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QOL - improvement for Mag Blades: Class shield
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Insco851✭✭✭✭✭
✭So no blood shield this patch... and they took the standup heal and nerfed tf outta it cuz stamblade.
So cloak or nothing now1 -
Fiktius✭✭✭✭So no blood shield this patch... and they took the standup heal and nerfed tf outta it cuz stamblade.
So cloak or nothing now
No class shield indeed, no snare removal either and also regarding these first patch notes, healing ward will remain the same.
*Sigh*
And they made this ultra dumb change to Merciless:
"The spectral bow now heals for 33% of the damage dealt if you are within 7 meters of the target when firing it."
I wish that 7 metres is some sort of bad typo.
This heal could be nice for melee blades, but ranged type seem to be some sort of a joke to ZOS team.
I wonder how much Skooma they did drank while planning these changes.Edited by Fiktius on April 15, 2019 7:27PM1 -
Insco851✭✭✭✭✭
✭So no blood shield this patch... and they took the standup heal and nerfed tf outta it cuz stamblade.
So cloak or nothing now
No class shield indeed, no snare removal either and also regarding these first patch notes, healing ward will remain the same.
*Sigh*
And they made this ultra dumb change to Merciless:
"The spectral bow now heals for 33% of the damage dealt if you are within 7 meters of the target when firing it."
I wish that 7 metres is some sort of bad typo.
This heal could be nice for melee blades, but ranged type seem to be some sort of a joke to ZOS team.
I wonder how much Skooma they did drank while planning these changes.
They gave the snare removal to the psyjic ability. Only fitting cuz it’s behind a paywall. Lol.
And...
Yea removed the minor maim from fear which helped a ton. Reworked merciless with an added useless heal and removed the minor buff, Destroyed any no cloak blade by nerfing dark cloak heal.
Solid changes. Shelf the magblade or only be a ganker, those the options.0 -
Fiktius✭✭✭✭@Insco851 Ahaa! Thanks for pointing that Psijic one out, I completely missed that "Race against time" got snare removal.
Oh well, that's some sort of compromise I see.
Personally my ranged build didn't change much, except that I'll deal 8 % less damage.
Edited by Fiktius on April 15, 2019 8:20PM0 -
Insco851✭✭✭✭✭
✭Let’s all gather round and say a prayer for NBs. At least our stamblade brothers will feel what it’s like to play mehblade now lol1 -
![[Deleted User]](https://us.v-cdn.net/5020507/uploads/06301530861bfae62d56b72eef4ac33d.png)
[Deleted User]Soul ShrivenHello there,
Recently we've had to remove a few posts for heated back and forth, keep in mind that flaming is against the Forum Rules. For further posts be sure to stay constructive and respectful to avoid thread derailment.
Thank you for understanding.1 -
MassiveFumes✭✭MassiveFumes wrote: »Not a class shield but maybe a defensive buff(I know mirage but that isn't that noticeable) or minor protection without slotting Undo somehow. Maybe add a some type defensive buff to siphoning strikes that refreshes for maybe 2/3 sec every time you land a light attack. Advanced players would have to know to light attack when on the defensive if they don't already// wouldn't help scrubs.
**** gain 2/3 sec snare immunity every time you land a light attack0 -
HowlKimchi✭✭✭✭✭
✭Snare immunity on psijic skill line is BIG!Edited by HowlKimchi on April 16, 2019 3:14AM0 -
Fiktius✭✭✭✭Snare immunity on psijic skill line is BIG!
It's very nice to have that skill indeed and gives an option outside of vampirism & mistform/forward momentum, in case people want to use snare removal. (Which many will want to use)
However I hope that now devs could focus on improving mag blade survival from other aspects as well.
Nerfing Dark Cloack heal was step towards worse direction and removal of major protection from resto ult didn't help either.
Also adding heal on loud and easily dodgeable slow projectile with 7 metres requirement looks only like a sad joke.
Now even more than I ever I wish that "blood shield" which returns HP while being damaged would get implemented.
Edited by Fiktius on April 16, 2019 11:56AM2 -
Yhoden✭Snare immunity on psijic skill line is BIG!
It's very nice to have that skill indeed and gives an option outside of vampirism & mistform/forward momentum, in case people want to use snare removal. (Which many will want to use)
However I hope that now devs could focus on improving mag blade survival from other aspects as well.
Nerfing Dark Cloack heal was step towards worse direction and removal of major protection from resto ult didn't help either.
Also adding heal on loud and easily dodgeable slow projectile with 7 metres requirement looks only like a sad joke.
Now even more than I ever I wish that "blood shield" which returns HP while being damaged would get implemented.
I think there is a possibility of implenting it, since they plan on looking into cripple, mirage and twisting path. But one could only hope xD1 -
darkblue5✭✭✭✭✭Magblade just won't be good for much in PvP for at least another 3 months and that's all there is to it. Sure stamblade ganks will be just better and cleaner but on Magblade it is more exciting because the odds are worse? That's how excitement works right?0 -
Fiktius✭✭✭✭Well, ganking is just one type of playstyle, which I won't comment due I never created a gank build on Stam nor Mag NB, so I can't speak about ganking with experience. (My magblade is ranged and my stamblade is a brawler.)
However if ZOS does nothing to improve survival of magblades, that's only disappointing.
It's tiring that every single patch devs seem to find more reasons to cut viability of mBlades, especially those who do NOT like spamming cloack which provides invisibility. Dark Cloack was viable alternative before, but now slotting even that skill is much more less tempting.
We need serious improvements to mBlade defensive kit and imho snare removal is not even close to be enough.
I have fingers crossed for coming patch note weeks, but at this point I don't have high hopes. Edited by Fiktius on April 17, 2019 1:14PM2 -
Knootewoot✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭Stamblade will still perform good.
They will use the fighter guild skill for minor berserk
They just use mark for major breach
They will still dodge roll vigor into cloak when they murdered you
I'll bet my beard on it. Edit: Hohoho , darn autocorrectEdited by Knootewoot on April 17, 2019 1:20PM٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶
"I am a nightblade. Blending the disciplines of the stealthy agent and subtle wizard, I move unseen and undetected, foil locks and traps, and teleport to safety when threatened, or strike like a viper from ambush. The College of Illusion hides me and fuddles or pacifies my opponents. The College of Mysticism detects my object, reflects and dispels enemy spells, and makes good my escape. The key to a nightblade's success is avoidance, by spell or by stealth; with these skills, all things are possible."1 -
Datthaw✭✭✭✭✭
✭Well, ganking is just one type of playstyle, which I won't comment due I never created a gank build on Stam nor Mag NB, so I can't speak about ganking with experience. (My magblade is ranged and my stamblade is a brawler.)
However if ZOS does nothing to improve survival of magblades, that's only disappointing.
It's tiring that every single patch devs seem to find more reasons to cut viability of mBlades, especially those who do NOT like spamming cloack which provides invisibility. Dark Cloack was viable alternative before, but now slotting even that skill is much more less tempting.
We need serious improvements to mBlade defensive kit and imho snare removal is not even close to be enough.
I have fingers crossed for coming patch note weeks, but at this point I don't have high hopes.
A class based snare removal would have been WAY better1 -
Fiktius✭✭✭✭Well, ganking is just one type of playstyle, which I won't comment due I never created a gank build on Stam nor Mag NB, so I can't speak about ganking with experience. (My magblade is ranged and my stamblade is a brawler.)
However if ZOS does nothing to improve survival of magblades, that's only disappointing.
It's tiring that every single patch devs seem to find more reasons to cut viability of mBlades, especially those who do NOT like spamming cloack which provides invisibility. Dark Cloack was viable alternative before, but now slotting even that skill is much more less tempting.
We need serious improvements to mBlade defensive kit and imho snare removal is not even close to be enough.
I have fingers crossed for coming patch note weeks, but at this point I don't have high hopes.
A class based snare removal would have been WAY better
There I do agree. More skills which have to be slotted outside of the class abilities decreases our potential usage of class passives.
I'm running with 3 restoration staff skills on my backbar and I'm not too happy about it due every patch we are more and more tied to restoration staff usage. (I could imagine that some of fellow mag blades are now going to slot Combar Prayer due Merciless nerf instead of using Slimecraw, because defensive monster sets are still some of the best sets to use due our not so class based shields are how they are. Preference question of course tho.)
It would be great if I could slot more class based skills and still have better defenses for PvP.
Oh well, that RAT - snare removal is still better than no magicka based snare removal at all. At least we can get that shiny discoball shield around us via Psijic passives by blocking.0 -
Anyron✭✭✭✭✭
✭To everyone that is comparing NB (if they receive a class shield) to sorc: Every class has a damage shield of some kind (though most others scale off of health) except for NB. So giving NB access to a class damage shield would not necessarily be cutting into sorc's class identity at all.
For some reason, everyone is assuming that the NB shield would scale off of magicka. Nowhere in the original post does it even allude to this. If the shield scaled off of health (like most other class shields do), sorcs would remain as the only class with a magicka based shield and retain their class identity.
The homogeonization of classes is a fair point. But as it currently stands, that homogeonization (in regards to class shields) already exists, excluding the NB. Giving NB a shield would only bring NB up to speed in this regard, and wouldn't be the end of class differences.
And, tbh, homogeonization to some degree is required for balance. Take a hypothetical extreme for an example: imagine if one class had only buffs and no damaging skills, and another had only damaging skills and no buffs. Are the classes different? Yes. Are they balanced? No. Now I'm not saying that every class has to have an equal and opposite skill to every other class, but I am suggesting that all the classes be held to a certain standard. I feel fair benchmarks to have for every class are access to major brutality/sorcery, major prophecy/savagery, major ward/resolve, a self heal, a damage shield, and a class exclusive function that cannot be obtained elsewhere (like cloak, streak, etc.). The ways in which the different classes obtain these buffs/functions would be what make them unique (ex/ GDB vs BoL). I'm aware that not all of these benchmarks are currently being hit by other classes (Temps not getting major brutality/sorcery, for example) but I would label these as problem areas also. NB getting a shield would be a step in the right direction.
The argument of "NB doesn't need a shield because they have cloak" is the equivalent of saying "DK doesn't need a shield because they have wings" or "temp doesn't need a shield because they have BoL", yet both of these other examples do in fact have a shield. And this argument is debunked by those cases.
And as the OP has stated, now is the perfect time for NB to get a shield. ZOS is doing a class rebalance, according to Update 22 Combat Direction. They will be reworking class skills to both balance functionality between class skills and also reduce redundancy of function between abilities as well (surprise attack and mark target both applying major fracture was used as an example problem area). This opens the door to potential skill reworks, specifically for skills that are both providing redundant buffs/debuffs and also falling behind others in terms of functionality.
To me, Path of Darkness seems like an obvious top candidate for a rework. NB has 3 instances of major expedition (double take, cripple, and of course path). Furthermore, path of darkness is a very counterproductive mobility skill: it boosts the player's speed, but with the caveat of limiting that bonus to a relatively small area of effect. In order to gain the mobility bonus, players must limit their mobility to a small area of movement. It's hypocritical. And more than that, it's redundant because two other class skills already provide major expedition (a problem area, according to ZOS).
This to me seems like the number one ability in the NB toolkit to put a damage shield on. It could keep it's identity as a mobility tool with the right changes, too. I would propose it become a self-centered (not AoE) buff that provides a damage shield (scaling off of health, to preserve sorc's exclusive mag shield) and also minor (not major) expedition for the duration. The morphs would retain their current effects, also. Putting the shield on this skill (in the shadow skill tree) too would only reinforce the shadow tree as the defensive one. The rework would look something like this:
Aura of Darkness
-Grants a damage shield that absorbs [x] damage over 6 seconds. Grants minor expedition for the duration.
Twisted Aura
-Grants a damage shield that absorbs [x] damage over 6 seconds. Grants minor expedition for the duration.
-When the shield takes damage, deal [y] magic damage to nearby enemies. This can occur once every second.
Refreshing Aura
-Grants a damage shield that absorbs [x] damage over 6 seconds. Grants minor expedition for the duration.
-When the shield takes damage, heal yourself and nearby allies for [y]. This can occur once every second.
can you imagine how much that would be, if skilled magblade using both cloak and shield ( stronger than annulment ) ?
skills you posted above also looks way too much overpowered. (dampen magic is only 20-30% weaker than hardened ward btw - my ingame numbers differ by 26% on these skills )
now, magblade damage is nothing to be compared to stamblade and their survivability isnt as good as sorcerers. so, to make your idea working you need to increase survivability while letting damage intact. no health build can do this. if you make max-magicka scaling shield its like sorcerer. literaly ctrl+c/v
sorcerer is shield class and hardened ward has only +20% more strength than conjured ward. and conjured has nothing but only shield
magblade needs better healing skills, rather than shields0 -
Iskiab✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭Well, ganking is just one type of playstyle, which I won't comment due I never created a gank build on Stam nor Mag NB, so I can't speak about ganking with experience. (My magblade is ranged and my stamblade is a brawler.)
However if ZOS does nothing to improve survival of magblades, that's only disappointing.
It's tiring that every single patch devs seem to find more reasons to cut viability of mBlades, especially those who do NOT like spamming cloack which provides invisibility. Dark Cloack was viable alternative before, but now slotting even that skill is much more less tempting.
We need serious improvements to mBlade defensive kit and imho snare removal is not even close to be enough.
I have fingers crossed for coming patch note weeks, but at this point I don't have high hopes.
A class based snare removal would have been WAY better
There I do agree. More skills which have to be slotted outside of the class abilities decreases our potential usage of class passives.
I'm running with 3 restoration staff skills on my backbar and I'm not too happy about it due every patch we are more and more tied to restoration staff usage. (I could imagine that some of fellow mag blades are now going to slot Combar Prayer due Merciless nerf instead of using Slimecraw, because defensive monster sets are still some of the best sets to use due our not so class based shields are how they are. Preference question of course tho.)
It would be great if I could slot more class based skills and still have better defenses for PvP.
Oh well, that RAT - snare removal is still better than no magicka based snare removal at all. At least we can get that shiny discoball shield around us via Psijic passives by blocking.
Heck, as a full healer I only use 2 resto staff skills: combat prayer and rapid regen. You might as well slot healthy offering, refreshing path and soul siphon and become a full healer.
I use resto/destro as a healer and it seems like you’re using a lot of skills for weak effects. Might as well use aoe healing skills instead and be able to contribute as a magblade in a group setting.Edited by Iskiab on April 20, 2019 11:36PMLooking for any guildies I used to play with:
Havoc Warhammer - Alair
LoC EQ2 - Mayi and Iskiab
PRX and Tabula Rasa - Rift - Iskiab
Or anyone else I used to play games with in guilds I’ve forgotten0 -
ToRelax✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭To everyone that is comparing NB (if they receive a class shield) to sorc: Every class has a damage shield of some kind (though most others scale off of health) except for NB. So giving NB access to a class damage shield would not necessarily be cutting into sorc's class identity at all.
For some reason, everyone is assuming that the NB shield would scale off of magicka. Nowhere in the original post does it even allude to this. If the shield scaled off of health (like most other class shields do), sorcs would remain as the only class with a magicka based shield and retain their class identity.
The homogeonization of classes is a fair point. But as it currently stands, that homogeonization (in regards to class shields) already exists, excluding the NB. Giving NB a shield would only bring NB up to speed in this regard, and wouldn't be the end of class differences.
And, tbh, homogeonization to some degree is required for balance. Take a hypothetical extreme for an example: imagine if one class had only buffs and no damaging skills, and another had only damaging skills and no buffs. Are the classes different? Yes. Are they balanced? No. Now I'm not saying that every class has to have an equal and opposite skill to every other class, but I am suggesting that all the classes be held to a certain standard. I feel fair benchmarks to have for every class are access to major brutality/sorcery, major prophecy/savagery, major ward/resolve, a self heal, a damage shield, and a class exclusive function that cannot be obtained elsewhere (like cloak, streak, etc.). The ways in which the different classes obtain these buffs/functions would be what make them unique (ex/ GDB vs BoL). I'm aware that not all of these benchmarks are currently being hit by other classes (Temps not getting major brutality/sorcery, for example) but I would label these as problem areas also. NB getting a shield would be a step in the right direction.
The argument of "NB doesn't need a shield because they have cloak" is the equivalent of saying "DK doesn't need a shield because they have wings" or "temp doesn't need a shield because they have BoL", yet both of these other examples do in fact have a shield. And this argument is debunked by those cases.
And as the OP has stated, now is the perfect time for NB to get a shield. ZOS is doing a class rebalance, according to Update 22 Combat Direction. They will be reworking class skills to both balance functionality between class skills and also reduce redundancy of function between abilities as well (surprise attack and mark target both applying major fracture was used as an example problem area). This opens the door to potential skill reworks, specifically for skills that are both providing redundant buffs/debuffs and also falling behind others in terms of functionality.
To me, Path of Darkness seems like an obvious top candidate for a rework. NB has 3 instances of major expedition (double take, cripple, and of course path). Furthermore, path of darkness is a very counterproductive mobility skill: it boosts the player's speed, but with the caveat of limiting that bonus to a relatively small area of effect. In order to gain the mobility bonus, players must limit their mobility to a small area of movement. It's hypocritical. And more than that, it's redundant because two other class skills already provide major expedition (a problem area, according to ZOS).
This to me seems like the number one ability in the NB toolkit to put a damage shield on. It could keep it's identity as a mobility tool with the right changes, too. I would propose it become a self-centered (not AoE) buff that provides a damage shield (scaling off of health, to preserve sorc's exclusive mag shield) and also minor (not major) expedition for the duration. The morphs would retain their current effects, also. Putting the shield on this skill (in the shadow skill tree) too would only reinforce the shadow tree as the defensive one. The rework would look something like this:
Aura of Darkness
-Grants a damage shield that absorbs [x] damage over 6 seconds. Grants minor expedition for the duration.
Twisted Aura
-Grants a damage shield that absorbs [x] damage over 6 seconds. Grants minor expedition for the duration.
-When the shield takes damage, deal [y] magic damage to nearby enemies. This can occur once every second.
Refreshing Aura
-Grants a damage shield that absorbs [x] damage over 6 seconds. Grants minor expedition for the duration.
-When the shield takes damage, heal yourself and nearby allies for [y]. This can occur once every second.
can you imagine how much that would be, if skilled magblade using both cloak and shield ( stronger than annulment ) ?
skills you posted above also looks way too much overpowered. (dampen magic is only 20-30% weaker than hardened ward btw - my ingame numbers differ by 26% on these skills )
now, magblade damage is nothing to be compared to stamblade and their survivability isnt as good as sorcerers. so, to make your idea working you need to increase survivability while letting damage intact. no health build can do this. if you make max-magicka scaling shield its like sorcerer. literaly ctrl+c/v
sorcerer is shield class and hardened ward has only +20% more strength than conjured ward. and conjured has nothing but only shield
magblade needs better healing skills, rather than shields
Hardened Ward is only so strong right now because it has a bonus of 40% instead of the intended 20%. Dampen is more expensive, forces you to use light armor and most importantly, can't be stacked with Harness. So I agree with your conclusion, but not the reasoning.
I'd also like Sorc to not be the shield class.DAGON - ALTADOON - CHIM - GHARTOK
The Covenant is broken. The Enemy has won...
Elo'dryel - Sorc - AR 50 - Hopesfire - EP EU0