Stalker/Scrapper set: Phantom Aura

Another for fun set. This time, an armor set.

Phantom Aura
By some scientific or magical method, a user of the Phantom Aura is capable of using illusions, holograms, barriers and/or forcefields to dissuade enemy attacks or the user can outright alter the fabric of reality and his enemies are just his playthings.

1. Hide
2. Illusionary Aura (Toggle, self +def melee/range; +res vs -def) A cloud of illusions surround the user, creating a mirage effect that makes it difficult for the enemy to see where or *if* you are. [animation would basically be a mirage 'wave' that travel up the body that would be make your character completely invisible on the 'wave' part but visible on the non 'wave' part]
3. Phantom Shadows (Toggle, self +def AoE; +res vs -def; +MaxHP) As you move, phantom forms of yourself follow in your path giving the illusion there is more than one of yourself. This makes it difficult to aim multi-target attacks properly. [A color tintable 'trail' with the shape of your body size that would fade the further it got from you]
4. Phase Mastery (Passive, self +res fire, cold, psy; +protection immobilize, teleport; +res vs foe phase; *Special*) As a phantom, you have greater control of your corporeal consistency. This gives you the ability to shrug off some of the effects of elements and psionic assault as well as enemy restraints and attempts to teleport or phase you. Also, while in a phased state, you get a moderate damage bonus to your attacks.
5. Ghost Essense (Toggle, self +res/protection hold, sleep, stun, fear; +res smashing, lethal, fire, cold, psionic) Similar to a ghost, it is difficult to pin you down or affect you with earthly or mental means. [a color tintable aura that would pulse slightly around the contours of the character + a slight bit of transparency like Shadowfall]
6. Ethereal Manipulation (Ranged Single Target foe intangible; -ToHit) With mastery over corporeal forms, you can shift a foe closer to the side of ghosts and phantasms, effectively making them a ghost without control of their form. Similarly, you can make a phased ghost's form physical.
7. Planar Shift (Toggle Self intangibility; +res smash, lethal, energy, neg energy, fire, cold, toxic) Shift your form to that of a pure intangible form/ghost so you can only affect or be affected by others in the same state. [animation would be a phase shift clone]
8. Phantom Gate (Pet immobile summon, phase all; foe -ToHit, fear) Any foe or ally that sets within this 8ft circle is put into an intangibility state but enemies will be jolted by the sudden state change. [Thinking a tintable glowing circle you place on the ground]
9. Realm Ruler (Passive, +res smash, lethal, energy, neg energy; *Special*) The alternate state you put yourself and enemies in may be closer in effect to transporting to an alternate dimension. In whatever state or reality you shift to, you have much better control of your corporeal form there. This gives you an unnatural innate resistant to physical attacks but when phased, you also regen at a much higher rate.

Overview: +def vs melee/ranged/AoE
high +res vs smashing/lethal/fire/cold and moderate +res vs psi while phased
moderate +res vs smashing/lethal/fire/cold/energy/neg energy and minor +res vs psi/toxic all the time/while not phased
+MaxHP
Foe phase + ToHit debuff and fear
Self phase
Ally phase
+regen while phased
+dmg while phased

For Scrapper, remove Hide, replace it with Phantom Mask and shave off the Ranged +def from Illusionary Aura and put it in Phantom Mask along with more +res vs -def and stick a non-suppressing Stealth on it too.

Set weakness is only /Ninjutsu lvl defense, no self heal, no -KB, and no real God Mode.

No KB resist, no sale. Not to me, anyway. I hate getting knocked down in melee that much.

Okay, what if -KB was in Phase Mastery?

Hmm... an interesting idea, and I would like to see an armor set incorporating these ideas, but I'd have to see numbers on it, because it seems to have a LOT of defensive measures. It seems almost like SR meets Dark Armor meets Invuln. It has defense toggles from SR/Ninjitsu, resistances to everything, and increased HP. The only reason I say I'd need to see numbers is because it seems to have a lot of what Shield Defense has (a little of everything, but no heal and no regen), and then some. Shield Defense is so solid because it covers so many bases with it's smaller buffs and debuff to allow for a pleasant overlap. This one has all of that overlap, but also regen, phase, fear, enemy phase, and stealth. It risks being overpowered with this many bonuses.

That being said, I think a set with a concept like this has a lot of potential, it just needs balanced fairly. I think if it had smaller than Ninjutsu but still acceptable defenses, but acceptable resistances, I think the overlap alone from those two would make it pretty solid, not to mention the phasing and regen allowing for adequate survival methods without the need for a God Mode. Avoiding combat while regenerating is kinda what MoG does, and this is a different way to accomplish a similar tactic, so I like that.

Okay, firstly, I'm not opposed to giving the set -KB. It can fit conceptually (how do you knock around a ghost-like entity?) and honestly, I hate following a formula all the time. Knockback holes have been done already, I'd love a different kind of hole for uniqueness sake. Sleep wouldn't be that bad seeing as it doesn't drop toggles and the set has no offensive toggles that would turn off.

Looks interesting.

It's pretty easy to raise def using IO bonus, therefore ninjutsu-level defense practically means soft-capped defense. Depending on the amount of resistance, it maybe a bit too good to have both well-rounded defense and resistance.

Thematically, I think typed defense fits phantom/ghost more than positional defense. Positional defense is about agility and dodging. From your description, phantoms are hard to hit because of their nature, not that much about them dodging really fast. I understand that players like positional defense more, but you can think about it. This is probably arguable.

I'm not sure if +Max HP fits phantom shadow that well. In the context of ghost, you can say that ghost don't feel pain, which effectively increases its hit-point. I would put +Max HP in ghost essense because phantom shadow is more about illusion.

I prefer a tier 9 like the one in Will power if you don't want to give phantom aura a real god mode. There is nothing wrong with having a tier 9 passive, I just feel that a passive doesn't make people feel excited.

I guess the main feature is the phase shift powers. Actually, I don't use phase shift much in game. Can you fight while phase shifted? I vaguely remember that you can fight phase-shifted players in pvp. From your power description, it seems like you can fight phase-shifted mobs in pve and take phase-shifted mobs back to reality.

The phase shift powers are certainly interesting. But I bet people will simply skip the 3 powers in pve game play, because the game overall is more towards killing faster, there are not much problems with survival. Phase shifting mobs just make players kill slower, in particular at high levels. I hope that the phase shift mechanics can be designed differently.

It looks like there are advantages to players with phantom aura to fight in alternate dimension. Do you think it would be better if team mates can get certain buff when going through the phantom gate? It may give the team some incentive to fight phase shifted. I have some concern about the "magnitude" of the phantom gate. In an AV fight, it would be funny if you put it at the feet of an AV, and all the melees are on the other side of the gate phase-shifted but the AV resists the effect.

I like the concept, but it needs work imo.

Keep the Stealth/Hide (for Stalkers)

Tier 9 should be Phase Shift only better.

I like that it gives you the ability to Phase Shift out a target. Send the target out of phase to give you breathing room from them, or to just take them on one on one, while the other enemies surround you.

Keep the set a mix of Defense and Resistance. Make the whole in the set, the lack of any Energy Resistance. None at all.

Positional Defense can cover the pure energy attacks, but when they do hit, they hit hard. This fits imo seeing as how ghosts have -resist to energy.

I'd keep in all the special resists, add in KB (you're intangible, you shouldnt be knocked back), but no END Drain Resist.

I'd replace the AOE phase shift of target, and just keep to the single target one for enemies.

Replace the AOE Phase SHift with a Quickness/Lightning Reflexes style power. You're a phantom/intangible type theme set...should be lighter on the feet.

Biggest hurdle I have to wonder about is How does this set handle Phase Supression?

Particularly Phantom Gate where it's possible to move in and out of the phased area.

Do powers from this set not trigger suppression?
How does this interact with the Pool Phase Shift powers?
What are the recharge/duration of the various Phasing powers?
If this powerset doesn't trigger phase suppression, would it be possible to be permanently phased via chaining Planar Shift and Phantom Gate?
How would you address the problem of wasting attacks on targets that are in the incorrect phase?

So you're trying to un-nerf Phase Shift and promote it to a full powerset?

Would have loved this back when I thought we might get Pistol Scrappers - I wanted to play a Hong Kong style ghost cop - but today? Meh.

Looking over your set Leo (I love the idea of it)...here's how'd I'd do it.

1) Hide
*Special: For Scrappers replace with Phantom Mask, a non-suppressing Stealth, miving it to Tier 4 spot, moving Illusionary Aura to Tier 1, Phantom Shadows to Tier 2, Ghost Essense to Tier 3*

2) Illusionary Aura (Toggle, Self +Def Melee/Range, Defense Debuff Resistance)

3) Phantom Shadows (Toggle, Self +Def AOE, Defense Debuff Resist, +HP)

4) Ghost Essense (Toggle, Self +Resist All except Energy, Hold, Sleep, Stun, Knockback, Repel, Fear)

5) Phase Mastery (Passive, Self +Resist Immobilize, Teleport, Enemy Phase)
*Special: When Phased +Damage*

6) Planar Shift (Toggle, Self Intangibility)
*Special: +Resist All except Energy*

7) Ethereal Manipulation (Ranged Single Target, Put Target into Intangible State, or Pull Target from Intangible State)
*Special: Can be used on the unphased when phased and the phased when unphased*

8) Phantom Body (Passive, Self +Speed/+Slow Resist/+Perception)
You've become accustomed to living in and out of phase.

9) Realm Ruler (Click, Self Rez, Intangibility, +Resist All except Energy, +ACC, +DAM)

You've become a master of the incorporeal, nothing can keep you out for good, not even death.


Hide
5.6% Defense All, 39.4% Defense AOE when Hidden
1.88% Defense All when Unhidden

Phantom Mask
3.75% Defense All

Illusionary Aura
12.6% Defense Melee/Ranged

Phantom Shadows
12.6% Defense AOE
15% +Hit Points

Ghost Essense
7.5% Resist All except Energy

Phase Mastery
+80% Damage

Planar Shift
11.3% Resist All except Energy

Phantom Body
+25% to Speed
+25% Slow Resist

Realm Ruler
+20% Resist All except Energy
+ACC/+DAM same as Resurgence


*NOTE: Thinking about it, I'd replace the Positional Defense with Typed Defense. But replace Energy Defense with Psi Defense. Make Energy the real "OMG KRYPTONITE" to this set.

It's different from Shields, yes. But making it Positional Defense seems to make it 1) Alot like Shields and 2) I want to have a set that's easier to softcap!

Also note, Phantom Body doesn't give any +RCH.

Funny thing is, /SR originally had a Phase Shift clone as a Tier 9. The devs changed that for a few obvious reasons.