Update 39 Preview 2: Falconry Universal Enhancement Tree

[Gemini-Dragon357]

"Diving Attack: Trip DC: 10 + Character Level + Wisdom modifier + Assassinate bonuses."
"Strike for the Eyes: Blind DC: 10 + Character Level + Wisdom modifier + Assassinate bonuses."
"Coordinated Strikes: Blind DC: 10 + Character Level + Wisdom modifier + Assassinate bonuses."

First question: What is the saving throw or stat we are trying to overcome with the Blind DC attacks? Fortitude? Reflex?

Second question: Why does a Trip DC gain bonuses from Assassination?
It would be nice for some variety within these active abilities. Not many things benefit from Trip DC bonuses. One Vanguard ability, one monk, one cleric domain, and a couple of druid abilities do. It would be nice if Diving Attack gained DC from Trip bonuses. It would provide a bit more synergy with the Druid class which thematically fits with this Falconry tree. The abilities that currently benefit from Trip DC bonuses usually have a DC of 10 + class level + modifier + Trip DCs. So replacing Assassinate with Trip wouldn't unbalance anything.

Third question: Why do these 3 abilities gain bonuses from Assassinate at all? Only Death from Above is an instant kill ability. I can understand why that would benefit from assassination.

Currently the only abilities that benefits from Assassination are in the Assassin Tree. More so, item bonuses to assassination are much lower than those of Sundering/Vertigo/Combat Mastery. A level 34 Cannith crafted item can have +7/+3 Assassinate/Ins. Assassinate or +17/+8 Vertigo/Ins Vertigo. There is a 15 point difference between the two. That's a massive difference at level 30 when saves are still using a D20 system. Not to mention that items with Trip/Combat mastery are far more numerous than those with bonuses to assassination.

[PsychoBlonde]

Eyes of the Eagle and Shared Vision should swap spots, it makes no sense to have True Seeing as a T3 and Blindness Immunity as a T4.

[Maelodic]

Playtesting initial impressions:

-The abilities are super awkward to use on a melee just because everything is delayed. I think it's something you could get used to, but I think this will feel a lot more natural on a ranged character. It seems like it's wise just to use the basic abilities on champions (and reapers?) for the helpless and move on.
-I'm taking sprint boost on every single character now.
-I can see the cleave being super fun on a ranged character.
-War Domain Cleric should be really fun.
-Tilo's going to freak out with his whole Soundburst thing.

[GeoffWatson]

No parrot?

Can we get a bat, to go with the Ravenloft cosmetics?

Or a dragon?

[Yamani]

[*]Deadly Instinct Trance You gain an Insight bonus to damage and the DC of tactical feats equal to 1/2 of your Wisdom modifier for 30/60/120 seconds. Cooldown: 20 seconds. 5 Charges per rest. Each attack from your avian companion has a chance to reset 1 charge. Antirequisite: This ability can not be trained if you have any other Trance ability.

Can this be moved down a few tiers to match Divine might(tier 1(0 AP required))/Know the Angles(tier 2(5 ap required)). Tier 4(20 AP required) seems rather hefty to invest into for such a buff with similar counter parts at much lower tiers.

[Paisheng]

• Watch the Center Grants +1/+2/+3 to Assassinate DC's

• 
  

Is this only good for rogue/assassins? Since the long ago nerf of Monk Quivering Palm -- will these apply to that now too? Can you make that happen as there is no bonuses to lift the QP dc other than tactical dcs and wisdom modifier. This would now be an excellent to show some well needed love here to help QP more reliable. Watch the Center sounds like something monks and martial artists would do for delivering a ki strike / qp strike.

Otherwise thank you for finally fulfilling the promise to monks, clerics and others to make a universal tree with the wisdom modifier as a + hit/+dmg. On behalf of all monks *bow*

[Morroiel]

The Hunting Bird only attacks the first enemy struck by a Missile fired with Improved Precise Shot toggled on. You’ve only got one birdy friend and you have to pick and choose the targets it divebombs at any given time. =P

EDIT: This even counts for the AOE Hunting Bird Attack. It applies the same Cleave like sweeping divebomb AOE that the melee variant does but specifically centered on the first enemy struck by a missile fired with Improved Precise Shot toggled on. There’s been talk around the office reffering to it as basically a Bird Fireball. =D

I assume this will also extend to dance of death and acrobat core 6? Only one target affected per single active attack from the tree?

[Saekee]

Can I suggest changing the name to "Falconer" instead of "Falconry"? ALL currently existing trees are named after a ROLE, not a SKILL. "Master Falconer" would be even more betterer.

/signed.

[Dorian]

The bird does not attack if you miss on your melee attack... but you still go on cooldown.

I hate this game mechanic... it's like that with rangers dance of death and some of the vistani abilities. Lag or whatever causes mob to be out of range and you are screwed.

[edrein]

Not much of a surprise but Thrill of the Hunt doesn't effect undead. Didn't test how well it works with warforged, but I'm assuming they'll also have the same lack of racial healing issues. Albeit they can actually heal with positive energy.


Please consider changing this to racial healing source.

[moo_cow]

I have absolutely no idea what you guys are doing anymore.

[GeoffWatson]

The bird does not attack if you miss on your melee attack... but you still go on cooldown.

I hate this game mechanic... it's like that with rangers dance of death and some of the vistani abilities. Lag or whatever causes mob to be out of range and you are screwed.

Yeah, it really sucks.
Some Monk abilities have really long cooldowns, and it's really annoying to waste them because of lag.

I'd like a general change to melee cooldowns; where they don't go on cooldown if clicked when no target is in reach.

[edrein]

I have absolutely no idea what you guys are doing anymore.

Hi Welcome

[Vish]

Steel et al Lynn flimsy oliveyew and cordo

Thanks for keeping this a secret
It's what I expected from vistani,
And I wasn't expecting another universal tree
And with wis to hit damage for 12 ap
So that gives me pause to consider
Specifically warpriest, and of course duality
So now I've got to go to the boards
And return from my 4 instakiller build
I was gonna do an aov
But I'm playing a divine disciple right now,
And I think all those spells given sun etc,
Should be SLA
Because no way can you keep up with the auto dpsers
It's half a game
Or 2 different games
But either way I'm more excited to do some tr's into some builds
This has been a long time coming
And it's much appreciated
Maybe now war clerics can cast and melee
Definately an upturn for clerics and monks
I thank you

[blerkington]

I have absolutely no idea what you guys are doing anymore.

That crossed my mind too. As I read about this new tree, for some reason the phrase 'I have a bad feeling about this' was the first thing that popped into my head.

It seems particularly weird appearing on the heels of the recent monk nerfs. I guess the plan is to sell as many units as possible, then reluctantly nerf on the basis of balance concerns raised by the community, a fine business practice if ever there was one.

Brace yourselves for some epic forum squabbling I guess, where everyone in the community loses.

Thanks.

[draven1]

Tier 2

• Watch the Center Grants +1/+2/+3 to Assassinate DC's

Can this enhancement become as tier 1?
Assassins should already invest much APs on different universal tree like vistani and harper.
I think it would be hard to fit this enhancement.

Most of this tree favors wisdom based toons, but, assassins are not.

[GeoffWatson]

[*]Master Falconer You gain +2 to all ability scores and benefit from the spell Freedom of Movement. Your active Falcon attacks have a chance to reset the cooldown on Death From Above.

What's the chance?

DDO uses the same wording for 1% chances as 100% chances.

[J-mann]

Can this be moved down a few tiers to match Divine might(tier 1(0 AP required))/Know the Angles(tier 2(5 ap required)). Tier 4(20 AP required) seems rather hefty to invest into for such a buff with similar counter parts at much lower tiers.

I will second this. It should be in tier 2 just like harper imo. tier 1 to hit, tier 2 divine might equivalant, tier 3 damage.

[Sam-u-r-eye]

Is it just me or are all of the DCs in here going to be too low to be relevant beyond heroic elite content?

They're not awful but they definitely require SIGNIFICANT investment at endgame. Similar to Assassin you're gonna have to go ALL IN for wisdom abilities that don't instakill. I agree with the t5 having a lower DC but not the other abilities.

[Sam-u-r-eye]

10 + Character Level + Wisdom modifier + Assassinate bonuses.

10 + 30 (for a level 30 character) + 35 (for a character with 80 wisdom) + 7 enhancement + 3 insightful + 6 shadowdancer + 3 falconry =

94 DC