Spec pts for SB/NS vs Infy - Phoenix Freeshard

I like a lot of the QoL changes but if you are giving each class the ability to use all the RAs shouldn't spec points be normalized? I'll be honest I'm not a big fan of giving each realm the other RAs but that's life. It used to be that NS grew in power at higher RAs but with the server changes I can't see how infy doesn't have a clear advantage based off of server changes.

Either way thank you for all your hard work. This is going to be a fun ride.

Sun 6 Jan 2019 9:17 PM by florin

We can trade xbow for magic and we all get 2h perf with 2h bonus and all same armor resist ?

Sun 6 Jan 2019 9:24 PM by Kaezin

Spec lines still aren't normalized, though. For example, infiltrators have to spec 50 thrust in order to get their evade-based stun. Infiltrators don't use thrust styles due to superior CS growth rates, which means that all those points spent past 51 composite skill are "wasted." Shades only have to spec 25 pierce to get their evade-based stun.

That's just one example; there's other considerations, too, like the armor tables. It sounds like the devs want to look at how the classes perform once the server goes live before making too many modifications. Changing spec points received per level seems like a rather wide-reaching change, too.

For what it's worth, I do think you're right that shades no longer feel special.

Sun 6 Jan 2019 9:44 PM by fitzwell

florin wrote: ↑
Sun 6 Jan 2019 9:17 PM
We can trade xbow for magic and we all get 2h perf with 2h bonus and all same armor resist ?

The fact that you think 2h perf is what makes a SB shine is off imo. The ability to always hit with offhand and keep dots/debuffs up is what made SB shine. Not to mention the growth rates on DF are still great even post DF nerf. Stealth vs Stealth you are not going to get to perf most of the time.

I've never been overly impressed with magic and during the beta I played infy and just slaughtered most of the keen NS I ran into.

To hear the class with the most spec points, all the RAs, and a 9 sec stun think they are somehow at a disadvantage is just silly. If it wasn't for the guild rolling Hib I would play an Infy in a second...

Sun 6 Jan 2019 10:01 PM by Kaezin

Yeah, 2h perf isn't a big deal. PA damage is special and adds a static amount to your base (unstyled) damage rather than multiplying the base damage. You'll hit harder with a 2h, but not significantly so.

I agree that LA mechanics are what makes SBs shine. Guaranteed poison application, guaranteed haste effect, and great growth rates turn SBs into beasts once they're high RR and can go five-spec.

Sun 6 Jan 2019 10:11 PM by fitzwell

Guess we'll see how all of this plays out. Best of luck during launch!

Sun 6 Jan 2019 10:13 PM by florin

2h perf can crit very nicely I’ve gotten over 1600 on casters and 1000 on melee. It’s a defining feature of the SB. Slow weapon and 2h bonus is not something to scoff at. Now infs do get a 6sec stun off bear tooth at 15 so that opens up different spec lines with 50dw early. Ns side stun at 18cd and insta stealth pop is perfect for those moments where you aren’t in a good position but want to get the other assassin out of stealth. Very useful. Now sbs can complain that there is no off evade stun and that would be be pretty valid. And LA is sweet as well. They all do well but ns has crappy emain run, and neither sb or ns has a minstrel

Sun 6 Jan 2019 10:52 PM by Kaezin

florin wrote: ↑
Sun 6 Jan 2019 10:13 PM
Slow weapon and 2h bonus is not something to scoff at.

My understanding is that the 2h bonus would not apply to the PA bonus damage, though. It's higher base damage for the reasons that you mentioned, but I don't think there's any interesting synergy involved in a 2h PA. It certainly does make SBs unique, but I don't think it's an overall advantage unless you only care about getting the biggest PA possible.

Mon 7 Jan 2019 2:18 AM by Neehi

Kaezin wrote: ↑
Sun 6 Jan 2019 10:52 PM
florin wrote: ↑
Sun 6 Jan 2019 10:13 PM
Slow weapon and 2h bonus is not something to scoff at.

My understanding is that the 2h bonus would not apply to the PA bonus damage, though. It's higher base damage for the reasons that you mentioned, but I don't think there's any interesting synergy involved in a 2h PA. It certainly does make SBs unique, but I don't think it's an overall advantage unless you only care about getting the biggest PA possible.

Many casters can be 1-shot with 2h perf. Huge advantage, imo. If you're smart about it, it is very easy to kill one caster in a fg and stealth before the rest of the group has a clue (most pugs, and you quickly learn who is an 8-man and who is a pug).

Mon 7 Jan 2019 5:55 PM by Kaezin

Front-loaded damage is definitely useful. I just don't think there's a significant difference between the damage of a 2h PA and a 1H PA due to the way PA scaling works. The 2h PA will be larger, but not by much. Unless you're consistently one-shotting people with your PA then I think the additional damage is a moot point since it takes that much longer to execute CD/SS. If you always go for targets that you think you'll one-shot, then I agree that a 2h PA is superior. In my experience, I haven't always had the luxury of picking a target like that, but it could just be a playstyle thing.