U45 Preview 1: Balance Changes Main Thread

[Deathdefy]

We'll have ears out on Lamannia for any attacks we've missed, as well as how the balance looks in this environment.

Very cool changes. The triple ability MOD to damage from GTHF in particular sounds like it has potential - keen to test on Lammania as soon as it's up. That this works with Sap is kind of awesome!

Will Strikethrough work on instakills? Specifically:
- Quivering palm (with a THF weapon such as quarterstaff or something weirder if you go 15 Monk / T5 Kensai
- Executioner's Strike from Shadowdancer
- Assassinate(?). Assassinate's full-weird already with the two attacks with a delay between, but I would love to see some Acrobat rogues blackjacking 3 mobs simultaneously with a q-staff.
- Void Strike from Tier 5 Henshin

[ChadB123]

Will Strikethrough work on instakills? Specifically:
- Quivering palm (with a THF weapon such as quarterstaff or something weirder if you go 15 Monk / T5 Kensai

QP doesn't work with a weapon equipped.

[Deathdefy]

QP doesn't work with a weapon equipped.

Nah QP does now despite the name, I think you're thinking of Stunning Fist.

[ChadB123]

Nah QP does now despite the name, I think you're thinking of Stunning Fist.

Really? Probably am. Good to know!

[Kinerd]

this is certainly a step in the right direction, especially for leveling builds

obviously getting single-target squared away first is more of a priority, but i'm still concerned about the general AoE-ness of THF. going from hitting everyone for low damage to hitting two for good damage (and only a guaranteed two with Perfect THF!) even if it matches the overall damage output feels less AoE-y, and if new Cleaves are just treading water with old Cleaves (which they should if new single-target is with old) that's not the answer either

what if the [W] of Cleaves scaled with THF feats? so in the same way THF gives 2x STR, it could make basic Cleave do 2[W], ITHF 2.5[W], GTHF 3[W], and Great Cleave could go 4 5 6[W] in the same way. it shouldn't matter much for single target DPS but multiplied out over a crowd i think would be really palpable

or(/and?) what if the THF feat line included an active Cleave-like ability that got better with each feat? 1[W] for THF, 1.5 for ITHF, 2 for GTHF, and to keep the feats relevant it could have a 12s cooldown

[Jerevth]

Definite upward improvements,
thanks Steel.

I was going to suggest 2HF get an optional feat chain in lieu of the Cleave chain where it's a vertical chop down/ up/ double single target (Increased single target damage on par with cleave bonuses +1) but in light of the V2 update no one would play 2WF anymore. I'm kind of excited about playing the Bladeforged Iconic I just bought recently, now.

Someone asked about the need to sometimes avoid AOE type attacks (Which Strike Through could definitely muck up.) when dealing with specific quests and challenges (i.e. Vengeance Reapers, Faithful Departed) or where it could break a quest optional. Not sure of a method for that, though, without a toggle.

[Arkantios]

Very cool changes. The triple ability MOD to damage from GTHF in particular sounds like it has potential - keen to test on Lammania as soon as it's up. That this works with Sap is kind of awesome!

Will Strikethrough work on instakills? Specifically:
- Quivering palm (with a THF weapon such as quarterstaff or something weirder if you go 15 Monk / T5 Kensai
- Executioner's Strike from Shadowdancer
- Assassinate(?). Assassinate's full-weird already with the two attacks with a delay between, but I would love to see some Acrobat rogues blackjacking 3 mobs simultaneously with a q-staff.
- Void Strike from Tier 5 Henshin

I'd love to see an answer to this. A Q-staff Acro/Assassin could be brutal.