Big Thread of Powerset Changes

--If you don't want to read my historical post, please skip down to the next section--

Ever since the beginning of time there have been powers within powersets that either don't synergize with their powerset or are just plain never used for whatever reason.

A little after the beginning of time (around breakfast), A man created a rule. That rule was the "Cottage Rule". This rule pretty much sums up the reason why these forgotten, broken, or down right useless powers never get checked out. To put it plainly, it's purpose is to keep unwanted powers available.


But time moves on, new powersets come out, new technology (or black magic) allows us to push the system beyond it's limits. This makes the original or older powersets seem dated. While they hold their own and are far from weak, They do need to be brought up to standards.

Not all powersets need a central ability like Duel-Pistol's Ammunition switch or Duel-Blade's combo system. But nobody wants powersets with powers that are no longer useful or used. We would like all powersets to be productive, right?

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So, this thread is here for people to post their ideas on certain powersets. Specifically powers within powersets that may need an examination.

Example: I dislike Repel. It is counter productive to the Kinetics powerset. <insert more text here explaining why>.

Then I would suggest something either to make Repel more productive when paired with other Kinetic abilities, or give a broad suggestion as to what should replace Repel.

--When posting (da rules)--

1. This is not a debate thread. This thread is being made so it's easier for us, the community to see what the braod majority of us see when we look at specific powers. This is also to help the Devs. If they feel power X needs to be reworked, they can come here to see what people's opinions are of power X. You can make a counter arguement against someone but leave it at that pretty much. Only so much can be said about a single power, right?

2. When posting why you dislike power X, please don't just say because 'it's stupid' or because 'it killed my father' (Sonic Cage... curse you). Try to give a solid reason why, and what you would do to change it.

3. Please keep in mind the magnetude of the power and flavor of the powerset, Sonic Cage should not be replaced with a massive AoE Rez that makes everyone's computer blue screen.

4. Not required but please put the power your concerned with at the top of your post like a title. This makes it 100% easier to find specific posts about specific powers. This also makes it easy to tally which powers are getting talked about the most.

5. If your post is somewhat long. Provide a quick summary at the bottom for those of us who didn't go to the "school for people who want to learn how to read good and want to learn to do other things good too"

--Example.

Sonic Cage, Sonic Resonance.

Sonic Cage's phase isn't a terrible ability. The problem is it's duration. Considering the tempo of the game and how quickly teams melt spawns as well as solo, 30 seconds is terribly long and 60 second recharge prevents this power from being used every spawn or every other spawn.

I feel that Sonic Cage should have it's duration reduced to 10 seconds and it's recharge reduced to 20 seconds. This makes the ability more useful in a group. To be able to remove a Boss from a fight for 10 seconds is just enough time to destroy his spawn then for him to break out of Phase. This also allows the Sonic to more easily solo. Being able to completely remove 1 target for 10 seconds is great damage mitigation for the struggling solo Sonic Resonance user.

Summary: Reduce duration to 10 seconds. Reduce Recharge to 15 seconds.

-- End Example.

Please keep it clean. Even if the devs decide to NEVER EVER look at this thread, then it's simply for fun. And we can dream right?

Summary: Thread for talking about specific powers. Please read rules.

Reasons against: A weak Tier 9 PBAoE Sleep power. No damage. Need to be in melee to use.

Suggested change: Give it the Tanker's Frozen Aura treatment, and turn it into a damage + sleep power. It's not like Ice Manipulation is seen as overpowered as is, and this will be unlikely to change that perception.

Summary: damageless Frozen Aura sucks

Reasons against: Long Recharge. LOOOONNNGGGG Animation. Moderately useful solo, but only if you have a way to make the enemies not attack you for 9 seconds while you set it up.


Suggested change: Make it into a 'sticky' bomb. Let the character throw it onto an enemy, who is then panic'd for 9 seconds (thereby keeping whatever reason this power needs a 9-second setup intact). The enemy runs around frantically for 9 seconds, then the bomb explodes, doing massive damage where ever he happens to be.

Chaotic? Yes. Potentially lethal to the character? Yes. Fun as hell to watch the guy run around before exploding? Very Yes.


Summary: Time Bomb could be more fun.

Power: Various promptable ally buffs (including rezzes.)

Problem: If I try to rez someone (for instance) and they refuse or the timer runs out, I've still used END and the power needs to recharge. Not as big an issue for Teleport, as it recharges quickly, but some of the buffs and rezzes take a while.

Suggestion: If the buff/rez is rejected, reduce the recharge and/or end cost so it's back faster. In the case of group buffs/rezzes (Howling Twilight, for instance,) if any one person accepts, the entire cost/recharge time is activated.

See my Guides and Tutorials

Reason(s) against:
-Genin (and to an extent; Jounin) defenses are far too low as melee fighters, even moreso compared to other MM pets that use defense buffs (Thugs enforcers and Robots Protector Bots) and the amount their defense is raised is a very low 1.30 or so percent over the course of fifty levels.

-They have no resistance for Defense Debuff to at least keep their defenses from being completely circumvented.

-You cannot put defense buff enhancements into their slots unlike other MM pets that use defense buffs.

Suggested change(s):
-Boost Genin defense to at least break into integer double digits (base defense of 10% to 13%, possibly raise Jounin base defense to 15% to 18.50%) or increase the growth rate of their defense over the levels into the suggested range.

-(And/or) Give them a substantial defense debuff resistance. It's one of the most commonly encountered debuffs in the game and they are left with nothing but piling on more defense buffs to help them.

-(and/or) Allow players to slot defense buff enhancements and IO sets into them.

Summary:
Genin (and to an extend, jounin) are far too squishy as melee fighters and front liners.

Reason against:"Summons an ancient and powerful Oni, a formidable creature who possesses the skill of a warrior and the powers of wind and fire." I see plenty of fire but little to no wind.

Suggested change: Either change the oni's description (to remove the "of wind" part) or give him gale, (or) O2 boost, (or) Hurricane, and/or Tornado.

Summary: *Read oni description, get your oni max upgrades or read the detailed descriptions, go "whut?"*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow City of Heroes is a game about freedom of expression and variety of experiences far more so than it is about representing any one theme, topic or genre.

Reason: With Force Bubble right around the corner. Repulsion Field sees little to no use. It has a smaller radius, higher endurance cost, and cost endurance per-target. This power is completely and utterly replaced by Force Bubble. There are a lot of powers that can be replaced by other powers that do their job better. But Force Bubble is in the same set as Repulsion Field. It either needs lots-o-love or just needs to be replaced.

Replacement Idea: Bubble Wall. Create a stationary, invincible or sturdy 'bubble' pet that essentially is there just to take up space. This power can be used to wall off certain areas or to create a buffer between you/allies and the enemy. Lasts for X seconds. with possibly double recharge.

If it's invincible, then it cannot be targeted. If it's simply sturdy, then it can be targeted and destroyed/broken. I prefer sturdy but it's simply a suggestion.

Reason: Requiring a support to be in the middle of a huge mob isn't neccsarily a good thing. They're very squishy with no resistances nor mez protection, it's just not a great design decision. Leave the melee to scrappers and tank, and leave the ranged support to the controllers and blasters. Also, the power favors melee AT a bit too much; as unless the blaster is within melee range as well (which 9 times out of ten) they shouldnt be, they dont benefit from the power.

Suggestion: Have it work similar to siphon power, meaning I can use it from range, and still get the maximum benefit out of it. Also, have it so the maximum effect is transferred to allies both around the mob and around the castor.

A player can dream cant he?