My wife says Vampire is dull

brandonv516 · September 2016

And she's kinda right for once...

As an outside observer she has watched me play as a Vampire and a Werewolf.

She knows nothing about the unseen benefits of vampire but the skills are just not enough to "wow" an audience.

However, the werewolf skills did do that for her! The howling when healing, the pouncing gap closer, summoning direwolves to assist, etc.

So it got me thinking about two things:

1. With the Vampire Lord set coming that increases vampire abilities by 400 spell damage, it clearly shows that ZoS wants magicka players to release their inner lust for blood.

2. There aren't enough spells to give 400 spell damage to. Where is the vampire gap closer (aka DK ultimate)? Or how about a vampire spammable? Or bats as pets. Something...anything...to make us cooler.

I'm all for giving werewolf more passives (while in form) if we can get more skills.

Anyways I'll continue going on as a pale skin on my main, but I'm definitely open to some more creativity with the skill line.

danno8 · September 2016

Yah that set. I guess it's just for Batswarm, but why you would choose a 5 piece bonus to make 1 ultimate somewhat stronger is beyond me.

Vampire line could definitely use a couple more skills.

Mic1007 · September 2016

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

WalksonGraves · September 2016

Vamp is basically for tanking and self healing.

STEVIL · September 2016

if the 5pc also inc the healing from drain that might help but as is... nah

leepalmer95 · September 2016

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

STEVIL · September 2016

i find WW dull, but pretty much because engaging it means short-circutting all the other character actions.

playing my vampire, I have 12 skills at my disposal, maybe 15+ if a sorc while my active vamp abilities are available.

Playing a WW i got 6 one way filling my slots and thats it whenever my ww abilities are available. Ok 7 if you count devour.

That boils down to just a few fighting options for the WW and lotsa different configurations for the vam.

To me, thats dull 6-7 vs lots.

dem0n1k · September 2016

I agree with OP's wife.

I prefer Werewolf & really like the timer for it... it makes the gameplay more manic! You have to get to the next feed quick enough & burst them down so you can continue. With all the passives maxed, I can pretty much stay in Werewolf form if there are sufficient mobs in the area. I have a few grind areas were this is possible... I can Werewolf until I am tired of it. The ferocious roar into howl of agony combo is awesome for doing a lot of damage quickly.

When I play my vampire character I pretty much only use bats... all the other abilities are just my regular abilities. The channel active is so slow & clumsy, I don't like using it. I never got the hang of using Mist form... it usually seems more effective to dodge roll.

Doctordarkspawn · September 2016

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

Their practical usage is low?

And I saw the person saying it's basicly just for tanking, and I find that hilarious.

Skcarkden · September 2016

I actually plan to remove my vampirism now that i learned there's a armour set that allows running while sneaking too.

Literally the only thing i liked about vampire after a while, just going to miss being able to *sometimes* turn all shadowy in stealth because it sometimes glitches and removes the shadow effect.

But the trade off is now 99% of everything won't kill me as easily as EVERYTHING seems to be made of fire.

ArchMikem · September 2016

brandonv516 wrote: »

1. With the Vampire Lord set coming that increases vampire abilities by 400 spell damage, it clearly shows that ZoS wants magicka players to release their inner lust for blood.

2. There aren't enough spells to give 400 spell damage to. Where is the vampire gap closer (aka DK ultimate)? Or how about a vampire spammable? Or bats as pets. Something...anything...to make us cooler.

And I thought an insatiable hate toward Vampire Nightblades already existed. Now it's going to just get worse?

Gilvoth · September 2016

yes, and please take away our very low health regeneration. thats just terrible.
it makes me want to not be a vampire, especiallly in pvp

Vipstaakki · September 2016

She is right. Vampire is dull. Werewolf is the way to go.

Dojohoda · September 2016

I got a suggestion for vampire coolness.

How about a vampire shield that is kind of like the DK Obsidian Shield except..... Instead of rocks, bats circle you. Oooo

Cronopoly · September 2016

I wish Vampires could float when running.
Had a Melee Claw, Fire, Cold, or Physical Damage morphs.
Passively buffed themselves to increase stacking (WPN or Spell dmg) over time "in combat".
Immune to outside stat buffs.
Had a Bolt range magicka drain. 10 sec cooldown.
Name changed to Vampiir.

small DAoC reference where Vamps were Strong, *cough...some might say too strong.

brandonv516 · September 2016

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

You can still be snared using Mist. Swarm and Essence aren't anything to get excited about in their current form.

itscompton · September 2016

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

No use in PvP except batswarm. Certainly not useful enough for the Vamp set. I'll stick with the 600+ spell damage buff of clever alchemist which last 3x longer than Batswarm.

WalksonGraves · September 2016

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

Their practical usage is low?

And I saw the person saying it's basicly just for tanking, and I find that hilarious.

Self heal, dmg reduction coupled with cc immunity, increased dr when hurt... What about that screams dps to you?

Doctordarkspawn · September 2016

WalksonGraves wrote: »

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

Their practical usage is low?

And I saw the person saying it's basicly just for tanking, and I find that hilarious.

Self heal, dmg reduction coupled with cc immunity, increased dr when hurt... What about that screams dps to you?

It does not, it screams 'PVP' to me. And that's where it's currently used. And that's like maybe half to a quarter of the game.

@WalksonGraves

ParaNostram · September 2016

I think OP really hit the nail on the head, vampirism isn't as fun. This is a game, let's make it fun, let's make it so people want to actually use the skills, let's make it so there are more skills.

Inhuman003 · September 2016

The only way I see abilities being added to the skill line to vampires and werewolves, If ZoS is too generous to do so in near future or there's a DLC, dealing with vampires and werewolves like Order of the Virtuous Blood or Dawnguard.

Cronopoly · September 2016

Notice no quests at all for WW and Vampire once you spend 10 minutes getting the ability at the shrines. Dark Brotherhood and Thieves guild at least have some quests...

Detector · September 2016

Need add Vampire Lord polymorph + fix bugs of vampirism. And maybe more skills?

Rohamad_Ali · September 2016

Vampire execute cameras like blade of woe please .

TheSeer · September 2016

I was a Vamp on my main account, only saw 3 of the abilities as useful to me. Started getting ticked off when everyone and their grandma could mow over me with their fire based spells/weapons. Also had a hard time feeding when Dark Brotherhood came out as they use the same Y+B mode to activate, I usually ended up killing my target instead of feeding.

Now I am a Werewolf and love it so much more... Plus my complexion has never looked better. lol

PS4_ZeColmeia · September 2016

I have played vampire since ps4 launch. My only complaint is around the bugs, maybe drain essence and mist mechanics.

Clouding storm should be able to hide you from people and mobs, doesn't work.

Drain essence doesn't do damage immediately. You are very likely to die if too many are attacking you and you don't have a hit our something layered with drain. It needs an up front tick.

Mist needs to block all cc including gap closers. Baleful Mist needs higher damage, 4k ish damage over 4 seconds is nothing. Mist needs to allow magicka recovery. There isn't a balance needed considering you can't heal during it.

Drummerx04 · September 2016

Vampire gets the greatest use in pvp.

Stealth speed is amazing
Mist form can get you through 20 players and 4 siege without dying
Vamp drain is more useful for the CC than anything else. Tired of your meteors getting blocked? Meteor > vamp drain > profit
Bats deal some nice area damage and more or less fills your health bar every second while surrounded.

You need to remember that they can't just make vampire abilities TOO GOOD. Vampire is meant to complement magicka gameplay, not define it. Werewolf is meant to be a powerful complete takeover, but also requires like 400 ultimate to use.

Shogunami · September 2016

I remember vampire being very fun to level as, some drain and passives that worked really well with my Khajiitblade. It fit the character, it was decided before beta that I was going to be vampire. And it was fun.

But then I realized that playing without vampire was way easier in every way. More survivability, more dps and utility and more fire.

I have to admit though, playing PvP and doing dungeons as a vampire was very fun because it was a challenge having to dodge all the fire (and there's a lot of fire in ESO). And when I cured myself of vampirism I found that the only thing being a vampire really did was making everything harder, constantly. Free from my vampiric affliction, I took almost no damage in any dungeon and output even more dps, and what's more PvP was no longer a horrorfest of death by fire from above countered by EAT MY BATS for a few seconds only to die .12 seconds after the ulti expiring.

Honestly, I think that everything bad about being a vampire in ESO was 'kind of' worth it, because it added to my character. But running into vampires who brag about what a puny mortal I am was the last drop for me. NO PUN INTENDEHUEHUE.

I'm not 100% sure what vampire is today, but I hope for your own sake that it's not the buggy and masochistic nonsense that it once was

I do miss the Dark Stalker passive though.

WalksonGraves · September 2016

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

WalksonGraves wrote: »

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

Their practical usage is low?

And I saw the person saying it's basicly just for tanking, and I find that hilarious.

Self heal, dmg reduction coupled with cc immunity, increased dr when hurt... What about that screams dps to you?

It does not, it screams 'PVP' to me. And that's where it's currently used. And that's like maybe half to a quarter of the game.

@WalksonGraves

Well there's your problem, you are ignoring the heart of the game. Damage skills are for dps, self heals and dr is for tanks.

Browiseth · September 2016

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

They're awful.

Vampire drain or whatever it's called - just terrible. Only use I can think would be for a max HP build, since it's a percentage heal
Mist form - only has pvp use, and even then
Bat swarm - the best of the bunch, and even then it's mediocre

In terms of new skills though, I'd love to see a vampire-themed gap closer, like the one bloodfiends use sometimes where they dissapear and reappear or whatever

Some sort of buff ability would be cool; surround yourself with a health draining aura for 15 seconds, maybe?

WalksonGraves · September 2016

Browiseth wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Mic1007 wrote: »

Vamp needs more skills, with a change to the ones already there.

Whats wrong with the ones already?

They're awful.

Vampire drain or whatever it's called - just terrible. Only use I can think would be for a max HP build, since it's a percentage heal
Mist form - only has pvp use, and even then
Bat swarm - the best of the bunch, and even then it's mediocre

In terms of new skills though, I'd love to see a vampire-themed gap closer, like the one bloodfiends use sometimes where they dissapear and reappear or whatever

Some sort of buff ability would be cool; surround yourself with a health draining aura for 15 seconds, maybe?

Yeah best spell in the game is "Just terrible".

3 second stun, heals me to 100% hp regardless(30% hp missing/sec) of my current hp (47k) and generates 15 ultimate which can be stacked with blood spawn and heroic slash for insane ult generation.

[snip]

[minor edit for baiting]