AT Suggestion: "The Duo"

[biostem]

I'm sure that something like this has been suggested before, but I think I have an interesting take on it.  Basically, when you create this character, you actually create 2 costumes, as this AT consists of 2 separate character models.  The powersets are outlined below, with one of the character models having the primary, and the other having the secondary.  The "special abilities" of the duo are that you can switch between both members, they aren't defeated unless both character models are defeated, and that each has an ability to revive the other.

 

The primary power set would be a mix of melee and armors, while the secondary would be a mix of ranged attacks and support powers.  Neither entity of The Duo would be as strong as a tanker nor have buffs/debuffs as good as a defender or corruptor;  You are sacrificing absolute effectiveness for versatility.  The member of The Duo that you are not currently controlling would function similar to mastermind minions, and be able to accept such commands, but obviously would not be able to use their powers quite as well as a player can.

 

 The difficult parts, IMO, would be determining which specific powers would be excluded as a result of the mashing up of 2 sets, and which specific sets would be combined.  For instance, rad melee/rad armor for a primary, and rad blast/rad emission as a secondary, but what about something like kinetics?  Would you pair it with energy blast, perhaps?  Then kinetic melee and super reflexes, or energy melee and energy aura?  Fire melee/fire armor & fire blast/thermal make sense, and the various dark ones seem like natural pairings as well...

Edited June 20, 2023 by biostem

[Major_Decoy]

I think the difficult part would be the AI. Choosing the Specific powers could be done randomly. It's entirely arbitrary, it could take time if you wanted it too, but doesn't need to.

 

But current pet AI breaks if you allow pet to be affected by recharge. It cannot develop an attach chain.

 

Who gets the power pool powers you take? How will the AI react to new power pool powers? Is it going to stand around just toggling Tough on and off?

 

The previous suggestions I've seen for duos all approach this from an angle of "one of the two is a pet" and are all much more workable since the technology for pets is already in game, there'd be no need to create all new UI for it.

[biostem]

1 hour ago, Major_Decoy said:

Who gets the power pool powers you take?

This is something I hadn't considered.  I wonder if it would be possible to allow both to benefit from the pool powers, but at a reduced effectiveness to compensate.

 

1 hour ago, Major_Decoy said:

How will the AI react to new power pool powers? Is it going to stand around just toggling Tough on and off?

Good point.  I wonder if it it could ignore things like toggle powers, and simply retain whatever state you set them to, (so there'd have to be some initial manual setup on your part, then you can switch to the other member of the Duo).

Edited June 21, 2023 by biostem

[0th Power]

I remember reading a suggestion similar to this a while back. That idea and yours too are interesting.