Leo_G

It's because you did the exact thing you're accusing me of.

Basically, describing a situation particularly outside of normal gameplay (being able to easily survive 2 bosses plus a Lt without worry of defeat) that ToF is not needed in. Go back and reread *your* post and try and understand exactly what you're trying to say. I'll tell you what *I* think you're saying but I could be wrong:

You have a build that is able to skip a useful power for something else. That's not uncommon. But it doesn't make the power you skip any less powerful.

Lol, 2 bosses and a Lt is a situation completely out of the norm?

Common misconception about fear powers is, if you hit a feared foe it breaks the fear. This is true to a degree, but fear will still cut a foes attack frequency by over 1/3. Go ahead, try it. Go ToF something and then hit it with an attack. Sometimes it will strike back (and most likely miss), other times it will cower as you smack it.

So there's 2 bosses, a Lt and 2 minions. Spreading out your attacks to keep the attention of the 2 bosses and Lt (just forget the minions), those 2 bosses have a longer opportunity to attack. Sure, they'll end up being defeated in roughly the same amount of time (lets just say 35sec) but if you focused your attacks and took out 1 boss in 12 sec, that's significantly less dmg than fighting 2 bosses for 22 sec.

This is one advantage many overlook when comparing Stalkers to other melees and it shows in the perspective you present. A stalker can potentially drop a boss in less than 10sec depending on resists. With ToF, that's 2 bosses either dead or debuffed in less time than it takes a Brute or Scrapper to kill 1.

And this is why I hate oh-so-many scrappers I've encountered. But I suppose it's not their fault, Scrappers are usually just built to worry about themselves. Brutes are different, they're usually the ones being babysat on teams (they're so drowned in enemies, they probably don't realize there's an ambush coming anyway) and Stalkers aren't meant to be relied on to 'tank' for less sturdy teammates.

I won't bother arguing further but, Sh** hits the fan occasionally. And if you're gaming with friends, you want to actually *help* them when in need. Some will just carry a butt load of awakes, others will pick up useful powers like Vengeance and Aid Other. All I know is, when that sh** does hit the fan (and even when it doesn't), ToF can be the primary thing that pull a team's butt out of the fire and I should know, I've done so too many times to remember.

....I don't understand any of that...was that just a jumble of english words?

You don't think it's not possible? So that means you think it's possible?

You're entitled to your opinion but if you consider Scare (lvl35, 8sec duration, 20sec rech, 10END, 60ft range, mag3 fear) better than Touch of Fear (lvl 6, 22sec duration, 8sec rech, 8.5END, 7ft range, mag 3 fear that also debuffs ToHit by 11%)...well, yeah don't take it personally when people think you're crazy.

The point is, unless you can drop 2 bosses with ST attacks *at the same time* in the span of several attack rounds, ToF will always be useful for occupying that target you're not beating down. Your example of 'smacking that add in the back of the head' only slows down the speed at which you defeat your initial target...because you're wasting attacks trying to get their attention, spreading your damage and ultimately leaving more enemies alive longer. It also spreads the debuffs of your regular attacks(which only have a short duration and therefore finite stacking capabilities) making it more dangerous for yourself. Yes, ToF can be skipped but at least use the power correctly when you do take it>_>

I can certainly agree there but it's hard to be nice when your initial intent is rather insulting, i.e. to quit what I'm investing in for something I probably don't want.

The difference? That other thread is about adding 1 power that does 1 thing that has been defined by other media. Also, it's an strong staple of comics which would fit nicely in a superhero comic MMO sim.

The OP of this thread simply said give up here and do something else. That is like telling me to quit college and go do construction. Why!? I've paid *money* to further my education. I've invested *time* in what I'm doing now! Throwing all that away *IS STUPID*!

Now if you know me, I'm all for defending suggestions and ideas. I will *ALWAYS* play devil's advocate there. But here, there is no suggestion. No rhyme or reason. If I'm going to quit college to do construction, give me a reason. My mother has cancer and needs the money and my uncle is a contractor and will get me a good starting pay. OKAY! That's an idea!

Now lets here the OP do that with this idea.

I guess if you want to be selfish about it, yeah. You could easily skip it and just defeat stuff.

But Touch of Fear is a 1-shot you're-so-weak-you-might-as-well-be-dead move that you can use to help others not so fortunate as you to survive. On ATs like Stalker or Scrapper, where your contributions are simply damage (Single Target in DM's case) and nothing more, the option of such effective control and debuff is far from a waste.

Ah yes, that was you >_>

Sorry Sam

*High five!*

I don't know what's up with those crazy Broadsworders. I tell them "Yeah. Animations. Yours. Suck." but keep getting responses like "it's brutal" or 'Piller of Pain'. *shakes head* The only thing brutal I'll openly admit about BS is the orange numbers...and even those, over time, are overshadowed by faster sets like Claws and Katana.

As for DP, when they improved Piercing Rounds, I was completely content with the set (it's my favorite power)^^

But torrent isn't minor mitigation. It's pretty damn awesome mitigation (it's a 100% KB right?). And we're not really gaining anything from losing Torrent. All we're getting in exchange is Dark Obliteration, right?

And Dark Blast is losing Tenebrous Tentacles and its -ToHit(for -acc) too? Removing a lot of that stuff really just flubs up the feel of the set but I think it's passable if the option for less burst for more mitigation (see Ice Manipulation) is there.

It's more paraphrasing than 'putting words in your mouth'. It's not like I quoted you and then added stuff to it. Besides, if you can read a portion of what I type and have a certain interpretation of it, I feel I can so long as I say that's what I'm doing.

And how would you interpret this:
"Seems like a lot of work for not much benefit - and for not many players, even with the upcoming "unlock at 20.""

'Lot of work for little benefit' equates to 'waste of time' to most people, don't you think?

But I know you realize the difference between Stalker burst and Blaster burst...if Stalkers had to use Soul Drain, that pretty much eliminates their burst potential (or exchanges it for one of a different kind...potentially). The way I see it, it's just a perk for being in PBAoE and compliments the set (unlike for Stalkers which would only compliment the Dark/Dark combo).

Also, having something else besides just another BU is a nice option, IMO. Another option is forgo the +dmg buff entirely and give it a Tar Patch variant...just an idea...

And for your alterations to Dark Pit, can you add a 45% chance of knockdown/knockup? That would be swell.

Lol wut?

My monkey scrapper isn't a ninja and that power looks like it was made for him...

No, Blinding Powder isn't bad. It's decent if you decide to use it.

And no, it's a mag 2 sleep (so minions go to sleep) and a 50% chance of mag 2 confuse (so minions might start attacking eachother) along with its -perception and -ToHit.

Smoke Flash is the PBAoE placate power.

I guess I'll just take it as the combination of all those.

Point: That an animation, that doesn't even change the animation of a set yet only changes the idle stance, can alter the feel of a set. That it doesn't have to be a new power to do that.

Point: The devs don't abandon the work *that is currently in our hands*. The 'multiple-year-old' stuff that is in the game now. I'm not sure how combos or ammo shifting factors into this unless you're talking about adding new combos to those sets. Adding more sets that use these mechanics isn't what I'm talking about but I see no reason this cannot happen.

Point: "'Wouldn't it be cool if...' No. Don't waste our time on blah blah blah"
If I'm accused of snark, will you not hold yourself guilty too?

Alternate animations for Martial Arts? Where's my Capoeira? Seven-Star Mantis? Kenpo?

Point: If the devs can decide what alternate customizations to add to some sets, they can do the same to future sets to alleviate that problem.

You probably should have saved yourself (and me) the last 2 posts by just saying this and have been done with it.

Animations aren't new powers though. Yet animations easily give old sets a new feel (running Ninja Run is a breath of fresh air to my MA/Shield, Kat/SR, Elec/Regen and DM/WP...and that's just what's between attacks). And since we have no shape shifting AT or set, giving multiple shapes to Khelds would basically do that without needing to klunk around some strange (probably gimmicky) mechanic to make it work.

Besides, I'm of the opinion that the devs don't just 'abandon' their work. They improve it. That anything is 'multiple-year-old' has and never will have bearing on what the devs should do.

And I will ask myself: Would I rather the devs create new powers/sets? Or add to the old? My answer - *Both!* Because they can do that. Or have you forgotten that?

It took me about 15sec of contemplating that sentence to finally get it...

Frankly, I don't think I could have lasted 2 months.