A different type of tank?

Do you know what sounds fun and very different? Since we currently know very little about the Summoner archetype and how much secondary archetype augments effect the class. I think it would be really cool if the Broodwarden (summoner/tank) was able to tank through summons, by calling various types of brood bugs to engage, slow, or occupy enemies. They could have different bugs with specific roles/abilities to generate threat. (threat generated by any bug increases threat towards all the characters bugs)

I could see it working similarly to this:
All summons are from a target location where the bug breaks through the ground...

Summons:

Shield bug: heavily armored bug that soaks up damage and can be upgraded for other abilities like a shield bash(knockback) on CD.
Recast: he will burrow and reposition and taunt to maintain a bosses attention in a certain spot/direction

Sticky Bug: a bug that burrows beneath the surface and waits, when stepped on explodes leaving a sticky goo to slow enemies in the radius.
Recast: when off cd summons another bug, have a cap off how many can be lying underground at a time.

Ground bug: a stationary bug that spits out smaller bugs to go attack the target. The smaller bugs do minor damage but apply a bleed effect (generating threat towards bugs)
Recast: changes target

Flying bug: A harassing flying bug that spits acid at target. Again does low damage but applies an armor debuff (and generates threat towards bugs)
Recast: changes target

Support bug?: maybe some kind of leech/mosquito that can syphon health from enemies.

Active abilities:
Armor up: forces target brood bug (or next summoned brood bug) to generate hardened carapace for extra armor or hp

Chrysalis: the targeted brood bug turns into a chrysalis freezing all functions (no longer moves/attacks/etc.) gains increased armor and hp regen while frozen

Pheromones': toggle effect draining mana for either a frenzy pheromone or a healing pheromone

Ultimate:
For the swarm: reduces cooldown on summons and temporarily increases summon cap.

Obviously not completely fleshed out, but I could see something like this being a very different style of control tank that could be a blast to play, albeit probably difficult to master. I would feel like a puppet master dictating the control of the battle.

Thoughts?

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Azherae

SirChancelot11 wrote: »

I've been thinking about it as a blending of the two classes not so much as able to act as both classes.

With that though, every party is going to need a tank and a cleric no matter what... Thought they said they were trying to avoid mandatory meta?

That's what we're saying. If you find a place where the enemies are weak to a Summoner/Tank's style of tanking, then live there. That's the point of Ashes. Find where you enjoy being and stay there. You would have to be outright terrible at it, or Ashes design much worse than it appears, for open minded players (or at least the ones I know) to not let you do your thing.

But you can't tank everything. You might be much more efficient than a Tank/Anything at your 'favored enemy', in certain encounters, etc. Build a reputation for this. Let people know of your style and badass skilz. People who don't believe in you while you're doing well don't matter unless you only have time to play with randoms occasionally.

Sometimes the Ninja Tanks, sometimes the Monk Tanks, sometimes the Paladin Tanks, sometimes the Puppetmaster Tanks. Depends on what you need that day.

I seriously doubt every party is going to need a Tank/X to take on every encounter. Are you worried about being limited as compared to a Tank/X? Do you want to be 'their equal in most situations'? That's different. You've been 'worrying' about this for literally months now, to the point where I have more Brood Warden desire data from you, in my files, than anyone else. Just tell them what you need and hopefully you get it.

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