Report 425

Report #425
Skillset: Skill: EgoScan
 Org: Paladins Status: Rejected Jul 2010
Furies' Decision:
We do not find this to be necessary.
Problem: Currently, there is no equivalent of Contemplation in Discernment for
seeing a player's ego. The ability that comes the closest to it is EgoScan in
Psionics. However, EgoScan consumes the balance of either the Substratus or
Superstratus channel, which neuters a third of the Psionics user's capabilities.
Because of this, in order for Telepaths to be effective, Discerning is a
necessity. Since Discerning is an ability that is 50% into Mythical in
Discernment, it makes it much more costly to get into combat.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Similar to the result of Report #375, move EgoScan to
 Discernment with a lesson cost similar to
 Contemplation. The mechanics for the new EgoScan
 would work the same as Contemplation, requiring all
 balances but consuming none.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Change EgoScan in Psionics to requiring all balances
 (balance, equilibrium, psi balances, etc) but
 consuming none.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #3: Same as Solution #1 but create a new ability instead
 of moving EgoScan.
Player Comments:
---[Fillin on 7/15 @ 14:37 writes]:
Not necessary in my opinion. You can get by well enough on egoscan until you get
discern, and even then sometimes it's handier to egoscan than discern.
---[Destridas on 7/15 @ 20:02 writes]:
I agree with Fillin that this is unnecessary unless you are suggesting that it
be used when all the other channels are off balance. Otherwise it would negate
100% of the Psionics offensive ability as opposed to just 33% using sub which is
the fastest channel to recover.
---[Inagin on 7/15 @ 21:48 writes]:
I think you misunderstood, Destridas. Requiring balances is not the same as
consuming it. As for Fillin's comment, I don't think many will agree that
EgoScan can be handier than Discerning.
---[Raeri on 7/16 @ 07:47 writes]:
I'd think it would go underused. Honestly, how often do psions have all their
channels back at the same time during combat? If you wait for all 3 channels,
you are treating sub and id balances as 6 seconds instead of 4, which is silly.
Hyperhydrosis was put in for that very reason. I don't believe this would be
necessary. And if it was, then warriors would probably end up wanting a
balanceless assess too.
---[Fillin on 7/16 @ 15:11 writes]:
Right. Egoscan allows for a more fluid offense in many situations, and skilled
telepaths have used it even though they have discern. Solutions 1 and 2 are
actually nerfs.
---[Inagin on 7/16 @ 16:22 writes]:
The point of checking on someone's ego is so that they can MindBurst.
Superstratus is a 6 second balance, so if the channel is off balance, there is
no need to check their ego in the first place (unless you're willing to make an
estimate after the Superstratus channel is available again). Raeri, they already
DO have a balanceless way to check ego: Discerning. The problem is the lesson
cost for it compared to wiccans/guardians who have a lesser ability,
Contemplation, that is much cheaper. But if you guys feel so strongly about
Solutions 1 and 2, what's wrong with Solution 3?
---[Raeri on 7/26 @ 13:00 writes]:
Something to consider is that if a Contemplate clone is created, people would
start spamming it during debates and such. With Discern, at least there's the
mana cost to limit the spamming of Discern.
---[Inagin on 7/26 @ 16:56 writes]:
It will require all balances to use. Since debating takes equilibrium, they will
only be able to use it between debates. Discern's mana cost is pretty
negligible, and can easily be regenerated while waiting for equilibrium to
recover from a debate attack. Also, if mana cost is a concern, perhaps a mana
cost can be added for this ability?