Oathbound

YAY. I've never found the caltrops spam dangerous, just god aweful annoying.

A dedicated Staff Blast set? Sure easily doable. The Carnival of Light nearly has an entire set worth of staff powers already in game.

Alternate animations for existing sets? Highly unlikely. It'd take considerable development time (assuming it's even possible with the current code/engine) for a very limited payoff. It's much more likely we'd get an actual Staff Blast set, which would net a larger return for the time spent.

I suppose it'd depend on the recharges of the Frightwakes... The more I look at it the more it grows on me. Few things I'll note though:

The sleep on Blanket of Night is incredibly short. AoE sleeps on Dominators are usually 17.88seconds, the only ones shorter than that are Salt Crystals at 14.9seconds and Static Field, which pulses a 6.33second Sleep every 4seconds for 25seconds. I'd say bump it to the standard 17.88s. Though I question the value of a sleep in the set at all, given all the DoT/uncontrollable pet damage.

Cloak of Fear, as it currently stands, is a terrible power. MASSIVE accuracy penalty, a sizable end cost, tiny radius, and it's only mag2. If Doms(and subsequently Controllers) were to get it (as primary control archetypes) then I'd hope the magnitude would get upped to mag3 (or the power was allowed to stack the current mag2), the radius was increased to at least 12 feet, and the base accuracy was increased to 1.0 (75% chance to hit), or 0.9 (67.5% to hit). Currently CoF has a 0.67 base accuracy mod, which is only a 50.25% chance to hit. It needs 3 accuracy SOs just to be remotely reliable, and that's only against even cons, heaven help you if you're fighting +3 or +4s.

I would also suggest that Nightmare have either Dark Blast, Gloom or Life Drain added. It has no single target attacks at all, and all current pets, save Fire Imps, have a ranged attack(or control) to use against flying mobs.

Honestly, I always pick it up as soon as it's available, then run and tank DfB with it. (Somehow I always seem to end up tanking DfB, sometimes even when there are actual tankers.)

A couple runs of DfB and you've got a lovely +recovery temp that lasts you till you hit SOs, and you're probably high enough level to start slotting DOs. I don't find the end cost to be that bad.... except on my Fire Control/Time.... TJ+Hotfeet is brutal on the bluebar.

I've found it incredibly useful on all 5 of my Time characters. I do avoid pairing Time Manipulation sit sets that rely a great deal on Cones though, since they conflict with Time's Juncture's pbaoe nature.

Which sucks cause I can't bring myself to make a Dark/Time even though I really want one..... stupid super narrow cones....

Highly doubtful it's a new player set.

Serene has attacks that are both elements (For instance she dual wields elemental swords, one fire and one ice). This is in all likelihood just a fancypants name they gave to her unique abilities.

You can already make dominators with fire and ice abilities, so that would be an incredible waste of a new powerset. Particularly with all the commotion as of late about Doms not getting proliferation and having to wait for new sets.





Also, there are plenty of people who want Dark Control (have been for years), and that there are lots of dark powers already is absolutely irrelevant.

There were already Fire themed Blast, Melee, Manipulation, Armor and Control sets and we still got Thermal Radiation. The fact that there's already Dark Miasma, Blast, Manipulation, Melee, and Armor doesn't mean a thing with regard to Dark Control.

There are any number of ways to go about making it unique and fun to play.

So, futzing around with powerset ideas again I was thinking that while we've got 2 melee sets with some form of Combo mechanic (soon to be a third with Staff Fighting, arguably a fourth with Titan Weapons), we don't have any Ranged sets that utilize anything like it.

Brainstorming on themes that lend well with building up "points" I came up with weather. Different types of weather phenomena use various Rating systems (Tornadoes and Hurricanes specifically come to mind). Thus the Storm Rating mechanic sprung forth from the ol grey matter.

I didn't want it to just be "Street Justice at range" or a copy of Dual Blade's rigid attack chains, though. I wanted it to be more of an alternate resource system. So this is how it fleshed itself out:

Storm Rating
Storm Rating is a 5 point system (Six point if you count the base rating of 0) in which higher rating improves the performance of your powers.

Most of your Single Target attacks have a chance to improve your storm rating (anywhere from 25% to 100% chance, depending). Building from 0 to 3 should prove relatively easy while achieving a rating of 4 or 5 will be more difficult.

Other powers (notably your AoEs, among others) will not build Storm Rating, but instead will use points if your current rating is high enough, lowering your rating by a set amount (varies by power) and gaining additional effects (Added Damage, Recharge Slows, Chance for Fear, etc). They can be used without affecting your Rating if you're below the threshold required to gain the extra effects.

Obvious the exact chance to build Rating, and how long your rating lasts would be up for testing to find a good balance point.

For the power's visual FX themselves, there are a number of effects in game that show that "Wind" can be made to look pretty decently. The swirling effect from Time Manipulation's Temporal Mending looks fairly convincingly wind-like, not to mention the existing wind based power, Gale. Kinetic Melee is also a decent place to look for inspiration for wind effects, as are a couple Peacebringer powers, such as Gleaming Blast (specifically the swirling trail that follows the path of the projectile).

As far as a secondary effect (-Defense for Radiation, -Resist for Sonic, etc) I looked to Hurricane, -Range -ToHit. I don't want it to step on Dark Blast's toes though, so the -ToHit would be relatively minor. While -range may not seem particularly useful, the set does include an Immobilize, so it's possible to root enemies and debuff their range to a point where it can't attack you. Only about half of the powers in the set actually have the standard secondary debuff, the rest have other effects, or utilize Storm Rating for additional benefit.


Storm Blast Powerset:(Some of the Effects info can get pretty long, it should be more intuitive than the wall o text may make it seem.)(You -only- get the effects for your current Rating upon power activation.)

1) Airburst
A quick burst of high pressure air, Airburst deals minor Smashing and Cold damage and reduces your target's effective Range and ToHit for a short time. Airburst has a chance to increase your Storm Rating. Storm Rating grants a chance to knock your target down, the higher your rating the greater your knockdown chance.
Activation: 1second (Uses the same character animation as Charged Bolt)
Damage: 0.7scale Smashing damage+0.3scale Cold damage (1scale total damage)
Range: 80ft
End Cost: 5.2
Recharge: 4seconds
Effects: -15% Range, -5% ToHit
10% Chance 0.67mag Knockback if StormRating 1
20% Chance 0.67mag Knockback if StormRating 2
30% Chance 0.67mag Knockback if StormRating 3
50% Chance 0.67mag Knockback if StormRating 4
75% Chance 0.67mag Knockback if StormRating 5
Rating: 50% Chance +1 Rating if Storm Rating 2 or lower
25% Chance +1 Rating if Storm Rating 3 or higher

2) Wind Blast
More powerful than Airburst, Wind Blast deals moderate Smashing and Cold damage and reduces your target's Range and ToHit. Wind Blast has a change to knock your target back. Wind Blast has a chance to increase your Storm Rating. While at a Storm Rating of 4, Wind Burst will electrocute your target for additional damage. A Rating of 5 will expand this extra damage in a small radius around your target.
Activation: 1.67seconds (Uses Power Blast character animation)
Damage: 1.0scale Smashing damage+0.64scale Cold damage (1.64scale total damage)
Range: 80ft
End Cost: 8.53
Recharge: 8seconds
Effects: -15% Range, -5% ToHit
15% Chance 0.67mag Knockback
5*0.09scale Energy damage/3.1sec if Storm Rating 4 (0.45scale total damage)
5*0.09scale Energy damage/3.1sec 8ft AoE if Storm Rating 5 (0.45scale total damage)
Rating: +1 Rating if Storm Rating 2 or lower
50% Chance +1 Rating if Storm Rating 3 or higher

3) Full Gale
Using this ability scours all enemies in a large arc in front of you with intense winds which deal smashing and lethal damage as they pelt your foes with debris. If your Storm Rating is 4 or higher, Full Gale will weaken your rating by 1 and deal additional cold damage over time to all affected targets, considerably slowing their Recharge.
Activation: 2.27seconds (Uses Frost character animation)
Damage: 10*0.06scale Smashing+10*0.03scale Lethal/2.08s (0.9scale total damage)
Range: 40ft
Arc: 60degrees
End Cost: 11.9
Recharge: 12seconds
Effects: -15% Range, -5% ToHit
30% Chance 3.32mag Knockback
3*0.1scale Cold damage/1.05s if Storm Rating 4 or higher (0.3scale total damage)
-50% Recharge if Storm Rating 4 or higher
Rating: -2 Rating if Storm Rating 4 or higher


4) Windcage
Traps your target in a whirling cage of winds, immobilizing them and dealing minor Smashing and Cold damage over time. Windcage has a chance to increase your Storm Rating.
Activation: 1.17seconds (Uses Transfusion character animation)
Damage: 8*0.07scale Smashing damage+8*0.055scale Cold damage/3.6sec (1scale total damage)
Range: 80ft
End Cost: 7.8
Recharge: 4seconds
Effects: 3mag Immobilize 17.9sec
-15% Range, -5% ToHit
Rating: 50% Chance +1 Rating if Storm Rating 2 or lower
25% Chance +1 Rating if Storm Rating 3 or higher

5) Upheaval
Creates a burst of thermal air around you, attempting to hurl your foes skyward. Deals moderate smashing damage to affected enemies with a chance to knock them off their feet. Knockup is guaranteed if your Storm Rating is 4 or Higher, though this will reduce your Storm Rating by 1. If your Storm Rating is 5, Upheaval consumes an additional -1 Rating and deals increased damage.
Activation: 1.03seconds (Uses Lift character animation)
Damage: 1.0scale Smashing
Range: 0ft
Radius: 20ft
End Cost: 18.51
Recharge: 20seconds
Effects: 30% Chance 1.4mag Knockup if Storm Rating 3 or lower
1.4mag Knockup if Storm Rating 4 or higher
0.4scale Energy Damage if Storm Rating 5
Rating: -1 Rating if Storm Rating 4
-2 Rating if Storm Rating 5

6) Vortex
Encases your target is a fearsome Vortex of wind, battering them wildly and rendering them held and helpless to defend themselves. If your Storm Rating is 5, Vortex will lower your rating by 2 and deal considerable extra damage.
Activation: 1.07seconds (Uses Energy Torrent character animation)
Damage: 8*0.1scale Smashing+8*0.065scale Cold Damage/3.6sec (1.32scale total damage)
Range: 80ft
End Cost: 10.2
Recharge: 16seconds
Effects: 3mag Hold 9.5sec
8*0.205scale Lethal/3.6sec if Storm Rating 5 (1.64scale total damage)
Rating: -2 Rating if Storm Rating 5

7) Embrace of the Storm
By activating this ability, you give yourself over completely to the fury of the storms. For a brief time whenever one of your attacks would increase your Storm Rating by 1, it increases your Rating by 2 instead.
Activation: 1.17seconds (Use Build Up character animation)
End Cost: 7.8
Recharge: 240seconds
Effects: Special


8) Pressure Burst
You clap your hands together, creating a pressure wave which knocks down nearby foes. If used while at Storm Rating 4 or higher, Pressure Burst will instead reduce your rating by 1 and knock foes away from you, leaving them disoriented, making it an effective emergency power if you're in a bit over your head.
Activation: 1.23seconds (Uses Hand Clap character animation)
Damage: 0.1scale Smashing damage
Range: 0ft
Radius: 15ft
End Cost: 13
Recharge: 45seconds
Effects: 0.67mag Knockback if Storm Rating 3 or lower
4.99mag Knockback if Storm Rating 4 or higher
3mag Disorient if Storm Rating 4 or higher
Rating: -2 Rating if Storm Rating 4 or higher

9) Cyclone
Activating this power you surround yourself with the howling winds of a fierce Cyclone. Nearby foes will take continuous damage over time, have their ToHit and Range severely reduced and will be unable to Jump or Fly. Higher Storm Rating improves damage. As long as your Storm Rating is 4 or higher Cyclone will instill panic into your foes, leaving them trembling in fear. Cyclone will dissipate automatically after 30 seconds, reducing your Storm Rating to 0.
Activation: 1.17s (Uses Whirlwind character animation)
Damage: 0.03scale Smashing damage+0.03scale Lethal damage/tick (3.66scale total damage/30seconds)
Range: 0
Radius: 25
End Cost: 0.39end/0.5sec
Recharge: 180seconds
Effects: -50% Range, -15% ToHit, -10mag Fly, -50,000% Jumpheight
10% Chance 0.67mag Knockback
0.03scale Smashing damage/tick if Storm Rating 3 or higher (1.83scale total damage/30seconds)
50% Chance 1mag Fear 5.96seconds if Storm Rating 4 or higher
0.03scale Lethal damage/tick if Storm Rating 5 (1.83scale total damage/30seconds)
Rating: -5 Rating after 30seconds


So there ya have it.


(EDIT: Added total damage scales for all the DoT effects.... it was kinda hard to actually see how much damage some of the powers would have been doing.)

I... think the yellow highlight just shows you which person you have targeted.

The mechanics of the powers themselves haven't changed at all. You've always needed to target a person to use a single target heal on them, the only thing that's changed in the last few updates is the UI.

I've never had any issue with targetting either through the team window, or just by clicking on that person. Though I generally use the team window, simply because it's easier than trying to click another character with the mouse.

In a perfect world Propel would do different things based on what object you summoned. (In addition to actually showing the same object for everyone. Currently it's a client side thing, so each person sees a different object.)

Car? Cone smashing damage and KB.
Bomb/Propane Tank/Etc? Target AoE Smashing/fire damage and kb.
Telephone pole? Cone smashing/energy damage.
Small items like lamps or chairs? Single target smashing and kb
Chemical Drum? Single target smashing plus AoE toxic DoT.
etc
etc


Other people would hate the randomness immensely however.

Really makes me wish he wasn't such a total and complete PUTZ in First Ward, that it makes his overthrow of the Midnight Squad feel so laughably implausible.

Really. I don't know how the Praetorian MidSquad compares to the Primal one, but if we're to believe they're roughly equal, there's not a chance in heck a tool like Midnight Master (is presented to be in the FW arcs) could best them.




Edit: Also, those powerset can't be right. Yes he has zombie minions, that's fine. But I've never in my multiple times fighting with or against him ever seen him use a single Dark Miasma power. Ever. Ever.

He appears to use Energy Assault. (Or at least a combination of Energy Blast and Energy Melee powers.)

There are cases where any of the PBAoE heals can root you, it's very inconsistent, even with activations of the same power.

That said I haven't faced any issue of Temporal Mending rooting me during activation, that I haven't seen with all the AoE heals, so I don't think it's a problem with TM specifically.


(Generally it seems that if you activate the power (any AoE heal) while standing still it will not let you move until it's finished animating, but if you activate it while moving it won't root you.)

So, I like to come up with random concept powersets for the "City of ____" world. It's just a silly lil hobby of mine. This is one of em.

I'm all for every theme being represented in as many set types as (super)humanly possible, and playing a /Stone Dominator always makes me wish there was an Earth Blast set.

I started with the idea that Earthen Blast would be a more defensive set, kind of the inverse of how Fire is all about damage. At the same time though, I didn't want it to just be a poor dps set, which would kind of be the sticking point, more safety kind of has to mean lower damage. To get around this I came up with a pair of mutually exclusive powers (you can have both, but only 1 can be active at a time) that enable Modes, like how Fiery Embrace works. One, Earthen Fortification, would lower your damage and allow your attacks to apply minor Defense buffs to you when they hit successfully. Then the opposite power, Strength of Stone (which takes the place of Aim for the set) instead enables your powers to grant you a small damage buff, kind of like you get double Defiance buffs from them. Both of these buffs provide some benefit on their own, a base to start building off of. To prevent crazy IO build shenanigans though, none of the buffs from your attacks would be enhanceable, nor would they stack (from the same power) so at most you could have 1 buff from each power that grants a buff, for a predictable maximum benefit.


There's an (relatively) easy way to animate the set too. Stone melee attacks generally encase your hands in blocks of stone already, so instead of each blast necessitating that you bend down and rip up a chunk of earth, instead the animations would just use the same rocky glove bit as the melee powers to serve as the origin of the various projectiles.

So here it is, let me know what you think: (Numbers listed are using Defender mods, Blasters and Corruptors would get lower defense bonuses.)

Earthen Blast

1) Stoneburst
Launches a chunk of solid stone at your target, dealing minor smashing damage and possibly knocking them off their feet. If used in conjunction with your Earthen Fortification or Strength of Stone abilites, Stoneburst grants a small bonus to your Defense or Damage respectively.
Range: 80ft
Damage: 0.8scale Smashing Damage
Recharge: 3seconds
Effects: 10% Chance 0.67mag Knockback, +2% Defense for 5sec if EarthenFortification, +5% Damage for 5sec if StrengthOfStone

2)Shard Blast
You hurl shards of jagged earth at your target, dealing moderate damage to them. Like Stoneburst, Shard Burst has a small chance to knock your enemies down. Grants a minor bonus to your Defense if your Earthen Fortification is active, or a minor bonus to damage if Strength of Stone is active.
Range: 80ft
Damage: 4*0.41scale Lethal Damage over 0.5s
Recharge: 8seconds
Effects: 20% Chance 0.67mag Knockback, +2.5% Defense 10s if EarthenFortification, +5% Damage 10s if StrengthOfStone

3) Magma Bomb
You heave a mass of partially molten rock at a group of foes, dealing good damage to them and setting them ablaze for a short time. Some foes may be knocked back.
Range: 80ft
Radius: 15ft
Damage: 0.5scale Smashing Damage +5*0.1scale Fire Damage over 4.1sec
Recharge: 16seconds
Effects: 30% Chance 2.08mag Knockback

4) Catapult
Catapults a stone at your target enemy, hurtling them through the air on impact. Useful for keeping an enemy at range.
Range: 70ft
Damage: 0.26scale Smashing Damage
Recharge: 8seconds
Effects: 13.3mag Knockback

5) Strength of Stone
You draw on the strength of the earth to increase your own power. While active, Strength of Stone grants your a small bonus to your ToHit and Damage. This damage bonus builds with continuous use of your other Earth Blast powers. Strength of Stone requires you to maintain close contact with the earth, preventing you from Jumping or Flying.
Damage: None
Recharge: 4seconds
Effects: ModifyEffect StrengthOfStone, +10% ToHit, +10% Damage, -10mag Fly, -50,000% JumpHeight

6) Stone Spears
Stone spears erupt from the ground at the feet of your target, dealing substantial Lethal damage to them and knocking them high into the air. Moderately increases your Defense if used with Earthen Fortification, or your Damage if used with Strength of Stone.
Range: 60ft
Damage: 1.96scale Lethal Damage
Recharge: 10seconds
Effects: 0.67mag Knockup, +3.5% Defense 12s if EarthenFortification, +10% Damage 12s if StrengthOfStone

7) Earthen Fortification
You fortify yourself with earth and stone increasing your durability and deflecting incomming attacks. While active you sacrifice a portion of your Damage potential to boost to your Maximum Hitpoints and your Defense, many of your other Earth Blast powers will grant additional defense when used. Such fortification if extremely heavy though preventing you from jumping or flying, and moderately slowing your movement speed and reducing the range of your other powers.
Damage: None
Recharge: 4seconds
Effects: ModifyEffect EarthenFortification, +3.5% Defense, +20% Maximum Hitpoints, -30% Damage, -30% Range, -30% Runspeed, -10mag Fly, -50,000% Jumpheight
**While the defense buffs granted by your attacks are not enhanceable, the buff from Earthen Fortification itself is.

8) Magma Case
Encases your target in a block of rapidly hardening magma, dealing fire damage over time and leaving them held and helpless to defend themselves.
Range: 60ft
Damage: 5*0.2scale Fire Damage/4.1sec
Recharge: 16seconds
Effects: 3mag Hold 11.9sec

9) Grip of Granite
By stomping your foot you can create a violent upheaval of earth at your location. For the next several seconds any nearby enemies are assailed by wave after wave of erupting rock and stone. Many foes will find it difficult to maintain their footing, and some may be left dazed by the onslaught. Grants a considerable bonus for your Earthen Fortification or Strength of Stone powers.
Radius: 20ft
Damage: 1.5scale Smashing Damage upon activation then summons a pseudo-pet for 5seconds at your location which checks for 6 additional attempts at 0.3scale Lethal Damage. Each additional tick has it's own accuracy check. Maximum total damage of 3.3scale
Recharge: 120seconds
Effects: 30% Chance 2mag Disorient 6sec, 10% Chance 0.67mag Knockback each tick, +12.5% Defense 20sec if EarthenFortification, +20% Damage 20sec if StrengthOfStone


Blaster Defense numbers: (Keep in mind the Damage, Range and Mobility penalties)
Stoneburst: 1.3% Defense (Non-Enhanceable)
Shard Blast: 1.625% Defense (Non-Enhanceable)
Stone Spears: 2.275% Defense (Non-Enhanceable)
Earthen Fortification: 2.275% Defense (Enhanceable)
Grip of Granite: 8.125% Defense (Non-Enhanceable)

Sustainable Defense Buff:
7.475% Total (Unenhanced)
8.749% Total (Enhanced)

20second Maximum buff with Grip of Granite:
15.6% Total (Unenhanced)
16.874% Total (Enhanced)


Defender Defense numbers:
Stoneburst: 2%
Shard Blast: 2.5%
Stone Spears: 3.5%
Earthen Fortification: 3.5%
Grip of Granite: 12.5%

Sustainable Defense Buff:
11.5% (Unenhanced)
13.46% (Enhanced)

20second Maxumim buff with Grip of Granite:
24% (Unenhanced)
25.96% (Enhanced)


Corruptor Defense Numbers:
Stoneburst: 1.5%
Shard Blast: 1.875%
Stone Spears: 2.625%
Earthen Fortification: 2.625%
Grip of Granite: 9.375%

Sustainable Defense Buff:
8.625% (Unenhanced)
10.095% (Enhanced)

20second Maximum buff with Grip of Granite:
18% (Unenhanced)
19.47% (Enhanced)

Well, Melee/Support has no real use for the Taunt powers in the melee sets, so you could pull that and add in the theme appropriate shield.

Have the Inherent grant 2-4mag protection and 50% resistance for Sleep/Hold/Disorient.

That ups your survivability a bit and prevents constant toggle drop from every random minion with even a remote chance for mez attacks.

Some of the Support sets could use a couple tweaks in addition, but that'd be a more case by case situation.