Report 568

Report #568
Skillset: Poisons Skill: Mactans
 Org: Aquamancers Status: Rejected Mar 2011
Furies' Decision:
We do not find this to be necessary.
Problem: The mactans poison (and indeed, generic freezing skills) generally tend
to beunwieldy to use in combat due to its quick cure(s), limited efficacy, and
difficulty in ascerning how frozen a target actually is quickly. It can take
only 1.5 seconds to go from fully frozen to fully cured with cold protection
using generally available potions only (allheale and fire potion). For power-
intensive abilities that can utilize this poison (sap, preserve, etc),
attempting to use this affliction in a meaningful way ends up being a power-
heavy shot-in-the-dark with only a slim window to succeed in.
Solution #1: Allow discerning, assessing, and contemplation in the discernment
 skillset to show how frozen a target is in addition to its
 current effect. Perhaps have the additional information require
 the relevant skills (sap or preserve) or skillsets.
Solution #2: Give a third-party message for how frozen a target is at the
 moment a chills affliction is delivered. Perhaps have this be
 toggleable via keeneye in combat.
Solution #3:
Player Comments:
---[Raeri on 3/17 @ 11:34 writes]:
Based on the rejected reports trying to do this kind of thing for aurics in
Octave to help DiscordantChord, I don't see this happening.
---[Nydekion on 3/17 @ 12:41 writes]:
Eh, the report on octave gave a third party message upon curing the exact auric
given not at the point of affliction. In addition, aurics wouldn't be an easily
noticeable physical effect whereas someone turning blue and shivering from
hypothermia (similar to the messages given when icefloe hits) should be fairly
obvious with casual observation. similar to how one can easily see if someone is
paralyzed.
---[Raeri on 3/18 @ 07:03 writes]:
Is there a similar thing available for burns/ablaze?
---[Iytha on 3/18 @ 09:12 writes]:
@Raeri: Pyrotoxin gives a small amount of burns and some damage. No ablaze
affliction. I've already put up an report to this effect for burns in pyromancy
(report 498, solution 2), but I wouldn't object to a similar treatment here if
that is rejected/another solution is used.
---[Iasmos on 3/20 @ 10:20 writes]:
If solution one is implemented, it should not require special abilities to see
the status. However, I'm not in favor of augmenting any of those abilities in
this way. Solution two, if anything. However, there is an artifact monocle for
diagnosing your target, so there is a method of discerning this already, albeit
an expensive one.
---[Nydekion on 3/20 @ 10:28 writes]:
I'm certainly open to suggestions on how else it would be best to present that
type of information without requiring special abilities. I intentionally didn't
include regular "look" at a person because that can end up being far too messy
dealing with descriptions/equipment for a quick status in the midst of combat.