User talk:Cedges/Plasma Scion (Legend Track)

Why Plasma

If it doesn't have a Halo Shield-style effect or anything? --Foxwarrior (talk) 05:08, 13 August 2013 (UTC)

Because it's equipment to go with a class I'm working on that has tracks (pointlessly) themed after Solid, Liquid, and Gas. And if you want it to look like a plasma shield, it totally will. If I haven't written that in yet, this stuff is supposed to change appearance when it morphs. Unfortunately, this class and track aren't going well. This track has HUGE balance problems at 3rd circle, and isn't very interesting at higher circles. It needs more morphing ideas and fewer numbers. Cedges (talk) 07:37, 13 August 2013 (UTC)

Balance

Balance considerations:

Circle 1: Full buy-in gives up a Lesser item in exchange for a first circle ability. We've gotten a variable weapon that can also be an un-enhanced armor or a shield. Right on.

Circle 2: Full buy-in gives up a Greater item. We've got 2 Greater items (minus one enhancement point on each), plus a hideaway mount (a Lesser item) that can't be used at the same time as one of our Greater items. We're ahead one Greater item, behind 2 enhancement points, and our Lesser item is a bit weak. Maybe a bit ahead.

Circle 3: Full buy-in gives up a Greater item and a Lesser item, totaling 2 Greater and 2 lesser items. We've got 3 Greater items (minus one enhancement point each), plus a hideaway mount that's giving us virtually all the (somewhat overlapping) benefits of Elemental Reactor (a Greater item), Submersible (a Greater item) and How a Drill Works, (a Relic item). Let's call that 4 greater items and a Relic. We are WAY ahead.

Circle 4: Full buy-in gives up a Relic and a Lesser item, but gains an extra greater, totaling 1 Relic, 1 Greater, and 3 lesser items. We have access to 3 relics at a time (down 4 enhancement points) and about 2 lesser items at a time (if we consider the attribute bonuses to be the lesser items), plus access to some more movement mode greater items. We are ahead, but our choice of items is kind of one-dimensional.

Circle 5: Full buy-in gives up another Relic and a Greater item, totaling 2 Relics, 2 greater, and 3 lesser items. We have access to 3 relics at a time and about 2 lesser items at a time (if we consider the attribute bonuses to be the lesser items), plus access to some more movement mode and skill greater items. We are ahead, but our choice of items is kind of one-dimensional.

Circle 6: Full buy-in gives up an Artifact and Greater item, but gains a Relic, totaling 1 Artifact, 1 Relic, 3 greater, and 3 lesser items. We have access to 3 artifacts at a time and about a whole handful of greater and lesser item benefits.

Circle 7: Full buy-in gives up a lesser item. Really?!, a 7th circle ability is about the same as a lesser item?! For the first time, we give ourselves something actually cool, instead of a choice of numbers and movement modes. But it has an awkward enchantment point mechanic :(

Possible things to do instead: Grapple or Disarm as an immediate action after a miss (not due to miss chance). Have a list of abilities to choose between. Have abilities morph from offense to defense and back more by limiting the number of them in use but widening the variety (without getting into numbers hell). Cedges (talk) 07:37, 13 August 2013 (UTC)