Report 1785

Report #1785
Skillset: Harmony Skill: Akhooshlumang
 Org: Celest Status: Completed Aug 2017
Furies' Decision:
Solution 2
Problem: Akhooshlumang is a mantra combination in Harmony that causes a "vitals
scramble" meaning that it will display random values whenever you are
assessed/contemplated/discerned. The effect is a passive one with the right
mantra chanted, and lasts for as long as the mantras stay locked. This
essentially provides a hard-counter to many vital based instakills since the
target can never accurately gauge where the victim stands, it turns into a
guessing game. This is easier to achieve with some classes than others, but all
classes usually have a degree of difficulty accurately estimating when a monk is
in kill range. Currently, the vitals scramble effect has 0 counter-play, is a
general hassle, especially since it is only available to northern monks. This
report aims to introduce solutions that limit the range of the skill, as well as
provide clear cut lines for counter-play to a monk who chooses to use it.
[A: 9 R: 1] Solution #1: Change the skill to a 1-2p activatable skill. The
 effect is 60s of vital scramble (as it works now).
 The skill will have a cooldown of 120s after the
 scramble effect fades. The skill will still use the
 same mantra combo to use.
[A: 7 R: 2] Solution #2: Vitals scramble works as-is. Allow disruption scroll
 to interrupt the vitals scrambling effect for 10~15s.
 The harmony user is then immune to being blocked by
 disrupt for 20~30s (double of whatever the scramble
 duration is). The immunity is only against blocking
 the vitals scramble (and not psionic channels) The
 disruption will ONLY strip the passive vital scramble
 effect (it will not unlock any mantras or work on
 other harmony passive effects). If the monk is a
 psymet user, it will block vitals scramble if it is
 active AND unlock a psionic channel as it usually
 does. Alternatively, could add a syntax modifier to
 specifically target harmony when reading disruption
 at someone and only unlock one or the other.
[A: 0 R: 8] Solution #3: Remove vitals scramble current effect and replace it
 with "Being assessed/contemplated/discerned by an
 enemy costs the enemy 1 power". This effect can only
 proc once per 12s. Add a message when the monk is
 discerned/assessed/contemplated, something to the
 effect of "As you attempt to discern @tar, a sense of
 balance and calmness pervades you." Same mantra
 combo, still a passive effect
Player Comments:
---[Anelissa on 8/10 @ 14:47 sets as pending]
---[Anelissa on 8/10 @ 14:55 writes]:
Wanted to discuss the line of thinking behind the various solutions. My goal was
to attempt to either provide clear windows of opportunity against a monk that
uses this skill, or provide counterplay against the skill, or to change the
skill entirely. Sol1 provides a clear window for the monk and the defender. Once
the defender realizes the effect is active, they will be able to semi-guess when
the effect will fade, and then prepare their offense accordingly to take
advantage of the 2 minute window when they know the skill will be down. This
method also provides a bit more strategy for the monk, as they can activate it
at will, but can't keep it up forever. It would be best to use it when your
nearing the danger-zone, and you would be able to switch away from it once you
activate it (much like how you can switch away from the wind combo or the prism
combo when you don't need it). This would also promote more power usage (if even
just a little bit) as you'll likely want to highchant to use it properly. Sol2
provides a method to counter the mantra itself, with a method that anyone has
access to. The window is short, but is still usable in 1v1 or groups to ensure
you get an accurate reading when you think you are ready to kill. There is still
a bit of guesswork as to when you should use the disrupt, but it still allows
for accurate readings. Sol3 is a complete change to how the skill works. It
still keeps the spirit of the anti-discern, while removing the 0 counterplay and
guesswork the skill currently forces.
---[Veyils on 8/10 @ 15:17 writes]:
I really like the sound of solution 1 at first glance. Gives the monk a strong
anti % vital defense but requires timing to use it right and can be maintained
1/3 of the time.
---[Veyils on 8/10 @ 15:42 writes]:
Solution 3 would be a big buff to the skill against monks and warriors who tend
not to care about this ability at all but now would have to restrict their
assessing to conserve power.
---[Shedrin on 8/10 @ 18:45 writes]:
I use disruption scroll fairly regularly against psymet monks 1v1, so Solution 2
could work, though it's longer to reraise psionics vs Harmony. I propose another
adjustment. Instead of showing a random number for the current and max of each
vital, show something a message like "As you attempt to discern @tar a sense of
balance and calmness pervades you." (Obviously something written better than
that). This would prevent wasting the power and equilibrium from auto-kill
triggers.
---[Shedrin on 8/10 @ 22:21 writes]:
To be clear, that would be in addition to any other solution.
---[Tarken on 8/11 @ 11:08 writes]:
I like solution 1 with Shedrin's caveat, covers most of the bases I think.
---[Veyils on 8/14 @ 14:32 writes]:
I dont think we need a sign post line telling us that the enemy has the ability
up when we discern them. I'm totally fine with it functioning exactly as it does
now so you discern/assess and have to guess they have it by seeing the crazy
random vitals. Wasting power from misjudged abilities is ok with me.
---[Anelissa on 8/14 @ 14:33 writes]:
In all honesty, I am a bit against Shedrin's suggestion. Reason being is that a
large draw of the skill is to draw the enemy to use power if they are actually
fooled. Secondly, with Sol1, since we are adding a window, showing a message
that is essentially "this person has activated vital scramble" makes it way too
easy to just set a temp timer for 60s and then just go on the defensive and wait
it out or what have you. Without it, it's still up to the victim to figure out
scramble has been activated (which really isn't that hard), and react
accordingly.
---[Anelissa on 8/14 @ 14:38 writes]:
That said, I'm not going to add Shedrin's caveat to my solutions, but if there
is approval for it, please add it to the comments so the admin can see that this
is preferred
---[Anelissa on 8/14 @ 14:47 writes]:
Correction, added Shedrin's caveat to Sol3, as I feel that is fair. The rest
will have to be sol4'd by admin if there is enough support behind it
---[Ejderha on 8/17 @ 01:10 writes]:
I do not like Sol3 at all. I think Sol2 is reasonable - add some counterplay
against a strong skill. I think I would prefer the syntax option, so as not to
penalize psymet more than acro monks. Sol1 seems overly harsh. There is already
opportunity cost for mantras and power cost for highchanting (effectively a
power tax for deathtouch, mantra wind etc.) Adding a power cost AND reducing
uptime to 33% is too much IMO. Sol1 with no power cost still costs 2 power to
highchant in and out. Making it a total of 3-4 power with 1/3 the uptime is a
huge hit. Not clear if activation costs bal/eq. I cannot support Sol1 as
currently written.
---[Veyils on 8/27 @ 23:24 writes]:
Solution 1 and 2 sound generally good to me. Solution 1 would make the skill the
stronger defense to vitals kills than solution 2 but would require smart use on
the monks side. Solution 2 would be the weaker defense, would the least effort
on the monks side and add in a minor step to vital killers offense. Solution 1
is my pref as I feel it'd be the stronger skill overall but I can happily
support solution 2 as well.