Report 168

Report #168
Skillset: Stealth Skill: Blowgun
 Org: Nekotai Status: Completed Apr 2009
Furies' Decision:
We will reduce the balance cost.
Problem: Blowguns at the moment are never used because a single poison every 4s
is simply ineffective at ranged (especially as that poison is subject to
shrugging, as Stealth has no way to lower shrug rate). When in the same room,
Blowguns become more useless as a monk can simply attack with forms to get two
poison hits in for less balance than it takes to shoot a dart. Another issue is
that Blowguns comprise three abilities in Nekotai, and all three abilities
remain useless. Obscure adds 2s onto the balance, so the dart ends up costing 6
seconds of balance.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Change darts to only require and use armbalance. So
 shooting a dart would take rarm balance, and the monk
 could shoot another which would then take larm
 balance. This solves the issue of Blowgun being
 useless in same-location situations, as the monk can
 focus on shooting two darts combined with a kick-only
 form. Essentially, the monk trades arm
 wounding/damage/affliction for a more powerful kick.
 Or a single dart with arm/leg form. You get the idea.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Remove the balance addition from Aim and Obscure. 4s
 of balance is already rather high for a single
 affliction, especially as it is from range. 6 seconds
 is just laughable. Also, make Obscure mask the
 dart/poison entirely. This solves the issue with
 Blowguns being useless at range.
Player Comments:
---[Nejii on 4/22 @ 04:26 writes]:
Blowguns would have to have a hefty ka cost if you wanted to do this. What do
you mean by "masking the dart"? Making the person completely unaware they've
been afflicted full stop? If so, no. If just the poison aff, maybe.
---[Sidd on 4/23 @ 18:54 writes]:
Blowguns do not need a ka cost because they a) cost more balance than normal arm
attacks (4s as base) and b) basic monk attacks (ie. Nekai) cost only 75 ka but
also do wounding and damage. With Solution 1, Blowgun would be trading a second
of arm-balance, damage + wounding FOR 75-150 ka. With Solution 2, a masked
affliction at range (Obscure can only be used at range) every 4 seconds is
really nothing to worry about - you aren't being hit by anything else."
---[Ceren on 4/28 @ 03:30 writes]:
Most people still probably wouldn't bother with solution 1 since, as Sidd said,
they're still very slow compared to weapon attacks. Solution 2 is better I
think, though I'd say it should have a generic masked message rather than being
totally invisible (that may be what you meant anyway).