Terri rage aura debuff
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:51 pm
Hey,
So currently, the lingering "debuff" is as follows:
- AB (probably -3)
- Spell failure (Probably 15%)
I suggest changing it to:
- Damage Malus
- Spell failure
+ Changing the formula from "every 7 barb levels" to "Every 5" , encouraging more barb levels and encouraging going beyond 15 or 24 (the two big thresholds i see when playing barb-heavy). For these thresholds that would only bring a "+1" compared to the previous formula unless going pure class, at which point, it will never break the meta so doesn't matter.
---
Why:
Well, AB/AC is already the main point of entry to NWN's game mechanics. Builders can discuss day and night about various values, these two are the ones around which everything gravitates (for non-mages that is). So yeah, sure, terri rage nerfing AB is a "safe" choice as it just further that design foundation, however, it also narrows down both flavor (yet again another ab-modifier, low identity), and diversity (if a Barb wants to take advantage of that - 3 AB, he must already have a decent AC to start with, otherwise it's a non-existent bonus, unless in a party). So basically to take fully advantage of that iconic feat, you HAVE to play the AC-game.
Less damage rather than less AB would mean that the Barbarian would be encouraged (but certainly not forced) to take a more damage mitigation route rather than "AC or gtfo", a bonus that will mostly be leveraged in PVE anyway (so many counters in pvp so I'm not sure i would buy a "you just made barb unkillable" argument, if you took the debuff, you got stunned half a round, and you're probably already dead).
If damage nerf is perceived for some reason that escapes me as a "taboo", then maybe AC-debuff, a bit like a lingering curse song. At least an AC-nerf to your foes will benefit both "AC barb" and "Mitigation barb", but just AB feels a bummer for the already gimped "Mitigation Barb" (gimped in pve, that is). Note: I'm aware that you can be both mitigation/AC as a barb, but then -AC probably helps you too. So everyone happy.
Cheers! God this is too long.
So currently, the lingering "debuff" is as follows:
- AB (probably -3)
- Spell failure (Probably 15%)
I suggest changing it to:
- Damage Malus
- Spell failure
+ Changing the formula from "every 7 barb levels" to "Every 5" , encouraging more barb levels and encouraging going beyond 15 or 24 (the two big thresholds i see when playing barb-heavy). For these thresholds that would only bring a "+1" compared to the previous formula unless going pure class, at which point, it will never break the meta so doesn't matter.
---
Why:
Well, AB/AC is already the main point of entry to NWN's game mechanics. Builders can discuss day and night about various values, these two are the ones around which everything gravitates (for non-mages that is). So yeah, sure, terri rage nerfing AB is a "safe" choice as it just further that design foundation, however, it also narrows down both flavor (yet again another ab-modifier, low identity), and diversity (if a Barb wants to take advantage of that - 3 AB, he must already have a decent AC to start with, otherwise it's a non-existent bonus, unless in a party). So basically to take fully advantage of that iconic feat, you HAVE to play the AC-game.
Less damage rather than less AB would mean that the Barbarian would be encouraged (but certainly not forced) to take a more damage mitigation route rather than "AC or gtfo", a bonus that will mostly be leveraged in PVE anyway (so many counters in pvp so I'm not sure i would buy a "you just made barb unkillable" argument, if you took the debuff, you got stunned half a round, and you're probably already dead).
If damage nerf is perceived for some reason that escapes me as a "taboo", then maybe AC-debuff, a bit like a lingering curse song. At least an AC-nerf to your foes will benefit both "AC barb" and "Mitigation barb", but just AB feels a bummer for the already gimped "Mitigation Barb" (gimped in pve, that is). Note: I'm aware that you can be both mitigation/AC as a barb, but then -AC probably helps you too. So everyone happy.
Cheers! God this is too long.