POWER POOLS ---> Issue 21 ???

From the time of the game's inception I have always felt that the Power Pools were an excellent opportunity to not only flesh out your Heroic characters, but also to blur the lines between ATs and powersets to a limited degree. And for 6+ years these powers have accomplished a great deal of both. That being the case, there are, however, powers which are under-valued and rarely used, as well as powers which are highly valued and found in a large proportion of player builds. On the heels of I19 and the fitness pool changes, I propose that we consider some future Issue to "polish" up the oldest pool powers and (possibly) extend them to include a 5th power.

What follows is a very rough draft of my thoughts on the power pools.
Feel free to offer thoughts on other ways to help these power sets out.
And as always, these are just ideas so let's enjoy sharing and discussing yours as well as mine.

FLIGHT
(T1) HOVER: (Toggle), +Fly, +Def ---> no change
(T1) AIR SUPERIORITY: (Click::Melee), Minor Dmg, Knockdown ---> no change
(T2) FLY: (Toggle), +Fly ---> no change
(T2) GRANT FLIGHT: (Click::Ally), 4+min Flying buff ---> new power
(T3) AIR MASTERY: (Toggle) Fly speed boost, +def (Ranged, Fire, Cold, Toxic)
---> new power can be run simultaneously with Hover or Fly which will boost fly speed of either power. Hover/Fly still remain mutually exclusive. +Def on par with Hover

LEAPING
(T1) COMBAT JUMPING: (Toggle), +Jump, +Def, +res(immob) ---> no change
(T1) JUMP KICK: (Click::Melee), Minor Dmg, Knockup ---> new animation, increase KU chance
(T2) SUPERJUMP: (Toggle), +Jump ---> no change
(T2) ELUSIVE: (Auto), +Def(Melee), +Res(S/L) ---> new power, +def par with CJ, +res(5-9%)
(T3) ACROBATICS: (Toggle), Protect(Mag4(Hold, KB)) ---> changed protection strengths

TELEPORTATION
(T1) DIMENSION WALK: (Toggle), +Def, +Fly ---> new power, Hover Clone, mutually exclusive to Hover/Fly. Improves usability of Teleport
(T1) RECALL FRIEND: (Click::Ally), Ally summon ---> no change
(T2) TELEPORT: (Click), +Teleport(self) ---> remove -speed, reduce endurance cost per port
(T2) TELEPORT FOE: (Click::Foe), remove foe fear at end of port so that they stay and fight, add delay before spawn "alert" to simulate confusion
(T3) TEAM TELEPORT: (Click::Team), Change targeting method to allow caster to target any area on current map not hidden by "fog of war". TP all allies on map to point clicked on map. Cost increased to 10 end per ally.

SPEED
(T1) FLURRY: (Click::Melee Cone), Minor Dmg, Chance to Stun ---> increase chance to stun
(T1) QUICK REACTIONS: (Auto), +25% rech, +movement ---> Hasten seperated into two powers
(T2) SUPERSPEED: (Toggle), +Run, +stealth ---> no change
(T2) HASTEN: (Click), +45% recharge, +res (slow, immob) ---> similar to current hasten, but reduced recharge due to splitting power.
(T3) WHIRLWIND: (Toggle), +KB, +resist(special) ---> remove per target end cost, caster takes half damage from any melee attack, toggle is considered offensive in regards to toggle drop
*** recommend same change to similar toggles like Repel, Repulsion Field, etc...

CONCEALMENT
(T1) STEALTH: (Toggle), +Def(All), +Stealth ---> lower toggle cost or remove movement penalty, remove suppression of Defense in combat
(T1) GRANT INVISIBILITY: (Click::Ally), +Def, +Stealth, long duration buff ---> no change
(T2) INVISIBILITY: (Toggle), +Def, +Stealth ---> remove inability to combat, suppression of defense(75% reduced) while in combat, lower toggle cost
(T2) KEEN INSIGHT: (Auto), +Def(AoE), +Perception, +Acc ---> new power, Def on par with CJ
(T3) PHASE SHIFT: (Toggle), +Res(all but Psi), +Def(All) ---> PFF clone, but with 90% resistance, 15% defense while active, may remain toggled, but caster can only affect self

FIGHTING
(T1) BOXING: (Click::Melee), Minor Dmg, chance to stun ---> use barrage animation, increase stun chance on par with Air Superiority
(T1) HARDINESS: (Auto), +Res(E/N/F/C/Tox) ---> new power, resist dmg 5-9%
(T2) TOUGH: (Toggle), +Res(S/L), +Res(Stun,Fear) ---> added Stun/Fear resistance
(T2) KICK: (Click::Melee), Med Dmg, chance to Knockdown ---> new animations, increase dmg and Knockdown chance
(T3) WEAVE: (Toggle), +Def(All), +res(Immob) ---> no change

LEADERSHIP
(T1) ASSAULT: (Toggle::AoE), +Dmg, +res(debuffs 10-20% max) ---> added ability to slot IO sets(Resist)
(T1) MANEUVERS: (Toggle::AoE), +Def(All) ---> no change
(T2) TACTICS: (Toggle::AoE), +ToHit, +perception ---> no change
(T2) COMMANDING SHOUT: (PBAoE), Team +Res(hold, disorient, immob, sleep, fear, confuse) ---> short duration buff (30 secs min) on long cooldown (180sec min)
(T3) VENGEANCE: (PBAoE::Special), +Def, +Dmg, +ToHit ---> removed status effect for new T2 power, otherwise unchanged

PRESENCE
(T1) INTIMIDATE: (Click::Foe), Ranged single target fear ---> no change from current T2 power
(T1) PROVOKE: (AoE), Ranged AoE Taunt ---> no change
(T2) INVOKE PANIC: (PBAoE), Foe Fear(Mag 2) ---> no change from current T3 power
(T2) PLACATE: (Click), Single Target De-Taunt (Mag 3) ---> new power
(T3) BATTLE CRY: (PBAoE), Foe Debuff, -tohit -Dmg -Def for 30sec, 180sec recharge ---> new power

MEDICINE
(T1) STIMULANT: (Click::Ally), +res(stun, hold, immob, sleep, fear, confuse) ---> global removal of interrupt, effect of power unchanged, all medicine powers cast at 3.93sec
(T1) AID OTHER: (Click::Ally), +heal ---> global removal of interrupt, Heals ally 15-20%
(T2) AID SELF: (Click::Self), +heal ---> global removal of interrupt, heal reduced to 11%
(T2) VITALITY BOOST: (Click::Ally), +End(10-15%), Cast 3.93 ---> new power
(T3) RESCUSCITATE: (Click::Ally), Resurrection ---> no interrupt, shorter cast time

You will notice some common themes throughout my suggestions.

A) improving the melee attacks to better approach the usefullness of Air Superiority (which is a power I consider as the "ideal" for establishing an attack that may appeal to ALL ATs, even melee-based)
B) Changing many powers so that they will accept IO sets. Something which I feel would greatly enhance these powers.
C) Removal of Interrupt on all powers. As I have expressed in another thread, this "effect" seems un-needed considering the activation times on the powers which suffer interrupt.
D) Adding more resistance effects across the spectrum of powers.
E) Addition of many "new" concept powers, which could prove very usefull to teams and players soloing.

You've moved certain powers from T1 to T2, I see.
Hasten, I can see why you would see it as useful enough to be worthy of T2 ranking. After all, it's quite popular among the playerbase for it's +Rech.
But Kick?


Edit: Another take on revamping the Presence Pool, by Memphis_Bill.
Link: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=239825

Oh, and I am generally in favor of "Deepening the Pools" as it were.

Some of those are really bad ideas.

Grant fly has grief all over it, it's already a pain when someone turns on group fly and the whole team in synch says shut it OFF! I would hate hate HATE this buff and I have a fealing I wouldn't be the only one.

Splitting hasten in two powers? Why you asking for nerfs? This would not go over well.

Phase shift as PFF clone but 90%res instead? Your already phased 90%res is useless unless it's for pvp and good luck getting the devs to do anything for pvp lol.

Placate is way to an OP power for just any AT to have. Never happen.

The rest seem ok.

I proposed something like this years back. Granted it was a bit simpler than what you've presented.
I just wanted to add a 5th power to each travel pool

Afterburner - Max flight speed for 2 minutes. (The arguements against this consisted of the ability for everyone to reach the speed cap easily enough with slotting and the fact that it can't be increased past what it's capped at currently due to engine limitations.)

Vertical Speed - Ability to cling to vertical surface while running at SS (Arguements vs this consisted of the fact that it's not possible with this engine.)

Ground Slam - AOE knockback attack (No arguements against this I can recall)

Instant relocation - Click on any point on the map and teleport there for all your endurance, with inability to re-port for 2 minutes.
(this one caused the most debate. Those saying it would be overpowered and or not possible with engine and those saying it could be balanced and achieved with a reworking of mission TP)



With Fitness becomming inherrent, now is the best time for these suggestions! Looks like you gave this a great deal of thought.
Looking forward to the debates now.

I adore these changes. I think some tweaking would have to be done (Grant flight, for example, and it's prompt)...

But other than that it seems awesome!

-Rachel-

Thanks for your feedback Leo,

Your idea on a pseudo flight/jump sounds very cool. Although I am certain they would not make it an auto power, being able to jump into flight would be interesting. Not sure how that would affect coding or how much of a pain it would be. I suppose they could make the power a temporary toggle which would allow you to turn it on and off as desired within the buff's duration.

As far as jump kick, I apologize if you thought I meant to remove the original animation.
What I want is for alternate animations to be extended to pool attacks, so that others (like myself) can choose a more appropriate animation for our tastes. The original animation is not that bad really. For me it just doesnt flow smoothly enough to fit into any of my characters attack chains without looking just plain goofey. To each his own though

I agree with you on elusiveness, it does seem more of a min/max power, but my original thought was to make a Hurdle clone with a small +res or +def in it. Not sure how much more powerfull a Tier 2 should be over a Tier 1, and we already have hurdle, CJ, Sprint, Ninja run etc.... etc... It didnt seem likely that a person who is probably taking superjump, really needed another auto jump height power. In response to your idea of getting a small buff when you jump, I would be opposed to any buff that required me to hop around constantly. Yikes, can you imagine that? If you think "aura rockin" is bad

With teleportation, Again I dont think the devs will ever give an auto power that grants flight, or stealth or anything which would perma-lock you into a certain state. By having a hover clone and reducing the cost per port, someone who wants to use this as a travel power doesnt have to take hover from the flight pool to make the power more easy to use and doesnt have to invest as heavily in slotting the travel power.

On the stealth power, with reference to Dark Armor, dont forget that the +def of Cloak of Darkness is twice as high as unsuppressed stealth. All I am asking is to bring stealth in-line for cost and value for running it full time as other opener powers like CJ and Hover. Lets compare them side by side(for a scrapper):

Combat Jumping: 0.07/sec, +1.87Def, +jump, +res(immob(mag10))
Hover: 0.19/sec, +1.87Def, +fly
Stealth: 0.33/sec, +1.87Def(suppressed in combat), -35%move speed, 35ft Stealth

Cloak of Darkness: 0.26/sec, +3.75%def(not suppressed), no move penalty, 35ft stealth
+res(immob(mag10)), +perception

What I see here is that CJ is too cheap to run, Stealth is too expensive or has too many downsides, and Hover is right in the middle. If the toggle cost were to remain, I still think that the defense should not suppress and the -35% movement should be removed.

Kick becoming a cone might not go over so well with Melee ATs, although I am sure some of them would love to have access to another AoE.

As far as Boost Vitality is concerned, you realize that I expect it to be enhanceable. So the 10-15% boost would be 20-30% fully enhanced. Thats like handing out blue candy.
I do agree that 10-15% "out-of-the-box" seems kinda low, but that blaster that just nuked could at least turn their toggles back on and fire off some single shots. Giving anymore than 20% base on a power like this seriously infringes on powersets that offer +rec/end as one of their premier buffs.

Thanks again Leo for all your feedback. I am glad that some of these ideas appealled to you.

Don't blush -too- hard at my praise. You'll be accused of worshiping Cole or having no idea what right and wrong are.

-Rachel-

A few things I want to comment on:

Your defence-giving power in Leaping is EXCESSIVE! 9% defence is just 2% short of what both Deflection AND Battle Agility provide to a Shield Scrapper, and you're suggesting an auto power. 5% is what defence-giving Pool powers were before the GDN. If you're looking at defence now, especially in a pool toggle, the most you can look forward to is 1.5% to 2%. I'd swap it out for something else entirely anyway, since we don't really need Weave Again.

Also, your flight speed boosting power would be useless for the actual power Fly, which seems to cap itself with just its default slot these days. However, and this is what people always miss, it seems like it would be useful for Hover. I know that's pretty much half the reason I use Power Boost on my Energy/Energy Blaster. Hit Power Boost and you have amazing flight speed with Hover's tight control. Excellent for in-battle.

I actually think you can keep this power. I don't know what stats you have for it, but twice the Hover speed for, say, 30 seconds every two minutes would be worth the pick, at least for me.

I'm not sure you want to put in a Placate, at least not one that initiates Hide for Stalkers. It's not overpowering for other people, but it becomes "mandatory" for Stalkers if you leave the Hidden status in, and no pool power should be mandatory for any AT. However, if I were designing this, I'd design it as Smoke Flash. It slaps people with an AoE placate, but it doesn't hide you and I believe it breaks for EVERYONE if you attack anyone from the spawn. Basically, I'd design this more as a "Get me out of here!" power, but that's just me.

When it comes to teleport, I want to go off the rails here for a bit. We all know how powers like Lightning Rod and Shield Charge work - you summon a pet at your reticle and it hits things as you teleport to it. So what if Teleport summoned an invisible pseudo-pet that would grant base Hover speed flight to you and only you in an AoE of a 4-foot radius around where you appeared? The pet's flight power would be unlimited, but I'd make the pet itself time out after 20-30 seconds. That way, you could get a long Hover period, but one you could break just by hovering away from the pet. In fact, this could come with a new graphic, a kind of "dimensional distortion" that you can fly as long as you're in it, because the thing would linger after you left it, and you could potentially return to it.

I can definitely see the need to have only one of these active at a time, which could be achieved by whatever system it is that kills your Forcefield Generator when you summon a new one.

That's all I have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.