Quick Overview:
Static Tempest is an extremely strong realm ability when it comes to RvR - Zerg vs Zerg fights.
It often decides the fate of battle by its own in Tower and Keep fights. One big reason for this is that it is the only AoE Anti Zerg RA that still works through Walls/Floors without any LOS requirement for the opponent. (See TWF/Maelstrom).
Addressing the strength of Static Tempest itself by giving it the same treatment as TWF/Maelstrom has been suggested and discussed among the forum. But this thread will focus on a different issue of the RA - the imbalance of availability across the realms! I'm sure many of you have noticed it in actual gameplay that there is a difference in the amount of Static Tempest being used in ZvZ's and Tower/Keep fights in general.
With such a strong RA it is vital that the availability across the realms is equalized. If possible this means to have it on the same amount of characters who are also being used equally often in the game. Furthermore the surviveability of the class and its importance to the group itself play a factor. And here is where the game gets heavily imbalanced in the favor of one realm: Hibernia. (Sorry my wooden friends but it is true).
Not only does Hibernia have 2 characters with access to Static Tempest but they have also the most amount of active played characters with it. This really shows in any given fight when the BG's of Midgard or Albion clash together with Hibernia. Staying stunned in a Tower or Keep for a whole minute from multiple Hibernian Statics isn't a rare sight as both Champions and especially Mentalists are common classes in Hibernia. Here I have to give bonus points to the Champion who also has the beef to run-in and deliver its payload the easiest among all realms/classes with Static. The dangerous method of delivery is also why I have to give the Friar a minus point for being the only vital buff/heal/resi class that has to do this. For the other realms: Imagine your Warden/Bard or Shaman has to storm in first and thus likely die to enemy fire removing all resists, buffs and potential heals from your group.
I hope this give an overview on the current state ingame, now let us discuss how we can make it better!
Option1: Give each realm 2 characters with static tempest.
For Hibernia the classes are already set, Mentalist and Champion.
For Midgard I propose that the Runemaster gets access to Static Tempest together with the Thane.
For Albion I propose that the Wizard gets access to Static Tempest together with the Friar.
The reasons for the proposed classes are the following:
1. Trying to match a weaker caster class and a beefier melee-ish class together
2. Sticking with the original set we already have to reduce work (Thane, Friar, Champion, Mentalist)
3. Giving RA's to classes who don't have Maelstrom/TWF already.
4. Equality of character usage between realms.
5. Balance.
Option2: Take out the nerf hammer and remove access to Static Tempest on the Champion.
Reasons: The only super beefy melee class with access to Static Tempest who has the easiest time delivering the payload. Furthermore this should equalize the overall amount of availability while not totally screwing Hibernia. (Mentalists are much more common than Champions). It is also the easiest change with the smallest overall footprint on the current game balance.
Option3: Completely remodel which characters have access to Static Tempest. Basically Option1 without taking the current characters into consideration.
Reasons: Best possible balance outcome by completely redesigning which characters have access to Static Tempest based on how easy the characters can delivery the payload, their availability across the realms and their importance to the group in case of their death. However this will lead to the most amount of work and the biggest effect on the current balance so I only list this to have the set of options complete (I hardly doubt this will happen).
Well, that it is folks, thank you for reading let me know what you think!
Static Tempest: 2H, 1M, 1A
Hibernia:
Champion: Static Tempest
Mentalist: Static Tempest
Midgard:
Thane: Static Tempest
Albion:
Friar: Static Tempest
Static Tempest is an extremely strong realm ability when it comes to RvR - Zerg vs Zerg fights.
It often decides the fate of battle by its own in Tower and Keep fights. One big reason for this is that it is the only AoE Anti Zerg RA that still works through Walls/Floors without any LOS requirement for the opponent. (See TWF/Maelstrom).
Addressing the strength of Static Tempest itself by giving it the same treatment as TWF/Maelstrom has been suggested and discussed among the forum. But this thread will focus on a different issue of the RA - the imbalance of availability across the realms! I'm sure many of you have noticed it in actual gameplay that there is a difference in the amount of Static Tempest being used in ZvZ's and Tower/Keep fights in general.
With such a strong RA it is vital that the availability across the realms is equalized. If possible this means to have it on the same amount of characters who are also being used equally often in the game. Furthermore the surviveability of the class and its importance to the group itself play a factor. And here is where the game gets heavily imbalanced in the favor of one realm: Hibernia. (Sorry my wooden friends but it is true).
Not only does Hibernia have 2 characters with access to Static Tempest but they have also the most amount of active played characters with it. This really shows in any given fight when the BG's of Midgard or Albion clash together with Hibernia. Staying stunned in a Tower or Keep for a whole minute from multiple Hibernian Statics isn't a rare sight as both Champions and especially Mentalists are common classes in Hibernia. Here I have to give bonus points to the Champion who also has the beef to run-in and deliver its payload the easiest among all realms/classes with Static. The dangerous method of delivery is also why I have to give the Friar a minus point for being the only vital buff/heal/resi class that has to do this. For the other realms: Imagine your Warden/Bard or Shaman has to storm in first and thus likely die to enemy fire removing all resists, buffs and potential heals from your group.
I hope this give an overview on the current state ingame, now let us discuss how we can make it better!
Option1: Give each realm 2 characters with static tempest.
For Hibernia the classes are already set, Mentalist and Champion.
For Midgard I propose that the Runemaster gets access to Static Tempest together with the Thane.
For Albion I propose that the Wizard gets access to Static Tempest together with the Friar.
The reasons for the proposed classes are the following:
1. Trying to match a weaker caster class and a beefier melee-ish class together
2. Sticking with the original set we already have to reduce work (Thane, Friar, Champion, Mentalist)
3. Giving RA's to classes who don't have Maelstrom/TWF already.
4. Equality of character usage between realms.
5. Balance.
Option2: Take out the nerf hammer and remove access to Static Tempest on the Champion.
Reasons: The only super beefy melee class with access to Static Tempest who has the easiest time delivering the payload. Furthermore this should equalize the overall amount of availability while not totally screwing Hibernia. (Mentalists are much more common than Champions). It is also the easiest change with the smallest overall footprint on the current game balance.
Option3: Completely remodel which characters have access to Static Tempest. Basically Option1 without taking the current characters into consideration.
Reasons: Best possible balance outcome by completely redesigning which characters have access to Static Tempest based on how easy the characters can delivery the payload, their availability across the realms and their importance to the group in case of their death. However this will lead to the most amount of work and the biggest effect on the current balance so I only list this to have the set of options complete (I hardly doubt this will happen).
Well, that it is folks, thank you for reading let me know what you think!