A New Dark Exchange - Please Read

Voltos · February 2015

Update 1.6 is a great opportunity to revisit each and every skill and highlight their true potential. The proposed changes to Dark Exchange in 1.6 are a step in the right direction, but they aren’t going to cut it for stamina based Sorcerers. We need more, and I think this ability can bridge the gap between where Sorcerers are now, in terms of stamina management and survivability, when compared to other stamina-based classes. Given, that we also lost a significant portion of our self-healing with the change to Surge and available crit.

That being said, here are my ideas:

Dark Exchange – This ability has been completely redesigned. The ability is activated like a buff, rather than being channeled, and has no initial cost.

You are imbued with dark energy causing your next 3 weapon attacks to convert (X%) of stamina and magicka into (X%) health for 8 seconds. The number of weapon attacks increases with each level.

Power Exchange(Morph) –
You are imbued with dark energy causing your next 6 attacks to convert (X%) of magicka into (X%) of health and stamina for 8 seconds.

Spell Exchange(Morph) –
You are imbued with dark energy causing your next 6 attacks to convert (X%) of stamina into (X%) of health and magicka for 8 seconds.

Please reply with your thoughts. If you support these changes, please say so and be very vocal about it. We need to get this noticed by ZOS. Any and all support is appreciated.

Thanks,
Voltos

Merlin13KAGL · February 2015

I think stamina users complained (rightly so) they didn't have a stamina version of Dark Exchange.

That is exactly what the one morph now does...

Want magicka and health, leave it the way it is.

Want stamina and health, take the morph.

It covers stamina and magicka based Sorcs that way.

(It does not cover the fact that both still rely heavily on weapons vs class skills, which I feel is the bigger issue.)

Not saying it's a bad idea, I just think they have this one covered already (one of the few they did properly).

Jar_Ek · February 2015

Your idea sounds more like a reworking of critical surge or maybe a hybrid of dark exchange and critical surge. That's not a bad idea if they then dump critical surge for something less crit dependent.

However I think I would prefer dark exchange to simply not snare or cc me, and not prevent me using skills. But I could live with a self snare if I could use skills.. maybe to offset that snare like boundless storm or bolt escape.

Voltos · February 2015

Jar_Ek wrote: »

However I think I would prefer dark exchange to simply not snare or cc me, and not prevent me using skills. But I could live with a self snare if I could use skills.. maybe to offset that snare like boundless storm or bolt escape.

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the feedback. This is exactly what I'm referring to. I agree that they have made a positive step in the right direction, but it just doesn't go far enough.

Yes, they have a stamina morph now, but the snare still prevents it from being very beneficial during a fight. My version would allow you to remain mobile and use abilities, while replenishing your resources.

baratron · February 2015

Voltos wrote: »

Yes, they have a stamina morph now, but the snare still prevents it from being very beneficial during a fight. My version would allow you to remain mobile and use abilities, while replenishing your resources.

The... snare?

According to the PTS Patch Notes v1.6:

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Dark Exchange
It is now possible to move while channeling all ranks and morphs of Dark Exchange.

Dark Deal (morph): This ability now converts magicka into health and stamina.

So if you're finding that you can't move while using Dark Exchange or its morphs, that's a bug and you should report it.

LtCrunch · February 2015

baratron wrote: »

Voltos wrote: »

Yes, they have a stamina morph now, but the snare still prevents it from being very beneficial during a fight. My version would allow you to remain mobile and use abilities, while replenishing your resources.

The... snare?

According to the PTS Patch Notes v1.6:

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Dark Exchange
It is now possible to move while channeling all ranks and morphs of Dark Exchange.

Dark Deal (morph): This ability now converts magicka into health and stamina.

So if you're finding that you can't move while using Dark Exchange or its morphs, that's a bug and you should report it.

Snare means a movement penalty, yes you can move but at a much slower rate of speed(like when using an ability with a cast time) unless of course that was changed and is an undocumented change.

Digiman · February 2015

Would rather they changed critical surge so it was more beneficial for stamina based sorcerers while making the damage healing baseline for surge.

Merlin13KAGL · February 2015

baratron wrote: »

Voltos wrote: »

Yes, they have a stamina morph now, but the snare still prevents it from being very beneficial during a fight. My version would allow you to remain mobile and use abilities, while replenishing your resources.

The... snare?

According to the PTS Patch Notes v1.6:

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Dark Exchange
It is now possible to move while channeling all ranks and morphs of Dark Exchange.

Dark Deal (morph): This ability now converts magicka into health and stamina.

So if you're finding that you can't move while using Dark Exchange or its morphs, that's a bug and you should report it.

@Voltos

It does allow you to be mobile. You're wanting a skill with basically zero penalty.

You want a stamina version of Spell Symmetry...or you want a Potion.

Voltos · February 2015

Hello All.

I appreciate the constructive criticism. Although, I would prefer a rework of the skill, I do see where you are coming from Merlin13KAGL. A self-sustain without any penalties, would probably be a little much. In all honesty, I would be happy if they just removed the snare.

The penalty then, would be the hit to your resource (i.e. either magicka or stamina, depending on the morph), and the inability to use other attacks/spells simultaneously.

Considering how important mobility is in PVP, the snare on Dark Deal would spell certain death for stamina-based sorcs. They could be kited so easily, never having the opportunity to reap the benefits of the ability.

Voltos · February 2015

It seems like these changes are too drastic for most.

Then, lets get a discussion going about removing the movement penalty from all ranks/morphs of Dark Exchange. ZOS is really close right now, but this change is essential.

decado0024_ESO · February 2015

What gets me is the complaints about having a stamina resource regen at all. Sorcs have this other classes have nothing at all.

Voltos · February 2015

decado0024_ESO wrote: »

What gets me is the complaints about having a stamina resource regen at all. Sorcs have this other classes have nothing at all.

NB - Siphoning Strikes.
With the damage buffs in the game, they can negate the penalty.

Temp - Luminous Shards, Restoring Aura/Repentance(morph)
DK - Green Dragon Blood

You were saying?

CP5 · February 2015

Voltos wrote: »

decado0024_ESO wrote: »

What gets me is the complaints about having a stamina resource regen at all. Sorcs have this other classes have nothing at all.

NB - Siphoning Strikes.
With the damage buffs in the game, they can negate the penalty.

Temp - Luminous Shards, Restoring Aura/Repentance(morph)
DK - Green Dragon Blood

You were saying?

NB also have the Refreshing Shadow passive for 30% more stamina regen.

Voltos · February 2015

I missed one.

Thanks.

Valnas · February 2015

A HoT w/o channel over say 12 seconds for 75% of the exchange amount (total) would be usable for a lot of playstyles and work great with hardened ward...

Voltos · February 2015

Valnas wrote: »

A HoT w/o channel over say 12 seconds for 75% of the exchange amount (total) would be usable for a lot of playstyles and work great with hardened ward...

That would work as well. I was trying to come up with a mechanic that would enable you to control the amount of either magicka/stamina you convert at will. That way, if you wanted to use the full amount, you could, or just a little.