Grim Focus and general/cosmetic NB suggestions

Vaqual · February 2023

1.) Since one morph of Grim Focus is redundant (as they basically do almost the same) can you maybe change up the other one? Ideally something that doesn't hide the weapon or involve the ugly bow. The stacking mechanic is fine. Can/should even be less OP than Assasin's Will, just make it prettier. Maybe cash out stacks for something defensive instead? Or an empowered melee hit like crystal weapon, to give NBs a delayed burst option (can also be weaker than that, I am just throwing around ideas, please sorc crowd don't gank me).

2.) The heal on Sap Essence is really lame in any scenario. For what is does and especially compared to the other morph it is just weak. Can you spice it up a little?
EDIT: And by spicing it up I do not mean adding that dx 9.0c tier-weapon glow effect that the other morph has. That looks bad.

3.) For a stationary effect consuming darkness is a bit expensive. I see how it can get OP in group play if it is too cheap, but could you add maybe add an extra effect that compensates the caster a little bit? It is currently mega high risk (costwise) to run this outside of organized groups, as it is so easily avoided.

4.) EDIT (taken from my other thread): Since Concealed Weapon is just a left handed swipe with a magic blade that isn't being held in the characters hand, what is the reason for hiding the weapons during the animation? Could you not just keep the weapons displayed? I don't understand the logic behind this choice and I think that abilities that make the weapons vanish look cheap.

5.) EDIT: Malevolent offering shows feet on its icon and costs a blood sacrifice to cast.
Cripple snares the enemy (targets feet) and shows an arm with an open hand on it's icon (what people use for sacrificing blood)
--> these icons should be swapped

Might edit further in the future, hoping for your support.

DrNukenstein · February 2023

Replace stam bow proc with an empowered attack, yes.

It would be such a decision to make if it did something like:

At five stacks empower your next fully charged heavy attack with "1.5 spammables worth of extra damage"

Then you can slot the stam morph for it's reliability and synergy with cloak in pvp scenarios (to charge heavies in peace), or keep using the mag bow proc for the raw damage and potential to proc it from 3 stacks with a full heavy. Assuming there'd still be an audio queue when it's loaded, I don't see it being unfair compared to assassins will.

Vaqual · April 2023

Even if you don't decide to update any of the effects, could you at least change the weapon glow effect of Power Extraction?

These effects where the whole weapon glows with different colors (also found on glyphs, rally, etc.) almost completely overshadow weapon textures/colors and make them look horrible, like plastic toys. The effects on on other skills (e.g. leeching strikes) are more subtle and look much better. Even the effect of Empower is kind of acceptable. But this horrible white glow just kills the aesthetic of the class.
Can you make a menu toggle for these effects? My goal is not to ruin it for the players who like these types of glow effects, but they are objectively poorly made and not very thematic.