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Post by Cory Trese on Feb 18, 2014 15:13:32 GMT -5
And that's just with Monsters and AI ... not to mention the new types of secret doors, traps, switches, levers, lava, new tile sets and city types ... on and on =)
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Post by contributor on Feb 18, 2014 15:19:21 GMT -5
Ok, I'm most looking forward to my party that has both Vraes and Selen doing dexterity builds and Vincent following up shocking the hell out of everyone who's busy trying to land a hit on V and S (both of their dodge is around 20 at the end of episode 1). Vrae's was never a tank in that party anyways so maybe he'll be perfect for Episode 2. Kyera has also focused much more on her magical abilities in that party.
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Post by Cory Trese on Feb 18, 2014 15:28:47 GMT -5
From our design perspective, tank just means absorbing X number of damage points per turn -- either by dodging them, soaking them with Armor, parrying the attacks, whatever.
If you're using S like that as well, you're somewhat depending on monsters not attacking her and then running past to try to engage with the Wizard.
Another big one will be dungeons more like the Alpha -- many routes through.
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Post by contributor on Feb 18, 2014 15:32:35 GMT -5
Yeah more creative bad guys could be bad news for my Vince. Kyera might get to swing her hammer a bit more. She's sort of his body guard right now.
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Post by algesan on Feb 18, 2014 22:26:02 GMT -5
algesan - I too am amazed that Kyera is not getting more acclaim for Warders Shield and Ethereal Anguish. Maybe people aren't playing with them to see just how mighty they are, or are playing on lower difficulties where it just doesn't matter as much. Ethereal was broken for a while with the delayed effect, so it turned me off. IMO, it still has some issues with SP cost at higher levels, but is cheap & effective for reducing damage in a casting Kyera build. I'll note that all AoE spells are being hurt by the "grenade scatter" deployment & movement by NPCs and not being able to cast at any square. Warder's.... it makes (so far) a tanking Selen build work & lets Vraes survive (with Ethereal) archer heavy encounters. Dodge >> Armor.
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Swami
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Post by Swami on Feb 18, 2014 22:35:38 GMT -5
Ethereal was broken for a while with the delayed effect, so it turned me off. IMHO, there is still a delay issue with EA and FF. Cory Trese and fallen are looking at it.
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Post by algesan on Feb 19, 2014 8:08:08 GMT -5
Ethereal was broken for a while with the delayed effect, so it turned me off. IMHO, there is still a delay issue with EA and FF. Cory Trese and fallen are looking at it. I know, either just with FF or possibly with getting hit by both at once. I've shut up about it since you & lurker starred agreeing with me. Ethereal by itself works like a charm though.
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Post by contributor on Feb 19, 2014 9:31:56 GMT -5
I feel like I'm seeing different effects on different levels. In the Vermin Warren it was pretty messed up. In the Vermin Lair EA and PS seem to be working more or less like they're supposed to, though one time I did get an enemy to -1AP. Whatever the issue is, it doesn't seem regular.
I am starting to see the light though on the effectiveness of EA. It takes one hit away from your enemies, makes them less likely to hit and more easy to hit. It is high SP but it's low AP so it can be cast 3 times in a turn. That's a lot of potential damage eliminated, especially at higher levels.
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Post by tenbsmith on Feb 19, 2014 15:26:22 GMT -5
I'm enjoying my Kyera playing on hard and using her for multiple things. My priorities for her are healing, warders shield, hammers. Breeze has also been important for removing enemy curses. Vraes is out front and she is usually not far behind, but she is sheltered from having too many enemies attack her at once. I'll have to try Anguish again.
What is FF or PS?
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Post by Karjus on Feb 19, 2014 15:28:31 GMT -5
Flash Freeze and Punishing Strike I believe.
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Post by Karjus on Feb 19, 2014 15:37:24 GMT -5
Also to throw my thoughts in, I also find Kyera very difficult right now. Due to the way I'm building her, she is pretty much in limbo. She can hit decently with her hammer having put zero points into anything related to it, IF the enemy is debuffed and not too tough. Otherwise she just sits around waiting to heal or dispel, with buffing via Warder's Shield before the fight. In one more level however, she gets Holy Retribution. I'm hoping that changes things. So far spent zero points in any offensive ability for her so I'm not expecting much, but I find her annoying in that all of her abilities are useful so it becomes a case of dabbling or picking a few and specializing, so I've gone for the later route.
Maybe it is just me, but the way points are limited and the SP:Damage Potential ratio for single-target compared to aoe spells it is really hard to justify pumping points into Banishment (or Firebolt for that matter). Yeah, the AoEs are a ridiculous SP sink versus one target and not that great against two but that's why you've got Vraes and the critical monster Tamilin. I truly can't wait to get another level, and see how having two ST DPS monsters + two AoE/Debuff monsters works out.
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Post by fallen on Feb 19, 2014 20:45:55 GMT -5
but I find her annoying in that all of her abilities are useful so it becomes a case of dabbling or picking a few and specializing, so I've gone for the later route I would suggest focus. Unfocused builds definitely lead to a feeling that its not working right.
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Post by Cory Trese on Feb 19, 2014 20:53:01 GMT -5
Ethereal was broken for a while with the delayed effect, so it turned me off. IMHO, there is still a delay issue with EA and FF. Cory Trese and fallen are looking at it. Try any of the latest releases, and you will find it 100% fixed. Anyway, in the case you are discussing, the advantage was to the player. Latest release fixes all bugs with all types of curses, attacks and ranged. AE and FF were always 100% identical in behavior and all reports to the contrary have been explained -- user confusion or data misunderstanding.
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Swami
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Post by Swami on Feb 19, 2014 22:04:36 GMT -5
I'll test it again and give you feedback as to what I see. Maybe we are talking about different things, Cory Trese & fallen.
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Post by VDX on Feb 20, 2014 2:00:12 GMT -5
Ethereal Anguish is easily underestimated but works great on both really powerful monsters to make them more bearable or lessening the effect of a mob. I think clearing up the action/move points issue helps inform people how useful EA can be.
There's a short vs long term debate which each talent increase. Which talent upgrade helps now or which will take a few upgrades before it starts getting useful. Purifying breeze can be very impressive in upper levels but a little weak for the first few upgrades.
I agree that the enemy strength and AI dictates battles which in turn opens (or closes) doors on which party/character builds are useful. I'm intrigued to see how Episode 2 will change the dynamic. I look forward to hit-and-run enemies. I'm sure they'll be a pain, but that will be more fun than staying put and letting your ranged attacks pick off enemies as they move in.
I think I'll have to have a few builds waiting in the conquered keep as well.
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