The Sentinel

[Xaddy]

So, I'm level 7 on a Sentinel. Praetoria. 
I've never played a Sentinel before. 

I find out I sent in a support ticket because there was nothing in the Vulnerability info tab that mentioned word one about "Opportunity". The bar itself, kind of like a brute fury bar, nestled snugly between Endurance and XP. 

My feedback is to actually have this kind of information in the detailed tab. A player shouldn't have to visit the forums while playing to learn these types of things. I still find myself having to go through patch notes to learn what builds "opportunity". 

I can appreciate the effort into boosting Sentinels, but the information should be part of that effort. And, oh joy, I got defeated while tabbed out looking to find out what was going on with this power. 

 

[Eiko-chan]

I believe the current implementation is that opportunity has a recharge rate over time like endurance, and it is depleted by using Vulnerability. But I agree that some of this info should probably be in game. 

[Glacier Peak]

48 minutes ago, Xaddy said:

So, I'm level 7 on a Sentinel. Praetoria. 
I've never played a Sentinel before. 

I find out I sent in a support ticket because there was nothing in the Vulnerability info tab that mentioned word one about "Opportunity". The bar itself, kind of like a brute fury bar, nestled snugly between Endurance and XP. 

My feedback is to actually have this kind of information in the detailed tab. A player shouldn't have to visit the forums while playing to learn these types of things. I still find myself having to go through patch notes to learn what builds "opportunity". 

I can appreciate the effort into boosting Sentinels, but the information should be part of that effort. And, oh joy, I got defeated while tabbed out looking to find out what was going on with this power. 

It appears that you are right that it is not stated anywhere in-game how to (or what) builds Opportunity.

 

If a player hovers over their Menu bar, it shows the amount of Opportunity building:

 

If a player right-clicks the "Opportunity" Inherent Power for a description and detailed information on the power:

 

 

But the actual detailed information (shown below from beta patch notes) does not appear in-game to explain *clearly enough* to the player the Inherent power of a Sentinel. I believe it should!

 

• Sentinels have an inherent resistance to Perception and ToHit debuffs (10%).
• Opportunity builds automatically at a rate of 100% per minute.
• Sentinels have an inherent power called Vulnerability:
  • Vulnerability consumes 50% of your Opportunity to debuff a single target for 15 seconds.
  • Vulnerability is Auto-Hit and ignores level differences.
  • Vulnerability debuffs the following:
    • Damage Resistance
    • Defense
    • Mez Resistance
    • Stealth
    • Resistance to Endurance, Endurance Discount, Recovery, Regeneration, ToHit, and Recharge

Edited May 11 by Glacier Peak

[Rudra]

17 minutes ago, Glacier Peak said:

It appears that you are right that it is not stated anywhere in-game how to (or what) builds Opportunity.

 

If a player hovers over their Menu bar, it shows the amount of Opportunity building:

 

If a player right-clicks the "Opportunity" Inherent Power for a description and detailed information on the power:

 

 

But the actual detailed information (shown below from beta patch notes) does not appear in-game to explain to the player the Inherent power of a Sentinel. I believe it should!

 

• Sentinels have an inherent resistance to Perception and ToHit debuffs (10%).
• Opportunity builds automatically at a rate of 100% per minute.
• Sentinels have an inherent power called Vulnerability:
  • Vulnerability consumes 50% of your Opportunity to debuff a single target for 15 seconds.
  • Vulnerability is Auto-Hit and ignores level differences.
  • Vulnerability debuffs the following:
    • Damage Resistance
    • Defense
    • Mez Resistance
    • Stealth
    • Resistance to Endurance, Endurance Discount, Recovery, Regeneration, ToHit, and Recharge

Actually, it does. Click Opportunity and select Detailed Info. It even gives the +100% recharge rate, it just fails to say it is the recharge rate or how long it takes since it says "+100% Attr(null) on self". And when you click the Vulnerability power and select Detailed Info, it gives the debuffs Vulnerability applies as well as the Opportunity cost, though it calls the Opportunity cost a Rage cost.

 

 

Edited May 11 by Rudra
Edited to add screenshots.

[Glacier Peak]

2 minutes ago, Rudra said:

Actually, it does. Click Opportunity and select Detailed Info. It even gives the +100% recharge rate, it just fails to say it is the recharge rate or how long it takes since it says "+100% Attr(null) on self". And when you click the Vulnerability power and select Detailed Info, it gives the debuffs Vulnerability applies as well as the Opportunity cost, though t calls the Opportunity cost a Rage cost.

I'll amend my post. It is not made clear enough to me. It's not made clear how Opportunity is built by looking at the Detailed Information - yes the numbers are shown, as you point out, but the explicit message of how Opportunity is generated is not. At the very least, the description should have a sentence added that says "Opportunity builds automatically at a rate of 100% per minute."

[Xaddy]

I do appreciate the info from the patch notes, and both of your efforts to be helpful. But here is what I see/saw: 

 

You see where it says recharge time: 5.00s? 
That is not the recharge time of this power. This power recharges apparently when you fill the opportunity bar. I'm still just level 7, having had to leave the game for a bit and have returned. So I don't yet know if it's a couple of attacks, or getting hit or what it is that builds opportunity. 
Fortunately for me, I know there's an entire section in these forums for Sentinels and the help channel (which had no replies when I asked the question about Vulnerability before I came here) which typically has a ton of helpful comments. 

I do wonder why the range for this is 100 feet when the closest my attacks will get me is 60 feet (so far). But, at least it's not 40 feet, lol. 
So, again, I appreciate the helpful replies - but I still think the game should have this information for future players. 

And, since it is auto-hit, the accuracy field should probably just say 100% or be removed entirely. 

And yeah, the Rage cost made me laugh a bit. It made me think of Jessica Jones "I'm still angry". 

So, far as I can tell, once I build up opportunity bar, I use vulnerability, and it cuts in half, so I can use it 2x once I built it up. More than fair. I'm just been using it on everything and wondering why it wouldn't "recharge" as it says it's supposed to. But I guess, it will recharge in 5 seconds after use if the opportunity bar is still full. 

This beyond the scope of suggestion/feedback now, so I'll stop now. Thanks, all. 

[FupDup]

The 5s recharge thing isn't linked to how quickly the power generates the "rage" resource. Basically after generating enough rage, the power would need to wait a minimum of 5s before it can be activated again. That doesn't mean you can use it every 5s. It's weird. 

[PeregrineFalcon]

1 hour ago, Xaddy said:

I can appreciate the effort into boosting Sentinels, but the information should be part of that effort. And, oh joy, I got defeated while tabbed out looking to find out what was going on with this power.

Unfortunately, pretty much nothing is explained in game. Frankly you should just use the Homecoming Wiki whenever you need information about anything.

 

Homecoming Wiki: https://homecoming.wiki/

[Xaddy]

28 minutes ago, PeregrineFalcon said:

Frankly you should just use the Homecoming Wiki whenever you need information about anything.

 

The same HC wiki that supposedly is cast in stone until they upgrade hardware? I read something about that. 
Don't get me wrong, the HC wiki is a fantastic tool, but there are at least a few blank pages there waiting for myself and others to fill them in with detailed information. 

Still, it's only my opinion, but the game shouldn't be relying on external sources of information to fill in the blanks. A player new or returning or seasoned veteran should be able to click H and find the topic they need help with. Again, just my opinion. But thanks for the link!

 

[ZorkNemesis]

On 5/11/2024 at 3:31 PM, PeregrineFalcon said:

Unfortunately, pretty much nothing is explained in game. Frankly you should just use the Homecoming Wiki whenever you need information about anything.

 

Homecoming Wiki: https://homecoming.wiki/

 

Incidentally the HC Wiki's page for Opportunity is outdated and uses the old version that was activated with your T1 and T2 powers.  There isn't even a page for Vulnerability at the moment.

[Shin Magmus]

     I just want to add that the Vulnerability power, much like Domination, does require to be clicked by the player.  I realize that this seems like a silly thing to point out, but anecdotally I've teamed with at least 10 (I lost count) Sentinels of varying level ranges who completely failed to ever use Vulnerability at all over the course of a TF.  In some cases I'll bring up the subject in a tell, asking if they know what Vulnerability does and how to use it.  OP is right that the game should do a better job explaining this.  Eventually though, I just stopped caring about the AT enough to even try to help people with it.  They can just be present as Sentinels cheerleaders and I'll do the work: I accept this status quo.

 

     Maybe they respecced and used /cleartray, and didn't know you have to re-add the power.  Maybe they just don't know what the power does.  Maybe they had an older Sent and didn't respec: so they never even knew what changed.  I can't know the reason, but I can tell you that people don't use the debuff.

[Triumphant]

I also recommend City of Data for more detailed information on powers.  I find it very useful.

[Rudra]

7 hours ago, Shin Magmus said:

     I just want to add that the Vulnerability power, much like Domination, does require to be clicked by the player.  I realize that this seems like a silly thing to point out, but anecdotally I've teamed with at least 10 (I lost count) Sentinels of varying level ranges who completely failed to ever use Vulnerability at all over the course of a TF.  In some cases I'll bring up the subject in a tell, asking if they know what Vulnerability does and how to use it.  OP is right that the game should do a better job explaining this.  Eventually though, I just stopped caring about the AT enough to even try to help people with it.  They can just be present as Sentinels cheerleaders and I'll do the work: I accept this status quo.

 

     Maybe they respecced and used /cleartray, and didn't know you have to re-add the power.  Maybe they just don't know what the power does.  Maybe they had an older Sent and didn't respec: so they never even knew what changed.  I can't know the reason, but I can tell you that people don't use the debuff.

Maybe they thought the team was wiping out spawns faster than the added click to debuff would matter. (Edit: I know that's why I don't typically bother with my mezzes on my Dominator when teamed with my friends. By the time I've finished animating the Hold on the boss, the boss has already died. Why bother doing anything other than just attacking at that point?)

Edited May 13 by Rudra

[Shin Magmus]

2 hours ago, Rudra said:

Maybe they thought the team was wiping out spawns faster than the added click to debuff would matter. (Edit: I know that's why I don't typically bother with my mezzes on my Dominator when teamed with my friends. By the time I've finished animating the Hold on the boss, the boss has already died. Why bother doing anything other than just attacking at that point?)

If that is the case, maybe Sentinels should be given an Inherent that matters?  I mean if this is how the content plays out, then the Sentinel raison d'etre, as well as one of their ATO procs, is worthless outside of EB/AV/GM fights?  Does it feel that way to you?

[Rudra]

1 hour ago, Shin Magmus said:

If that is the case, maybe Sentinels should be given an Inherent that matters?  I mean if this is how the content plays out, then the Sentinel raison d'etre, as well as one of their ATO procs, is worthless outside of EB/AV/GM fights?  Does it feel that way to you?

Haven't played my Sentinel in a while. Using my Dominator as a reference though? Yeah, it feels like there is no reason to use my non-attack abilities outside of EBs, AVs, and GMs. My MMs on the other hand? I tend to use debuffs like Tar Patch frequently because it isn't tied to a target.

[FupDup]

I can usually get Vulnerability up at least once per fight to tag a boss with, but exactly how impactful it is can be debated. Something to try might be making it take longer to fill up the resource bar, but offering a stronger debuff so that it's more impactful for the fights where it matters. And right now it does feel kind of spammy. This would also indirectly increase the value of the ATO proc that lets you build up Opportunity faster. 

 

In a perfect world I'd like a completely different inherent, like going back to the old offensive vs defensive dichotomy but not linking it to the T1 and T2 attacks this time, but I know that's just a pipe dream. I can live with the "Point your finger at baddies, menacingly" button for the most part, but it could really use a tune up though. If nothing else it really should stack with multiple Sentinels. There's no reason for that limitation, look at all the crazy crap that Defenders and Corruptors can stack to infinity. 

[Xaddy]

On 5/13/2024 at 2:53 PM, Shin Magmus said:

If that is the case, maybe Sentinels should be given an Inherent that matters?  I mean if this is how the content plays out, then the Sentinel raison d'etre, as well as one of their ATO procs, is worthless outside of EB/AV/GM fights?  Does it feel that way to you?

So, I can't say it's worthless. 
(Level 20 now, by the way. Finally got out of praetoria, and suddenly I had to alt out for a noob friendly 1*lgtf and I've left that poor Sentinel idle since! 

But, back with him at the moment, and candidly, haven't fought anything tough enough to know if using it is actually doing anything. 

This is just my perception, but powers like this (and Interface) - I'm sure they do something, but without combat log checking, I'd never know it.
The only characters I've played that I've ever noticed a debuff actually doing anything was the slow from Heat loss, sleet, ice storm and blizzard - (I tend to use all 4 if they're up, so could be just one doing it, or the combination.) And, an ill/rad controller handling a GM in PI solo. Cuz my pets just aren't going to do much without the debuffs running. 

Unless using power analyzer, that temp from start vendor - yes, the AV may seem like they're melting quickly, but it's tough to know if it's just some proc'd to the gills water blaster or some scrapper's getting some tasty crits in, or the debuffs allowing for the extra dps. 
It's odd. It's probably something you can't notice until you don't have it anymore. 

So, what I'll do is try not using it for a mission when solo and see if it makes a difference that I can see, assuming I can latch onto a story arc that will have me facing the same foes to make a fair comparison. 

[tidge]

I'd rank the Sentinel's Inherent (as currently implemented) to be one of the better Inherent powers... none of which are particularly well-explained in-game IMO.

 

As far as being able to see it having an effect on defeat times... at early levels, it will be hard to notice much of a difference, with the difference being "how many attacks do I have to make to defeat that single target?". On harder targets, and in group play, it becomes much more of a force-multiplier.

 

 

[Shin Magmus]

3 hours ago, tidge said:

I'd rank the Sentinel's Inherent (as currently implemented) to be one of the better Inherent powers... none of which are particularly well-explained in-game IMO.

 

As far as being able to see it having an effect on defeat times... at early levels, it will be hard to notice much of a difference, with the difference being "how many attacks do I have to make to defeat that single target?". On harder targets, and in group play, it becomes much more of a force-multiplier.

 

 

The debuff that Vulnerability provides *is* useful on end of TF bosses and GM-hunters, but that's about it in my general opinion.  When I use it on a boss, I agree with some other posters that it doesn't feel impactful.  Most content in this game doesn't have regular EB spawns either.

[Xaddy]

On 5/20/2024 at 9:30 AM, Xaddy said:

So, what I'll do is try not using it for a mission when solo and see if it makes a difference that I can see

So, the test didn't take long. It's quite clear to me that vulnerability definitely works, and works well. At least against Wyvern. 3 shots vs 2 shots. 
Now, obviously, it could be that Wyvern don't have any kind of defense or resist, but I'm thinking that's unlikely. So, yeah, it's not useless - at least not when solo. I think there are just a fair number of harder targets where it's hard to tell if these kinds of debuffs do much.