Report 779

Report #779
Skillset: Axelord Skill: None
 Org: Sentinels Status: Completed Feb 2012
Furies' Decision:
We will look into making cracked kneecap jab-only (heavy wounds) and shattered
ankle swing-only (heavy wounds).
Problem: Axelord is widely regarded as the weaker of the two-handed weapon
specialisations, mainly due to its lack of a heavy regen-cured proning wound
comparable to Pureblade's LegTendon. Though furthermore its arm-based heavy
affliction BreakArm is weaker than pureblade's CollapseNerve, and it is somewhat
lacking in gut afflictions, having only two to Pureblade's three, OpenGut at
light and SeverSpine at critical wounding. The following solutions are an
attempt to close the gap between Axelord and Pureblade effectiveness.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Lower SeverSpine from a critical to a heavy
 affliction, retaining the swing only component.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Provide ShatterAnkle to Axelords as a heavy swing
 affliction on legs.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #3: In addition to one of solutions 1 or 2, provide a new
 gut wound at medium wounding that has an effect
 similar to Shofangi's Kumaki ability. That is,
 essentially a weaker severspine delivering a
 paralysis curable with focus body. Suggested name
 maybe something like SlippedDisc, though diagnosing
 would just show paralysed, rather than a new
 affliction.
Player Comments:
---[Akui on 2/7 @ 17:43 writes]:
Axelord is a very awkward spec, with extreme, enviable potency and flexibility
in kill method at the highest end, but little to reccomend it before that. In
some ways, it creates an interesting feel that makes sense for flailing around
with a big axe. However, the most off putting aspect of it is the break limb
afflictions at heavy. Quick cures that aren't particularly hindering,
especially coming from an affliction-rate-limited two handed spec. If I were an
AL with Severspine at heavy, I would get as fast as I could, power assault to
the gut, knock down, and power assault to the gut again. However, I don't think
it's entirely out of line, and *so long as the swing component is retained*, it
would be managable after that point as the AL would be subjected to the RNG.
---[Akui on 2/7 @ 17:46 writes]:
Something else to consider- report 500 was rejected (give AL's mangles at heavy)
for being a bit to heavy handed. From re-reading it, the presumption seemed to
be that they would be getting mangles on a jab. What if we revisted that, and
gave ALs mangles as a heavy affliction, but made them swing requirements? It
seems like an interesting concept to me, having AL be 'more powerful' but be
more restricted by having its power based on swings- it would set the skillset
apart from PB that way, as well as give it a flavour that makes sense.
---[Shuyin on 2/9 @ 19:21 writes]:
Solution 2 and 3 has my vote. At the very least, do solution 2
---[Sidd on 2/9 @ 19:22 writes]:
I like solution 1, keeping it as a swing means that kd/strike gut for severspine
isn't a gurantee
---[Shedrin on 2/10 @ 05:16 writes]:
I like Solution 1 the most. Solution 3 doesn't seem like it'd be very helpful,
especially with the capability to use mantakaya. Solution 2 is decent as well.
---[Ushaara on 2/10 @ 12:59 writes]:
Solution 3 is mainly intended as a low wounding hinder alternative to knockdown,
while also adding some focus pressure to complement mana drain from clotting.
Sure you could use mantakaya for much the same effect, all this change would
allow you is to be able to use a different poison while still paralysing. That
said, if the admin are open to adding another affliction that allows its
stacking with mantakaya, even better for Axelords!
---[Xenthos on 2/12 @ 14:27 writes]:
Solution 2 is impossible at this point given that there is already a Heavy Leg
wound (Kneecap). Are you suggesting removing Kneecap entirely and replacing
with shatter ankle?
---[Ushaara on 2/12 @ 17:07 writes]:
Regarding Solution 2, Xenthos has informed me that there is a hard-coded
restriction on having two affs for the same body part, of the same attack type
at the same wound level. I was unaware of such a restriction when forming this
report, so if solution 2 is preferred, CrackKneecap would also require a change
to jab only affliction, rather than the jab + swing it is currently.
---[Ushaara on 2/16 @ 17:53 writes]:
A further comment since there has been some outside interest and apparent
confusion. ShatterAnkle does not sprawl by itself, but does prevent standing, so
would require a Knockdown -> ShatterAnkle progression to have any real effect.
In testing, Lilija as an aslaran with a 210 speed axe, was just able to land the
second hit before I was able to stand. Also, both SeverSpine and ShatterAnkle
are also cureable by allheale, so these solutions are still comparably weaker
than Pureblade's LegTendon, especially with the swing requirement.
---[Sidd on 2/22 @ 16:37 writes]:
I feel it necessary to point out that while shatterankle may be weaker than
tendon because it doesn't prone, PB doesn't have access to a lower wound prone
aff like AL does with KD. I think that's an important distinction to note. I'm
still a fan of solution 1.