Elastic Melee

[Shadowstar]

Simple enough, it's a Stretch Armstrong themed power set for scrappers, tankers, stalkers, and brutes.  The main advantage of this power set is that it has more range than other melee sets.  Could also give a bonus to jump/fly speed for a short duration after using a power.  Animations would focus on model deforms, stretchy arms and legs.  Could even have a defensive set to go along with it that adds defense bonus with stretchy dodges and evades, possibly focusing on a kind of mobility style that uses a shorter range combat teleport mechanic with the player stretching from one position to another and gaining a defense bonus instead of a to-hit bonus.

[Rudra]

While an interesting concept, I think you are asking for more than the game engine can give.

[Shadowstar]

23 minutes ago, Rudra said:

While an interesting concept, I think you are asking for more than the game engine can give.

Maybe, but I feel like the core concept is doable.  Enough to get a power set from it.  It mostly just relies on animations being able to stretch the player model, which we already know is possible.  Aside from that, they are essentially just melee attacks with longer range.

[Rudra]

41 minutes ago, Shadowstar said:

Maybe, but I feel like the core concept is doable.  Enough to get a power set from it.  It mostly just relies on animations being able to stretch the player model, which we already know is possible.  Aside from that, they are essentially just melee attacks with longer range.

Maybe, but you are talking about stretching the character model constantly as part of attacking and not attacking. As opposed to what the character creator does, which rescales for static use.

[Shadowstar]

Fair enough.  It's up to the devs to decide anyway.

[Owl Girl]

Elastic Melee should have some kinda gimmick where multiple successful attacks immobilize targets.

[Techhead]

TBH, I'd personal love a stretchy punching set for Blasters, Sentinels, etc, but the issue w/ a lot of power set concepts is that Homecoming doesn't have an animator on the dev team, so it's had to make do with recycling animations. Stretchy arms (and legs?), assuming the engine could handle it, would *absolutely* need new animations.

[Snarky]

No.  Then we would have to put up with infinite “rubber man” jokes

 

[Shadowstar]

17 hours ago, Snarky said:

No.  Then we would have to put up with infinite “rubber man” jokes

 

Rubber?  I hardly know her...

[Ghost]

Even though it’s punching, this sounds more like a mid to long range type of power.  More associated with a Sentinel or blaster.

[Wingslord24]

### Power Set: **Stretch Assault**

---

| **Power**         | **Level** | **Effect**                                                                                               |
|-------------------|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Elastic Jab**   | 1         | Ranged Melee, Light DMG (Smash), Quick punch with extended arm reach, +Jump/Flight (Short Duration)      |
| **Long Reach**    | 1         | Ranged Melee, Moderate DMG (Lethal), Wide-area slap, applies -DEF (Foe), +Jump/Flight                    |
| **Rubber Snap**   | 2         | Melee, High DMG (Smash), Heavy blow with extended fist, causes Knockback (Foe), +Jump/Flight             |
| **Spring Slam**   | 6         | Ranged (Cone), Moderate DMG (Smash), Foes Knockdown, long-armed sweeping punch                           |
| **Whiplash**      | 8         | Melee (Chain Attack), Minor DMG (Smash), hits multiple foes in sequence with stretchy limb               |
| **Elastic Wrap**  | 12        | Ranged (Hold), Grabs foe from afar, Immobilize (Foe), Minor DMG (Smash), +Jump/Flight                    |
| **Tension Coil**  | 18        | Ranged (Targeted AoE), Minor DMG (Smash), Foe -SPD, applies DEF Debuff (Foe)                             |
| **Rebound Punch** | 26        | Ranged, High DMG (Lethal), Reflects portion of incoming damage back at target, applies +DEF (Self)       |
| **Full Extension**| 32        | PBAoE, Moderate DMG (Smash), Knockdown (Foe), applies +DEF (Self), “maximum stretch” attack              |

---

### Defensive Power Set: **Elastic Evasion**
 

| **Power**             | **Level** | **Effect**                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Stretch Dodge**     | 1         | Passive, +DEF (Melee/Ranged), player subtly stretches to avoid incoming hits                               |
| **Bounce Shift**      | 1         | Short-range teleport, +DEF (All, Short Duration), “bounce” or stretch to evade attacks                    |
| **Rubber Shield**     | 2         | Toggle, +Res (Smash, Lethal), Flexible skin absorbs part of impact                                         |
| **Slip Strike**       | 6         | Short-range teleport with melee strike, Moderate DMG (Smash), +DEF (Short Duration)                        |
| **Snapback**          | 8         | Short-range teleport (behind target), High DMG (Smash), +DEF (Melee, Short Duration)                       |
| **Bend and Weave**    | 12        | Toggle, +DEF (Ranged), Improved dodge against ranged attacks                                               |
| **Stretch Reflexes**  | 18        | Auto, +DEF (All), boosts dodge reflexes and evasion while standing still or moving                         |
| **Rapid Retraction**  | 26        | Short-range teleport to avoid melee attack, applies DEF Debuff to nearby foes                              |
| **Limber Leap**       | 32        | Self +Jump/Flight Speed, Short Duration, allows quick positioning to escape danger                         |

---

Edited November 12 by Wingslord24

[Ghost]

9 hours ago, Wingslord24 said:

### Power Set: **Stretch Assault**

---

| **Power**         | **Level** | **Effect**                                                                                               |
|-------------------|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Elastic Jab**   | 1         | Ranged Melee, Light DMG (Smash), Quick punch with extended arm reach, +Jump/Flight (Short Duration)      |
| **Long Reach**    | 1         | Ranged Melee, Moderate DMG (Lethal), Wide-area slap, applies -DEF (Foe), +Jump/Flight                    |
| **Rubber Snap**   | 2         | Melee, High DMG (Smash), Heavy blow with extended fist, causes Knockback (Foe), +Jump/Flight             |
| **Spring Slam**   | 6         | Ranged (Cone), Moderate DMG (Smash), Foes Knockdown, long-armed sweeping punch                           |
| **Whiplash**      | 8         | Melee (Chain Attack), Minor DMG (Smash), hits multiple foes in sequence with stretchy limb               |
| **Elastic Wrap**  | 12        | Ranged (Hold), Grabs foe from afar, Immobilize (Foe), Minor DMG (Smash), +Jump/Flight                    |
| **Tension Coil**  | 18        | Ranged (Targeted AoE), Minor DMG (Smash), Foe -SPD, applies DEF Debuff (Foe)                             |
| **Rebound Punch** | 26        | Ranged, High DMG (Lethal), Reflects portion of incoming damage back at target, applies +DEF (Self)       |
| **Full Extension**| 32        | PBAoE, Moderate DMG (Smash), Knockdown (Foe), applies +DEF (Self), “maximum stretch” attack              |

---

### Defensive Power Set: **Elastic Evasion**
 

| **Power**             | **Level** | **Effect**                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Stretch Dodge**     | 1         | Passive, +DEF (Melee/Ranged), player subtly stretches to avoid incoming hits                               |
| **Bounce Shift**      | 1         | Short-range teleport, +DEF (All, Short Duration), “bounce” or stretch to evade attacks                    |
| **Rubber Shield**     | 2         | Toggle, +Res (Smash, Lethal), Flexible skin absorbs part of impact                                         |
| **Slip Strike**       | 6         | Short-range teleport with melee strike, Moderate DMG (Smash), +DEF (Short Duration)                        |
| **Snapback**          | 8         | Short-range teleport (behind target), High DMG (Smash), +DEF (Melee, Short Duration)                       |
| **Bend and Weave**    | 12        | Toggle, +DEF (Ranged), Improved dodge against ranged attacks                                               |
| **Stretch Reflexes**  | 18        | Auto, +DEF (All), boosts dodge reflexes and evasion while standing still or moving                         |
| **Rapid Retraction**  | 26        | Short-range teleport to avoid melee attack, applies DEF Debuff to nearby foes                              |
| **Limber Leap**       | 32        | Self +Jump/Flight Speed, Short Duration, allows quick positioning to escape danger                         |

---

HOLY HELL

what is this mess of oversized letters and onjects

[Shadowstar]

On 11/12/2024 at 4:35 AM, Wingslord24 said:

### Power Set: **Stretch Assault**

---

| **Power**         | **Level** | **Effect**                                                                                               |
|-------------------|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Elastic Jab**   | 1         | Ranged Melee, Light DMG (Smash), Quick punch with extended arm reach, +Jump/Flight (Short Duration)      |
| **Long Reach**    | 1         | Ranged Melee, Moderate DMG (Lethal), Wide-area slap, applies -DEF (Foe), +Jump/Flight                    |
| **Rubber Snap**   | 2         | Melee, High DMG (Smash), Heavy blow with extended fist, causes Knockback (Foe), +Jump/Flight             |
| **Spring Slam**   | 6         | Ranged (Cone), Moderate DMG (Smash), Foes Knockdown, long-armed sweeping punch                           |
| **Whiplash**      | 8         | Melee (Chain Attack), Minor DMG (Smash), hits multiple foes in sequence with stretchy limb               |
| **Elastic Wrap**  | 12        | Ranged (Hold), Grabs foe from afar, Immobilize (Foe), Minor DMG (Smash), +Jump/Flight                    |
| **Tension Coil**  | 18        | Ranged (Targeted AoE), Minor DMG (Smash), Foe -SPD, applies DEF Debuff (Foe)                             |
| **Rebound Punch** | 26        | Ranged, High DMG (Lethal), Reflects portion of incoming damage back at target, applies +DEF (Self)       |
| **Full Extension**| 32        | PBAoE, Moderate DMG (Smash), Knockdown (Foe), applies +DEF (Self), “maximum stretch” attack              |

---

### Defensive Power Set: **Elastic Evasion**
 

| **Power**             | **Level** | **Effect**                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Stretch Dodge**     | 1         | Passive, +DEF (Melee/Ranged), player subtly stretches to avoid incoming hits                               |
| **Bounce Shift**      | 1         | Short-range teleport, +DEF (All, Short Duration), “bounce” or stretch to evade attacks                    |
| **Rubber Shield**     | 2         | Toggle, +Res (Smash, Lethal), Flexible skin absorbs part of impact                                         |
| **Slip Strike**       | 6         | Short-range teleport with melee strike, Moderate DMG (Smash), +DEF (Short Duration)                        |
| **Snapback**          | 8         | Short-range teleport (behind target), High DMG (Smash), +DEF (Melee, Short Duration)                       |
| **Bend and Weave**    | 12        | Toggle, +DEF (Ranged), Improved dodge against ranged attacks                                               |
| **Stretch Reflexes**  | 18        | Auto, +DEF (All), boosts dodge reflexes and evasion while standing still or moving                         |
| **Rapid Retraction**  | 26        | Short-range teleport to avoid melee attack, applies DEF Debuff to nearby foes                              |
| **Limber Leap**       | 32        | Self +Jump/Flight Speed, Short Duration, allows quick positioning to escape danger                         |

---

 

Nice work.  Gives an idea what the power set might look like.

[biostem]

What they could do is create a sort of "hard light melee" that has medium range and appears like you are stretching out your limbs, (albeit sort of generic holographic ones), to accomplish this while avoiding the issue with trying to stretch the actual character models.  It wouldn't be perfect, but could provide an avenue of actually implementing this idea...

[El D]

3 minutes ago, biostem said:

What they could do is create a sort of "hard light melee" that has medium range and appears like you are stretching out your limbs, (albeit sort of generic holographic ones), to accomplish this while avoiding the issue with trying to stretch the actual character models.  It wouldn't be perfect, but could provide an avenue of actually implementing this idea...

 

This is definitely a more engine-friendly workaround for a 'stretchy punch' set. With the proper color selections available and optional matte/non-glowing customization options, players could even make them match existing costume pieces pretty closely. As a possible alternate, have the attack animations summon SFX of a stretchy fist that matches the costume's selected glove pieces, akin to how the weapon sets work. Doesn't actually stretch the character model, just makes a temporary SFX that fakes it.

[biostem]

2 minutes ago, El D said:

have the attack animations summon SFX of a stretchy fist that matches the costume's selected glove pieces, akin to how the weapon sets work.

So a sort of weapon customization option, only using fist/arm models?  The only issue there is that the fist part shouldn't really be what's stretched, rather the forearm would instead.  Either way, it is another direction to go in...

[Jiro Ito]

Ranged melee!

 

[UltraAlt]

On 11/9/2024 at 2:24 PM, Shadowstar said:

Simple enough, it's a Stretch Armstrong themed power set for scrappers, tankers, stalkers, and brutes.

 

 

On 11/9/2024 at 2:24 PM, Shadowstar said:

The main advantage of this power set is that it has more range than other melee sets.

 

And that would be the problem.

A melee damage set have the same range restrictions as the other melee damage sets .... more or less.

Increasing the range of the attacks for a melee damage set would mean reducing its damage, accuracy, and/or activation time.

 

On 11/9/2024 at 2:24 PM, Shadowstar said:

Could even have a defensive set to go along with it that adds defense bonus with stretchy dodges and evades, possibly focusing on a kind of mobility style that uses a shorter range combat teleport mechanic with the player stretching from one position to another and gaining a defense bonus instead of a to-hit bonus.

 

I'm going to go ahead and stop here.

 

I can side with you that it would be cool to have stretching power sets and I can't say that I haven't brought up this kind of idea myself in the past.

I do - however - believe that it would have to be its own AT which would possibly have other shape shifting power sets.

 

This would require a massive amount of animation development time.

I'm kind of doubting it will happen.

 

If we can't get melee range dual pistol set, then I doubt we are going to get this one as a melee set.