End of Cottage Rule? Please?

There really does seem to be some misapplication of what the Cottage Rule would be. Powers get changed all the time. They aren't changed into something else entirely.

Cobra Strike for ages and ages was a very low damage attack with a 100% chance stun, and now it's a fairly high DPA with a 80% stun. Both parts of that change are non-trivial in effect on play, but Cobra Strike is still an attack that does damage and stuns. The change to CS was dramatic, but it did not violate the "Cottage Rule".

There are other examples along this line, such as Conserve Power becoming Energize for Electric Armor and Power Sink becoming Energy Drain for Electric Armor.

The change to Fiery Embrace, already mentioned, was a fair bit more dramatic. The fundamental mechanics of the power changed significantly. In the end, though, it's still a power that gives a 20 second buff to damage, which, at a very high level, is what it was before. The power was improved immensely, but the Cottage Rule was not violated.

What the "Cottage Rule" prevents is, for example, Cobra Strike becoming a ranged foe teleport, or a self buff of some sort that doesn't target foes.

Propel having it's DPA improved would not in any way violate the Cottage Rule. Propel being turned into a non-damaging foe hold would violate the Cottage Rule. Propel being turned into a targeted cone is probably unlikely, but would probably not violate the Cottage Rule.

Based on the above definition, I approve of the cottage rule. I even approve of it in cases where it means we have powers that I would never take, as is the case with foe phase powers. I acknowledge that just because just I don't like a power doesn't mean it should be changed. It just means I wish it would change, and if the only useful way it could be changed would be to completely revamp it, and I do not think the powerset is actively broken because of that power (or powers), then I don't see my wishes as compelling reason for change.

Force Field could be updated/improved without running afoul of the Cottage Rule.

So, after posting that and browsing, I see Jayboh's been busy posting elsewhere.

So let's tackle one of his problem children: Poison Trap from the MM /Poison set. I think pretty much everyone agrees this power is broken - note, this is not /traps Poison Trap, but /Poison's.

First question: What is its purpose?

Let's go with Paragonwiki's description:
Place Trap: PBAoE, Foe Hold, Sleep, -Endurance

Now, "PBAOE" is a bit of a misnomer there, it's a placed trap. It's designed to do a foe hold, a sleep, and have an effect of -endurance.

Problem? Its chance to DO any of that is very, very low - to the point where it's skippable.

Now, we could replace this outright with, say, Caltrops, as mentioned in the thread I saw (though it was more of an "I don't care if they did, it would be more useful" sort of comment.) That would break the cottage rule. Would it *fix* the problem? Unlike /Traps, you don't really have anything else to set up to take advantage of it. You've already got a single target hold in there, debuffs, AOE slow (chance to hold) and the like. So can we fix this *within the cottage rule* and get a usable, desirable power?

Let's try.
First, what is the purpose of the power.
Placed trap? No, that's delivery, though I'd put it somewhat high on the list of "things to keep," as it does have a flavor for the power. This could also be placed ranged, though, like much of TA.

AOE Hold? That sounds like a primary function to me.
AOE Sleep? That, too - though sleeps, barring a few instances, are less useful. However, given some procs and such, we'd probably want to keep this in.
-End? I'd call that a "secondary effect." This isn't an "Electric Mastermind," after all.
If we can keep all that to preserve current slotting possibilities while making the power useful, we've got a strong contender.

Options:
Increase hold mag.
Increase pet's accuracy.
Increase "pulse" of checks - as I'm recalling, that's one of the major issues with the power.
Increase chance of -end (and -sleep.) Remove any "chance of" for the hold - that's guaranteed to land if it hits.
Change from placed to ranged. This *might* make it a bit too powerful in combination with the others, but isn't enough of a fix on its own. (i'm saying that, again, because of the dedicated ranged hold that can already be stacked pretty easily, even before hitting PPPs.)

Would all those together, or in some combination, make the power more useful? Yes.
Do they preserve current slotting options (opening chances for things like the chance for stun, chance for +2 mag hold, etc. procs?) Yes.
Do they violate the cottage rule in any way? No.

See my Guides and Tutorials

I remeber back in the day when you could shoot and act through PFF with reduced accuracy or a personal to hit debuff. Then realising I guess that one could counter that with the pool power tactics let alone slotting they went and shut that ability off... Honestly it is a piety they didnt just leave that as is and supress the % of defence while shooting/acting but they didn't have the tech then.

They have it now.

Repulsion field needs to pulse faster or wider. How many times do I need to bleed over half my character's hp while the quequed up melee attack of my foe registers on my character while he's animated as being knocked ALREADY on his ****?

Repulsion bomb. target foe as opposed to the old target ally. Well done realising it's a defender PRIMARY at last. Bravo! However... really.... a Mag 2 stun NEEDS to be anything less then a 100% chance of it (in any powerset) .... Really?! (facepalm)
Every player used power in this game that is only magnitude 2 anything needs to be 100%. Personal opinion... naturaly.

Force field's various knocksand repels should have damage resist debuffs and or defence debuff and thematicly MORE STUNNING. Especialy if you insist on keeping random percentages vs the more reliable 100% but low mag. If theyre percentages the magnitude must be higher. Very Small debuffs and stuns for Force bolt as it's spammable. Moderate for the longer recharge and or endurance heavy toggles. Some powers that do knockup/down vs knockback (you can slot for that iffin yah want it) as too many damn things late game just giggle at you attemps to use knockback. I can use all the knocback my FF/Dark (including torrent) all at once on a Giant Monster and not buge it and inch... but a guy with super strength set and one knockout blow can make that Crystal Titian fly up and see stars?! Unfair!

Peace Bringers need their two mez types to match. Especialy as theyre defences are not defences but rather resitance. My Crab spider doesn't mind not being able to Mez a boss but he has True mez protection and laughbly high defences that make foes MISS! As for the PB an option to create a moments respite that doesn't involve transforming into a oversized lobster with half an attack chain (that's generous.. I mean 1/3 of an attack chain) would be nice.

Just a few rants and soapbox standing... nevermind.

I've put this out there before but this may bear repeating.

My version of Dimension Shift, assuming we're stuck with it:

The power is changed to emulate elements of Oil Slick Arrow. It summons an invincible, unmoveable psuedo-pet. This pet lasts 30 seconds. It has a 25ft radius aura of intangibility and immobilize. Anything that enters the area gets shifted.

To end the power early, kill or dismiss the pet.

This version is more useful for a few reasons. Firstly, the inability to dismiss the effect when desired is a serious issue that current tech can't solve. Secondly, Gravity is a set that specializes in knockback and teleports. Want something trapped in the sphere that currently isn't? Wormhole it or knock it inside.


EDIT: Another way to rescue Gravity, by the way, is to addd debuff effects to its power a la Electric, Earth and Ice Control. -Damage and -Range both being potentially thematic possibilities. Right now Gravity does have -Run Speed, so the basis for it being a "debuff-ish" set is somewhat established. It would just need a debuff that wasn't 99% redundant.

You guys need ammo, I get it.

(example please? pretty please?! oh god I need more ammo to attack you with! damnit please...!)

Come on.