Report 594

Report #594
Skillset: Starhymn Skill: AngelicHost
 Org: Cantors Status: Completed May 2011
Furies' Decision:
Lowered to 4p.
Problem: Right now, AngelicHost comes at a considerable cost - 5 power and the
loss of three stanzas of our song. It lasts for thirty seconds, and allows only
the caster's song effects to work on a target when deaf, essentially just saving
us from having to blanknote from time to time, with two exceptions: PerfectFifth
and Requiem aren't effected for balance issues. However, given the low ability
to afflict that our songs have in the first place, and the fact that we already
sacrifice either our high stanza effects entirely when using this, or waste the
short duration of AngelicHost's effect performing our song back up rather than
take advantage of it to afflict a target actively, the use of this ability comes
at a significant cost and doesn't really help a Cantor's offense at all.
Finally, it requires as a prerequisite to have certain song effects imbued in
our song (LoveCanticle, HopesCarol, MercifulSanctus, CrusaderCanto, and
LightCantata), which means we can't use other abilities which contribute more to
our offense (i.e. StarLight) at the same time.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Change AngelicHost to apply to Requiem when the
 target is deaf. That way, subjects can still escape
 Requiem by leaving the room, so we only get a small
 boost to our chance at getting a successful kill, and
 still at a very considerable cost. (8 power, or 11
 power if using PerfectFifth to keep the opponent in
 the room for long enough to even build up to a
 Requiem/AngelicHost kill. The power cost also means
 that PrincessFarewell can't be used at the same time,
 which is our main strategy for getting a successful
 Requiem in the first place.)
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Reduce the cost of AngelicHost.
Player Comments:
---[Wobou on 5/15 @ 07:28 writes]:
Solution 1 seems like a bit much, even for a large power cost removing a
requisite of your instakill is a pretty big deal. It essentially turns it into
judgement but I believe more things stop judgement than requiem so it'd be
particularly powerful in groups. Solution 2 seems fine, 5p does seem like a lot
given its other restrictions.
---[Senna on 5/16 @ 23:07 writes]:
Well, like I've already said, there's already several restrictions on the use of
AngelicHost - loss of stanzas, required imbued effects, and also the fact that
you're reliant on having your song up in order to pull off a Requiem in the
first place (i.e. Fugue can screw you up pretty badly), and on top of all that,
AngelicHost+Requiem costs 8 power, while Judgement only costs 5.
---[Nydekion on 5/16 @ 23:28 writes]:
Either of the two solutions is fine or even if perfect fifth worked with
angelichost and not requiem (obviously not both at the same time). Cantors
severely hinder their offensive potential by choosing to use angelichost so it
would make sense to grant some method for them to reach a kill state via this
ability. As it stands right now, a Cantor ends up hindering themselves more
often than not if they choose to use this ability.
---[Ixion on 5/17 @ 14:20 writes]:
Instakill while deaf, really now? Two things bards should not have is earache
persisting beyond insta conclusion time after bard regaining full balance, and
insta allowable while deaf, which is the curable counter to it. I see this as an
attempt to get guaranteed instakills effortlessly if the person can't or doesn't
leave the room.
---[Senna on 5/17 @ 15:59 writes]:
Leaving can be done once deaf, because it doesn't work with PerfectFifth, so
earwort is still a counter, not to mention gusting the bard out, forcing them to
unwield their instrument, and probably some other things that I'm forgetting to
mention here.
---[Asmodea on 5/18 @ 08:00 writes]:
At first glance this suggested change isn't all that worrisome. In a one vs one
battle it would still require a fair bit of setup to hinder your opponent in
order to hold them still while the requiem was sung. However, in a group
situation which is unfortunately 99% of fights these days, it would most
certainly be a guaranteed death to almost any fighter. If this was somehow to
come to pass, then I would suggest that a requiem could only be started should
the target actually be properly UNdeaf, not just infected with an angelichost.
So the Cantor couldn't start a requiem in any deaf state.
---[Senna on 5/18 @ 16:49 writes]:
I'm not really opposed to adding that condition to it, but I don't see how it
should be an issue, either... there's also no real reason to start a Requiem in
the first place when your target is under the effect of your AngelicHost but is
still deaf, because then PerfectFifth isn't holding them in the room for part of
the duration. If there's a worry that the earache duration is too long and
leaves too short a window to escape after earache wears off (though, again, I'd
like to point out that deafness and the ability to point a simple gust
enchantment are not related), then I'd propose an alternate solution, though the
report's finalized so I can't actually add it: reduce the cost of AngelicHost to
around 3 power, allow it to work with Requiem, and have it reduce the duration
of earache while a target is affected by it. Also, if it's felt necessary
because of the reduced power cost that a Cantor might run into a group fight and
stick it on multiple people, I don't see a problem with making it so a Cantor
can only have an AngelicHost on one target at a time.