Focused Feedback: New Powerset - Pyrotechnic Control (Controllers, Dominators)

[The Curator]

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New Powerset: Pyrotechnic Control (Controllers, Dominators)

 

You have the ability to incapacitate enemies with creative and dazzling fireworks-like displays that incorporate elements of light, fire, energy, and sound. Many powers have a chance to Blast Off targets, flinging them into the air and reducing their damage resistance with a vibrant explosion.

 

Sparkling Cage

• Ranged, Moderate DoT(Fire, Energy), Foe Immobilize, Chance for Blast Off
• Immobilizes your target in a ring of pyrotechnic energy, dealing Fire and Energy damage over time. More resilient foes may require multiple Sparkling Cages to Immobilize.
• This power has a chance of Blasting Off targets into the air.

 

 Dazzle

• Ranged, Moderate DMG (Fire, Energy), Foe Hold, Chance for Blast Off
• Incapacitates a distant foe with a brilliant explosion of pyrotechnic energy. The target is left helpless for the duration.
• This power has a chance of Blasting Off targets into the air.

 

 Sparkling Chain

• Ranged (Chain), Minor DoT(Fire, Energy), Foe Immobilize, Chance for Blast Off
• Immobilizes a group of foes one by one in a chain formation, dealing Fire and Energy damage over time to each enemy in the chain. More resilient foes may require multiple casts to Immobilize. Sparkling Chain is slower and less damaging than Sparkling Cage, but can capture multiple targets.
• This power has a chance of Blasting Off targets into the air. This chance is greater on the initial target of Sparking Chain.
•  Fixed typo in description.

 

 Glittering Column

• You summon a column of brilliant, glittering energy that is sure to capture foes' attention. The column will reduce the ToHit of any foe within a short range, while also Taunting them, forcing them to direct their attacks in its direction. 
• When the Glittering Column expires, it explodes, Blasting Off nearby enemies into the air.
• Now properly triggers containment damage.
• Total base damage increased from scale 1.3 to 1.4.
• Explosion now hits 16 targets like with the rest of the power's effects.

 

 Hypnotizing Lights

• Ranged (Cone), Foe Sleep, Foe Confuse (Within 20ft), Moderate DoT (Psionic)
• You conjure a whirl of lights with differing effects depending on the distance from which it is viewed. Most all targets within the area will be placed into a sleep like trance. Up to six enemies within 20 feet of the display are Confused and receive Psionic damage over time.
• Now properly triggers containment damage.
• Added clarification to the description.

 

 Multipurpose Missiles

• Ranged (AoE), Foe Stun, Foe Terrorize, Minor DMG (Fire, Energy)
• With a single gesture, you conjure pyrotechnic missiles to assault two locations at once. Enemies near the target you have selected will be bombared with miniature missiles and Stunned. Meanwhile, enemies near the location of have selected on the ground will be hit by shrill noisemaking rocket and become Terrified.
• Now properly triggers containment damage.
• Added clarification to the description.

 

 Incendiary Aura

• Toggle: PBAoE, Chance for Blast Off. -TohiT, -Defense
• You create an aura of pyrotechnic energy around yourself that has combustible properties. Enemies within range of the power have a persistent chance of Blasting Off into the air, as well as suffer from reduced ToHit and Defense.
• Removed duplicate -ToHit debuff from Dominator version of the power.
• Fixed typo in short help.

 

 Explosive Bouquet

• Ranged (AoE), Foe Hold, Blast Off
• You create an explosion of light and sound in a flower formation. Foes inside the blast radius will be Held and Blasted Off into the air.
• Every foe you hit will increase its recharge by 14.5 seconds, up to a maximum of 240 seconds. If no foe is hit, the power will recharge in 8 seconds.

 

 Catherine Wheel

• Summon Catherine Wheel: Ranged DMG (Fire, Energy), Special
• You can craft a wheel of pure pyrotechnic energy to assist you in battle. The Catherine Wheel employs a variety of pyrotechnic powers to damage and distract enemies. If an enemy becomes affected by the Blast Off effect from one of your powers, the Catherine Wheel may Intercept the enemy with an attack, dealing additional damage.

 

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[Auroxis]

I really like the overall feel of the powerset, but it's missing some reliable AoE openers. Multipurpose Missiles being at a split target cap of 8 for its stun and fear component means you'll often find yourself with some mobs that aren't CC'd (since some mobs may get both the fear and stun, while others may get neither). I'd much prefer it if the target cap was a little bit higher at 10/10. 

[UltraAlt]

On 5/26/2025 at 7:49 AM, The Curator said:

 Dazzle

• Ranged, Moderate DMG (Fire, Energy), Foe Hold, Chance for Blast Off
• Incapacitates a distant foe with a brilliant explosion of pyrotechnic energy. The target is left helpless for the duration.
• This power has a chance of Blasting Off targets into the air.

 

The inside core of the dazzle effect is too bright for me, and I can't tone it down.

Coloring has an impact on my vision issues. If it was more blue or magenta it wouldn't affect my eyes as much as the yellow tone it has currently.

[StarkWhite]

I'm pretty sure I took that screenshot before Catherine Wheel got a slight graphical improvement, but it definitely gets across how sparkly this set is. 🙂

Really fun set, and Blast Off is...well...a blast.

[LastHumanSoldier]

The white components need to be customizable.

Not just customizable, toned down.  Its way to stark.

TOO BRIGHT.  Seriously burns my retinas and I play in a lit room.

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 03:50 PM by LastHumanSoldier

[ScarySai]

I'm still assessing the power level, so no opinion on the tuning for a few hours. For now, however.~

 

1: Visually, this set needs to be flashier. As it is, it's kinda lame. Do what you did with storm blast and crank the fx to 11 and the visual feedback will be there.

 

2: Hypnotizing lights is unneccesarily clunky. You tried something new here, but it's more annoying than of use. Why sleep something when I can confuse it?

 

[Indystruck]

Could definitely use a little more flash on the effects, yeah.

[Aoleleb]

The Dominator version of Incendiary Aura seems to have 2 -ToHit components, giving it a base of -20% compared to Controller's -10%. Is this intentional?

[nyttyn]

Explosive Bouquet having a superman landing/jump into punching the ground animation seems really unfitting both for the powerset and the actual power. Something like the minelaying animations/some sort of kneeling would fit it better, I think?

[Agorazium]

First of all, thank you!!! This is the set I've been dreaming of for my main toon of 20 years. After dozens of iterations that were never quite what I wanted, I'm hopeful this will be the one.

 

Feedback so far: I agree that the effects could be flashier. Dazzle is the cornerstone power that is going to be used thousands of times but it feels a little anemic. I think it might be the throw animation? The animation used for Neutrino Bolt for example might be better. The VFX are solid IMO.

 

The sound effects also seem very quiet compared to my secondary.

 

Blast Off is a fun secondary effect, but I think will be quite weak. A chance to knockdown on Dazzle and Explosive Bouquet, which will already hold, essentially doesn't do anything but look funny. I wonder if a chance to sleep/stun in an area, like Illusion's Blind, might be a little more useful while still thematic. I understand not every set is going to be at the same power level, but again, Blast Off might as well not be there on 2 of the powers including the one that will be spammed the most.

 

ETA: nevermind I just noticed Blast Off has a -res debuff. I still think a knockdown on hold powers is a little silly but at least it won’t be doing nothing.

Edited Wednesday at 12:41 AM by Agorazium

[KaizenSoze]

Note about the flashy-ness of the set. The initial versions were much flashier is terms of bright particle effects was causing me serious nausea, even with dark coloring. So, the devs turned it down a bit. So, you can blame me. 😛

 

Keep in mind that people who are not ever going to play the set were still going to have all that flashing in their face on teams. Especially, on release when there will be a lot of Pyros running around. Remember when Storm blast came out.

 

 

[Agorazium]

31 minutes ago, KaizenSoze said:

Note about the flashy-ness of the set. The initial versions were much flashier is terms of bright particle effects was causing me serious nausea, even with dark coloring. So, the devs turned it down a bit. So, you can blame me. 😛

 

Keep in mind that people who are not ever going to play the set were still going to have all that flashing in their face on teams. Especially, on release when there will be a lot of Pyros running around. Remember when Storm blast came out.

 

 

Maybe a compromise would be to make the AOE effects bigger rather than brighter? Compared to for example Dimension Shift, Heart of Darkness, Shadow Field, Paralyzing Blast, Flash, Gleam etc. some of the pyro AOEs just look so small and sad. 

[Thezanman]

Not sure if this is intended, but Catherine Wheel's AoE attack (Rocket Twirl) acts pretty strangely. It's listed as a 100 ft. range 15 ft. radius AoE, but it's not a TAoE, it casts at its own location. The problem is that the pet's AI will just cast the power constantly without any enemies in range, and will not attempt to get close to enemies either. It is technically possible to command it into melee range now, but it's still very awkward. This attack should really be either a TAoE or a normal PBAoE which waits until enemies are in range to cast, not whatever it is currently.

[Warspite]

I had a chance to play around a bit and have a few questions.

 

1. Glittering Column doesn't show Avg damage, but it does take Ranged AOE. Guessing the only damage comes from Glitter Explosion?   I tried with a couple of damage procs and I am seeing the damage and proc damage but where do I find that in the combat logs?

 

2.  Multi-purpose missiles, the description isn't worded correctly.  I get that one of the 2 locations will be near my target,  Enemies near the target you have selected will be bombared (bombarded) with miniature missiles and Stunned.

 

But the second part?  Meanwhile, enemies near the location of have selected on the ground will be hit by shrill noisemaking rocket and become Terrified.    Is this referring to the location I am casting it from?   I'm having a hard time testing that, just due to finding mobs located within a easy range of each other. 

 

3. All this Blasting-off up into the air and none of the mobs ever takes any fall damage?  Not even a someone landing on a sharp rock?  

 

 

[Thezanman]

2 hours ago, Warspite said:

2.  Multi-purpose missiles, the description isn't worded correctly.  I get that one of the 2 locations will be near my target,  Enemies near the target you have selected will be bombared (bombarded) with miniature missiles and Stunned.

 

But the second part?  Meanwhile, enemies near the location of have selected on the ground will be hit by shrill noisemaking rocket and become Terrified.    Is this referring to the location I am casting it from?   I'm having a hard time testing that, just due to finding mobs located within a easy range of each other. 

When you cast it, you target a location on the ground. The terrify affects enemies around that targeted location, while the stun affects the area around the enemy you have selected as a target.

2 hours ago, Warspite said:

3. All this Blasting-off up into the air and none of the mobs ever takes any fall damage?  Not even a someone landing on a sharp rock?  

Well, it's not exactly fall damage, but at least your pet shoots rockets at them when they get launched.

[TauntingMonk]

Can't wait to see a massive group of these controllers in a MSR... 

 

I fear this could cause a crash for many that already try to use the /noparticles for lag issues in MSR now.

 

I only ask for a /popcorn emote for those to watch it from a far, please

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blasters to the Devs, "But... you said I could be prettiest one.. "

Edited Wednesday at 07:58 AM by TauntingMonk

[Mezmera]

Pretty strong set you have here.  I found myself skipping Sparkling Cage and Glittering Column, although I did give the taunt pillar a try it's pretty handy in spurts but is just on the edge of usefulness and I needed the power elsewhere though I didn't like to lose it.  This is a top damage control set though the hard control felt a little lacking so that's the tradeoff. 

 

It does feel like a bit of an endurance hog even for a dom which are notorious for sucking endurance, usually I can live well on the edge but I found it hard to do on this set even with using some of my go-to endurance management.  This may be also because I was leading a lot with 2 of the aoe control powers either Explosive+Missiles or Chain+Hypnotizing. Plus I was also doing the new Kalisti villain arc and there's a lot of -endurance enemies and those new Blackwing are rough with their trip mines.  

 

My synopsis: Good showy set.  Top tier damage, above average control.  I'd look to maybe massage the endurance consumption a bit.  

[Caimie]

16 hours ago, nyttyn said:

Explosive Bouquet having a superman landing/jump into punching the ground animation seems really unfitting both for the powerset and the actual power. Something like the minelaying animations/some sort of kneeling would fit it better, I think?

I also agree with this statement.

 

I think using the animation for Whirling hands/ Ice sword circle while having a moderately sized pulsing spark on the hand would be a better fit because it would somewhat give the sense you're doing a wind-up toss.

It's not a perfect solution, but seems like a more fitting alternative.

[Electronuts]

 

 Hypnotizing Lights

• Ranged (Cone), Foe Sleep, Foe Confuse (Within 20ft), Moderate DoT (Psionic)
• You conjure a whirl of lights with differing effects depending on the distance from which it is viewed. Most all targets within the area will be placed into a sleep like trance. Up to six enemies within 20 feet of the display are Confused and receive Psionic damage over time

I note this is 45 seconds recharge and 16 target max. Just make absolutely sure you're not putting yourself in the position you are in now with plant, i.e. allowing people to invest hundreds of hours in a character only to have a core power slashed in usefulness. Why not make it 90 seconds and 10 cap like you've done with SoC and then buff it later when you have better data on how it's performing.

[ExeErdna]

I'm realizing the opener for this set is supposed to be Glittering Column since it reminds me of Omega Maneuver, personally, it needs some sort of slow so mobs don't instantly dash at the player the moment they get up. It's strong when you invest in it and is a key tool of the set. 

 

Sparking Chain is ok, often times you really can't see the chaining yet it reminds of Jolting Chain but better. 

 

Hypnotizing Lights is the best skill of the set sleep + confusion is a good stack and it does a good amount of damage and still its mez time is high enough that one can invest in either dmg or mez

 

Multipurpose Missiles WOULD be the best skill of the set if it was a normal click skill. For some reason maybe it's just me, yet when I try to use it sometimes it just won't work since this is what you use as the Column is priming so you can get the containment crit. It isn't red it isn't clicking an enemy it be on empty flat ground and it won't work. This failure gotten me downed a few times.

 

Incendiary Aura is beautiful but that's it. It needs a bit more feedback that I know it's doing it's job. The aura imo should be the main source of the blast off since the debuff aspect is ok. Sure some people are gonna proc it. Personally, it's the easiest "skip" since most players aren't daredevils that play Trollers like a tank. Yet really does need more feedback.

Explosive Bouquet, does it job it's clearly Geyser but it holds. It doesnt need to do anything else

 

Catherine Wheel: Amazing in open air not so great indoors more than likely horrible in caves. As I did notice it seems slower than the other pets and sometimes it gets stuck on parts of the environment it shouldn't. Like the Singularity wouldn't get stuck in rooms. Yet I move a bit TOO fast out of a room and I most likely have to resummon. 

The set is powerful when it works as it's theorized yet when it fails it hurts. 

 

 

 

 

[BZRKR]

I went to Perez Park with my lvl 50 Pyro/ Kin Controller, and I was pleased that the Blast Off effect from Incendiary Aura knocked level 7 Clockwork UP not BACK.

 

Overall, I like what the set does, and really like how it looks and sounds. I think once the numbers have been crunched this will be a popular set.

[StarkWhite]

4 minutes ago, Electronuts said:

 

 Hypnotizing Lights

• Ranged (Cone), Foe Sleep, Foe Confuse (Within 20ft), Moderate DoT (Psionic)
• You conjure a whirl of lights with differing effects depending on the distance from which it is viewed. Most all targets within the area will be placed into a sleep like trance. Up to six enemies within 20 feet of the display are Confused and receive Psionic damage over time

I note this is 45 seconds recharge and 16 target max. Just make absolutely sure you're not putting yourself in the position you are in now with plant, i.e. allowing people to invest hundreds of hours in a character only to have a core power slashed in usefulness. Why not make it 90 seconds and 10 cap like you've done with SoC and then buff it later when you have better data on how it's performing.

Sorry to sound like a broken record, but again: Hypnotizing Lights can confuse a maximum of six targets out of those 16. It is primarily a sleep power, and even with Deep Sleep, it self-limits (the confused targets are likely to start immediately hitting the slept targets, which won't wake them instantly but will in a short while).

[Seed22]

From my CB testing, this set is a decent set. Nowhere near top tier, but not arsenal bad.

 

I tested with a Pyro/Ice/Fire dom and was mowing mobs at a decent speed. GC is your biggest survival tool hands down and really why I was able to just laughably and comfortably handle mobs and do decent AoE damage at the same time.

[jkwak]

While so far I have no complaints about the powerset it self

In my opinion the name "Multipurpose Missiles" is not really going well with the rest of the names for the powers, it just feels out of place

I might be alone with that opiniont though

[scarlet_f]

please no more Bright powersets, my eye still hasn't recovered from the storm blast launch week!