So, with the patch date now officially announced, we can set our sights on the future.
NT's have had a rough go from the start. I remember personally reading several threads regarding underwhelming damage, complaining about the removal of ingots from people who do not truly NT, training complaints, etc. This past year was probably one of our darkest times. The removal of DM had put us into a league that I can deem only as "useless". 18.7 and Michi's diligent efforts are now bringing us hope. (This won't be a thread to encourage digging up the dead; merely a statement of reflection.) While we have recovered a lot of what we lost in the past, and gained some nice new bonuses, I still look at the whole picture and see things everywhere I'd change. That's not to say every other profession is perfect, but I will call mine as I see it.
Post 18.7, what we need is a step by step plan to tackle starting right from the beginning. While our 220's will be in good shape, overall.. lower level NT's see only minor benefits from 18.7 at this time. I don't see our playability factor going up on lower level NT's much outside of the normal Kite Hill power leveling tool and the like. While I'd never wish that to be impossible, it does annoy me that almost every NT is created at this time for only that purpose. I'd like to see us really excel at all level ranges, as we deserve. This profession has such an opportunity to become the excessively dynamic, aggressive casting, psychopathic damage-dealer we all want it to be.
I see many great suggestions in every thread, but I think the best way forward is to set our sights on one specific goal at a time. I'm not discounting anything anyone posts at all. When I think how I'd like to move forward, I may consider a suggestion as "down the line" or "not quite yet". I appreciate every suggestion, even if I don't agree.
Below, I will outline, in order, the steps I would like to focus down.
Step 1...
As I stated earlier, the best way to move forward is to start at square one, and that's obviously damage. At this time, I consider our 220's to be OK (not perfect! I'll get to that step soon...). But our lower level NT's struggle with damage, above all else.
I would like to focus on solutions primarily affecting single target damage across level ranges 1-214. This can be accomplished in 3 ways...
- Create more nukes that work GIVA style. (Large amount of damage with a long cooldown) Izgimmer's Little Nuke and Izgimmer's Last Word should be deleted as-is and recreated as these. For nanos carrying the name "Izgimmer", they are extremely underwhelming and deserve to be relevant.
- Add small upscaling damage bonuses to SL nukes based on the user's MC.
- Restructuring Rubi Ka nukes. This is obviously an involved process, but we can simplify it a bit. Many should just be deleted. The rest can fall into three groups, and therefore possibly 3 different nanolines to create a rotation of use, but avoiding unbearable recharge times. Some hit for decent damage, but have a long recharge. These could use a moderate line cooldown of 4-6 seconds, and 2 second recharge. Some hit for low damage, and have a very short recharge. These can likely stay as-is. Some can be considered debuffing nukes, and should fall probably fall into the same nanoline as Constant Barrage. These should have a longer cooldown of 8 or so seconds. Specific changes I'd like would be level lock removal from Corruption of the Pest, Candycane and Resonance Blast. Resonance Blast should have its capped casting time removed. Some nukes that can be considered low damage should have their recharge time shortened, as there are not enough higher level versions of these. Lick of the Pest should be converted into a more useful debuff. (open to any ideas here.)
Addressing all three of those would create more dynamic damage strategies throughout level ranges 1-214, as even Resonance Blast is very useful at high levels.
Step 2...
We need to add variability to Offensive and Defensive Focus. I thought about this for a long time, and I actually love the idea.
- Defensive Focus should add a small bonus to the NT's AAD. This would give us more of a chance of surviving against bigger mobs / players when standing toe-to-toe. The amount should scale with the NT's level.
- Offensive Focus should debuff the NT's run speed and AAD, but add additional Nano Damage modifier. Offensive focus should cancel Dark Movement and Improved Dark Movement.
- More nuke options for Offensive Focus should be available. This is where I would love some imaginative input. Currently, I can think of at least 2 new ideas for nukes that work on slightly different mechanics. One would work as an offensive damaging aura, the other as a channeling damage nuke. The damaging aura would work similar to Leshrac's Pulse Nova from DotA. It should be impossible to counter due to its nature. (See this demonstration if you're not familiar: https://youtu.be/Ap8buTgvBtw?t=1m21s) . The channeling nano would work similar to a Void Ray from Starcraft 2, that builds up to its maximum DPS over several seconds, but consumes a large amount of nano as it's used. (Here's a demonstration of that : https://youtu.be/KiFx3lNZa5c?t=6m5s , relevant to 7:05) Both of these should have very long line cooldowns. These types of nanos are what would officially define NT's as glass cannons, in my opinion, and crazy idea or not, I'd love any input.
Step 3...
This would be mostly a Quality of Life improvement.
- Nano regeneration buffs of higher level than Personal Notum Harvester should be available. Tick rate on all nano regeneration buffs should be reduced.
- Nano Cost Reduction and Nano Range buffs should be consolidated into one buff.
- Nanobot Shelter should have a lesser version usable by froobs and lower level NT's, in general.
- Dark Movement and Improved Dark Movement should have their values increased slightly. Possibly a small run speed buff also.
- Nano Programing buffs should be castable on target, instead of self only.
- Individual damage type override buffs should be added.
Step 4...
This would address our perks, procs, or anything else out-standing that directly affects NT's. Possibly starting to explore other things that indirectly affect us such as armor and other items.
Keep in mind, this is all forward thinking. I can't work out everything to the last minute detail alone, but as a group we can definitely arrive at some excellent results. I do believe following this strategy, in terms of sequence and design, we can achieve a more well balanced and dynamic style of play that is exciting from the first few levels, all the way to 220/30/70. We have a good foundation to build on, and provided Michi is willing to continue profession development, this is what I would like to see happen, from a generalized overview.
As a side note...
We have several very brilliant players here, and you have done a fantastic job working through hashing out the initial release of 18.7 as a team. I have received many kind comments via PM and here on the forums. But, you all are just as involved as me. To all those who took their valuable time to give input, thank you! I really do appreciate everything you all have done so far for the profession!
I've planted the seed... Now go forth, and discuss please!