Report 757

Report #757
Skillset: Music Skill: DiscordantChord
 Org: Harbingers Status: Completed Jan 2012
Furies' Decision:
We will investigate implementing some version of Solution 2.
Problem: DiscordantChord costs too much power for too little effect. The setup
and cost (3p octave, 3p pfifth, 2p majorseventh, 8p to dchord) have the feel of
an instakill but the effects fall far short. Magic is a common damage type from
the standpoint of available DMP - for the power cost, the damage just isn't good
enough. While the ~7 stun from a full dchord is decent, halving mana/ego is
almost counterproductive for a bard since we require the target to have those to
follow up with damage from minorsixth.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Have power spikes not figure into the power cost of
 utilizing discordantChord. A bard uses 2p to afflict
 with this, they should not have to pay another 2p to
 utilize the affliction. Change the message the bard
 sees when activating a full or partial dchord when
 executed. (Currently, power cost is our only
 indicator of how many afflictions they have when we
 attempt, and we do need to know the difference
 between a full and partial dchord.)
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: In addition to solution 1, buff damage by having a
 small portion, ~10% each, of the mana/ego loss on a
 full discordantChord trigger mana barbs/ego vice,
 allowing bards to capitalize somewhat on the mana/ego
 loss outside of groups.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #3: Have discordantChord cost 1p per auric affliction,
 instead of 2p.
Player Comments:
---[Rika on 1/15 @ 03:28 writes]:
Solution 2 or 3. This skill definitely feels like it requires the setup of an
instakill and at the very least the damage, power restrictions or both need to
be buffed to reflect how hard it is to pull this off. I don't feel the nature of
this skill will cause the changes proposed to make much, if any, impact in group
vs group situations, either.
---[Talan on 1/15 @ 03:48 writes]:
This issue was last raised in report 581 where suggestions to outright make it
an instakill, or else have the full mana/ego loss trigger manabarbs/egovice were
rejected. My preference is for solution 2, which incorporates solution 1. It
would address both the damage and power concerns in a meaningful way. Solution 3
would basically allow us to hit with it a second time, and/or hit with it
faster, allowing us to capitalize on it before they start curing the auric
afflictions while we sit there like dummies waiting for power.
---[Xenthos on 1/15 @ 23:22 writes]:
I like solution 1, possibly 2.
---[Llandros on 1/16 @ 18:28 writes]:
8p setup and 8p execution on something that requires sticking 4 afflictions,
which we can't track, while making sure we are on eq when earache ends to
prevent curing. Not to mention its hopeless if any passive curing is in play.
It's too much power and effort for too little. Decreasing the setup cost would
create a balance mess. The best solution would be to lower the cost of
discordant chord and or boost the effect. I support solution 3 with a damage
boost.
---[Draylor on 1/20 @ 09:20 writes]:
Will have to pretty much reiterate what has already been said here, but I am
also of the mind that the power usage here could definitely use some revision. I
would be in support of solution 2 or 3 here. Solution 1 is fine, although
ascertaining whether a full chord was hit or not is trivial and easily
accomplished with a single line of code. That said, inclusion of a line for this
would certainly not go amiss.
---[Wobou on 1/24 @ 15:54 writes]:
Solution 1 or solution 2 sounds good.