  Melee(AoE), Light DMG(Smash/Energy), chance for Hold
 Disruption Aura  Toggle: Foe -Res

 Shout  Ranged, Superior DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe -Res
 Earsplitter  Melee, Extreme DMG(Smash/Energy), chance for Hold

[America's Angel]

New powerset! Looks awesome. 

[Shocktacular]

Just thought I'd dig up this ancient thread to say ...
 

CALLED IT!  (well, kinda... it's really not THAT similar...)

[ScarySai]

Quite easily the best new set to come out of HC. Chunky melee hits, -res and some good AOE.

 

Not one bad power in the set, that's what you like to see.

[Nemu]

6 hours ago, The Curator said:

Bass Boost

This is all the reason I need to make a sonic assault character.

 

I just need a 64 chevy impala costume so I can roll around paragon blasting let me ride.

[eustace]

This sounds great... my brain is already working on new toons. 

It would be really, really great if, when I make the inevitably female /sonic dominator, she doesnt sound like a man every time she uses her powers.  

 

Any chance we can get scream sounds to automatically match the gender, or perhaps be selectable, like one of the choices in the power customization, or an accompanying selector?  Even if it's reused screams - like from scrapper secondary activation sets, etc - just some way we can elect our female characters to sound like female characters.  

 

And, while I've got mug in hand... it would also be great to have such a change proliferate across the existing sonic ATs.  

 

And even if it cant make it in this patch, maybe on the roadmap for next patch, to compliment this one?

[The Caretaker]

2 hours ago, eustace said:

This sounds great... my brain is already working on new toons. 

It would be really, really great if, when I make the inevitably female /sonic dominator, she doesnt sound like a man every time she uses her powers.  

 

Any chance we can get scream sounds to automatically match the gender, or perhaps be selectable, like one of the choices in the power customization, or an accompanying selector?  Even if it's reused screams - like from scrapper secondary activation sets, etc - just some way we can elect our female characters to sound like female characters.  

 

And, while I've got mug in hand... it would also be great to have such a change proliferate across the existing sonic ATs.  

 

And even if it cant make it in this patch, maybe on the roadmap for next patch, to compliment this one?

 

Excellent suggestion. @Captain Powerhouse, @Booper, @Player-1, can it be done? Conditional Sound FX on triggerbits?

[ForeverLaxx]

Always great to have a new set. My favorite thing about it is that, since it's built from existing powers in different sets, Whip Assault seems more possible than ever.

[Marshal_General]

On 7/13/2022 at 3:12 AM, eustace said:

This sounds great... my brain is already working on new toons. 

It would be really, really great if, when I make the inevitably female /sonic dominator, she doesnt sound like a man every time she uses her powers.  

 

Any chance we can get scream sounds to automatically match the gender, or perhaps be selectable, like one of the choices in the power customization, or an accompanying selector?  Even if it's reused screams - like from scrapper secondary activation sets, etc - just some way we can elect our female characters to sound like female characters.  

 

And, while I've got mug in hand... it would also be great to have such a change proliferate across the existing sonic ATs.  

 

And even if it cant make it in this patch, maybe on the roadmap for next patch, to compliment this one?

There are mods that can change the sounds of the screams. All they would have to do is bake those into the set as a customization option. It may sound 😁 easier than it is.

[Techwright]

Haven't had the chance to try this out yet or anything Beta for that matter.  (It's been a crazy week. 😩)   One question coming immediately to mind:  the sound and its effects on players?  I recall other threads suggesting that there are players sensitive to the sonic sounds previously in the game.  While yes, I can run a mod that changes it for me, I understand with current sonics that my teammates and anyone else hears the originals.  I'd rather not make people sick.  Has this been addressed with this new set?

[Errants]

8 hours ago, Techwright said:

Haven't had the chance to try this out yet or anything Beta for that matter.  (It's been a crazy week. 😩)   One question coming immediately to mind:  the sound and its effects on players?  I recall other threads suggesting that there are players sensitive to the sonic sounds previously in the game.  While yes, I can run a mod that changes it for me, I understand with current sonics that my teammates and anyone else hears the originals.  I'd rather not make people sick.  Has this been addressed with this new set?

Unknown on SFX, but the VFX are still an issue.

Sonic Manipulation VFX are "off" enough that they spark a headache for me, enough that I had to mothball an Elec/Sonic Blaster I wanted to play.

Previewing the animations for Sonic Assault resulted in the same headache. I wish we had alternate animations.

[Dahle]

On 7/12/2022 at 1:57 PM, The Curator said:

 Disruption Aura  Toggle: Foe -Res

Based on in game, shouldn't this be listed as Toggle: PBAOE Foe -Res?

[Bopper]

15 minutes ago, Errants said:

Unknown on SFX, but the VFX are still an issue.

Sonic Manipulation VFX are "off" enough that they spark a headache for me, enough that I had to mothball an Elec/Sonic Blaster I wanted to play.

Previewing the animations for Sonic Assault resulted in the same headache. I wish we had alternate animations.

Can you clarify? Does it give you a literal headache? Neurological issue? Or are you saying you're just not a fan?

[Errants]

Just now, Bopper said:

Can you clarify? Does it give you a literal headache? Neurological issue? Or are you saying you're just not a fan?

Literal, physical pain. Frontal lobes.

Only happened when playing the Elec/Sonic Blaster, does not occur with other sets, or even other Elec/ blast toons. Doesn't occur with /Sonic Manip blasters on team, presumably because there's enough VFX noise that I'm not as aware.

Occurred as well when just previewing the Sonic Assault animations.

Headache usually goes away about 20minute after NOT viewing the animations.

Shades of the OG Sonic support set and headache reports - Though, 10+ years ago, that didn't bother me then.

[Bopper]

6 minutes ago, Errants said:

Literal, physical pain. Frontal lobes.

Only happened when playing the Elec/Sonic Blaster, does not occur with other sets, or even other Elec/ blast toons. Doesn't occur with /Sonic Manip blasters on team, presumably because there's enough VFX noise that I'm not as aware.

Occurred as well when just previewing the Sonic Assault animations.

Headache usually goes away about 20minute after NOT viewing the animations.

Shades of the OG Sonic support set and headache reports - Though, 10+ years ago, that didn't bother me then.

I won't discuss publicly further than what you just brought up. But if you can, PM me and I'll pass along what you describe to see if there are possible alternate animations that could help. Disruption Arrow for Trick Arrow was handled similarly in the past.

[Ethereal Star]

I think it's already been brought up, but I want to mention it as well!

I'd love if the sonic assault could be similar thematically to the symphonic control, in having effects and sounds like the siren npcs do.  I also want to mention that this is a powerset I've wanted for months, if not years--thank you so much for including symphonic control! 

 

I am not sure if everyone would want the "symphonic assault" but I know I do and I'd regret it if I did not mention that specifically!  I don't know whether or not this is even feasible, but... if it is, please consider it!

 

As for the mechanics themselves, I am very happy with this powerset otherwise! 

[PorkTips]

This looks like a great set. I cant wait to do a Dark / Sonic Assault dominator.

[TNT]

I am digging this new set.  It feels a bit like Earth Assault without the hammers.  I like that the mix of attacks have chances to hold, apply -resistance or knockback effect; depending on which attack is used.  It can fit a wide range of playstyles.  It isn't a one-trick pony with just -res.

 

I have been pairing it with the updated Ice Control and it is pretty fun so far. 

[Underfyre]

Earsplitter has a Domination effect of mag 1 instead of mag 3 like Strident Echo, is this on purpose?

[Captain Fabulous]

I feel like there should be a disorient in here someplace.

[...]

Anyone know how much -res a Dom can stack with this set using the single target ranged attacks?

 

The sonic blast sets now apply two -res effects, one of which stacks up to 4 times. 

 

But I can't tell if any of that applies to dominators using city of data.  I can see 3 different -7.5% res all effects, each with a different name and duration, one for each attack. So my guess is -22.5%, but that locks you in to using the single target ranged attacks in your rotation to maintain it. 

 

Some clarity in the patch notes whether sonic assault works the same as the defender versions would be much appreciated.

 

[Booper]

10 minutes ago, ... said:

Anyone know how much -res a Dom can stack with this set using the single target ranged attacks?

 

The sonic blast sets now apply two -res effects, one of which stacks up to 4 times. 

 

But I can't tell if any of that applies to dominators using city of data.  I can see 3 different -7.5% res all effects, each with a different name and duration, one for each attack. So my guess is -22.5%, but that locks you in to using the single target ranged attacks in your rotation to maintain it. 

 

Some clarity in the patch notes whether sonic assault works the same as the defender versions would be much appreciated.

 

 

Correct. Shriek, Scream, and Shout each do -7.5% resistance debuff and multiple applications from the same power will not stack. Instead, it will replace (refresh) its debuff.

 

You also have Disruption Aura which does another -15% debuff in an area around you. In total, you can achieve -37.5% resistance debuff against a single target.

[Bartacus]

is this set affected by the DPA changes for sonic blast?

[Booper]

4 minutes ago, Bartacus said:

is this set affected by the DPA changes for sonic blast?

The cast times for the Dominator version will match the Sonic Attack version, but the damage from Dominator version doesn't always match. Shout and Shockwave have higher cooldowns and do higher damage than their Sonic Attack counterparts. Shriek and Scream are the same.

[TygerDarkstorm]

Finally got around to trying out this set and am loving it so far. Paired it with Ice/ as they really seem to complement each other and it's fun just watching stuff melt. I'm also impressed with how good the damage feels considering we're also getting the bonus of -res and other fun secondary effects.

 

One thing that could *maybe* be addressed is the sfx for Deafening Wave? I know it's ported from the Blaster secondary (and I have issue with the sound there too), and it's namely that the power has almost the same exact sound as when you run out of endurance and endurance crash. I catch myself slightly panicking that I've crashed my end bar when using Deafening Wave. 😅