Gadgeteer Revamp

dakrushmor · November 2016

Currently gadgeteer powers have lots of issues accumulated, so they may deserve being reviewed as well. Let's see:

Experimental Blaster has an advantage, that may destroy things, not meant to be destroyed, and are IMMUNE, so you can use it for solo certain lairs (although it's really slow).
Experimental Burst Ray (overcharged) and Pulse Beam Rifle with advantage can apply "Out of Phase" effect, that increases enemy's Resistance to all Damage by 30% (!!!). If it's applied from several or even just one player - Dino check may not be passed with very high DPS (experienced it myself) - it's basically a troll power.
Experimental Blaster - has teddifying ~~advantage~~default effect, that completely out of theme for any but kraziest scientists, it just looks silly + it increases enemy resistance by solid amount. Don't know if it can be applied at cosmic though, but if it can - it's another troll power, because it'll decrease size of cosmic Hitbox, which may cause move/warp etc.
Sonic Boom Generator - cannot trigger any EU.
On-next-Hit powers cannot hold their effects all time, because their CD are balanced around pre-OV values, and Toxic Nanites also benefit from Melee Damage bonuses. Also TN & SD lack proper tooltips, those don't reflect actual damage.
Tractor Beam - applies "repel resistance", that is unclear what it even does, and there no more powers, that does that.
Tractor Beam & Tangecoil Launcher - have unique & uncustomizable weapon models.
Support Drones (attack mode, R2+) - Kinetic Beam - it can repel Onslaught Villains.
Resurrection Serum - out of line with other rez powers, because of Cooldown, 15' range sphere (not 25'), and nearby defeated enemies may consume shot, even if power isn't advantaged.
Molecular Self-Assembly - doesn't work with gadgeteer builds very well. l suppose on-next-hit stuff is gadgeteer's specific mechanic, and they have Cooldowns balanced around pre-OV (30 seconds), so reduceable max for 20 seconds, what can't trigger this EU properly. Even Ball Lightning or Hex of Suffering works alot better with MSA, and best of all - is Conviction (yup, Celestial apparently very close & theme wise). If overdrive going to be based another END EU, then MSA is the only INT-based not magic EU, but builds cannot safely ride onto it, because Framework is outdated.

Additionally the power Gadgeteering and 90% of playerbase need - it's Technology Full-Time Heal. It's the thematic gap - currently healers're stuck on something of these: Arcane Vitality, Celestial Conduit, Empathic Healing. But EH has horrible travel time and is exceptionally single target. So healers're stuck to use magic technically, and that's meh. While maintained sphere-shaped AoE heal, like Drone one, will be probably most useful at Cosmic healing and may bring nice difference in usable tactics, because Arcane Vitality, for instance, cannot reach secondary tanks through DPS, so these players forced to stay aside from DPS, while ones with Medi-Cannons could stay together with them. Drone healbeam scales with rank - so plopping this basically would require almost no work.

kaizerin said:

Added Steam, In Need of Repair, Ooze and Sparking aura to the Lockbox store.

Yeah, repair is surely needed.

Some sci-fi Weapon powers won't be excess too, icons for them could be easily redirected from some Power Replacer icons (nothing like Star Barrage, l can't use it on my wizard because its icon is exactly same as Telekinetic Assault (l switched back to it for ST attack), and that irritates me), it's very easy to find one currently not in use. Their visuals too - some PR visuals redirected, just a bit updated (to e.g. scale with rank). l think 3 of these powers are needed - this's Cone AoE Maintain (Viper's Energy Gun Spray animation so awesome, that updated version of it can be utilized), Shotgun & Energy Sniper Rifle (ready to use visuals already in game here ), and maybe more - like @notyuu beam cannon. We still didn't get pre-toggle Plasma Beam after all, and using bullets is meh for many sci-fi themes. Although Plasma Beam is neutral enough, so raygun cannot replace it for all the possible themes, it has to make comeback too. Finally, how about "Shield Projector" block power, that can protect Pets from roomies?

l think some Archetype based on pulp sci-fi weapons may appear near Christmas, just like the Witch appeared near Bloodmoon, as new lockbox contains some technology things, and aforementioned powers would also open a road to return of Power Replacer skins, so it definitely should be considered. Inventor AT needs update too.

Some suggestions to consider are here: http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums/championsonline#/discussion/1206450

dakrushmor · November 2016

Also for some reason a template was removed, but this's the proposed path of Gadgeteer-based DPS AT - kind of mix between the Soldier & the Inventor:

The Offworlder / The Hacker

Role: Avenger
Stats: Dexterity, Intelligence, Recovery
Specs: Dexterity, Guardian, Vindicator

Lvl 1: Particle Rifle
Lvl 1: Pulse Beam RIfle
Lvl 6: Raygun Spray
Lvl 8: Targeting Computer
Lvl 11: Bionic Shielding || Nanobot Swarm
Lvl 14: Concentration
Lvl 17: Sonic Boom Generator || Pulson Shotgun
Lvl 21: Energy Shield || Shield Projector
Lvl 25: Overdrive || Molecular Self-Assembly
Lvl 30: Lock'n'Load || Unbreakable
Lvl 35: Support Drones || Munition Bots
Lvl 40: Orbital Cannon || Energy Sniper Rifle

It's totally inspired by mah Main. Concepts: Insane Scientist, Friendly Alien, Future Soldier, Prototype Weapon Tester, Given-To-Extreme-Pleasures-Girlie-From-Parallel-Universe-That-Never-Says-"I".

Edit: alternatively this AT could get access to Sonic Boom Generator, instead of Overcharged Blade at lvl 17, for AoE alphas. Then it will be - Lvl 17: Sonic Boom Generator || Pulson Shotgun

notyuu · November 2016

+1.5

dakrushmor · November 2016

Edit: since Cybernetic Warrior AT appeared, l decided to rename AT to "The Offworlder".

dakrushmor · November 2016

kaizerin said:

Particle Rifle can now apply Plasma Burn on the initial hit.

First step is done. Now just 1110 to go.

dakrushmor · December 2016

pandoraslockbox said:

Using tractor beam is cheating 9_9

Yeah, that's a bit problematic power for PvP too. Past days Strafing Run was cheating too, and now Tractor Beam advantage may need to revisited as well.

dakrushmor · December 2016

Actually there was one Gadgets revamp about a year ago - when TA was launched. But there were absolutely no new powers appeared. And it was rather nerf of vastly overperforming powers - such as Strafing Run. Some its stuff, like Medical Nanites and Orbital Cannon were buffed a tiny bit. But some unintentional behavior from Strafing Run/Gas Pellets remains, they can do self-damage with OSV gloves, or hit self with Toxic Nanites, Miniat. Drive, Sonic Device, or self-pestilence.

jojenmaihem · December 2016

Gadgeteer could use a little more of Healing powers to avoid us to get Magic/Celestial ones (Telepathy can have a "pass" but if you want a pure Tech toon you don't have lot of choices to heal).

Injections, Probes, Med-Scans... you know, the tools of a sciencist!

dakrushmor · December 2016

jojenmaihem said:
you know, the tools of a sciencist!

Yet only these:
Medical Nanites - an aura, that passively heals all around, and gives inferior to AoRP Resistance. When tank supposed to get great damage - it won't help anyhow.
Bionic Shielding - should the target fall under enemy's maintain, it'll poof, and then the Tank has to wait 15 seconds before it can be reapplied. Also players can troll a healer with applying weak BS to the tank, and make actual healer unable to set it due Tampering Debuff.
Support Drones - cosmic produces a roomie... POP!!! Additionally its outheal can play some role only when soloing content.
That's soundly ALL...

dakrushmor · December 2016

The new Laser Sword Debuff - Disintegrate - reminds me one that was in CoH, in some framework, called like "experimental weapons", or "energy rifle" or something. As far as l remember, its mechanic was making enemies "disintegrating", and then it produced some interesting effects, but it required real money, so l didn't play it.

Seems have few powers to apply Disintegrate in Gadgeteering won't be excess. As far as l can imagine it's 20% particle/10% electric/10% sonic resistance. Both Particle & Sonic are part of Gadgeteering, Electric isn't, but why not add some cannon/bomb/device to inflict Electric damage too?

dakrushmor · December 2016

l STILL see plenty of Inventor AT during leveling, people actually purchase it because of THEME. My first FF was (& is) planned highly lnventor-themed. Sadly people don't realize how much screeching TRASH it is.

It's the ONLY AT in the game, that cannot fill its primary role - it cannot heal. All DPS can DPS. All Tank AT can tank, only the Master is a bit RNG-based. Impulse can DPS some and possibly Offtank TA, because of def. passive & flat reduction. Specialist can DPS or Offtank with LR. Savage can DPS/Tank. Night avenger can DPS. Void can DPS & Support (AoED, lifedrain) & Tank. Grimoire can DPS & Heal. Radiant & Witch heal perfectly. Mind can heal & mez, but requires Become for rezzing. All lnventor can is - dish out tiny lil' DPS and troll Qwyjibo. The lnventor either has to gets its role changed to Balanced (because pets damage DOESN'T scale with role for years), or get actual healing capabilities. l prefer second option.

So, lnventor AT needs some actual heals. Plus also l think Concentration form doesn't match really well. Compassion would be out of theme. So l would fit Inertial Dampening Field instead. MSA unlock then would be required for it, but it's also might be reworked to better interact with Gadgeteering powers, rather than Conviction. Here's a layout l imagined for revamped lnventor, that might be able to actually heal & support.

The Inventor

Role: Support
Stats: Intelligence, Presence, Dexterity*
Specs: Intelligence, Commander, Sentinel

Lvl 1: Sonic Blaster
Lvl 1: Experimental Blaster
Lvl 6: Experimental Burst Ray || Bionic Shielding
Lvl 8: Medical Nanites
Lvl 11: Medi-Cannon || HP-Extractor
Lvl 14: Molecular Self-Assembly**
Lvl 17: Attack Toys || Munition Bots
Lvl 21: Energy Shield || Shield Projector
Lvl 25: Inertial Dampening Field
Lvl 30: Support Drones || Miniaturization Drive
Lvl 35: Sonic Device || Toxic Nanites
Lvl 40: Orbital Cannon || Resurrection Serum

*For critical heals, whose maybe part of mechanic/theme.
**Or some other Gadgeteering EU, that would scale with INT too, but match better. Probably one, that would grant energy on Critical Heal. Or maybe just make actual CoolDown on Bionic Shielding, rather than "Tampering" TOXIC'N'TROLLABLE gimmick, and another application from same player refreshes BS "charge" count.

Something like that... As l runnin' Main, highly inspired initially by lnventor AT - trust me plz. So player could decide if he wants to be conventional healer that targets teammate... Or "lifedrain" healer. Also Sonic Device/Sentinel Mastery combination. And Shield Projector. Everything is in game btw, except those healguns and the pet shield (Holographic Projection adv on SP if you didn't recall).

Gadgeteer Revamp

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