[Suggestion] A Balance for Bolt Escape

Ffastyl

Bolt Escape is one of the few escape oriented abilities in the game and has been known to be too effective at its specialty. There have been several threads complaining about Bolt Escape and at least one attempt to balance it. All mentions propose altering the cost of Bolt Escape to a higher amount so it may not be spammed as is seen in several popular builds. Increasing cost grants very limited uses to lower Magicka users while having little impact on pure Magicka users for whom the issue stems from. Pure Magicka users make use of a combination of cost reduction, regeneration and max resource pool size to reduce the impact of a higher cost to Bolt Escape or outright negate it at the limits of the current system.

To this end I suggest a change to the mechanics of Bolt Escape. Bolt Escape is a blink, or short range teleport, and ingame texts describe it as "rid[ing] the lightning," arguably making the spell a form of movement. Bolt Escape should be affected by movement buffs and debuffs, increasing and decreasing the range respectively. Snares, roots, and Major/Minor Expedition should alter the distance Bolt Escape moves its user. Major Expedition increases Bolt Escape's travel distance from 15 m to 21 m; Minor Expedition increases travel distance to 16.5 m; a 30% snare reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 10.5 m; a 60% snare reduces travel distance to 6 m; and a root reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 0 m (stun/disorient still applies).

For readability:

• Major Expedition increases Bolt Escape's travel distance from 15 m to 21 m
• Minor Expedition increases Bolt Escape's travel distance to 16.5 m
• A 30% snare reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 10.5 m
• A 60% snare reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 6 m
• A root reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 0 m (stun/disorient and damage still applies)
• A snare of x% reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to (15.0 * ( 1.00 - ( x * 0.01 ))) m

Treating Bolt Escape as movement and allowing movement de/buffs to alter the travel distance provides a means to counter Bolt Escape, similar to how Mage Light, Detection Potions, and wide area of effect attacks counter Cloak. Counter is defined here as a means to negate or limit the usage of something, a means to stop someone from using a skill or tactic/strategy.
The cost increase may or may not need to remain afterwards if Bolt Escape becomes a form of rapid movement. This suggestion has the intent of making Bolt Escape more balanced (by increasing the counters) without altering the ability in some way (cost) that would severely limit Bolt Escape's uses for builds not focused on Magicka and its management.

I would like to hear the criticisms, approval, disapproval, changes, and alternate suggestions the community has in regard to this balancing attempt.
Particularly the criticisms, changes, and alternate suggestions.

Most_Awesome

No

Plague_Scale

Sounds good, make chain dodgerollingrollingrollingrollingrolling just as *balanced* eh?

OtarTheMad

Bolt Escape has been nerfed like 5 times, it's seriously not a problem. I have no issues with bolting sorcs on my characters and plenty of enemies still kill me on my Sorc. when I am bolting. Just no.

OtarTheMad

double post.

lolo_01b16_ESO

Ffastyl wrote: »

A root reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 0 m (stun/disorient and damage still applies)

I'd like to see this fix, as all other gap closers don't work while rooted.
But I don't think changing the travel distance when snared would be a good thing.

Ffastyl

lolo_01b16_ESO wrote: »

I don't think changing the travel distance when snared would be a good thing.

Could you please elaborate on why allowing snares to affect travel distance would be a bad thing?
I am aware there are many sources of snares, however a few skills provide snare/root immunity which also removes existing snares/roots on activation. Shuffle (Evasion morph from Medium Armor) and Forward Momentum (Momentum morph from Two Handed) are a couple.

Qyrk

Bolt Escape is mostly used to get away.
Bolt Escape succeeds in doing so.
But because it is being used as it is intended, then you're asking for a further nerf? This topic has been beaten to death already and the skill has gone through surmountable amount of changes. While we're at it, why don't we just put penalties on all spammable skills, why don't you?

Huckdabuck

ZOS has far greater issues to concern themselves with at the moment and for the foreseeable future (LAG, Crashes, forever load screens, Nirnhoned armor, Permadodgelol'er's, door exploiters, insert whatever else bugs ya here). NO NO NO....oh and L2P. #Stahpthanurfs #Musthazbuffs

Vis

I will sing you the song of our people:

No, no, no, no, no, and learn to play.

pkb16_ESO2

Bol is OP thats right! Plz nerf it.

Qyrk wrote: »

Bolt Escape is mostly used to get away.
Bolt Escape succeeds in doing so.
But because it is being used as it is intended, then you're asking for a further nerf? This topic has been beaten to death already and the skill has gone through surmountable amount of changes. While we're at it, why don't we just put penalties on all spammable skills, why don't you?

nice logic... so if a skill would kill someone instant, and it succeeds in doing so, it is ok?
And u even get some "Agrees"??? Man u sorc are...

#nerfsorclobby

Tankqull

pkb16_ESO2 wrote: »

Bol is OP thats right! Plz nerf it.

Qyrk wrote: »

Bolt Escape is mostly used to get away.
Bolt Escape succeeds in doing so.
But because it is being used as it is intended, then you're asking for a further nerf? This topic has been beaten to death already and the skill has gone through surmountable amount of changes. While we're at it, why don't we just put penalties on all spammable skills, why don't you?

nice logic... so if a skill would kill someone instant, and it succeeds in doing so, it is ok?
And u even get some "Agrees"??? Man u sorc are...

#nerfsorclobby

you know the difference between apples and oranges?
comparing a tool allowing you to escape in some cases with a 100% free frag is definatly the best choice to make your point...

Snit

Learn to load a gap closer.

pjwb16_ESO

Ffastyl wrote: »

Bolt Escape is one of the few escape oriented abilities in the game and has been known to be too effective at its specialty. There have been several threads complaining about Bolt Escape and at least one attempt to balance it.

That means if I make several threads about Crit Rush (or any other skill) being OP etc. that means that skill should get balanced, too ?? lol

pkb16_ESO2

Tankqull wrote: »

pkb16_ESO2 wrote: »

Bol is OP thats right! Plz nerf it.

Qyrk wrote: »

Bolt Escape is mostly used to get away.
Bolt Escape succeeds in doing so.
But because it is being used as it is intended, then you're asking for a further nerf? This topic has been beaten to death already and the skill has gone through surmountable amount of changes. While we're at it, why don't we just put penalties on all spammable skills, why don't you?

nice logic... so if a skill would kill someone instant, and it succeeds in doing so, it is ok?
And u even get some "Agrees"??? Man u sorc are...

#nerfsorclobby

you know the difference between apples and oranges?
comparing a tool allowing you to escape in some cases with a 100% free frag is definatly the best choice to make your point...

ok master of logic i try to explain it a bit better.

The argumentation of Qyrk seems to be: if a skill is intended to do this or that, and it is successful in doing it, then it shouldnt be nerfed, then its ok, because it fulfills for what is was made.

And that is a logical mistake because the problem is not that it is used or not used as it is intended, but its success. Its just too successful and thats what makes the skill op.

The argumentation is even contradictory.

I try to bring an example closer to you:

Your Brain is mostly used to think
Your Brain obviously is not that successful
Now should if be nerfed or buffed?

think about it;)

Makkir

Bold Escape is ONLY a problem for people who suffer from tunnel vision syndrome.

umagon

You might want to look at using power bash if you are having problems with bolters. Works on most rollers too.

Valnas

nerf crit rush

RinaldoGandolphi

No

Tagging @Ezareth

Bolt Escape is fine as it is, its teleport distance now is less then any gap closer.

Making those changes to Bolt Escape would render the skill useless...its been nerfed more then any other skill already as it is.

olsborg

Right now I think dodgerollerspermanentlyforever has higher priority to get looked at, aswell as siege on zergblobs(need to be more effective)

pjwb16_ESO

siege on zergs was once very good think back of unpurgable oil catapults and when 1.6 launched the instant dot of sieges, was pretty helpful back there, also elementall wall was a really good counter against zergs purging their ways through everything

Emma_Overload

NO.

Nerf beggars talk about Bolt Escape as if it's only used in PvP and only for the purpose of rapid movement. WRONG on both counts. Many people use the Streak morph as an AOE damage+stun, while many others use Ball of Lightning for its spell absorbing effects. Turning this bread-and-butter spell into an expensive treat would ruin it for everybody.

Please stop asking for game-breaking nerfs! If you're getting your butt kicked in PvP, you should ask for a BUFF for YOUR class, not a nerf for mine.

Flaminir

lolo_01b16_ESO wrote: »

Ffastyl wrote: »

A root reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 0 m (stun/disorient and damage still applies)

I'd like to see this fix, as all other gap closers don't work while rooted.
But I don't think changing the travel distance when snared would be a good thing.

Why are the mechanics of a gap closer relevant? This is a gap extender, not a closer... it's meant to escape (There's a clue in the name somewhere! lol).

A magicka sorc who uses Blink has very little stamina so can't just roll roll roll out of the talons.... they also have no worthwhile self heal, & are wearing light armor giving practically zero protection.... blink is the balance to this. Sorc's are meant to be mobile & ranged. Removing that would be like removing NB's stealth abilities... or Templars heals.

Blink is really NOT an issue anymore... it's been nerfed several times.... & discussed ad nauseum on here. There are numerous counters to it... which again, have been discussed on these forums many many times. Being constructive, I suggest a quick search & then some practice at how to use them.

Ezareth

If you still have issues chasing down sorcs after Eric Wroebel embedded an unresistable stun into every gap closer in the game aimed at nerfing sorcs (again) then you should probably head back to AoE-grinding mobs in craglorn or wherever it is you spent most of your time playing before this and forget about Cyrodiil.

I rode a sorc 7 VR levels higher than my NB with crit charge a week or so ago for 10 Bolt escapes in a row until it finally popped him like a zit. Spamming my "1"- key over and over again took every ounce of skill I possessed but that OP Sorc died like he deserved!

No one escapes!

Erock25

Ffastyl wrote: »

Bolt Escape is one of the few escape oriented abilities in the game and has been known to be too effective at its specialty. There have been several threads complaining about Bolt Escape and at least one attempt to balance it. All mentions propose altering the cost of Bolt Escape to a higher amount so it may not be spammed as is seen in several popular builds. Increasing cost grants very limited uses to lower Magicka users while having little impact on pure Magicka users for whom the issue stems from. Pure Magicka users make use of a combination of cost reduction, regeneration and max resource pool size to reduce the impact of a higher cost to Bolt Escape or outright negate it at the limits of the current system.

To this end I suggest a change to the mechanics of Bolt Escape. Bolt Escape is a blink, or short range teleport, and ingame texts describe it as "rid[ing] the lightning," arguably making the spell a form of movement. Bolt Escape should be affected by movement buffs and debuffs, increasing and decreasing the range respectively. Snares, roots, and Major/Minor Expedition should alter the distance Bolt Escape moves its user. Major Expedition increases Bolt Escape's travel distance from 15 m to 21 m; Minor Expedition increases travel distance to 16.5 m; a 30% snare reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 10.5 m; a 60% snare reduces travel distance to 6 m; and a root reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 0 m (stun/disorient still applies).

For readability:

• Major Expedition increases Bolt Escape's travel distance from 15 m to 21 m
• Minor Expedition increases Bolt Escape's travel distance to 16.5 m
• A 30% snare reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 10.5 m
• A 60% snare reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 6 m
• A root reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to 0 m (stun/disorient and damage still applies)
• A snare of x% reduces Bolt Escape's travel distance to (15.0 * ( 1.00 - ( x * 0.01 ))) m

Treating Bolt Escape as movement and allowing movement de/buffs to alter the travel distance provides a means to counter Bolt Escape, similar to how Mage Light, Detection Potions, and wide area of effect attacks counter Cloak. Counter is defined here as a means to negate or limit the usage of something, a means to stop someone from using a skill or tactic/strategy.
The cost increase may or may not need to remain afterwards if Bolt Escape becomes a form of rapid movement. This suggestion has the intent of making Bolt Escape more balanced (by increasing the counters) without altering the ability in some way (cost) that would severely limit Bolt Escape's uses for builds not focused on Magicka and its management.

I would like to hear the criticisms, approval, disapproval, changes, and alternate suggestions the community has in regard to this balancing attempt.
Particularly the criticisms, changes, and alternate suggestions.

Bolt Escape needs no more nerfs. L2P I say. L2P.

Saint_JiubB14_ESO

Ezareth wrote: »

If you still have issues chasing down sorcs after Eric Wroebel embedded an unresistable stun into every gap closer in the game aimed at nerfing sorcs (again) then you should probably headed back to AoE-grinding mobs in craglorn or wherever it is you spent most of your time playing before this and forget about Cyrodiil.

I rode a sorc 7 VR levels higher than my NB with crit charge a week or so ago for 10 Bolt escapes in a row until it finally popped him like a zit. Spamming my "1"- key over and over again took every ounce of skill I possessed but that OP Sorc died like he deserved!

No one escapes!

/thread

pjwb16_ESO

Ezareth wrote: »

If you still have issues chasing down sorcs after Eric Wroebel embedded an unresistable stun into every gap closer in the game aimed at nerfing sorcs (again) then you should probably headed back to AoE-grinding mobs in craglorn or wherever it is you spent most of your time playing before this and forget about Cyrodiil.

I rode a sorc 7 VR levels higher than my NB with crit charge a week or so ago for 10 Bolt escapes in a row until it finally popped him like a zit. Spamming my "1"- key over and over again took every ounce of skill I possessed but that OP Sorc died like he deserved!

No one escapes!

Thats it, i cant think of how many times i died to multiple people crit charging me, because fot that *** stun

pkb16_ESO2

How is it possible that each time someone make a thread over the opness of sorcs all you guy are so fast here to cry him down?
You have a WhatsAPP group or what?

pjwb16_ESO

Basically we just have no life

Armitas

Use that gap closer to plow into every mine at once.

Ezareth

pkb16_ESO2 wrote: »

How is it possible that each time someone make a thread over the opness of sorcs all you guy are so fast here to cry him down?
You have a WhatsAPP group or what?

I was summoned, otherwise I don't even bother any more.

It doesn't matter how many threads are created, people always going to need to L2P.