Stone Armor - Granite Armor

The problem with making Stone a ten-power set is that BaB cannot do it. Not even if Castle helps. It'd require heavy engine changes, and that means much, much more effort than is likely to occur between now and I16 release.

Well, that's one problem. The other problem is that everyone who isn't Stone Armor would immediately scream "Where's MY tenth power?!"

So, yeah. Not realistic by any stretch of the imagination.

I definitely wouldn't mind you changing Granite, personally.

I mean, turning into a giant rock monster looks pretty cool, but I've never been able to fully enjoy Stone Armor long enough to get to that power.
In fact, I've opted to use a Rock-themed shield for my stone-concept character.

If changing Granite allows you to enhance the rest of the set, well then I think it's worth it.

My main hero is a Stone tank. I do love the feel and look of Granite, my character goes from a short guy to the full size. I also like the feel of being on another team and seeing a granite tank.

What I don't like though is being on a team, mothership raid and seeing more then 1 granite running around.

I trust that you guys will make the new armor look great and could still use the Science pack to hulk up to full size.

One thing that would be a cool option is to give a Halloween custume type power with the Granite armor as it is now to every stone armor powerset, it would be no different then running around looking like a Freakshow tank. That way everyone could have what they want.

I'm fine with replacement with overlay parts. But what I would Ideally like to see if this route is followed are base costume parts that resemble the replaced body. The current stone option is just a smooth texture that looks more like chitin or tree bark: I'd love to have actual elemental stone or crystal parts that could be potentially mixed and matched with the more organic bits.

I still love the current Granite Armor. The feeling of turning into this huge monster that can take a million and 1 hits is always great, and is one of the reasons I ended up keeping my /Stone Brute. To be completely honest, I'd be really sad to see it go away forever, but the thought of having a temp power to "fake" that giant monster is really appealing if the change does go through/that's possible. I really wouldn't be able to say one way or another if I'd like the new armor, as I know nothing of how it'd look but I can say that the height difference my Brute gains when Granite is toggled on is always nice.

I'd say if you or someone could sketch up a set of quick "maybe" options for us to look at, it'd really help in our voting.

[QR] Someone else may have asked this, but... if Granite was changed to an overlay akin to the rest of Stone Armor, would that solve the problems that currently make Stone and Claws mutually exclusive? I vaguely recall it was Granite that was causing those problems.

I'm already in favor of making it an overlay, and making all the different stone toggles come together to form a complete suit of armor. If it fixes the incompatibility with Claws, even better!

While certainly iconic, I think that the current Granite makes distinctive-looking characters appear vanilla. I spend a lot of time trying to make my heroes and villains stand out as unique. The only reason I can stand playing in Granite form is because of the tankeryness that it affords me.

A potential candidate for a new Granite armor overlay. Picture this, but made of stone.

On a more serious note, I've always liked the idea of a low-graphics version of the Thermal buffs, where you're surrounded by floating chunks of stone, which "intercept" incoming damage. It would still allow the character to be seen, and retain a unique, distinctive look for Granite Tanks/Brutes.

I'm all for changing the look of Granite...was never all that happy about the overall appearance, and more options here = better.

I am not among those tied to the size change, as I think the Science Booster renders the point moot. Honestly, it'd be great to not always have to occupy the entire corridor/cave every time I turn Granite on.

Plus, I love the idea of a tiny rock dude tanking Recluse. "Here's a stone in your boot!"

I tried out Stone Armor back when Dual Blades were testing in Beta, I was meh on it then. It'll probably the last set I'd every play seriously.

If you want to try to come up with something new BABs feel free, but it sounds some people want that whole "Large and in charge" experience.

Throw up some idea and see what sticks, I'm sure the forums will let you know exactly what they think of it.

I like the appearance of current Granite Armor; I like that my Stone Brute essentially transforms whenever I use it, and the fact that it is also a DE critter model is integral to my character's backstory. As much as possible, I'd like to keep Granite's "transformative" quality. But if it were possible to make it customizable, with a legacy Granite option and other choices, as suggested I'd be all for that.

It seems apparent that if the Devs went down the path of nixing the NPC model, they would be best served by making sure they had multiple options for the FX from the beginning.

Like being able to have multiple types of Fire Swords, it ought to be possible (although, I imagine time-consuming) to have multiple options for Granite.

As long as Im not forced to look like Im wearing rock knee pads and a bike helmet covered in brown paper machet, Im down for the change.

I would love to see a grass option, or moss modifier. I would definately be fine seeing some armors that may be considered a stretch for a "granite" armor, but rocky-looks should be a focus. Granite fortunately takes on many different textures naturally too so it shouldnt be a big deal.

I can't say I'm that attached to how granite... looks. Yes, I get a kick out of a really tiny character suddenly turning 7 feet tall... but I could get over the costume being changed.

I'd really like a change to granite, too. It's no fun looking the same as every other stone tank or brute. Obviously having the choice to use the current vfx OR whatever ends up being the potential new vfx would be ideal, but if it can't be done, I'd personally prefer a change than sticking with the present look.

i never cared for granite armor really. it's one of the reasons besides the slow movement i won't play the set. the other reasons besides slow movement are being changed in issue 16, so i guess we're almost down to just slow movement.

so put me down for "all for a change, don't care if it makes me bigger or not, hopefully it looks cool".

I am not attached to it in the least, so have at it. Even if I wanted to get all "my concept!" about it, he'd still be a guy covered in rocks. Just not Devouring Earth looking ones.

Anything where I can still see my costume is a good thing. Possibly customizable on top of that? Even better.

Unless the size changes are kept I'd have to go with 'hell no'.

Granite is bigger than huge; half the time when I'm running granite it's not for the defensive numbers, it's so the team has a very large, very obvious focal point. It's a lot easier to get people to follow you when you're the largest thing on the map. While a 4' tall tank has some humour value it's a lot harder to find in the middle of a fight.

I like the whole set as it is; it shows how you're advancing on improving your powers, from having parts of your body covered by rubble, to being a huge granite character, I like the idea and concept, and also (although this is NOT the post to discuss this) the fact that your actual stone armors progress til you reach 32, then with some IOs you don't have to worry again related to your survability.

I've been reading both threads (the one about nerfing Granite and this one) and I say that it would be a pity but I'd be forced to delete my lvl 50 stone tanker if these changes are released sooner or later, as they would change completely the idea of a stone tanker I've worshipped for almost 5 years.