Report 125

Report #125
Skillset: Psychometabolism Skill: Mindfield
 Org: Tahtetso Status: Completed Jan 2009
Furies' Decision:
We will prevent allies from being hit.
Problem: Mindfield is one of those skills which appear to be useful, but in
actual practice tends to have the opposite effect. As a locked skill it should
actually discourage scriers, yet due to the slight damage it gives it instead
tends to have the opposite result of provoking people to do additional scrying
(sort of Is that your best shot I can sit her all day and eat this damage). In
addition, it also attacks allies which results in calls for people to not use
the skill. As mindfield has a damage component, it should presumably be a
deterrent or be changed.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: A) Remove damage from hitting allies. B) Remove the
 ability to scry for 10 minutes if the person rescries
 within three minutes.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: A) Remove damage from hitting allies. B) Add in an
 effect to reduce max health by 10% for 10 minutes.
 Lower maxhealth by an additional 10% per additional
 scries (all on their own separate 10 minute timer).
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #3: None
Player Comments:
---[Romero on 1/14 @ 18:43 writes]:
I see the need for not letting it hit allies but for the types of things you are
asking is just too far out there. 10% maxhealth reduction for scrying?
Personally I am going to scry whether I am hit with damage or not, and its not
that it 'provokes' people, its that I am searching for someone and you might be
it. 10 minutes? Do you know the damage that can be dealt in 10 minutes of no
scry? Perhaps 30 seconds at best. Or maybe a longer eq time. But your current
suggestions are just too much.
---[Nydekion on 1/14 @ 19:00 writes]:
I'm in agreement with Romero, having it not hit allies is reasonable but the
rest seems excessive for the skill as it is currently suggested.
---[Nejii on 1/16 @ 02:23 writes]:
Mindfield ought to be a serious deterrent to scrying. As Romero has already
observed he's going to spam farscout anyway. Lowering max health only matters if
he's going to jump someone right after. Solution 1 (with a sufficiently long
duration) is good though. Or stealing a few reserves on scry, -that- might be
more annoying. Note that the power-stealing would be totally unfair for psi
damage so it would have to have a lesser effect for that as it does now.
---[Synl on 1/16 @ 04:48 writes]:
The issue I have with solution 1 is that there is no warning given. Perhaps if
it activated if you scried twice in the span of x seconds (with the first time
making you aware of the mindfield active). I don't know, Mindfield in general,
while a cool idea, just doesn't seem like it can be balanced out to be both
effective in its intended goal and not outright overpowered/stupid. Probably
best to just change the ability entirely.
---[Nejii on 1/16 @ 10:36 writes]:
I don't think mindfield could ever be overpowered simply because it's so easy to
not get hit by it.