Mage's Ball Lightning - overpowered strat?

Xeeg

So if you cast ball lightning on a monster in melee range, and then teleport through the ball lightning, will the monster kite through the ball the entire time it runs to you for massive damage?

It looked like the ball lightning was about the same speed as the monster in the stream. Steven missed his teleport and thus didn't kite the monster through the ball, but it seemed possible.

Ludullu

I think that's the intended mechanic. I fully expect parties to aoe farm with balls that go after tanks that's pulling a ton of mobs

Depraved

NiKr wrote: »

I think that's the intended mechanic. I fully expect parties to aoe farm with balls that go after tanks that's pulling a ton of mobs

farm with balls teehee ;3

Pyrolol

Yet to see how this is overpowered compared to mechanics as intended

Azherae

I'd think that's how it is supposed to work.

But it's hard to say because of the contrast between the last 'data point' of about 6 seconds TTK, and the actual stream showcase where it was uniformly closer to 12s.

With a 6s TTK, there would almost be no point in that strategy for most combat, certainly not duo. But, at 12s, just adding one more person would make this work without any help. Just have your tank walk backward slowly while the mob was 'in the ball'.

I'd obviously hope for the mob to be sensible enough to not just take this, but honestly, not every mob needs to be that smart, so, more fun for everyone.

Well, assuming the last livestream TTK and not the 'Discordian' one.

Xeeg

Azherae wrote: »

I'd think that's how it is supposed to work.

But it's hard to say because of the contrast between the last 'data point' of about 6 seconds TTK, and the actual stream showcase where it was uniformly closer to 12s.

With a 6s TTK, there would almost be no point in that strategy for most combat, certainly not duo. But, at 12s, just adding one more person would make this work without any help. Just have your tank walk backward slowly while the mob was 'in the ball'.

I'd obviously hope for the mob to be sensible enough to not just take this, but honestly, not every mob needs to be that smart, so, more fun for everyone.

Well, assuming the last livestream TTK and not the 'Discordian' one.

I was thinking the exact same thing with regards to TTK and this melee ball/teleport strat.

Not sure if we should use Steven's gameplay as the measure of TTK. It looks like he is still learning what his skills do. =D

Azherae

Xeeg wrote: »

Azherae wrote: »

I'd think that's how it is supposed to work.

But it's hard to say because of the contrast between the last 'data point' of about 6 seconds TTK, and the actual stream showcase where it was uniformly closer to 12s.

With a 6s TTK, there would almost be no point in that strategy for most combat, certainly not duo. But, at 12s, just adding one more person would make this work without any help. Just have your tank walk backward slowly while the mob was 'in the ball'.

I'd obviously hope for the mob to be sensible enough to not just take this, but honestly, not every mob needs to be that smart, so, more fun for everyone.

Well, assuming the last livestream TTK and not the 'Discordian' one.

I was thinking the exact same thing with regards to TTK and this melee ball/teleport strat.

Not sure if we should use Steven's gameplay as the measure of TTK. It looks like he is still learning what his skills do. =D

Well, interestingly, I found myself thinking that given the animation and charge timings of certain moves and weapon swings, even on Fighter, I didn't really 'see' how they were going to get to the 6s one.

I'd prefer very slightly longer than even what we saw, but the showcase mobs, that style, I could just look for something stronger than me instead of at-level and probably get the effect while having some risks.

I don't know what to make of Steven's gameplay relative to it either, but basically, it takes too long to even do certain abilities, for that supposed '6s' to feel realistic. Probably just my desperate biased hope though. As for the 'overpowered'-ness of the strat, I think it's fine to do that, maybe have the ball dissipate after some number of total hits (though I don't want to think about the network strain this can cause in certain implementations).

Ludullu

Azherae wrote: »

I don't know what to make of Steven's gameplay relative to it either, but basically, it takes too long to even do certain abilities, for that supposed '6s' to feel realistic.

And unless I missed a few spots in the video, most of those mobs were several levels below Steven's as well, so, in theory, he shoulda been even stronger against them.

Xeeg

Azherae wrote: »

I'd prefer very slightly longer than even what we saw, but the showcase mobs, that style, I could just look for something stronger than me instead of at-level and probably get the effect while having some risks.

This is always something I enjoy doing in games. Pushing the limits of the stuff we can take until it just on the edge of dieing each fight haha.

Xeeg

Actually I take back my criticism of Steven's game play. I went to watch the 9:30 wand combo thing and he actually perfectly executed the ball lightning into teleport tactic and kites the mob through the ball.

I guess I should give him a little more credit, even though criticizing every mistake made by the game creative designer is more fun... =D

Depraved

no balance yet...the ttk in the monthly streams isn't accurate...

daveywavey

Depraved wrote: »

no balance yet...the ttk in the monthly streams isn't accurate...

Yeah, this is what I was thinking. Hard to say what's overpowered when nothing's been balanced yet.

CROW3

Given how long and slow the ball lightning moves, it would be kind of cool to be able to cast spells through the lightning for greater empowered effects. In fact, it would be cool to cast ground effects that then empower bolts and beams shot though those effects for BIG damage.

nanfoodle

A2 will work this kind of thing out. Or prove its balance and worth.

Dygz

Augments on Ball Lightning should also be cool.