Report 1364

Report #1364
Skillset: Paradigmatics Skill: Polarity
 Org: Illuminati Status: Completed Jul 2015
Furies' Decision:
We will investigate the code viability of solution 1. If it is infeasible,
solution 2 will be implemented in its stead.
Problem: Polarity has been changed to an ability that switches the user's buffs
and resist values for a given damage type. The issue is that most defenses/buffs
either end up being of relatively equal value and that buffs/defenses to certain
damage types (such as psychic) have historically been difficult to acquire,
therefore, by extension, polarity ends up not being as useful. Gaudiguch's
favored damage types are fire and psychic, so having one of our primary damage
types being difficult to strengthen is an issue. This is not ideal given that
the intended application for this skill is to shore up weaknesses or boost
offense.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Change polarity to an ability that boosts a specified
 damage type and value (ex: fire resist) by taking it
 from the same damage type's opposite value (ex: fire
 buff), thereby reducing the latter to 0. EX: I
 currently have 4/10 fire buff and 6/10 fire resist,
 if I SHIFT POLARITY BUFF FIRE, I will have 10/10 fire
 buff and 0/10 fire resist. This is subject to caps
 and will not conserve any differences due to hitting
 said cap. EX: I have 9/10 fire buff and 6/10 fire
 resist. If I SHIFT POLARITY BUFF FIRE, I will have
 10/10 fire buff and 0/10 fire resist, nothing is
 conserved.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Change polarity to an ability that switches the
 values of 2 different damage types. EX: I have 2
 psychic buff and 10 fire buff, if I SWITCH POLARITY
 BUFF PSYCHIC FIRE, I will then have 10 psychic buff
 and 2 fire buff. It should be impossible to switch
 values under this suggestion, i.e., I can't switch
 fire buff with psychic resist. Buffs to buffs,
 resists to resists.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #3: Same as solution 1, but only allow swapping universal
 resistances and buffs.
Player Comments:
---[Shuyin on 7/11 @ 00:20 writes]:
Additional solutions welcome. I really prefer solution 1.
---[Lerad on 7/11 @ 01:07 writes]:
Amongst the listed solutions, solution 1 has my support. It creates a clear
weakness (lowered resistance) in return for its effects. However, it should be
kept in mind that while old polarity created a weakness that is universally
known (lowered mana for Templars who were seeking to boost their strength) the
proposed effects here do not - the opponents will never know if the
paradigmatics user is using polarity to lower the resistance of a damage type
they can use, or not. My suggestion for a solution 3: The same as solution 1,
except that it swaps universal resistances to buffs, or viceversa. So it's
either SHIFT POLARITY BUFF or SHIFT POLARITY RESISTANCE, and all universal
resistances will go to buffs or viceversa. This has the advantage of allowing
specific damage type resists/buffs to continue to boost the Paradigmatics user's
resists/buffs, but it will also allow every opponent to take advantage of the
drop in resistance. Furthermore, it also equalized the usefulness (and
weaknesses) for both Illuminati and Templar users of the ability.
---[Celina on 7/13 @ 01:37 writes]:
I like Lerad's idea. Solution 1 isn't terrible either.
---[Jaamil on 7/16 @ 16:24 writes]:
I get a feeling that would be a bit strong specifically fire and psychic damages
are pretty sick for the general populace without decent/fair resists to those
two types more or less. I think the psychic damage itself is a bit much compared
to the other damage types. I'm not in favor of either.
---[Shuyin on 7/16 @ 21:28 writes]:
I disagree purely because divinus exists. Further, these ideas have a clear
weakness. If I am smacking you with super destro, I weaker to the same thing.
---[Kaimanahi on 7/19 @ 15:11 writes]:
I support Lerad's solution, for two distinct reasons. First, it should be all or
nothing. Being able to pick an element type exclusively makes this strong in
most scenarios without any tradeoff (i.e., choosing a damage type that you do
not use, like electricity or magical). Second, limiting it to universal types
will keep the possibilities within reason, especially for a zero-power virtuoso
skill, and will reaffirm that this is a tradeoff, not a definitive buff. The
design and intent of this skill didn't seem to be about shoring up weaknesses or
boosting offense as posed in the problem statement, but rather more about
trading offense for defense, or previously health for mana, so I do not support
the solutions as currently stated.
---[Shuyin on 7/19 @ 17:07 writes]:
P.S. Solution 3 is what you're looking for then. Which is also fine by me!
---[Kaimanahi on 7/19 @ 17:16 writes]:
Sorry if I'm confusing the issue, but can you clarify that Sol 3 will apply the
change for all damage types, and not just as-specified to one damage type per
Solution 1?
---[Shuyin on 7/19 @ 17:29 writes]:
Solution 3 will just move universal resist values to buffs and vice-versa. EX:
If I SHIFT POLARITY BUFF, all my universal resists will go into buffs. If I have
3/10 universal buff and 9/10 universal resist, I will have 10/10 universal buff
and 0/10 universal resist. Nothing else gets tampered with, only universals.
---[Rivius on 7/24 @ 21:01 writes]:
The truth is, I'm not sure the trades proposed here create a significant enough
drawback. The application of the skill's benefits and disadvantages are
completely within the user's control. If he believes he's going to be soaking a
lot of damage and attacking less often, he'll polarity resistances and not
really lose out on anything since he wasn't planning on damaging much to begin
with. If he primarily wanted to work on damage kills and feels confident he
won't be a main target, he'll always polarity buffs. Otherwise, he could use
neither with no worries. I feel like the 'drawback' is really just one we'll see
on paper that doesn't apply in situations it'll actually be used in. My example
of a real drawback would be that polarity buff would move universal resistances
to buff, but cause subtraction from 0 resistances. So if you had 4/10 universal
buffs and 6/10 universal resists and did polarity buff, you would have 10/10
universal buffs and -6/10 universal resistances.
---[Viynain on 7/25 @ 05:31 writes]:
Solution 1.
---[Shuyin on 7/25 @ 21:56 writes]:
Considering that even the old polarity didn't exactly make you weaker either,
I'm not sure I'm keen to introduce this based off a feeling that the weakness
isn't enough to your liking. Of course, I am willing to re-examine should we
need to after this goes in. Still fine with solution 1 or 3.
---[Jaamil on 7/29 @ 22:40 writes]:
Hm.. yeah, no. I'm still not supportive of this.