NB Tanking: What if Feared Enemies Moved towards the nearest Path of Darkness (&morphs)?

Avran_Sylt

Would this help at all? Would you use fears with your kit?

NyassaV

I wouldn't mind if Path was actually hidden to enemies in PvP, or give it snare. Nearly every other magicka class AoE (save for sorc, sort) has a snare

Medakon

What if feared enemy's got angry instead, and BOOM everyone wants a NB tank because they can AOE taunt, but sucks at everything else when tanking. Then people would prefer a night blade tank to come along for raids!

Avran_Sylt

@Medakon

Maybe, maybe not.

Currently NB's Fears are from only one skill, the first morph only affects 2 targets and is instant but close range, doesn't apply damaging debuffs for your team, lasts 4 seconds, and costs twice as much as puncture, and is ineffective against bosses and elite enemies, and can conflict with other player's Paths. Also necessitating a prior skill to be cast, all of which is magicka. AKA: used only in niche magicka tank builds in 4-man dungeons. Not something that a standard tank would be able to keep up.

The second Fear morph has a 3s arming time at an immobile location, costs twice as much as puncture, will effect up to 6 enemies in the coming patch, requires a prior skill to be cast, can conflict with other Paths, lasts 4 seconds, and can't be used on Bosses or elite enemies. However it costs a little bit less than inner fire.

These wouldn't act as a taunt, per say, but as a way to move enemies around the battlefield while combat is already started.

Something that you could have on the backbar that you use occasionally to group enemies, like the DK chains.

Ya fear ya targets that the Paths are friendly, an Alluring Path.

Nestor

Also, DPS don't like the clusters of mobs getting scattered, it messes with our AoE.

Runefang

I'd prefer to see marked targets get taunted.

Avran_Sylt

@Nestor

Right, hence the idea to let NB tanks use fears+Paths to draw them in closer, rather than scatter them.

Nestor

The issue is, they run away in a 360 degree pattern so its kind of like Herding Cats with a flash bang.

Avran_Sylt

@Nestor

I mean adding functionality to Path of darkness that causes nearby feared enemies to walk towards it. If they're in it, they stand still, you manipulating their minds to make them think they're in a safe haven, or if they're out of it, that they want to get there. They would no longer scatter, but all walk towards your AoE if you have it up, and are able to be CC'ed. Generally just useful for getting those few pesky archers that are away from the cluster. Like a DK would do with their chains, but more complicated.

Maryal

Avran_Sylt wrote: »

@Nestor

Right, hence the idea to let NB tanks use fears+Paths to draw them in closer, rather than scatter them.

Interesting idea, I could sort of see that, but ONLY if it applied to twisting path. Refreshing path should remain "as is" because of the utility it offers (speed plus heal).

I know there are other ways to get speed, but rapid maneuvers, or roll dodging with a bow equipped costs stamina, and you may not have enough stam to do either and/or you need to build enough stam to cast vigor. Stamblades don't generally have cripple slotted for obvious reasons, besides, you have to be facing a target to cast it, whereas casting 1 or 2 refreshing paths while running away from the mob(s) like a scared little girl (yes, I admit I do this sometimes) is a lifesaver ... literally.

All that being said, I can totally see the benefit of twisting path have a 'charm' effect layered on it to lure enemies toward the caster as a way to 'taunt' one or more enemies. Combining this with fear to get grouped up mobs to disburse and run over the path sounds very interesting. I suppose the 'charm' layer would not effect other players in pvp.

note: charm may not have been the right word to use ... I was thinking that when the charmed enemies are on the path the damage they receive would turn the 'charm' to agro against the caster, thus the taunt is enabled. I think you need to keep the damage effect so that twisting path can still be used in pvp the way it is now ... if that is wanted. I really don't know because I only ever use refreshing path. If, however, you only want the charm effect to lure mob(s) to move along the path (toward the path's origin) without taunting them while they are on the path, then the damage function of the path would have to be removed. This would make twisting path useless in pvp.

I don't think the community would go for a charm effect that could be used on other players in pvp ... it would be too OP.

Avran_Sylt

@Maryal

I guess you could call it a charm? The enemy being just terrified and the path looks as salvation. It would still be the fear status effect, players being able to break-free of it and what not. Except instead of running away from a source, they run to a source.

The Path still functions the same, it just has an innate effect where nearby feared targets will auto-path to it while it hasn't been broken, rather than directly away from what fears them.

teiselaise

Hell yeah, anything that buffs nb tanks is welcome in my house!