Report 944

Report #944
Skillset: Tracking Skill: Armour
 Org: Ebonguard Status: Completed Nov 2012
Furies' Decision:
Solution 1.
Problem: Tracking wolves/hounds serve two distinct roles: Battle-beast, or
sneaky spy. The problem with this is that when a pet is balanced for spying, it
must be somewhat frail- and when balanced for battle, it needs to be rather more
hardy. As such, there needs to be a way to protect a tracking dog when it is
battling, but which does not skew it when it is being stealthy.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Add a new ability: Armour. Affixing it to your
 tracking hound removes the abilities to: Bond Unite,
 Bond Listen, Bond Look. When wearing armour, your
 dog is immune to critical hits and takes 50% less
 damage from attacks. Putting it on / taking it off
 will take a hefty balance cost.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Solution 1, but the armour is crafted by blacksmiths
 (and if your dog dies while wearing it, you need to
 buy a new one).
Player Comments:
---[Rivius on 11/9 @ 12:06 writes]:
I like either solution a lot, though I like solution 2 far better as it would
add a little more business to forging.
---[Ushaara on 11/9 @ 19:23 writes]:
Supported.
---[Shuyin on 11/9 @ 22:44 writes]:
Why not just improve bloodthirst or whatever that hound ability is? I don't mind
though
---[Inagin on 11/10 @ 04:19 writes]:
I disagree with the report as it currently is. I agree with Shuyin's comment. We
should just make BOND BLOODTHIRST give the effects of Solution #1. Add a BOND
CALM or something to revert it back to normal. If it can only be done in the
same room as you are in, there is no need for a hefty balance cost. Bloodthirst
feels really useless right now.
---[Xenthos on 11/14 @ 21:50 writes]:
Or replace bloodthirst- but this isn't really fitting with Bloodthirst (at least
with the immunity-to-crits aspect). I feel that this would be a good addition
on its own- if Bloodthirst needs to be looked at, then that can be done
separately (and it can actually be moved away from damage-reduction entirely
into something else if that's what's decided to do).
---[Inagin on 11/15 @ 01:24 writes]:
Well, I still disagree with the report. There are so many requirements for
combat. There are so many things I need to carry around. The last thing I want
is even more items to manage. I also strongly disagree with any balance cost
needed. That makes it a bit pointless since there are no abuse cases.
---[Rivius on 11/15 @ 12:49 writes]:
I suppose merging it with bloodthirst isn't a bad solution either so long as you
can calm the beast.
---[Xenthos on 11/17 @ 02:18 writes]:
Well, you don't *need* it! If you don't use it, your beast will be as effective
as it is right now. That's completely up to you. It merely gives the beast
more ability to use it in combat, while keeping at least some of its utility
(just not the best parts).
---[Celina on 11/17 @ 18:47 writes]:
Doesn't bloodthirst remove the chance for clamp? Seems like that would be
counter productive.