The Future of Ability-Altering Weapons

Froil · February 2023

With the release of Vateshran Hollows back in late 2020, we have 5 different ability-altering weapons (AAW) for each of the five base skills for each currently available weapon type. I wonder if we will continue to see these added to the game, maybe for the weapon's respective ultimates, or maybe even new takes on the initial AAWs (Master's weapons, from Dragonstar Arena) and the abilities they augment. Perhaps even new and unique AAWs for each class that augment various class skills.

Forum-goer's, what are your thoughts on the future of AAWs? Would you like to see new ones? Changes/buffs/nerfs to current ones?

Necrotech_Master · February 2023

i think the arena weapons are pretty nice

there could be some niche ones for the ultimates, or even just alternative ones on the existing skills for more options

i think most arena weapons in general are used to fill pretty niche build setups, and i find some of them a little lackluster on some of the slots

The_Titan_Tim · February 2023

There’s an entire list of non-weapon skill line skills that could be altered, like Fighter’s Guild, Mage’s Guild, Undaunted, and Psijic Order.

Each of those could easily be expanded upon.

Soarora · February 2023

Taking from GD, an arena that differs depending on your class and drops class-specific items would be awesome. I know it's a bit against the "play how you want, use any weapon and any armor" but so is the existence of classes. It's a chance to add class identity.

robpr · February 2023

Weapon ults probably the safest bet for now, then there could be second option for each skill again. Class ability altering would be a balance nightmare since some of morphs drastically change the skill (Dark Flare vs Solar Barrage for example).

Guild skill ability altering not a bad idea either.

TaSheen · February 2023

Personally not interested. I don't have the ability or interest to do group content.

Cazador · February 2023

The_Titan_Tim wrote: »

There’s an entire list of non-weapon skill line skills that could be altered, like Fighter’s Guild, Mage’s Guild, Undaunted, and Psijic Order.

Each of those could easily be expanded upon.

I like this idea, though I'd be against psijic unless summerset where made available to everyone like they did with morrowind.

WrathOfInnos · February 2023

It seems natural to make the next weapon affect weapon ultimates. I also think several of the previous arena weapons are far too niche (BRP destruction staff for example) and could be revisited.

There are also ways to alter abilities without being tied to a specific one. Maybe this begins to blur the lines with mythic items, but imagine something like:

- Skills that cost stamina deal 8% more damage (encouraging single resource build in this hybrid meta)

or

- Increases all Shock damage by 12% (encouraging off-meta skills or weapon types)

If you think about it, sets like Undaunted Bastion and Master Sword/Shield are already very similar. Just one is tied to a specific skill, while the other works for all skills of a certain type. I don't think 2 piece weapon sets necessarily need to be tied to 1 skill, they could do many things to many skills.

Necrotech_Master · February 2023

Cazador wrote: »

The_Titan_Tim wrote: »

There’s an entire list of non-weapon skill line skills that could be altered, like Fighter’s Guild, Mage’s Guild, Undaunted, and Psijic Order.

Each of those could easily be expanded upon.

I like this idea, though I'd be against psijic unless summerset where made available to everyone like they did with morrowind.

to be fair, 4 of the 5 types of arena weapons are already locked behind DLCs

the only "free" one is dragonstar arena with the master weapons

blackrose prison arena requires murkmire dlc
asylum sanctorum trial requires clockwork city dlc
maelstrom arena requires orsinium dlc
vateshran arena requires markarth dlc

Cazador · February 2023

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Cazador wrote: »

The_Titan_Tim wrote: »

There’s an entire list of non-weapon skill line skills that could be altered, like Fighter’s Guild, Mage’s Guild, Undaunted, and Psijic Order.

Each of those could easily be expanded upon.

I like this idea, though I'd be against psijic unless summerset where made available to everyone like they did with morrowind.

to be fair, 4 of the 5 types of arena weapons are already locked behind DLCs

the only "free" one is dragonstar arena with the master weapons

blackrose prison arena requires murkmire dlc
asylum sanctorum trial requires clockwork city dlc
maelstrom arena requires orsinium dlc
vateshran arena requires markarth dlc

True, but psijic ability modifying weapons would require you to own a currently nonexistent dlc plus summerset to use.