Weekly Development Activities (June 25, 2007)

[DKerrigan]

NEW – Way of the Assassin now has three different poisons available for use: Thoughtburn (Int damage and prevents casting for a short time), Icechill (Dex damage and slows the target's attack speed for a short time), and Soulshatter (Lowers the target's spell resistance by 10 and Will saves by 4 for a short time). Only one poison may be active at a time.

How many points of stat dmg? 1? This enhancement line is almost starting to look like it might be worth the 13 base AP needed to take it...

[Forceonature]

Who cares? The Quori spirit drops like a tons of bricks. This won't change anything.

Is it for when he comes in, or while he's being engaged? I just hate how they keep changing this quest every time a patch is released. Just because a few Uber super-planned-from-the-beginning-with-all-of-the-raid-loot builds can run it in 15 minutes doesn't mean everyone can.

At what point do you make a quest too hard for Joe Averagebuild to complete?

[DKerrigan]

Is it for when he comes in, or while he's being engaged? I just hate how they keep changing this quest every time a patch is released. Just because a few Uber super-planned-from-the-beginning-with-all-of-the-raid-loot builds can run it in 15 minutes doesn't mean everyone can.

At what point do you make a quest too hard for Joe Averagebuild to complete?

They'll quit changing this quest once either a) they make it such a PITA that it's run once on elite for favor or b) new content that hits higher loot tables is released (or c) all of the above, I vote C).

[Dariun]

At what point do you make a quest too hard for Joe Averagebuild to complete?

Mod. 3.3.

[ArkoHighStar]

Is it for when he comes in, or while he's being engaged? I just hate how they keep changing this quest every time a patch is released. Just because a few Uber super-planned-from-the-beginning-with-all-of-the-raid-loot builds can run it in 15 minutes doesn't mean everyone can.

At what point do you make a quest too hard for Joe Averagebuild to complete?

did this on normal with a pug full of 8-10's we almost wiped once and wiped at the end because myself and the other caster were out of mana, we came back in and he fell hard as we were abe to contain him and everyone had buffs. Most did not have uber equipment and 3 had never done the quest before. So this quest on normal is still easily within the reach of most non uber builds and regular players.

[linaewen]

- please fix finger of death the way you are doing with fire shield and chill shield, empowering and maximize should NOT be applied to that spell, I hate when I waste 145 SPs for 30 damage.

- human versatility will still be useless without a lingering effect or a permanent effect just like it used to be.

[Aspenor]

did this on normal with a pug full of 8-10's we almost wiped once and wiped at the end because myself and the other caster were out of mana, we came back in and he fell hard as we were abe to contain him and everyone had buffs. Most did not have uber equipment and 3 had never done the quest before. So this quest on normal is still easily within the reach of most non uber builds and regular players.

Considering we have completed this quest on elite with battlemages, a barbarian, no cleric and no proper arcane, yeah I'd say it's doable by all builds and regular players.

[ArkoHighStar]

Considering we have completed this quest on elite with battlemages, a barbarian, no cleric and no proper arcane, yeah I'd say it's doable by all builds and regular players.

The problem is your average player might have troubles with this ques on elite, and you know what that is exactly what should happen, people often confuse elite with higher loot, instead of what it really means which is a higher difficulty and harder to succeed.
This game was play balanced at normal which means your average group of lvl 12-14 should be able to beat it at normal lvl, on elite their chance of failure should be much higher.

[Roguewiz]

NEW – Weapons with special damage effects no longer cause a sneak attack on an unsuspecting victim to be lost.

Finally!

[Cap_Man]

Regarding the changes to Human Versatility:

If I'm reading this right then there is no reason for a Human Rogue to take the 'Rogue Skill Boost' or 'Rogue Damage Boost' since you can get the same plus three more 'Boosts' for the cost of 1 enhancement line.

Currently the 'Rogue Action Boosts' and the 'HV Boosts' are on the same timer so you can't use both at the same time.

I think I like this, I don't have the 'Rogue Damage Boost' but I do have 'Rogue Skill Boost' so when this mod comes out I'll swap the 'Rogue Skill Boost' for the 'HV Boost' line and get more options for the same AP cost.

[UtherSRG]

Love all of the other highlights except for this one. When are you going to stop "adjusting" POP?

They'll stop adjusting it when it is finally as hard as a level 14 quest should be. Right now I'd say it's about a 12. This adjustment might pop it up to a 13, maybe be right on track with a 14, depending on how much he 'ports about and how his 'porting interferes with his ability to screech for a new environment.

[MysticTheurge]

Love all of the other highlights except for this one.

It's not highlighted because it was in last weeks WDAs.

[Pellegro]

Regarding the changes to Human Versatility:

If I'm reading this right then there is no reason for a Human Rogue to take the 'Rogue Skill Boost' or 'Rogue Damage Boost' since you can get the same plus three more 'Boosts' for the cost of 1 enhancement line.

Currently the 'Rogue Action Boosts' and the 'HV Boosts' are on the same timer so you can't use both at the same time.

I think I like this, I don't have the 'Rogue Damage Boost' but I do have 'Rogue Skill Boost' so when this mod comes out I'll swap the 'Rogue Skill Boost' for the 'HV Boost' line and get more options for the same AP cost.

Not to mention, you can boost AC, or Attack rolls (!) too - up to +5.

Human paladins, human battlebards, human battlemages, human battle* - they all will have attack/damage/AC boosts as good as a fighter, PLUS skill boosts as good as a rogue, PLUS saves boosts.

Combine that with the extra AP use enhancements so you get 6 (or 7?) ...

Humans are looking really nice now, really nice.

[Cowdenicus]

Still no info on warchanter, virtuoso or songblade makes baby jesus cry.

[Freeman]

Regarding the changes to Human Versatility:

If I'm reading this right then there is no reason for a Human Rogue to take the 'Rogue Skill Boost' or 'Rogue Damage Boost' since you can get the same plus three more 'Boosts' for the cost of 1 enhancement line.

Currently the 'Rogue Action Boosts' and the 'HV Boosts' are on the same timer so you can't use both at the same time.

I think I like this, I don't have the 'Rogue Damage Boost' but I do have 'Rogue Skill Boost' so when this mod comes out I'll swap the 'Rogue Skill Boost' for the 'HV Boost' line and get more options for the same AP cost.

Unless you want the "Way of ..." line of rogue enhancements. I believe all of them require at least one version of the Rogue Action boost at level 2.

[jkm]

i really like the HV changes, but we are soooo going to need an extra action boost line for HV now.

[DKerrigan]

Unless you want the "Way of ..." line of rogue enhancements. I believe all of them require at least one version of the Rogue Action boost at level 2.

Correct, just don't look at the compendium for the correct implementation as far as prereqs go...find the release notes.

[Xaxx]

Who cares? The Quori spirit drops like a tons of bricks. This won't change anything.

except when he "teleports without error" into the wall and no one can reach him while he spams force missles at you.

I have NO doubt that he's gonna screw up the quest regularly now

[DKerrigan]

except when he "teleports without error" into the wall and no one can reach him while he spams force missles at you.

I have NO doubt that he's gonna screw up the quest regularly now

Or up to one of the doorways where melees can't reach...I know there's forcefields there and lightning traps, but I'll bet there's still a point that he would be able to teleport to...

[GeneralDiomedes]

The Halfing Luck enhancment line is exactly what people had suggested as an alternative during the 3.3 feedback sessions. Thank you for listening.

As for the addition of more active enhancements, I believe they are a good thing and move the game somewhat further away from the largely simplistic swing-swing-swing until he's dead mode of combat that is currently prevalent.

About the only thing left that is wrong with the game is that we can mow down the enemy so fast through instakill or DPS that most of the flavor enhancements are just that; flavor.