Report 1369

Report #1369
Skillset: Illusions Skill: Illusion
 Org: Spiritsingers Status: Completed Jul 2015
Furies' Decision:
A syntax to allow targeting illusions will be added.
Problem: This is not so much a "problem" as it is a quality of life change.
Using illusion solo and having it hit an entire room can be useful, not so much
when you are in groups. As it is the "bread and butter" of Illusionists I
propose the following change(s)
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: For double the cost in mana the Illusionist can focus
 their illusion on a single target. I.E WEAVE ILLUSION
 [FOCUS] [target] <illusion text>
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: The same as Solution 1 except instead of using mana
 have it cost 1 power to focus the illusion on a
 single target.
Player Comments:
---[Synkarin on 7/2 @ 03:40 writes]:
Not really a fan of this report. I've always viewed the the fact that everyone
but you seeing illusions as the cost to using them. It makes using them a risk.
Being able to focus illusions would grant far too much power with very little
cost. Though I don't think it'd be used at 1p per illusion, it would be used a
lot at double mana cost.
---[Elanorwen on 7/2 @ 14:49 writes]:
I'd personally like to see the illusion mechanic go away from combat altogether
and don't see a reason for this report to go in with either solution.
---[Tanin on 7/2 @ 21:41 writes]:
I have to agree with the two previous comments. I would rather see a rework of
illusions altogether into something more useful than what it currently is and
remove the illusion mechanic.
---[Celina on 7/2 @ 23:47 writes]:
Supported. I don't see a lot of value in illusions anymore, but that does not
warrant opposition to this report. If an envoy wants to replace illusions, that
envoy needs to do something useful and envoy a replacement. Not oppose reports
on that premise alone.
---[Llandros on 7/3 @ 01:14 writes]:
Reduce group combat spam you say? Supported.
---[Jaamil on 7/3 @ 06:47 writes]:
Delete Illusions for something more useful of a set for combat.
---[Marcella on 7/3 @ 10:55 writes]:
Illusions as a set isn't bad because colourmaelstrom, fascinate, maze, transfix,
phantomspheres(well not GOOD but still viable sometimes) the things in glamours
and phantasms are good. The problem is ILLUSION itself that people don't like.
Just replace that or make the set more powerful to compensate for the loss of
it compared to other terts and it'd be fine.
---[Enyalida on 7/6 @ 15:53 writes]:
I don't think this is worth a slot, but support solution 1 for roleplay reasons:
single line illusions are almost entirely useless for combat nowadays. I agree
that combat illusions should be phased out wherever possible in favor of
mechanics that do not rely explicitly in exploiting system code deficiencies.
---[Allehnon on 7/10 @ 04:23 writes]:
Opposing a report because you dislike the skillset is not, in my opinion, a
valid opposition. Provide a reasonable objection and I will take it to heart.
That being said, mechanics that exploit systems were put in many years ago by
Sarapis because of the very existance of systems. There is quite a good article
written by Sarapis about combat, from back in the day, discussing his views on
what he felt combat should be like/is like, and the ever growing availability of
systems and as more complex systems come into play, so to did ways of exploiting
systems via skill(sets). This was not needed when manual curing was all anyone
did. Illusions, may be slowly phasing out as more systems learn to manage them,
and in other games where server side curing makes them already obsolete, but in
the meantime this is what we have and I see no reason why it can't be made more
viable. If double mana is to low a cost, in regards to Synkarin's objection,
then I would not be opposed to even 3 times the cost.
---[Shuyin on 7/11 @ 00:17 writes]:
I would much rather delete illusions entirely, it's an outdated mechanic that is
quickly going to be removed once serverside curing is fully implemented into
here. Barring that, I would prefer that illusions require a target and
declaration by DEFAULT, making them single target.
---[Lerad on 7/11 @ 00:56 writes]:
Illusions raise the bar of entry in terms of system building proficiency that
doesn't add anything to a new player's experience, or a veteran's enjoyment of
the game. Illusions also create problems with balancing skillsets because of
their variable effects, making buffs difficult to justify due to its unreliable
potential to sometimes shutdown entire systems in a way that has nothing to do
with player skill, and thereby crippling skillsets that utilize illusions by
denying them actual afflicting or damaging mechanics. It doesn't matter which
solution is implemented, so I support any of them. In the meantime, removing
illusions as soon as possible will be for the best.
---[Synkarin on 7/23 @ 21:42 writes]:
3 times the cost isn't sufficient either, a basic illusions costs a piddly 25m.
75m to target it is nothing. It needs to be an actually significant cost and not
something that doesn't matter. I could get behind 10x (250m) per targetted
illusion maybe
---[Rivius on 7/24 @ 20:40 writes]:
I agree with others who wish to see a movement away from illusions as a
mechanic. However, assuming such a thing is not in the cards, I see no reason to
oppose this report outright. However, I'll also echo that raising the mana cost
as proposed in solution 1 is not a real cost to begin with. I believe that the
benefit of avoiding the described problem should come with a more tangible cost.
I prefer solution 2 plus a mana cost of at least 200.
---[Viynain on 7/25 @ 05:29 writes]:
Like others have commented, the eventual implementation of server-side curing
renders this mechanic useless unless it were specifically coded to fool even
that. Otherwise, if decided to be kept, I'd like to see the change up to make
illusions single target and declare-activated by DEFAULT to further cut down
combat spam. Adding in additional costs is fine, but I'd also like the
implementation of the /n mechanic to better make the illusions a more viable
option against event the most basic curing systems.