Two proposed Nightblade Changes. Lotus Fan and Shadowy Disguise

hexentb16_ESO

So first of all I'll be up front and honest with you guys, this post is being made because of a new build I'm making. I still think they're good ideas though.

Lotus Fan
I think the aoe damage from this ability should be direct aoe damage instead of your standard aoe damage. As it is now the aoe damage is so low I usually choose the other morph even when using a magika build because of the and buff it applies. If it did direct aoe damage like the templar's explosive charge Nightblades could use it with sets like Tormentor and Unleashed Terror. The damage would be better too since it would benefit from Master-at-arms. This would be a good way to give back to nightblade tanks, I used the old grim focus as a tank a lot. Now that its a dps ability I wont be able to use it if I decide to tank on my nightblade. Being able to use Tormentor with Lotus Fan would make up for the loss.

Shadowy Disguise (and maybe Shadow Cloak as well)
We nightblades are supposed to be the masters of stealth right? Wouldn't it make sense for Shadowy Disguise and possibly Shadow Cloak to have an "Ignore movement penalty of sneak" slot bonus? The sets that do this aren't really viable options for endgame pve and pvp but its also a really nice thing to have. Sure there's the Dark Stalker passive from Vampirism but ever since the skill line became bad for sustain I and many other players stayed at stage 1 since the increased ability cost isn't worth the extra weapon damage during extended pve fights. I recently cured it myself since Dark Stalker was the only reason I still had Vampirism and Lycanthropy was much better for my build. Oh and we do have Concealed Weapon but stamina builds will do much less damage with that morph and have to have it in a slot that could be used for a much more useful ability.

I suppose you could just add the "Ignore movement penalty of sneak" to the Thieve's guild or Dark Brother hood skill lines also.

Wolfster

I think the shadowy disguise idea is a good one.

I have no strong opinion on lotus fan.

Jim_Pipp

I love the lotus fan change! I'd switch to a NB tormentor sap tank in a second.

Not sure about the sneak speed change. As you've said, one of the best reasons to be a vampire is the sneak passive, so giving it to NB is another reason not to be a vampire, vamps need a bit of a buff. And NB's already have access to their own sneak speed buff.

I am strongly for the lotus fan change though, it's a small change to an unpopular skill that would open up a new playstyle.

hexentb16_ESO

Jim_Pipp wrote: »

I love the lotus fan change! I'd switch to a NB tormentor sap tank in a second.

Not sure about the sneak speed change. As you've said, one of the best reasons to be a vampire is the sneak passive, so giving it to NB is another reason not to be a vampire, vamps need a bit of a buff. And NB's already have access to their own sneak speed buff.

I am strongly for the lotus fan change though, it's a small change to an unpopular skill that would open up a new playstyle.

Only some stamina nightblades would stop being vampires from this change. Magika nightblades would still go vampire for the other passives and abilities. Since vampirism also applies weapon damage boosts I think there'd still be plenty of stamina nightblades going vampire for that too, like snipe builds.

Besides, a general purpose passive/buff (like Dark Stalker) being the only reason to choose vampirism is a bad thing. Just like how removing minor toughness from warhorn so more people would use Wardens was a terrible idea. It just makes a lot of sense to me for the class know as masters of stealth to have the passive. If ZOS wants more players to be vampires they should just bring old vampirism back or add the sustain boost into the new one.

Gilvoth

i Love Both of your ideas, and i hope Zenimax does make the changes you are asking for on Both of them.

JayKwellen

Regarding lotus fan/ambush, I'd honestly just be happy if the hidden cast time was removed. That alone would make the skill immeasurably better.