Force Fields for Sentinels

[BrokenGods]

I come bringing another idea to shoot down 😛 Force Fields for Sentinels.

It goes as so:

 

Level	Power Name	Type	Description
1	Focused Shields	Auto / Triggered Passive	On Vulnerability proc, gain short +DEF/+Res/ControlRes. against the target of an active Vulnerability proc.
1	Deflection Shield	Toggle	+DEF(Smash, Lethal, Melee), +Res(Toxic). Core melee mitigation.
4	Insulation Shield	Toggle	+DEF(Fire, Cold, Energy, Neg, Ranged, AoE), +Res(End Drain). Handles ranged/elemental threats.
10	Damping Core	Toggle	+Res(ToHit, Recharge, Perception), +Recovery. Boosts endurance + debuff resilience.
16	Phase Modulation	Toggle	-DEF(non-positional), +Res(All). Trade evasion for toughness — tactical toggle. Changes non-positional defenses from this set to resistance.
20	Repulsor Shock	Click	PBAoE Knockdown + minor Smash/Energy. Melee disrupter.
24	Dispersion Bubble	Toggle	PBAoE, Team +Res(Hold, Immob, Disorient), +DEF(All)
28	Pulse Feedback Matrix	Click	Absorb shield. Reactively soften incoming damage.
30	Force Overload	Click	Panic button: +DEF, +Res, Status Immunity (20s). Last-ditch survival tool.

Edited Friday at 12:03 AM by BrokenGods

[MTeague]

.... Whatever the devs choose to add is fine by me, but...   Isn't Energy Aura essentially "Force Field Armor" for melee types?

[BrokenGods]

Kinda? I can see how one would think so, in the same way someone would think invulnerability is. It seemed like a techie theme what is a lil missing, and would fit Sentinels. I didn't think it would hurt making the suggestion. I also thought the "Phase Modulation" mechanic I suggested could be fun and useful.

 

v/r
BG

[Rudra]

Energy Aura. It exists and Sentinels have access. A force field is literally an energy field around the protected target. A protective aura of energy.

[MTeague]

22 minutes ago, BrokenGods said:

I also thought the "Phase Modulation" mechanic I suggested could be fun and useful.

It would be interesting. But... I notice you have the main toggles given both Typed AND Positional defense.

And then saying the "Phase Modulation" drops your Typed defense, but boosts resistence, AND you get to keep your Positional defense?

 

..... that is overpowered, unless the damage boost is very small, or unless your positional defenses are Signficantly worse than your typed defenses.

A trade type power would be interesting to work into a set, but there has to be a meaningful trade, or the boost can't be much.

[BrokenGods]

That is the kinda feedback i am looking for. I just threw spaghetti against the wall to see if it would stick and get other minds to consider how it can be made better.

 

v/r
BG

[Wavicle]

Sentinels aren't buff/debuff. I think it would need some BIG downsides to justify giving Mez Protection to your teammates.

[UltraAlt]

6 hours ago, BrokenGods said:

come bringing another idea to shoot down 😛 Force Fields for Sentinels.

 

So are you for force fields for brutes, tankers, scrapper, and stalkers as well?

 

 

[Wavicle]

Now an Energy Mastery EPIC for Sentinels, with a Force Field power of some kind, and Bone Smasher for a melee attack, sounds like a great idea! Let's do THAT!

[Wavicle]

Energy Mastery for Sentinels:

 

t1 Repulsion Field (keep guys back, instead of an aoe immob or sleep)

t2 Bone Smasher

t3 Boost Range (probably not perma like the Manipulation version, but that's ok)

t4 Whirling Hands

t5 Damping Bubble (team debuff resistance)

Edited Friday at 09:22 AM by Wavicle

[Psyonico]

As someone else said, PBAoE mez protection is unlikely on a sentinel.  Also, usually armor sets either have typed OR positional defense, not both.

 

 Perhaps the dispersion bubble could give you mez protection and give the team +defense.  Shield has grant Cover, so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.

 

I also don’t see any DDR, something a defense armor definitely needs.

[Starhammer]

While I wouldn't have a problem with this, as it adds thematic options, I would prefer for its powers not to share the exact names as comparable support powers (it would complicate some of my keybinds).

That said, I think it would be easier to achieve the thematic effect by just going with another defense set, but getting Force Field visual effects made available to us as auras.

[Rudra]

2 hours ago, Starhammer said:

That said, I think it would be easier to achieve the thematic effect by just going with another defense set, but getting Force Field visual effects made available to us as auras.

There have been requests for Energy Aura to get visual force fields as alternate animations.

[Steampunkette]

I actually really like the concept, whether it's force bubbles or some other visual/narrative mechanic. It's a neat concept for a defensive set that I find very interesting. I also like that it provides +Resistance to Hold/Immob/Knockdown, not protection like some people in the thread are saying. That said, it's still an unusual take at best.

 

Focused Shields, however, does not work within the CoH Engine. The power cannot check all nearby enemies to see if any of them have Vulnerability on them, then increase defense against that single target.

 

Consider, instead, a stacking Absorb shield, something like what Sorcery pulls with Spirit Ward. A toggle which provides stacks of +Absorb every second or so, capping out at 10 stacks or something. It would definitely fit into the themes of force-fields as ablative protection, rather than perfect shields.

 

Phase Modulation, in particular, is a -very- cool concept! However, you cannot enhance a power for both Defense and Resistance. So if you had Softcap defense from slotting and toggles, swapping to a different Phase Modulation would result in your Resistances being equivalent to an unslotted version of the powers.

 

Granted, you could make the Resistance levels very high to offset that, but then what's to stop me from skimping slots in my defenses and just leaving Phase Modulation on, forever, to have high Resistance with no investment? There's just no clean way to swap between the two modes.

 

I also feel like the S/L/M toggle would be very easy for a Sentinel to ignore. Just grab the Ranged/AoE/Fire/Cold/Nrg/Neg toggle, slot it to heck and back, and take fly or hover. Preferably both. You've stacked this power way too hard.

 

Let's try something a little different:

 

1: Focused Shields Gain an Absorb shield equal to 2% of Max HP every 1.5 seconds, stacks up to 10 times, oldest stack is lost when new stack is gained.

2: Deflection Shield S/L/R Defense. Let's say 13.88% S/L, 8% Ranged. Toggle.

3: Insulation Shield F/C/M Defense. Again, 13.88% for typed, 8% Melee. Toggle.

4: Damping Core Resistance to ToHit, Recharge, Slow, End Drain. Passive.

5: Phase Modulation Mez Protection, Grants 2 stacks of Focused Shields. Click.

6: Repulsion Field N/E/AoE Defense at 8%, Repel at the cost of 1 end per target per tick. Toggle.

7: Dispersion Core Defense All 3% and +Res Hold/Immob/Stun. Passive

8: Pulse Feedback Matrix PBAoE Repel+KB, Grants 2 stacks of Focused Shield. Click.

9: Force Overload Resistance (All but Psionic) Mez Protection, Grants 10 stacks of Focused Shield. When it runs out, -50% Max HP Debuff and -50% Max Endurance Debuff for 15 seconds. Click.

 

Now we have a set where people have a choice on Set Bonuses to go for Typed at a reasonable level or Vector at a slightly harder to achieve value. Where Ablation is a core function of the set's identity and overall survivability through click+Absorb, and where the click +Absorb functions tie into a capped system mechanic making it possible to 'waste' clicks if your absorb is already capped, encouraging active maintenance of +Absorb effects.

 

But. We have the narrative issue of it being "Too similar" to Energy Aura in conceit if not function. So let's shift up some names.

 

1: Ablative Pattern (Animation: Wrist Keypad Tapping)

2: Deflection Matrix (Animation: Leadership Chestthump)

3: Insulating Aegis (Animation: Aim/Build Up alternate animation "Charge")

4: Damping Core 

5: Phase Modulation (Animation: Tough "Flex")

6: Repulsor Field (Animation: Fire Shield arms up head back)

7: Dispersion Core 

8: Pulse Feedback Matrix (Animation: Stalker EA Disrupt)

9: Overdrive (Animation: Power Surge, Overload "Clench Fist")

 

And then let's call it "Integrated Defense". For particle effects we can do translucent floating shields anchored to the forearms, legs, back, and chest. With the power customization option of having those fields rotating rings of runes or more technological in appearance. That way people get to choose which one better fits their Magic/Mutant/Natural/Science/Tech character.

 

[arcane]

30 minutes ago, Rudra said:

There have been requests for Energy Aura to get visual force fields as alternate animations.

Agreed this makes way more sense than a new set.

[BrokenGods]

I really don't think Energy Aura feels very forcefield-like. Energy Cloak, Energy Drain, and Energize do feel very Energy and not very Force Field. I do like @Steampunkette's take on my idea. I guess stealth is very Sue Storm/Richards but otherwise not very force field.

 

v/r
BG