Report 1094

Report #1094
Skillset: Loralaria Skill: Crystalsong
 Org: Symphonium Status: Rejected May 2013
Furies' Decision:
We do not feel this is necessary. Note that it is intentional that it is
unfeasible to change gems mid-combat (doesn't stop you from changing your songs
though, at all). If specific gem effects need addressing, please envoy those
individually.
Problem: Currently, it costs a significant amount of equilibrium and one power
to imbue your instrument with a crystal. Other bards can change their song on
the fly once it is sung by using COMPOSE SONG STANZA (number) IMBUE (SKILL).
However, Loralaria depend upon empowered gems to direct their songs so we lose
out on this capability. To change your empowered song currently takes 6
balances, and 3 power.
Solution #1: Create a syntax Attach|detach (gem1) (gem2) (gem3) to
 (instrument). Remove the balance cost for detaching gems so that
 it only takes one balance to change your gem setup
Solution #2: Solution 1 and remove the balance cost for attaching gems. This
 would bring it in line with other bards but still have a
 powercost for doing so.
Player Comments:
---[Llandros on 5/14 @ 15:24 writes]:
Opposed. Changing out powers and gems are very different. When the skill came
out solution 1 would have cost 30 power which is a pretty clear indicator it was
not designed to work on the fly. When this came up before the reduction in power
was to make it a little more flexible but still not something you would change
mid fight.
---[Kregarn on 5/15 @ 23:52 writes]:
Opposed for the reasons above. This is an entirely different mechanic than any
other bard guild has. Saying "This would bring it in line with other bards" is a
huge misnomer as no one has the ability to boost specific song abilities. I'm of
the opinion that Loralaria has the ability to too quickly lock and kill someone
with minimal effort and being able to quickly change out what is being boosted
is simply a buff for buff's sake. You have the ability to change out your song
imbues just like any other bard guild already and don't need this extra help. I
believe that Crystalsong was meant to be something you do between battles to
change your role not something you do on the fly in order to make your killing
work better.
---[Xenthos on 5/16 @ 00:01 writes]:
Is there any compelling reason why Loralaria needs the ability to switch the
"extra bonus effects" part of its song so easily? I will note that this is not
changing the song on the fly (which the Symphonium can do just like any other
guild), but instead being able to swap out the (in some cases very) powerful
bonuses- even putting it all into an attack alias so that you can always benefit
from whatever bonus you need at that precise moment.
---[Shuyin on 5/16 @ 01:01 writes]:
Not necessary. I share Xenthos' concerns.
---[Ushaara on 5/16 @ 15:19 writes]:
I think the strengths of a symphonist's empowered songs are being overplayed.
From my perspective it is only when they -are- gemmed that they reach the level
of other bard guild songs. What I think is creating the perception of Loralaria
being overpowered is that systems haven't yet caught up to respond to
Dramaturgy's afflicting and ability to hide lusting, which is a problem with
Dramaturgy, not Loralaria. In my experience, keeping metawake up and rejecting
the symphonist completely neuters Loralaria, no matter how their song has been
gemmed. Also, with near all of their gemmed songs having a % based aspect, and
the only 'watch out' song requiring the target be lusted to use, I disagree that
this change would allow them to 'always benefit from whatever bonus you need.' 6
balances and 3p to change from a bashing setup to a combat setup is overkill.
Solution #1 supported.
---[Viynain on 5/17 @ 02:19 writes]:
Likewise, I find no compelling reason to make the bonus effect of songs as
easily accessible as the regular effects all other bards have and are capped at.
---[Tulemrah on 5/28 @ 04:00 writes]:
Solution one supported. Let's keep in mind that skills are usually balanced
around the strongest end, which results in LoralAria's effects being on the
underpowered side if not boosted by a gem. Most of its strategies require
specific gems, and changing strategy means you -have- to change gems. I think
being able to do so during a lull in battle is closer to the flexibility other
bard guilds have. The balance time for attaching a gem is 5 seconds, so it's not
as if they will be able to change gems before every attack, even if they're
willing to use the power. Solution one will cut the time to change gems from 30
seconds to 5. I feel like this is perfectly reasonable.
---[Kregarn on 5/31 @ 20:08 writes]:
I'm still not convinced by the arguments of Ushaara and Tulemrah in support of
this change. Loralaria has a passive lust and two other ways for lust to
afflicted through tertiaries. While it may "neuter" the Symphonist, it also
neuters the opponent in having to reject every few seconds. Also, the argument
that "many" of the imbued powers have a percent based chance is not entirely
true. There are two that I can tell certainly have a percent based chance to be
enhanced by a a gem attached. One is the lust song which has a chance to land
peace, while the other is an affliction song which has a chance to proc 2
afflictions. In comparison, Minstrelry requires a gateway song in order for the
aff song to work and never gives a chance at a second affliction. Spidercantiga,
the aff song of Shadowbeat, is based on poisons which can be shrugged. I
believe, having fought against Loralaria, that if the problem is the lust
required song that you should be finding a way to change that rather than
buffing the skillset even more.