Bolt Escape Feedback for ZOS

Paulington

Hey there!

Let me preface this with the fact that I am a Sorcerer, my main is a Sorcerer and I love the class, however I am just giving some feedback as to how the ability (Bolt Escape) could be improved and balanced.


DEFINITION:

First of all, let me quote the exact tooltip of Ball of Lightning (Bolt Escape morph):

Transform yourself into pure energy and flash forward, stunning enemies near origin location for 2 seconds. Also absorbs any spell projectiles directed at you for 6.5 seconds.

Casting again within 4 seconds costs 50% more magicka.

ISSUES:

Personally I think the first part is completely balanced, the ability by its very name is designed to be an escape skill, an "oh crap" button, allowing you to get away when all else fails, regen some magicka, put up a ward, heal or whatever and then get back into the fight or run away, that is no longer what it is.

Currently, for me, to cast BoL costs 1,962 magicka, that goes up to 2,943 upon casting and each subsequent cast within four seconds costs 2,943 magicka. With my magicka pool I can BoL 10+ times in a row with no magicka issues. This is broken and not the intention for the skill, it is not meant to be a skill to give Sorcerers mobility above and beyond other classes, it is not a teleport spell, it is an escape spell.

I also believe the tooltip is misleading. It should say that repeated casting within 4 seconds causes the spell to increase in cost by 50% as that is really what happens, the tooltip doesn't do a good job of explaining this and I think it alludes to a possible solution I will discuss in the next part.

PROPOSED SOLUTION:

Given that the spell is designed to be an escape and not to be repeatedly casted, I drew inspiration from the tooltip where it says "Casting again within 4 seconds costs 50% more magicka". I think this is the solution and it is to make the spell cost increase exponentially and it would keep to the spirit of making repeated casting impossible while still keeping the skill balanced when used as intended to escape bad situations but still make us Sorcerers able to be caught by skilled players.

I propose that each subsequent cast within 4 seconds increases the magicka cost by 50% on top of the previous cast, this would make the tooltip say:

Transform yourself into pure energy and flash forward, stunning enemies near origin location for 2 seconds. Also absorbs any spell projectiles directed at you for 6.5 seconds.

Casting again within 4 seconds increases the cost of Bolt Escape by 50% compared to the previous cast.

Let me give an example using my magicka costs and magicka pool. An initial cast of BoL costs 1,962 magicka and I have a magicka pool of 34,500, for the purposes of this example we will ignore regeneration and we will assume each cast is within four seconds of the cast before.

1st Cast: 1,962 Magicka cost.
2nd Cast: 2,943 Magicka cost.
3rd Cast: 4,415 Magicka cost.
4th Cast: 6,621 Magicka cost.
5th Cast: 9,933 Magicka cost. <---- My magicka pool is now gone, can't cast BE again.
6th Cast: 14,899 Magicka cost.
7th Cast: 22,348 Magicka cost.
8th Cast: 33,523 Magicka cost.

Now of course the exponent could be changed, it doesn't need to be 50%, in fact it could even be 100% if you wanted to make the cost double each time but I think that'd be a little too much, but this proposed solution would allow Bolt Escape to be used for its intended purpose but not as a cross-map teleport and guaranteed escape button as once you have cast the ability four times within four seconds your ability to defend yourself is severely compromised.

I'd like some thoughts and feedback, of course this is just my proposal and I am sure plenty of you won't like it, but if you do or if you don't please say so with suggestions on how it could be improved and hopefully ZOS will amend this skill such that it fills its intended niche and not a guaranteed escape skill.

Cheers.

RoyJade

So, another bolt escape nerf asked ? In fact, it's the first one I see I agree with, it's an excellent idea. No nerf for a offensive and fast mobility use, nerf for the "op" thing everyone complained about (infinite nearly-unstoppable run away).

Paulington

RoyJade wrote: »

So, another bolt escape nerf asked ? In fact, it's the first one I see I agree with, it's an excellent idea. No nerf for a offensive and fast mobility use, nerf for the "op" thing everyone complained about (infinite nearly-unstoppable run away).

Thank you, this is exactly the intention of this adjustment. It allows the skill to function as intended but completely gets rid of the infinite guaranteed escape teleporting that everyone hates and that clearly is not in the spirit of the skill as it was originally intended.

As I stated before, I am a Sorcerer, so I don't want the ability nerfed into the ground but what I do want is for it to be balanced.

RoyJade

I'm a sorcerer too, and I hate when people say I play a "op class" because BoL is a little too strong for free escape. And I play with streak, I use it offensively to break invisibility, to tp behind the enemy and to temporary stop a zerg.
All these nerf who impact other gameplay more than the problematic one are… annoying, your idea seem definitely great.

(and sorry for my poor english)

Emma_Overload

So let me get this straight... when I'm in a 20 minute long fight to the death with some horrible dungeon boss that has one of those "red circle of death" AOE mechanics that follow the player around relentlessly, I'm only supposed to be able to cast BoL a couple times before the magicka cost increases exponentially?

Did I read that right? "EXPONENTIALLY?"

REALLY?

RoyJade

To be honest, it's the first time I see someone who using bolt escape for boss fight in pve ^^
Thunderous presence or just sprint/move is enough to avoid any non-inevitable aoe in the game in pve. And even then, you never need to cast bolt escape more than one or two time, don't you ?

Earthwardzilvox_ESO

Agreed. Almost every sorc I know runs around using bolt escape and boundless storm. They don't use mounts, because even a max speed mount is slower.

It would be simpler if he ability just had a cooldown. That said, exponentially increasing costs would severely limit spamming.

Paulington

Emma_Eunjung wrote: »

So let me get this straight... when I'm in a 20 minute long fight to the death with some horrible dungeon boss that has one of those "red circle of death" AOE mechanics that follow the player around relentlessly, I'm only supposed to be able to cast BoL a couple times before the magicka cost increases exponentially?

Did I read that right? "EXPONENTIALLY?"

REALLY?

I don't know a single Sorcerer that uses Ball of Lightning/Bolt Escape in PvE except yourself, what "20 minute" fight to the death exists in this game? Every boss, even the hardest of bosses, drop within five minutes and they are 12-man Trials where using Bolt Escape is just silly and a massive DPS loss.

Something tells me you are talking about the Daedroth in CoA where you shouldn't be using BoL as sprinting works just fine.

Really, there's no reason to use Bolt Escape in PvE. Every other class can avoid red circles by sprinting, so why can't you?

Glurin

Oh great. Another "everybody plays the exact same way except you" excuse.

If a skill is changed, it should be changed because it needed the change. Not because the cookie cutters don't use it. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people out there that don't care and don't want to use cookie cutter builds.

Bolt Escape does not need an exponential cost increase. It never even needed the cost increase nerf it has now to begin with. A running sorcerer does no damage. He kills nobody, he gets no AP for running away from you, and being upset that you didn't get your free kill from ambushing him is no excuse for wanting them nerfed into the ground again.

You say it's not meant to be anything but an escape, and you want to nerf the escape function anyway. Well then, I give you Streak. A skill quite clearly designed and intended to be used offensively. The mobility is counterbalanced by the fact that sorcerers have basically no practical self heals to speak of.

Also, there's the hybrid and stamina builds. They already can't spam it more than four or five times or so as it is. And stamina builds even less than that. An exponential increase reduces them to two, maybe three max. That does them little to no good under most conditions, pretty much reducing the entire skill's usefulness to being a magicka stacked build exclusive skill.

Cody

i personally think this ability is fine. you have to also take into account any stamina sorcs out there trying to use this. this proposal would make it impossible for stamina sorcs to use this ability.

Cody

and there are ways to kill sorcs spamming this ability. Gap closers(critical charge especially)

Emma_Overload

Paulington wrote: »

Emma_Eunjung wrote: »

So let me get this straight... when I'm in a 20 minute long fight to the death with some horrible dungeon boss that has one of those "red circle of death" AOE mechanics that follow the player around relentlessly, I'm only supposed to be able to cast BoL a couple times before the magicka cost increases exponentially?

Did I read that right? "EXPONENTIALLY?"

REALLY?

I don't know a single Sorcerer that uses Ball of Lightning/Bolt Escape in PvE except yourself, what "20 minute" fight to the death exists in this game? Every boss, even the hardest of bosses, drop within five minutes and they are 12-man Trials where using Bolt Escape is just silly and a massive DPS loss.

Something tells me you are talking about the Daedroth in CoA where you shouldn't be using BoL as sprinting works just fine.

Really, there's no reason to use Bolt Escape in PvE. Every other class can avoid red circles by sprinting, so why can't you?

Boss fights drag out for me because I almost always run the dungeons solo, that's why. Something like Spindleclutch can easily take 2 hours total when you lone-wolf it. So what? Not everyone plays the game the same way you (or I) do, but I can guarantee you not many Sorcerers are going to like the idea of ANY of our class skills having costs that increase exponentially. The +50% cost nerf on Bolt is already bad enough and should be removed, but what you're suggesting is just plain horrible... no other class has to deal with anything like that.

Gyudan

Can we also get a 50℅ cost increase on successive casts of NB's cloak, Templar's Breath of Life and DK's Dragon Blood ?

OR MAYBE STOP QQING ABOUT BOLT ESCAPE...

Lava_Croft

Gyudan wrote: »

Can we also get a 50℅ cost increase on successive casts of NB's cloak, Templar's Breath of Life and DK's Dragon Blood ?

OR MAYBE STOP QQING ABOUT BOLT ESCAPE...

Sure! If we can also have a potion to negate Bolt Escape for 40 seconds and a host of skills to negate Bolt Escape. Don't forget about the Disease enchant on weapons either, because I'd love to have a weapon enchant that will half the Bolt Escape travel distance. I could go on with this for a bit longer if you want.

Cody

Lava_Croft wrote: »

Gyudan wrote: »

Can we also get a 50℅ cost increase on successive casts of NB's cloak, Templar's Breath of Life and DK's Dragon Blood ?

OR MAYBE STOP QQING ABOUT BOLT ESCAPE...

Sure! If we can also have a potion to negate Bolt Escape for 40 seconds and a host of skills to negate Bolt Escape. Don't forget about the Disease enchant on weapons either, because I'd love to have a weapon enchant that will half the Bolt Escape travel distance. I could go on with this for a bit longer if you want.

FOOLS. YOU ARE ALL WRONG

WE NEED TO PUT A GIAGANTIC NERF ONTO THE ARGONIAN RACIAL PASSIVES. THEY ARE EXTREMELY OP

maryriv

I'd agree to this if the range and damage was increased exponentially too.

King Bozo

Why do people cry about classes because they died to a,particular class? Sorcs need escape it is fine they are one of the easiest classes to kill.

Lava_Croft

Nobody is whining about a class, someone is giving his thoughts on how to improve a specific skill.

Glurin

Lava_Croft wrote: »

Nobody is whining about a class, someone is giving his thoughts on how to improve a specific skill.

No, actually he's giving his thoughts on how to nerf a specific skill.

Xeven

Cinbri

Glurin wrote: »

Lava_Croft wrote: »

Nobody is whining about a class, someone is giving his thoughts on how to improve a specific skill.

No, actually he's giving his thoughts on how to nerf a specific skill.

It depends on definitions. Making op skill less op is nerf or fix...

kendellking_chaosb14_ESO

Gyudan wrote: »

Can we also get a 50℅ cost increase on successive casts of NB's cloak, Templar's Breath of Life and DK's Dragon Blood ?

OR MAYBE STOP QQING ABOUT BOLT ESCAPE...

With the number of counters to Cloak that would be pointless potions and a two powers Mark and Mage light are hard counters to cloak plus the lack of class shields that can go on any bar, healing debuffs are not new but are VERY good at kills Templars by lowering their heals below my DPS range.

At the heart of this Bolt Escape is the only Gap maker and Crit Charging is not always smart as if they place mines down that stun even when broken is just long enough to move out of charge range you make a 17m gap one second later you are of of all 22m charge range this gives Sorcs way to must power to control the fight with zero Consequences

King Bozo wrote: »

Why do people cry about classes because they died to a,particular class? Sorcs need escape it is fine they are one of the easiest classes to kill.

That would be Nightblades check your Kill counter Nightblades kill you the most and is the class you kill the most

Glurin wrote: »

Oh great. Another "everybody plays the exact same way except you" excuse.

If a skill is changed, it should be changed because it needed the change. Not because the cookie cutters don't use it. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people out there that don't care and don't want to use cookie cutter builds.

Bolt Escape does not need an exponential cost increase. It never even needed the cost increase nerf it has now to begin with. A running sorcerer does no damage. He kills nobody, he gets no AP for running away from you, and being upset that you didn't get your free kill from ambushing him is no excuse for wanting them nerfed into the ground again.

You say it's not meant to be anything but an escape, and you want to nerf the escape function anyway. Well then, I give you Streak. A skill quite clearly designed and intended to be used offensively. The mobility is counterbalanced by the fact that sorcerers have basically no practical self heals to speak of.

Also, there's the hybrid and stamina builds. They already can't spam it more than four or five times or so as it is. And stamina builds even less than that. An exponential increase reduces them to two, maybe three max. That does them little to no good under most conditions, pretty much reducing the entire skill's usefulness to being a magicka stacked build exclusive skill.

I really don't see your point here my stamina Nightblade can't use cloak but four times and my Magic Nightblade can't CC break or Roll both Four to Five times thats the point

Lyzaaa

Lava_Croft wrote: »

Gyudan wrote: »

Can we also get a 50℅ cost increase on successive casts of NB's cloak, Templar's Breath of Life and DK's Dragon Blood ?

OR MAYBE STOP QQING ABOUT BOLT ESCAPE...

Sure! If we can also have a potion to negate Bolt Escape for 40 seconds and a host of skills to negate Bolt Escape. Don't forget about the Disease enchant on weapons either, because I'd love to have a weapon enchant that will half the Bolt Escape travel distance. I could go on with this for a bit longer if you want.

Can we then get a magicka based dodge roll to top it off? Cause ya that potion is like *** against NB's anyways, you can now see em but u cant hit them:P

all hail masterclass NB!

Lava_Croft

Lyzaaa wrote: »

Lava_Croft wrote: »

Gyudan wrote: »

Can we also get a 50℅ cost increase on successive casts of NB's cloak, Templar's Breath of Life and DK's Dragon Blood ?

OR MAYBE STOP QQING ABOUT BOLT ESCAPE...

Sure! If we can also have a potion to negate Bolt Escape for 40 seconds and a host of skills to negate Bolt Escape. Don't forget about the Disease enchant on weapons either, because I'd love to have a weapon enchant that will half the Bolt Escape travel distance. I could go on with this for a bit longer if you want.

Can we then get a magicka based dodge roll to top it off? Cause ya that potion is like *** against NB's anyways, you can now see em but u cant hit them:P

all hail masterclass NB!

Detection potions in their current form are completely ridiculous. Drink potion, counter an entire playing style for 40 seconds.

olsborg

Paulington wrote: »

Let me give an example using my magicka costs and magicka pool. An initial cast of BoL costs 1,962 magicka and I have a magicka pool of 34,500, for the purposes of this example we will ignore regeneration and we will assume each cast is within four seconds of the cast before.

1st Cast: 1,962 Magicka cost.
2nd Cast: 2,943 Magicka cost.
3rd Cast: 4,415 Magicka cost.
4th Cast: 6,621 Magicka cost.
5th Cast: 9,933 Magicka cost. <---- My magicka pool is now gone, can't cast BE again.
6th Cast: 14,899 Magicka cost.
7th Cast: 22,348 Magicka cost.
8th Cast: 33,523 Magicka cost.

Do the same for dodgeroll, yes kthxbye

Teargrants

Earthwardzilvox_ESO wrote: »

Agreed. Almost every sorc I know runs around using bolt escape and boundless storm. They don't use mounts, because even a max speed mount is slower.

It would be simpler if he ability just had a cooldown. That said, exponentially increasing costs would severely limit spamming.

Please take your lies elsewhere.

Anyway, since I can see people in here are having trouble learning to gap close, I have the perfect solution to all your woes.

kthxbai

ushanshek

or maybe remove the extra magicka cost, and give each subsequent cast reduced range of the teleport problem solved

Obscure

I'd offer a much simpler solution, without touching skill cost at all:

Reduce range of the distance traveled in subsequent casts by 25% per cast. I'd balance around the notion any more than 4 consecutive bolts should be virtually useless (bolt 1 full range, bolt 2 is 25% less, bolt 3 is 50% less, bolt 4 is 75% less, bolt 5 has 0 movement yet would still spawn the absorb ball and stun targets near the caster).

I'd get rid of the whole regeneration debuff nonsense while I was at it.

kendellking_chaosb14_ESO

olsborg wrote: »

Paulington wrote: »

Let me give an example using my magicka costs and magicka pool. An initial cast of BoL costs 1,962 magicka and I have a magicka pool of 34,500, for the purposes of this example we will ignore regeneration and we will assume each cast is within four seconds of the cast before.

1st Cast: 1,962 Magicka cost.
2nd Cast: 2,943 Magicka cost.
3rd Cast: 4,415 Magicka cost.
4th Cast: 6,621 Magicka cost.
5th Cast: 9,933 Magicka cost. <---- My magicka pool is now gone, can't cast BE again.
6th Cast: 14,899 Magicka cost.
7th Cast: 22,348 Magicka cost.
8th Cast: 33,523 Magicka cost.

Do the same for dodgeroll, yes kthxbye

Yea if I could roll 17m away from the fight then sure, love how sorcs think rolling is even close to bolt escape you have the only gap opener and one stun when gap closing then you can't get them even after quickly breaking it. And the power it self stuns you so the counter to the move you into range to be stun it's an escape with a counter that don't really work most of the time

Teargrants

You can roll so much further than 17m, you can roll to the next keep.

Lava_Croft

Teargrants wrote: »

You can roll so much further than 17m, you can roll to the next keep.

I don't see how that's different from the current bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt bolt gameplay. Both are showcases of bad design.