Report 228

Report #228
Skillset: Arts Skill: Critique
 Org: Nekotai Status: Rejected Jul 2009
Furies' Decision:
We do not believe this to be necessary at this time.
Problem: Arts critique is a useful trans skill, however its cost to cure
normally 'incurable' afflictions in Illusions and its specs (Glamours and
Phantasms) in addition to other applications is a bit too hard to justify, given
that Illusions dispel Does not cost power and other ways to cure 'critical'
afflictions such as focus spirit do not cost 8 power.
Solution #1: Reduce the cost of critique from 8p to 3-4p
Solution #2: Make critique's power cost adjust itself depending on how many
 illusions are actually dispelled when used. 2p per illusion
 dispelled or something."
Player Comments:
---[Llandros on 7/23 @ 23:23 writes]:
I strongly oppose both of these solutions and do not think this change is
necessary. 8p is not too much for a skill that allows anyone to dispel power
heavy room wide affects or normally incurable illusory afflictions. Being able
to use it willy nilly would be an enormous nerf to mages and glamour bards. The
change to make the skill a little more useful simply doesn't balance out the
sweeping ramifications it would have to two entire skill sets. Not to mention
that this would disproportionally penalize the cities.
---[Nienla on 7/23 @ 23:34 writes]:
I disagree. I think a power cost is appropriate considering that meager cost of
some overwhelmingly powerful Phantasms abilities such as Claws, Phantoms (which
may be recast at very little penalty since Mages do not go through a lot of
power). As far as Glamour bards go, it's a toss-up. But I'd be in favour for
Critique actually costing power depending on what you're actually dispelling.
Perhaps it could be like.. 4p for Phantoms, 8p for Spheres, 5p for
ColourMaelstrom and so forth. Mostly, it's the Phantasms abilities that probably
need to be put in check here
---[Sarrasri on 7/24 @ 00:02 writes]:
I agree that critique's power cost needs to be reduced. It's the only way non-
illusionists have at removing illusions. If you honestly think 8 power is a good
amount, Llandros, perhaps dispell should be put higher up and given a power cost
as well. I can agree with power cost being dependent on how many illusions are
being dispelled, but I also think 4-5 power flat is a good cost for it as well.
---[Xenthos on 7/24 @ 01:19 writes]:
For a trans skill... 8p to wipe out illusions that cost 0p is overkill, period.
---[Krellan on 7/24 @ 01:47 writes]:
Flat reduction might be better. Say it's two power per. Weave programmed, weave
magicmouth, weave terrain, maze, illusioned manse, and it's already at 10 power.
There are others as well such as weave reality and rainbows.
---[Llandros on 7/24 @ 02:52 writes]:
The skill has to be prohibitively costly or it's totally unbalanced. Period. Why
don't we just let everyone break melds and fugue bards? If you want to mess with
illusions, either be an illusionist or pay through the nose. All orgs have
access to illusion skill sets
---[Krellan on 7/24 @ 19:06 writes]:
I think you are seriously underestimating the cost of 3-5 power.
---[Xenthos on 7/24 @ 23:20 writes]:
Uh, at 3-5p it's still prohibitive enough that you're not going to be casting it
at the drop of a hat. You'll use it in specific circumstances, or to get rid of
room illusions when there is no fighting (such as those on-entry illusions).
---[Sidd on 7/24 @ 23:25 writes]:
Given the fact that programmed illusions are power free and one could run around
an entire area dropping them, 8p is way too much to dispell each of them, these
solutions provide a fair and balanced cost to dispel these illusions, not to
mention that it stops the critiquer from using power in other forms for offense
or defense. 8p is definitely too much
---[Llandros on 7/25 @ 02:32 writes]:
Having reviewed this silly envoy report once more, I just wanted to point out:
both solutions are suggesting for that for 4p, you should be able to dispel both
a maze and a manse (all at once, mind you), which cost 20p to cast. That's
absolutely ridiculous. I would propose that it cost no less than 2p per illusion
plus the power of the illusion capping at 10 power. This would allow you to
remove all non power illusions for a mere 2p, but it would cost you quite a bit
more if you starting popping mazes, manses, etc. (as it should). Phantom spheres
would have to be exempt or given additional power cost to them so they wouldn't
become worthless though.
---[Nienla on 7/25 @ 04:37 writes]:
Phantom Spheres are very powerful as is, and this change would not nerf them
heavily. They'd still be widely used
---[Sidd on 7/25 @ 04:39 writes]:
Now that you've agreed that non-power costing illusions should be dispelled for
less than 8p, I agree that things like maze and Illusionary manse should be
dispelled for more, I can agree that powercosting illusions be 2p + powercost of
the illusion capping at 10p, just to make sure mazes and manses can still be
critiqued, I was under the impressions phantom spheres weren't affected by
critique in the first place, and that would obviously remain the same
---[Sidd on 7/25 @ 04:41 writes]:
As a side note, referring to a report as silly, is not a very objective way to
go about things
---[Ceren on 7/25 @ 09:32 writes]:
I like Sidd's solution of 2p + power cost of the illusions dispelled, capping at
10p. That said, this is a little off topic but as good a time as any to bring it
up, I think dispell is too powerful really and should cost like half the power
cost of the illusion it dispells, rounded up.
---[Sidd on 7/26 @ 22:00 writes]:
Given as I already finalized this and can't change the solutions, critique
should cost 2p + the power cost of the illusion it dispells, capping at 10p for
a third solution