What would you like to see in a dark control set?


CBeet

 

Posted

People have been talking about dark control/manipulation/assault and dark blasts proliferation for a while now, and its something i would like to see in the near future because the dark sets are my favorite. But that also got me thinking, i also want them to put time into it. I dont want a basic control set, i want dark control to be as unique a control set as Dark miasma is comared to the other debuff sets.
(get ready for me to jump around a lot :P try to keep up)

I would like to see Dark control as a "feed off the enemy" type of powerset. Or at least 1 power like that. i would NOT like to see it get stuck as an illusion remake(illusion is a nice set, but it can keep its spot as the soft control king). 1-2 fear powersis ok, but they better come with a nice tohit debuff. which leads me to another thing.

I would like it to keep the tohit debuff in the majority of its powers. The devs would probably make this a big part of the set anyways.

Ok back to the "feed off the enemy" powers. My favorite powers are Soul Drain, Drain Psyche, and eclipse, and Which is why i love warshades so much. I would LOVE to see a power like this. What the Dark control one would do? no idea. but i would like to see it

Here's how i'd like to see the set:

1- ST immob

2-ST Ranged fear:big tohit debuff, spammable(4-6 second recharge? 10-15 sec duration?)

3-St Hold

4-Aoe immob

5-Front Loaded PBAOE Drain power( what would be a balanced buff that would come with this? Could possibly deal damage like soul drain, or maybe swap out the damage for a nice -tohit -dam debuff)

6-Aoe Fear/tohit debuff

7-Aoe hold

8-(might be to overpowered but) some sort of PBAOE life drain that also heals team around you, more foes bigger heal for all
Or a tar patch type power? if the heal is to OP the tar patch would go in the 6 spot and the aoe fear would be put here.

9-Debuffing pet(like dark Miasma's)

I would love to hear any and all feedback on this. I understanmd what im saying might be unbalanced, which is why im psting here to get the expert opinion on everything

Thanks everyone (:



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Posted

Here is a list of some possible powers. Some are already ingame but presently not usable by players. Pet powers or av powers. I modified a few av powers and brainstormed some ideas for others.

chill of the night - pbaoe high -to hit moderate negative energy dot.
I've wanted this power on dark characters forever. Always thought dark armor should of had it instead of so many resistance and control toggles. Cot ghosts and the dark servant often use this toggle.

Siphon souls - a power similar to fulcrum shift. A stacking debuff/buff that steals health and endurance and transfers it to nearby allies. Does minor negative energy damage and reduces foe recovery and regeneration - recharge moderate

Chain of Terror - Fear spreads easily amongst others. This power not only jumps from target to target but but may cause some foes to run briefly and stop near allies to spread fear. Foe chain terrorize. Chance for fear special chance to induce additional terrorize. -recharge moderate

Group Cloak of darkness - Hey a true master of dark should be able to hide his/herself and his allies in the darkness right? team pbaoe toggle +stealth +def melee/aoe/range +res en/ne/psi Fear protection

Engulfing darkness - location aoe much like tarpatch or caltrops. Has a stacking chance to hold targets in place for the duration of the power. Minions and lieutenants will be held very quickly while bosses are likely not to be held as easily and will need to spend some time in the field to be held. The powers effect quickly diminishes from targets that flee from it. Very minor negative energy dot. Recharge long

Soul storm - who didn't love this power? This power however will be a aoe like ghost widows. But it doesn't do any damage. Range targeted aoe mag 3 hold 16 targets max recharge very long.

Black cloud - This very dark cloud blocks out the sun and seems to absorb light making it hard for foes to see and thus reducing foes chance to hit. Summon black clouds Recharge moderate foe -to hit minor negative energy dot while clouds engulf targets.


Friends don't let friends buy an ncsoft controlled project.

 

Posted

Dark Control

1) Tenebrous Grasp -- Single target Immobilize, Moderate DoT, -tohit
(standard issue black tentacles)

1) Soul Storm -- Single target hold, Moderate DoT
(same power from Soul Mastery)

2) Tenebrous Expanse -- AoE Immobilize, Minor DoT -tohit
(standard stuff)

6) Fetid Wastes -- Location AoE, -Speed, -Regeneration, Chance for Vomit
(location targeted pet like Quicksand or Tar Patch. Lowers enemy movement and regen, has a low chance to cause mobs to vomit (hold? sleep? whatever) each tick)

8) Starlit Shroud -- PBAoE Toggle, -Tohit, -Damage, Chance for Placate
(basically a Dark equivalent to Arctic Air (Not entirely sure if Placate would work well here, but it could get swapped for Chance for Fear instead))

12) Oppressive Gloom -- PBAoE Toggle, Disorient, Self Damage Special
(same ol' OG it's always been (if that proves overpowered then Dark Pit can be subbed in instead with numbers modified appropriately)

18) Stygian Embrace -- PBAoE Toggle, Minor DoT, -End, Self +Regeneration, +Recovery (or +Heal, +End)
(kind of Death Shroud meets Conductive Aura. Drains the HP and End of any nearby foes and returns it to you)

26) Spirit Squall -- Target AoE, Very Long recharge, Hold
(pretty typical ranged aoe hold)

32) Surging Shadow -- AoE, Long Recharge.
(Animates your enemy's shadow and turns it against them. Summons an immobile Shadow (like Phantasm's decoy) for each target within the radius of the power. These Shadows are targetable, and attackable, but are indestructible. Each Shadow uses Deathshroud, damaging and taunting foes to attack them. Basically creates a damage field that absorbs agro for you. Since it's not a real pet, and each Shadow despawns when it's anchor mob is defeated, the recharge would be MUCH shorter (Say 60-90seconds) allowing them to be resummoned frequently.)

Set notes:

As you might have noticed, it's a pretty toggle heavy set which relies on being right in the thick of things, chewing through endurance and hitpoint the like. That was the main reason for the inclusion of Stygian Embrace. It's both the set's main source of damage (outside of the pets) and serves to mitigate the cost of the toggles, and HP cost of Oppressive Gloom.

The set is relatively light on control, instead utilizing damage mitigation tools (-tohit/-dmg) and agro management (pets) to control the field.

I did not use any Dark Miasma powers in the set because I'd still like dark as a Controller secondary with the following alterations:

Fearsome Stare - Cone shortened to 50feet. Recharge increased from 40seconds to 60seconds. Magnitude lowered from 3, to 2. This still leaves it useful for neutralizing minions, or for stacking, akin to Thunder Clap's uses from Storm.

Dark Servant - Gets the Mastermind treatment... Recharge upped from 240seconds to 500seconds. Retains it's 240seconds duration.


@Oathbound & @Oathbound Too

 

Posted

I really like that last Pet power, Oathbound! Very good ideas, everyone!



 

Posted

I think the main problem is going to be Oppressive Gloom. It isn't designed for an AT like Controllers or Dominators.

Perhaps a PBAoE Stun click power, instead? Something that won't half-kill a Controller without being particularly effective at its job? (Remember, Oppressive Gloom is a Mag 2 stun - it's not particularly effective on LTs or higher, but if it hits them, it will still drain health. I've accidentally killed my self with OG on a scrapper, I can only figure it'll be worse on trollers or Doms.)

I also think you may be expecting a bit much out of what the game is capable of with that Tier 9. I also don't think the Devs will give what is essentially both an AoE DoT attack, AND a Pocket Tank, a Recharge time as low as 90s. Figure 240 seconds at a minimum.


-This Space Intentionally Left Blank.-

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by OneWhoBinds View Post
I think the main problem is going to be Oppressive Gloom. It isn't designed for an AT like Controllers or Dominators.

Perhaps a PBAoE Stun click power, instead? Something that won't half-kill a Controller without being particularly effective at its job? (Remember, Oppressive Gloom is a Mag 2 stun - it's not particularly effective on LTs or higher, but if it hits them, it will still drain health. I've accidentally killed my self with OG on a scrapper, I can only figure it'll be worse on trollers or Doms.)
Which is why I mentioned it could be replaced with Dark Pit, giving them a more typical mag3 Ranged AoE disorient instead.

As far as killing yourself with OG, that's why I included a Hitpoint Recovery tool in the set, to offset the hp cost. (Controllers would also deal considerably less damage to themselves, due to having a MUCH lower Damage Modifier. Doms would have to be more aware of their HP usage, but again that's why there's Stygian Embrace.)

Quote:
Originally Posted by OneWhoBinds View Post
I also think you may be expecting a bit much out of what the game is capable of with that Tier 9. I also don't think the Devs will give what is essentially both an AoE DoT attack, AND a Pocket Tank, a Recharge time as low as 90s. Figure 240 seconds at a minimum.
I make no claims about balance. That'd be for the devs to figure out. I was pretty much just brainstorming ideas for a Dark Control set that DIDN'T cannibalize Dark Miasma. 240seconds I feel would be far too long though as these would be immobile pets that die as soon as you defeat the anchor mob, so they're only good for a single spawn per cast. Again though, IF any power like that ever came into being, it'd be entirely up to the Devs to balance. Additional possible ways to lower power level without increasing recharge: Make the pets vulnerable to damage. Have the pets automatically despawn after a set time (30seconds or so). Have the power only have a chance (50% say) to summon a pet for each target 'hit' by the power.

The game is perfectly capable* of performing the actions required of the power though. It already DOES exactly this when it summons a Phantasm's Decoy pet, Decoy is just as a single target power instead of an AoE.


*Standard Code Rant applies.

Ultimately I just want a Dark Control, no matter what form it takes.


@Oathbound & @Oathbound Too

 

Posted

One thing I'd like to see on a control set is to make the AoE immobilize a location AoE, sorta like the sleep field that electric control has. Creating a dark field where tentacles will reach up and immobilize anything that walks through it would be kinda cool.



 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by OneWhoBinds View Post
I also think you may be expecting a bit much out of what the game is capable of with that Tier 9. I also don't think the Devs will give what is essentially both an AoE DoT attack, AND a Pocket Tank, a Recharge time as low as 90s. Figure 240 seconds at a minimum.
Sounds like Plant Control's Carrion Creepers to me, except rather than attacks they all have Death Shroud and Tanker's Gauntlet. Give them all random but generic silhouette models and slight opacity and you're done.

As for Oppressive Gloom, if it proves too powerful then give it the code that Phase Shift has so it shuts off after 30 seconds with a 60-120 second recharge, or just make it a clickie PBAoE stun with the self damage per enemy upped slightly and higher mag stun.

Personally I'd like to see something akin to Wormhole with fear and -tohit rather than knockback and stun.


I am the Blaster, I have filled the role of Tank, Controller and Defender
Sometimes all at once.
Union EU player! Pip pip, tally ho, top hats and tea etc etc

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oathbound View Post
32) Surging Shadow -- AoE, Long Recharge.
(Animates your enemy's shadow and turns it against them. Summons an immobile Shadow (like Phantasm's decoy) for each target within the radius of the power. These Shadows are targetable, and attackable, but are indestructible. Each Shadow uses Deathshroud, damaging and taunting foes to attack them. Basically creates a damage field that absorbs agro for you. Since it's not a real pet, and each Shadow despawns when it's anchor mob is defeated, the recharge would be MUCH shorter (Say 60-90seconds) allowing them to be resummoned frequently.)
They could just merge Tarpatch and Hell On Earth from Demon Summoning with a Fear proc.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oathbound View Post
Dark Control

1) Tenebrous Grasp -- Single target Immobilize, Moderate DoT, -tohit
(standard issue black tentacles)

1) Soul Storm -- Single target hold, Moderate DoT
(same power from Soul Mastery)

2) Tenebrous Expanse -- AoE Immobilize, Minor DoT -tohit
(standard stuff)

6) Fetid Wastes -- Location AoE, -Speed, -Regeneration, Chance for Vomit
(location targeted pet like Quicksand or Tar Patch. Lowers enemy movement and regen, has a low chance to cause mobs to vomit (hold? sleep? whatever) each tick)

8) Starlit Shroud -- PBAoE Toggle, -Tohit, -Damage, Chance for Placate
(basically a Dark equivalent to Arctic Air (Not entirely sure if Placate would work well here, but it could get swapped for Chance for Fear instead))

12) Oppressive Gloom -- PBAoE Toggle, Disorient, Self Damage Special
(same ol' OG it's always been (if that proves overpowered then Dark Pit can be subbed in instead with numbers modified appropriately)

18) Stygian Embrace -- PBAoE Toggle, Minor DoT, -End, Self +Regeneration, +Recovery (or +Heal, +End)
(kind of Death Shroud meets Conductive Aura. Drains the HP and End of any nearby foes and returns it to you)

26) Spirit Squall -- Target AoE, Very Long recharge, Hold
(pretty typical ranged aoe hold)

32) Surging Shadow -- AoE, Long Recharge.
(Animates your enemy's shadow and turns it against them. Summons an immobile Shadow (like Phantasm's decoy) for each target within the radius of the power. These Shadows are targetable, and attackable, but are indestructible. Each Shadow uses Deathshroud, damaging and taunting foes to attack them. Basically creates a damage field that absorbs agro for you. Since it's not a real pet, and each Shadow despawns when it's anchor mob is defeated, the recharge would be MUCH shorter (Say 60-90seconds) allowing them to be resummoned frequently.)

Set notes:

As you might have noticed, it's a pretty toggle heavy set which relies on being right in the thick of things, chewing through endurance and hitpoint the like. That was the main reason for the inclusion of Stygian Embrace. It's both the set's main source of damage (outside of the pets) and serves to mitigate the cost of the toggles, and HP cost of Oppressive Gloom.

The set is relatively light on control, instead utilizing damage mitigation tools (-tohit/-dmg) and agro management (pets) to control the field.

I did not use any Dark Miasma powers in the set because I'd still like dark as a Controller secondary with the following alterations:

Fearsome Stare - Cone shortened to 50feet. Recharge increased from 40seconds to 60seconds. Magnitude lowered from 3, to 2. This still leaves it useful for neutralizing minions, or for stacking, akin to Thunder Clap's uses from Storm.

Dark Servant - Gets the Mastermind treatment... Recharge upped from 240seconds to 500seconds. Retains it's 240seconds duration.
I really like this

Instead of soul storm itd probably end up being something like petrifying gaze though