What one thing would you change? If anything!
By
Black_Marrow,
Posted on: 2009-08-22 11:17 in Soldiers of Arachnos
For mostly aesthetic reasons, I'd like to see power customization let you change where the Soldier and branch attacks come from. Like having the rifle attacks shoot out from the Crab backpack or the Bane Mace and vice versa. That would give a person the ability to remove the redraw caused by using attacks from the base and branch powersets. Not sure how feasible it is (don't know if changing emanation points is possible under the new system), but it would make me one happy camper.
Branching Paragon Police Department Epic Archetype, please!
Bane - needs an overall activation time reduction or at least reduce the # of weapon redraw. Surveillence should not cause re-draw. And also, Pulverize should be available at lvl 4 (switch places with Mace Beam Blast). It is annoying to take Mace Beam Blast or Mace Beam if you only want melee attacks (unless you take all the utilities first to bypass those range attacks).
Night Widow - Swipe needs to be a tiny bit better. Its damage is lower than Poison Dart. I know it's faster but the base damage is way too low and melee attack should always do better damage than range IMO.
Fortunata - Yeah, Total Domination is kinda meh. Actually TD is meh on anybody without Domination IMO. Fortunata is near perfect in her design. If I really want to nitpick, I would increase TK Blast's damage a bit because it's on 6s recharge. It does the same damage as Mind Blast which is at 4s.
Crab - I would put Slice on 6s scale because at 4s, it does the same damage as Channelgun with the same debuff value. I know Slice activates .33s faster but the melee vs range risk reward is not balanced for Slice IMO. If I want to melee, I want to do more damage than range. Slice is hurt because Crab's melee and range damage scale are the same at 1.00. Slice suffers from being only lethal while Channelgun does energy. It's really to the point of "why bother taking slice" unless you want a cool Slice animation? You can use Channelgun at melee range anyway!
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
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I never bother taking Swipe, I generally take Poison Dart, but lately I have been using Mental Blast over Poison Dart since conceptually Night Widow's do not use Poison Dart.|
Originally Posted by Jibikao
Night Widow - Swipe needs to be a tiny bit better. Its damage is lower than Poison Dart. I know it's faster but the base damage is way too low.
Fortunata - Yeah, Total Domination is kinda meh. Actually TD is meh on anybody without Domination IMO. Fortunata is near perfect in her design. If I really want to nitpick, I would increase TK Blast's damage a bit because it's on 6s recharge. It does the same damage as Mind Blast which is at 4s. |
I wouldn't mind Telekinetic Blast having higher damage, but if I had to choose I would rather Psychic Scream get a damage boost. I love the power, but I would love for it to have more damage to it.
"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)
I'd return Foresight's elusivity to a reasonable level. Playing a Widow in RV isn't much fun.
I'd like SoA to get dual machine pistols. It would seem to work hear better than on other characters.
If I could change one thing it would be:
Soldiers - Scrapper base HP (1338 at level 50)
Widows - Blaster/Stalker base HP (1200~ at level 50)
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
Defense debuff resistance.
I've spent a lot of time getting four builds to where I am very happy with them without spending a mint on IOs/HOs. Even though I think there are a bunch of little things the devs could have done better, I like all four; Fort, Widow, Bane, Crab. I like them enough to be toying with leveling up a Huntsman. The one glaring thing that bothers me about VEATs in general is the gaping hole in their defense based powers that allows them to be so easily rendered useless.
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Swipe is fine the way it is. Compared to other tier 1 melee attacks its actually ahead of the curve DPA wise. Looking at fire, dark, and stone tier ones. It does more damage and has a faster activation time then stone fists. It has the same activation and damage as shadow punch but has the dot component. It does slightly less damage then scorch, but has a faster activation time that makes up for it. In addition swipe has the -20% recharge/speed, I'd say its an excellent attack.|
Originally Posted by Jibikao
Night Widow - Swipe needs to be a tiny bit better. Its damage is lower than Poison Dart. I know it's faster but the base damage is way too low and melee attack should always do better damage than range IMO.
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Stone Fist 1/1.188 = .84
Shadow Punch - .84/1.056 = 0.80
Scorch 0.84 fire + 3*.1 fire/1.32 = 0.86
Swipe - .8 Lethal + 3x.08 toxic = 1.04/1.056 = 0.985
This
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Originally Posted by EvilGeko
Soldiers - Scrapper base HP (1338 at level 50)
Widows - Blaster/Stalker base HP (1200~ at level 50) |
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Originally Posted by Castegyre
Defense debuff resistance.
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This will be dream come true! |
Originally Posted by EvilGeko
If I could change one thing it would be:
Soldiers - Scrapper base HP (1338 at level 50) Widows - Blaster/Stalker base HP (1200~ at level 50) |
I think SoA has the same health as Mastermind?
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
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Mmmmm, I am looking at Mid's right now and Stalker's Energy Punch (4s attack) does 61.2 damage. Both Stalker and SoA have 1.00 damage scale. Widow's Swipe at 4s only does 44.5 dmg but with a chance to tic toxic damage up to 3 times. |
Originally Posted by LuxunS
Swipe is fine the way it is. Compared to other tier 1 melee attacks its actually ahead of the curve DPA wise. Looking at fire, dark, and stone tier ones. It does more damage and has a faster activation time then stone fists. It has the same activation and damage as shadow punch but has the dot component. It does slightly less damage then scorch, but has a faster activation time that makes up for it. In addition swipe has the -20% recharge/speed, I'd say its an excellent attack.
Stone Fist 1/1.188 = .84 Shadow Punch - .84/1.056 = 0.80 Scorch 0.84 fire + 3*.1 fire/1.32 = 0.86 Swipe - .8 Lethal + 3x.08 toxic = 1.04/1.056 = 0.985 |
Poison Dart's base damage is 55.6 which is already much higher than Swipe's 44.5. That's where I have problem. A range attack shouldn't have higher base damage than melee at the same recharge rate. Yes, I know Swipe has 20% slow debuff but Poison Dart has -25% regen debuff. Putting secondary effect aside, I think Swipe is under-performing and I won't take Swipe because of this.
The same reason why Channelgun > Slice.
This is just nitpicking because the easiest way to do is just to avoid taking those powers which I did. Between Swipe VS Poison Dart, Dart is an easy winner. Between Slice VS Channelgun, Slice is an easy winner. Both Poison Dart and Channelgun are long range attacks too!
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
Oh boy, if I could make a change or two, it would definitely involve banes.
For starters I would lift the mez protection of the Bane spider armor and give it some passive +def. Also the -def debuff resistance which people have already brought up.
Another thing I would add to the branch would be a panic power of some sort, like elude or self heal.
But hey, that's only what I would do, right?
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You're looking at damage, I'm talking about damage per activation time. Looking at things the way you do, the powers that do the most damage are those that are the best. I'm looking at what powers do the best damage for the amount of time they take to animate. When you talk about 4s attacks you're looking at the recharge time, not the animation time. |
Originally Posted by Jibikao
Mmmmm, I am looking at Mid's right now and Stalker's Energy Punch (4s attack) does 61.2 damage. Both Stalker and SoA have 1.00 damage scale. Widow's Swipe at 4s only does 44.5 dmg but with a chance to tic toxic damage up to 3 times.
Poison Dart's base damage is 55.6 which is already much higher than Swipe's 44.5. That's where I have problem. A range attack shouldn't have higher base damage than melee at the same recharge rate. Yes, I know Swipe has 20% slow debuff but Poison Dart has -25% regen debuff. Putting secondary effect aside, I think Swipe is under-performing and I won't take Swipe because of this. The same reason why Channelgun > Slice. This is just nitpicking because the easiest way to do is just to avoid taking those powers which I did. Between Swipe VS Poison Dart, Dart is an easy winner. Between Slice VS Channelgun, Slice is an easy winner. Both Poison Dart and Channelgun are long range attacks too! |
The example you gave, energy punch isn't better than swipe. DPA wise...
Energy Punch 0.7 Smashing + 0.3 Energy = 1.0/1.056 = 0.947
Swipe - .8 Lethal + 3x.08 toxic = 1.04/1.056 = 0.985
Even damage wise
Stalker Energy Punch
38.93 Smashing damage
16.68 Energy damage =
55.61 Total Damage
Widow Swipe
44.49 Lethal damage
3 * 4.45 Toxic damage over 2.10 seconds =
57.84 Total Damage
Poison Dart does more damage then Swipe, but has a much longer activation time. If you're just looking at powers that do the most damage then by all means, ignore my ranting
But for attack chains swipe is a very good attack. Since Widows get some of the best DPA attacks in the game with slash and lunge, it may seem underpowered, but compared to attacks of other sets, it is more then competitive.
I'd put the team buffs back up where they were in beta. It is discouraging that when I team with other SoAs that NONE of them take the Tactical Training line at all and that was the greatest strength that SoAs had in beta was stacking all of the +def +tohit +dmg buffs. Oh and I'd reduce the end costs that widows have to suffer through back to beta levels again too.
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"Once the avalanche has started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote" -Kosh
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You must be teaming with some lame-*** SoAs, to put it bluntly.
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Originally Posted by Djeannie
It is discouraging that when I team with other SoAs that NONE of them take the Tactical Training line at all and that was the greatest strength that SoAs had in beta was stacking all of the +def +tohit +dmg buffs.
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I sure hope that's the problem. Logged in to AE today to get some tickets for salvage and stuff. In 4 different groups and 9 different VEAT's I was the ONLY one with the TT:?? line at all. Totally disgusting.
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Originally Posted by Squidlington
You must be teaming with some lame-*** SoAs, to put it bluntly.
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Carnie Base
"Once the avalanche has started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote" -Kosh
I'm only sad when people don't take TT:Maneuvers.
Branching Paragon Police Department Epic Archetype, please!
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Maybe they're all AE n00bs with farmed 50s and VEATs. All of my VEATs have Maneuvers and Tactics from Leadership in addition to the TT powers.
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Originally Posted by Djeannie
I sure hope that's the problem. Logged in to AE today to get some tickets for salvage and stuff. In 4 different groups and 9 different VEAT's I was the ONLY one with the TT:?? line at all. Totally disgusting.
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No, like most areas, SoA have a 1.0 Health mod. Which they share with Corruptors, Defenders, Controllers, and Dominators. |
Originally Posted by Jibikao
This will be dream come true!
I think SoA has the same health as Mastermind? |
Masterminds have slightly less; Stalkers and Blasters have a 1.2 mod IIRC; I don't remember what the meleers mod number is, but Scrappers are at 1338, Brutes at 1499 and Tankers at about 1800 I think.
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
I have played every type of Arachnos Soldier from Gunbane to Tankcrab and now when I started thinking I recalled the animations could use alot of work.
It would be nice if the bane buffs/debuffs were like brawl and Darkest Night, you don't have to redraw weapons when you activate these particular powers.
I don't understand why build up can't be done so that it doesn't put away your weapon/mace (I know that currently the power draws a mace), but doesnt draw it for you either.
Same for surveilance, this power should not put away your mace/gun, that's why there should be an alternative animation for using surveilance when your weapon of choice is already drawn out.
Also it would be nice to be able to shoot the arachnos gun with just one hand like the npc wolfspiders do.
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Originally Posted by EvilGeko
If I could change one thing it would be:
Soldiers - Scrapper base HP (1338 at level 50) Widows - Blaster/Stalker base HP (1200~ at level 50) |
This.
7 billion, 4 hundred and 52 Million, 3 hundred and 49 thousand, 2 hundread and 6 times THIS.
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Energy/Energy Blaster Guide
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Originally Posted by BackAlleyBrawler
you *******!!!!
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Originally Posted by Djeannie
I'd put the team buffs back up where they were in beta. It is discouraging that when I team with other SoAs that NONE of them take the Tactical Training line at all and that was the greatest strength that SoAs had in beta was stacking all of the +def +tohit +dmg buffs. Oh and I'd reduce the end costs that widows have to suffer through back to beta levels again too.
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Originally Posted by Djeannie
I sure hope that's the problem. Logged in to AE today to get some tickets for salvage and stuff. In 4 different groups and 9 different VEAT's I was the ONLY one with the TT:?? line at all. Totally disgusting.
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If you're hanging out at AE then 101 times out of 100 that is the case when it comes to epics.
"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)
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Don't fool yourself. I started my VEAT before AE, and I found 9 out of 10 other VEATs (that weren't 50) at the time didn't take any of the TT powers. I berated the majority of them, but eventually I gave it up as a lost cause.|
Originally Posted by Novella
I am going to go out on a limb and say those people are powerleveled characters because anyone with half a mind would know that you don't skip those.
If you're hanging out at AE then 101 times out of 100 that is the case when it comes to epics. |
- Justisaur
I've seen quite a few VEAT without TT: Maneuver or Mind Link. I really want to say something to them but....
Do they even know how good TT: Maneuver is??
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
I've got a list of things I'd change, all of them about Banes.
Goals:
Improve Survivability significantly
Improve ST Damage slightly
Improve AoE Damage significantly
Imrpove Teaming Versatility
Re-focus the AT on its Melee powers
How to Accomplish Those Goals:
Re-Order powers to make the set more consistant with other powersets
Replace redundant powers that are also found in the Mace Mastery patron pool
Bane Spider Soldier (10)
L1: Bash
L1: Pulverize
L2: Poisonous Ray
L6: Build Up
L8: Mace Beam Volley
L12: Venom Grenade
L12: Clobber
L18: Shatter
L26: Placate
L32: Crowd Control
Removed: Mace Beam (Equivalent to Mace Blast)
Removed: Mace Beam Blast (Equivalent to Disruptor Blast)
Added: Venom Grenade to improve teaming viability by providing an AoE Resistance debuff that does not require re-draw. It also replaces Mace Beam Blast as a Ranged AoE damage power.
Added: Clobber to replace Shatter as the big ST hitter and Executioner's Striker
Changed: Shatter from a ST attack to an AoE attack
Moved: Pulverize up to the tier 2 position
Moved: Poisonous Ray up to the tier 3 position
Training and Gadgets
Modified: CT: Defensive to provide Ranged defense to Crabs and Wolves while providing Melee defense to Banes.
Bane Spider Training (5)
L1: Bane Spider Armour Upgrade
L20: Cloaking Device
L24: Nano-Repair
L28: Surveillance
L35: Web Cocoon
Added: Nano-Repair as a boost to survivability. A Bane is defense based, so a reconstruction clone seems appropriate and nicely mirrors the Crab Spider's Serum.
Moved: Cloaking Device to the level 20 position. Stealth is a major part of a Bane's gameplay. This change allows Bane's to retain that gameplay even when exemplared on the Virgil Tarrikoss Strike Force and when exemplared to the level 15-19 Ourobouros bracket.
Modified: Bane Spider Armour Upgrade to allow Health enhancements.
I was wondering what people would change if they could change one thing about the epic archetypes.
I would like to see Total Domination dropped and replaced with Psychic Shockwave. I don' think I have ever seen an actual Fortunata use Total Domination so I have never understood why it was included. They don't use Shockwave either, but Shockwave fits better in my opinion.
"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)