Report 1229

Report #1229
Skillset: Music Skill: Octave
 Org: Cacophony Status: Completed Oct 2013
Furies' Decision:
We'll investigate the feasibility of solution 3, though this may not be possible
due to the method in which octave is tracked (on the player, rather than the
room).
Problem: So bards are pretty solid as an archetype but have had one constant
frustration. Their most reliable kill method progression can be entirely reset
by a simple gust enchantment. I believe there should be a counter, and making
bards gust proof is ridiculous. I think we can make this a little less painful
though.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Have PLAY OCTAVE SEMPRE give the bard a buff called
 musicality or something that lasts for 20 seconds and
 reduces the power cost of the next octave used from 3
 to 1 and a 33% reduction in the buildup time for
 octave to activate. The follow up octave would not
 trigger a new buff. This still allows for gust spam
 but makes it a little less effective.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Solution 1 but reduce the eq time of octave by 33%
 instead of the buildup time.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #3: Have octave persist for 1.5 seconds after the bard
 holding it has left the room. This will allow the
 bard to jump back in the room if gusted out but allow
 a well-timed gust when the bard is off eq/balance to
 still kill it.
Player Comments:
---[Llandros on 10/2 @ 14:37 writes]:
So just an FYI, Octave has a power cost and uses eq. After it is used there is a
5 second delay while octave builds up before it takes effect. Open to
suggestions.
---[Thoros on 10/2 @ 22:34 writes]:
I don't see any problems with octave as is. It's pretty easy to throw walls up
around you prior to stop being gusted away.
---[Synkarin on 10/3 @ 00:19 writes]:
How many people really want to wander into a room prepped with octave and walls?
Not to mention that it's pretty easy to have a simple ignite enchant, ignite a
wall, then gust when you need to. Wall maintenance is crazy easy to disrupt.
---[Llandros on 10/3 @ 04:20 writes]:
This is more than just about octave. It's having to restart the chain that costs
11 power and takes about 9 actions, more if they cure any aurics or fight back.
All from 1 forced movement. This makes getting back into the fight -slightly-
less painful. Walls are not always a viable option. It's unrealistic to expect
bards to focus on wall erection/maintenance and focus on chasing earwort and
focus on auric tracking and focus on staying alive.
---[Enyalida on 10/3 @ 04:26 writes]:
Any changes to octave in this way should only be active if the bard is gusted
out, not if another bard counter octaves them. I also think the power cost
reduction should be less extreme, only one of the aurics costs any power, and
it's ultimatly not that much power for what it does. Speeding up time for
subsequent octaves to activate should also only work in the room of the original
octave, but that's alright.
---[Akyaevin on 10/6 @ 06:11 writes]:
Remember that discordantchord itself costs six or eight power for a useful hit.
---[Talan on 10/6 @ 16:42 writes]:
I still like the idea of the octave effect sticking around in the room for a few
seconds after the bard is gusted, meaning it wouldn't fade if the bard returned
immediately. The proposed solutions help somewhat with getting started, but
ultimately won't have much effect if a person is determined to keep gusting.
---[Llandros on 10/7 @ 18:10 writes]:
If you use p5, and you should, it is 6p to even make an attempt. Then another 8p
to finish. The upfront cost is too much considering the ease of resetting the
chain. Making it harder to block presents balance issues. Saving 2 power every
other attempt on a power heavy chain is not extreme, at all.
---[Wobou on 10/12 @ 17:37 writes]:
I'll support solution 1, eq reductions are fairly powerful so I don't support
solution 2. I'd also support Talan's idea of having octave stay up for a few
seconds after the bard leaves.
---[Llandros on 10/14 @ 14:06 writes]:
Solution 3 added
---[Talan on 10/16 @ 02:23 writes]:
Solution 3 supported!
---[Shuyin on 10/16 @ 02:55 writes]:
Report 355 already tried solution 3. Didn't work, but I think that's the best
choice of the ones presented here. But TBH, I'd try to approach things
differently instead of reporting the same thing over and over and hope it works
(necro ghost, greatrobes, and now this)
---[Llandros on 10/16 @ 13:49 writes]:
Solution 3 was not originally included because of report 355. However 355 is
pretty convoluted and overreaching. Keeping the time very short makes mindless
gust spam less effective without touching more strategic uses. That's the theory
anyway. Unfortunately spamming gust might be the only option for people with
high summon resistance.
---[Wobou on 10/18 @ 02:44 writes]:
I'd also support solution 3.
---[Enyalida on 10/20 @ 23:37 writes]:
Solution 3 is fine.