1. Change to Physical Resist Rating Formula
- No issues with this.
2. Introduction of Magical Resist Rating
- This is really good, I like the idea of being able to 'absorb' magical damage as a person who invests in the appropiate feats, enhancements and equipment.
- I also approve that items providing PRR should provide the same level of MRR retroactively. While there's scope for seperate gear enhancements for PRR/MRR, I would like to see a combined enhancement continued.
3. Armor and Ratings
- I agree with the outline values of PRR/MRR per armour type.
- I think its a good move to remove BAB as part of the equation to simplify things. Most characters have a way to achieve BAB = Heroic Class level anyway.
- I also agree with the outline values of PRR/MRR per Shield type.
- I think a slight change in shield multiplier to support a change to Evasion Restrictions is warranted:
- Buckler: 1.0x / no additional PRR/MRR
- Light Shield: 1.0x / no additional PRR/MRR
- Heavy Shield: 1.5x / +50% additional PRR/MRR
- Tower Shield: 2.0x / +100% additional PRR/MRR
In addition, this differentiates Tower & Large Shields further, making a choice between two more meaningful.
4. Resist Rating Caps and Evasion
- I agree with the current stance on what armours negate the Evasion Feat.
- Again, I think a slight change to Shield restrictions should be undertaken:
- Buckler: Evasion or Improved Evasion both allowed
- Light Shield: Evasion or Improved Evasion both allowed
- Heavy Shield: Evasion allowed, no Improved Evasion
- Tower Shield: No Evasion or Improved Evasion
These changes make Light Armour/Heavy Shield Evasion tanks still viable but also rewards Heavy Armour/Tower Shield tanks with more viability with more overall PRR/MRR for there investment of Armor/Shield choice.
- I think you should more heavily restrict PRR/MRR Hard Caps on different Armor Types:
- Robes or Outfit: 75 PRR/75 MRR
- Light Armor: 150 PRR/150 PRR
- Medium Armor: 250 PRR/250 MRR
- Heavy Armor: No Cap
Light Armour/No Armour already benefits from potential Evasion use, and has Improved Evasion been considered in this equation? With a PRR/MRR of 100 and Improved Evasion, your typical Monk is going to
Automatically avoid
70% of incoming magical damage, even with a
Reflex save of 0 when playing in Epic Elite content.
So, I think it it would also be a good idea to allow this cap to be raised if wearing a Shield:
- Buckler: +5 PRR/MRR
- Light Shield: +10 PRR/MRR
- Heavy Shield: +30 PRR/MRR
- Tower Shield: +50 PRR/MRR
This helps encourage the use of shields of Defensive purposes, even on Light/No Armour toons.
- I also think that the original statement for minimum Dodge Caps should be re-introduced, with the proviso that special armours can exceed these Dodge Caps based on MDB values as well as allowing current Feats, Enhancements and Epic Destiny abilities to raise these Dodge Caps if the MDB of the Armour exceeds the Dodge Cap.
Let me explain a little further on this point: The original proposal stated that Heavy Armour would have a Dodge Cap of 5%, even if the armour only provided 3 MDB. Thats fine, and I have no problem with a Heavy Armour wearer receiving 5% Dodge through appropiate feats or enhancements. If the said armor wearer was to wear a Mobility Item (+2MDB), take Sacred Armour Mastery 3 from Sacred Defender and also twiste Lithe from Shadow Dancer then that should allow the Heavy Armour wearer to get to a maximum of 14% Dodge, equal to the new MDB of 14.
5. DPS is Terrible when using a Shield
You really, really need to take a step back here and start with fixing the Combat Style of Weapon & Shield fighting. I would suggest as a starting point:
- You discard the exisiting Shield Mastery / Improved Shield Mastery feats
Create a new line of 3 feats, similar to TWF/THF/SWF that rolls up THF & Shield Mastery abilities:
- Weapon & Shield Fighting (Requires 15 Strength, 12 Dexterity, no BAB requirement)
While wielding a Weapon and Shield:
- You strike glancing blows
- Your Glancing Blows strike on the 1st and 4th Animation, at 25% of your Mainhand damage
- You receive a 10% bonus to Double Strike
- You receive a stacking +10/+10 PRR/MRR bonus
- Improved Weapon & shield Fighting (Requires 17 Strength, 14 Dexterity, BAB 6)
While wielding a Weapon and Shield:
- Your Glancing Blows strike on the 1st,2nd and 4th Animation, at 50% of your Mainhand damage
- You receive a further 10% bonus to Double Strike, for a total of +20%
- You receive a further stacking +10 PRR/MRR bonus, for a total of +20
- Greater Weapon & shield Fighting (Requires 17 Strength, 14 Dexterity, BAB 11)
While wielding a Weapon and Shield:
- Your Glancing Blows strike on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Animation, at 75% of your Mainhand damage
- You receive a further 10% bonus to Double Strike, for a total of +30%
- You receive a further stacking +10 PRR/MRR bonus, for a total of +30
- Create a new Epic Destiny Feat for Perfect Weapon & Shield Fighting:
Perfect Weapon & Shield Fighting (Requires Greater Weapon & Shield Fighting feat)
While wielding a Weapon and Shield:
- You receive a further 20% bonus to Double Strike, for a total of +50%
Certain Epic abilities would need slightly adjusting but should remain compatible - Legendary Shield Mastery from Unyielding Sentinal, the Epic Moment from Fury of the Wild as examples.
6. New Prestiges
- Vanguard I am highly intrigued by. I look forward to seeing this!
- Shieldbearer also sounds similarly interesting, but more so the suggested options on Tactics.