FC.31.20180708.1 - Single Blade/Archetype

kaiserin · July 2018

Misc

Corrected some tooltip errors with Single Blade powers.
Added a few new icons for powers.

Sword Cyclone

New Advantage (2): Knocks targets towards you within 20ft of you. If a target is more than 10ft away from you, has a reduced chance to knock towards you.

Catastrophic Pummeling/Fury of the Dragon

These powers now gain knock resistance in addition to control immunity.

New Archetype
The Samurai
Tank
Constitution - Dexterity - Recovery
Arbiter - Protector

Power Progression:

1 Reaper's Touch
1 Reaper's Caress
6 Cut Down OR Chained Kunai
8 Lighting Reflexes
11 Eye of the Storm
14 Form of the Swordsman
17 Dragon's Bite OR Reaper's Embrace
21 Deflect
25 Relentless
30 Bountiful Chi Resurgence
35 Masterful Dodge
40 Tornado Slash OR Sword Cyclone

markhawkman · July 2018

ooohhh… shiny!

lezard21 · July 2018

A minor thing, but would it be possible for Pummeling to not clone the back item layer of your Costume for your afterimage. It looks really messy when you are using wings or capes

qawsada · July 2018

Bug: The Samurai AT doesn't allow the user to unlock all the power above level 11.

EDIT: Eye of the Storm, a power you obtain at level 11, require 3 dual blade power at least, and that none of the power that the Samurai has up to that point. This power is what broke the unlocking part. Tanking wise, it a weaker Master AT.

Suggestion: Just switch Form of the Swordsman with Eye of the Storm.

Oh and Nighthawk Event is up in the PTS.

purin1 · July 2018

Is it intended for the Rupture from Reaper's Embrace to ignore all dodge?

pantagruel01 · July 2018

purin1 wrote: »

Is it intended for the Rupture from Reaper's Embrace to ignore all dodge?

Bleed effects can't be dodged, though lightning reflexes gives a large bonus to resistance against them. If it's no longer tagged as a bleed that could be problematic.

deadman20 · July 2018

Bug: Attempting to view the Weaponry tab in the tailor results in a crash for some strange reason.

lunnylunny · July 2018

Any chance of having an advantage on reaper's caress that makes the power apply Lithe? Or maybe on some other charged power? So that the AT can reach the desired 100% dodge chance. Would also be interesting to not be forced to have Thunder Kicks to make a reliable dodge tank build.

I know it's not an easy thing to ask, due to how that can mess up balancing, so I'll understand if the answer is just "No".

purin1 · July 2018

pantagruel01 wrote: »

purin1 wrote: »

Is it intended for the Rupture from Reaper's Embrace to ignore all dodge?

Bleed effects can't be dodged, though lightning reflexes gives a large bonus to resistance against them. If it's no longer tagged as a bleed that could be problematic.

Its interaction with powers were already wonky before, but it was able to be dodged before the last PTS cycle. Just wondering if it's intended for it to suddenly change.

pantagruel01 · July 2018

Suggestion: remove the ability to rupture shredded
Reasoning:

It's selfish play -- it increases your dps at the expense of anyone else who might benefit from it.
Shredded has a stacking limit, so you have a good chance to get locked out.

deadman20 · July 2018

kaizerin wrote: »

New Archetype
The Samurai
Tank
Constitution - Dexterity - Recovery
Arbiter - Protector

Power Progression:
1 Reaper's Touch

1 Reaper's Caress

6 Cut Down OR Chained Kunai

8 Lighting Reflexes

11 Eye of the Storm

14 Form of the Swordsman

17 Dragon's Bite OR Reaper's Embrace

21 Deflect

25 Relentless

30 Bountiful Chi Resurgence

35 Masterful Dodge

40 Tornado Slash OR Sword Cyclone

I figure that a Tank like this could do with the quick-stun ability of Swift Strike, and given that "apparently" Eye of the Storm is stopping gaining powers beyond Lv11 due to where it is, it makes a good replacement at that spot. Eye of the Storm can prove very useful, however. I would rather keep it over Sword Cyclone and ensure it remains a rather early choice. Below is what I believe to be better for the AT's progression, as well as ensure that the build doesn't have illegal progression.

New Archetype
The Samurai
Tank
Constitution, Dexterity/Recovery
Arbiter/Protector

Power Progression:
1 - Reaper's Touch
1 - Reaper's Caress
6 - Cut Down OR Chained Kunai
8 - Lighting Reflexes
11 - Swift Strike
14 - Form of the Swordsman
17 - Tornado Slash OR Eye Of The Storm
21 - Deflect
25 - Relentless
30 - Bountiful Chi Resurgence
35 - Dragon's Bite OR Reaper's Embrace
40 - Masterful Dodge

The original build and its choices are mostly still intact, just moved around such that one power won't prevent the AT from gaining all of the others.

riverocean · July 2018

This entirely subjective feedback.

It's boring
What I mean by that is that it's pretty much another version of the Martial Art's AT's we already have (Unleashed, Master, etc..). There's nothing really new or compelling about it. We do indeed need new Tank AT's, so that's a plus. But this AT just seems really bland. It needs something more, whether that's access to a nice Ultimate or some new power associated with it. But as it stands now, there's no real reason to use this AT over the other MA choices.

I can see the idea here is to make a nice dodge tank, which is cool. So A+ for effort, but there's just something that's putting me off as an AT player. I hope this feedback is helpful, I know it's a bit vague.

spinnytop · July 2018

pantagruel01 wrote: »

Suggestion: remove the ability to rupture shredded
Reasoning:
It's selfish play -- it increases your dps at the expense of anyone else who might benefit from it.

Shredded has a stacking limit, so you have a good chance to get locked out.

oof...2 is a really good point. Imagine your dps getting lower because there are already 3 shredded debuffs on the target

But then how do we get back what the new advantage gives us in terms of 1 combo > RE dynamic? Can't just make Shredded not a wound effect.

Some ideas:

- Reaper's Embrace reapplies Shredded after ~2-3 seconds
- Reaper's Embrace can now rupture Chi Flame, make the third hit of Reaper's Caress apply Chi Flame
- Reaper's Embrace instantly reapplies Shredded after rupturing it, but the ability to rupture Wounds gets a cooldown and can only happen once every 2-3 seconds on a given target

deadman20 · July 2018

riverocean wrote: »

It's boring
What I mean by that is that it's pretty much another version of the Martial Art's AT's we already have (Unleashed, Master, etc..). There's nothing really new or compelling about it. We do indeed need new Tank AT's, so that's a plus. But this AT just seems really bland. It needs something more, whether that's access to a nice Ultimate or some new power associated with it. But as it stands now, there's no real reason to use this AT over the other MA choices.

It doesn't help that the Single Blade revamp doesn't feel at all that big. With nothing substantial to change the dynamics of the power set and so few powers added, it just feels like the Samurai doesn't have an identity of its own. So, I do agree with you there. The Samurai AT just feels like it NEEDS something to really solidify a position for itself, a new dynamic to play around instead of being "The Blade pretending to be The Master". As much as I love that it has Arbiter, I don't think that's what it needs... not this time.

riverocean · July 2018

As a more contructive & concrete bit of feedback, I want to toss my support behind the below progression suggestion. It solves a big problem with the AT w/the level 11 power. If nothing else, it seems like an easy and straightforward solution.

deadman20 wrote: »

New Archetype
The Samurai
Tank
Constitution, Dexterity/Recovery
Arbiter/Protector

Power Progression:
1 - Reaper's Touch
1 - Reaper's Caress
6 - Cut Down OR Chained Kunai
8 - Lighting Reflexes
11 - Swift Strike
14 - Form of the Swordsman
17 - Tornado Slash OR Eye Of The Storm
21 - Deflect
25 - Relentless
30 - Bountiful Chi Resurgence
35 - Dragon's Bite OR Reaper's Embrace
40 - Masterful Dodge

The original build and its choices are mostly still intact, just moved around such that one power won't prevent the AT from gaining all of the others.

sykov · July 2018

I feel like the Samurai AT should have a choice between using Lightning Reflexes or Invulnerability as its passive. It doesn't exactly have anything else to boost its dodge (besides stats and Masterful Dodge). And I mean an actual power to boost its dodge like Thundering Kicks (Like the Master) and Evasive Manuevers, not just the block enhancer. Also, why not Warden/Protector instead of Arbiter/Protector? Still has the ability to do good damage, but has more defense packing. Those are just my thoughts.

spinnytop · July 2018

That proposed progression loses Sword Cyclone tho o3o Samurais need their vacuum sword attack

avianos · July 2018

For having to wait 4-5 months, that was an underwelming disappointing revamp

I knew this was going to be small revamp but I was expecting more quality of life
more power reskins and ADVs could be added, well off to wait 3 more months for the next Lockbox+Revamp
also this AT is going to be a Dodge tank? YIKES

Catastrophic Pummeling/Fury of the Dragon
These powers now gain knock resistance in addition to control immunity.

how about updating the visuals tho?

Unknown · July 2018

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Unknown · July 2018

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deadman20 · July 2018

spinnytop wrote: »

That proposed progression loses Sword Cyclone tho o3o Samurais need their vacuum sword attack

I mean, that's another reason Tornado Slash should gain a Knock-to advantage. It would help the AT and allow the power to be used as an alternative to Particle Wave.

pantagruel01 · July 2018

spinnytop wrote: »

But then how do we get back what the new advantage gives us in terms of 1 combo > RE dynamic?

Is there any particular reason to do so? The point of 2p advantages isn't "universally superior to an additional rank", it's some form of situational benefit you have to adjust build and play for. I would make the new advantage something like:
No Mercy
Can now rupture Deep Wound, Open Wound, Swallowtail Cut. Damage is XXX for Deep Wound, YYY for Open Wound, ZZZ for Swallowtail Cut.
You don't need to add anything to your rotation to take advantage of open wound (it's already free on full charge RE) so it would probably be bleed equivalent. Deep Wound and StC should rupture for more than normal.

spinnytop · July 2018

pantagruel01 wrote: »

spinnytop wrote: »

But then how do we get back what the new advantage gives us in terms of 1 combo > RE dynamic?

Is there any particular reason to do so? The point of 2p advantages isn't "universally superior to an additional rank", it's some form of situational benefit you have to adjust build and play for. I would make the new advantage something like:
No Mercy
Can now rupture Deep Wound, Open Wound, Swallowtail Cut. Damage is XXX for Deep Wound, YYY for Open Wound, ZZZ for Swallowtail Cut.
You don't need to add anything to your rotation to take advantage of open wound (it's already free on full charge RE) so it would probably be bleed equivalent. Deep Wound and StC should rupture for more than normal.

Yeah but then I bet the "rotation" becomes just spamming RE over and over. Maybe swallowtail > RE. That doesn't sound terrible to me but I'm not sure that's what they wanted.

pantagruel01 · July 2018

spinnytop wrote: »

Yeah but then I bet the "rotation" becomes just spamming RE over and over.

I think that's why RE has a short cooldown now; it's not like you can't already do that on the current build.

criswolf09 · July 2018

Eye of the Storm needs to be replaced with a lower tier option, say BCR or Scything Blade? That's the reason the AT cannot obtain its additional powers.

spinnytop · July 2018

pantagruel01 wrote: »

I think that's why RE has a short cooldown now; it's not like you can't already do that on the current build.

It's irrelevant now anyways, it's not being changed, confirmed. The advantage isn't 100% useful in every single scenario and that's intended. At least it'll always be partially useful.

colonelwing · July 2018

pantagruel01 wrote: »

I think that's why RE has a short cooldown now; it's not like you can't already do that on the current build.

Wrong, the 1 sec CD is a fix for a long standing bug. Currently when you use RE multiple times in a row, the damage fails to register sometimes and the combat log shows a big, fat zero.

Stick to tanking, please. Let's not ruin a dps framework, by giving wrong input.

pantagruel01 · July 2018

colonelwing wrote: »

Stick to tanking, please. Let's not ruin a dps framework, by giving wrong input.

Gee...I have a single blade toon. I never considered spamming RE, because there's no good reason to do so.

colonelwing · July 2018

pantagruel01 wrote: »

Gee...I have a single blade toon. I never considered spamming RE, because there's no good reason to do so.

That's most likely because you're not duelling, my bad. I forgot not everybody likes pvp and that bug is most noticable in pvp, due to the fact that a single RE isn't going to defeat the likes of LR, defiant user, etc. (tanks mostly). I'm glad they fixed it, though.

Unknown · July 2018

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aesica · July 2018

Hi, a few things:

1. The AT is interesting, but if I might suggest the following changes:

The Samurai
Tank
Constitution - Dexterity - Recovery
Arbiter Warden - Protector (Except for maybe concussion, Arbiter does nothing for tanks, Warden offers a lot more)

Power Progression:

1 Reaper's Touch
1 Reaper's Caress
6 Cut Down OR Chained Kunai
8 Lighting Reflexes OR Invulnerability (Samurai armor is a thing)
11 Eye of the Storm Form of the Swordsman
14 Form of the Swordsman Eye of the Storm (fixes invalid progression path)
17 Dragon's Bite OR Reaper's Embrace
21 Deflect
25 Relentless
30 Bountiful Chi Resurgence
35 Masterful Dodge
40 Tornado Slash OR Sword Cyclone

2. I still think Tornado Slash should knock to innately, as that's infinitely more useful than the stun it currently has. Besides, particle wave really could use a few similar themed variants. Stun replacing the knock to would be a good advantage option, though. Otherwise, this is a missed opportunity to offer more themed choices for powers besides brute strikes, lariats, and chain twirlers.

3. Given the issue with the Samurai's Eye of the Storm/progression problem and the fact that he grows an extra sword just to use it, I think it might be worthwhile to add a single blade variant of Eye of the Storm. It need not be exactly like EotS as long as the damage shield portion is available somehow (advantage or innate) as well as some other defensive benefits (dependency, shuriken storm's floating butterfly, one of the chi energy dodge things, etc)

jebidiahbeetus · July 2018

Isn't there a telekinetic blade attack with an animation like Eye of The Storm only a single blade?

avianos · July 2018

Ego Blade Frenzy, it has access to both Dual Blade and Single Blade TK blades thanks to the way TK blades work

So... Yeah there is already existing animation for a Single Blade reskin for Eye of the Storm, not to mention that this animation has been used for the Laser Sword Block of all things

SUGGESTION: Create a Reskin of Ego Blade Frenzy for Single Blade

the animation and resources for the power are already ingame

Giving Sword Cyclone and Eye of the Storm powers to a SB AT build feels out of place, not to mention they have no synergy with Form of the Swordsman
and while we are it, there should be a Single Blade version for Sword Cyclone
a lot of SB characters want to have a Sword Whirlwind attack that use only 1 blade

SUGGESTION: Create a Single Blade version for Sword Cyclone

pantagruel01 · July 2018

Putting in invulnerability will make an invalid progression possible again.

magpieuk2014 · July 2018

I like the Samurai as it, to be honest. I don't think it needs Eye of the Storm at all - offer Form of the Swordsman at Level 11, Tornado Slash at 14 (add a Knock-To advantage for additional fun), then a choice between Masterful Dodge and Imbue/Intensity at 35, and you've got something durable and fun to play. Sword Cyclone should be the only choice at 40, that's such a distinctive power for the AT, and don't change those Specialisation trees...

qawsada · July 2018

I have to agree with the other posters that the Samurai AT should have a choice between Lightning Reflexes and Invulnerability, or just outright replace LR with Invulnerability. Considering that right now, there is really no way the Samurai AT could be an effective dodge tank compare to the Master AT, especially in a cosmic setting.

I might suggest adding the Floating Lotus Blossom adv to Reaper's Caress, but then I remember that Reaper's Caress has a bleeding effect, and that would outclass Thundering Kick. Even adding the effect that it would remove the bleed effect onto Floating Lotus Blossom, it kind of make the entire theme of a single blade pointless since single blade is usually about bleed in general.

aesica · July 2018

avianos wrote: »

SUGGESTION: Create a Single Blade version for Sword Cyclone

Oh, good catch. I completely glossed over Sword Cyclone but yeah, it has no way to interact with either the form or the energy unlock the AT uses. (Well, it can work with the EU if there's already a bleed up from the combo) Even if it has to do less damage, the single blade version of sword cyclone should probably have a chance to apply bleeds or refresh them or...I don't know, really anything that will allow it to trigger the form and energy unlock conditions properly. Other than that, it's a great new alternative to chain twirling as a way for tanks to round up packs of foes.

Edit:

pantagruel01 wrote: »

Putting in invulnerability will make an invalid progression possible again.

Swapping Deflect and Dragon's Bite/Reaper's Embrace would solve that.

avianos · July 2018

I also second the motion to give this AT a Choice between Lighting Reflexes and Invulnerability
You want to be a Elusive Samurai? or a Armoured Shogun?
Dodge tanks are gimmicky and are avoided for endgame, this won't change especially with the few dodge buff tools the Single Blade has to work with, we could use more Invulnerability tanks as well

On the subject of Arbiter... why? Arbiter is a Melee DPS+Healer spec, I was expecting to see it in a melee healer AT not a TANK

worth mentioning, this is FIRST AT with Arbiter, no other AT is using this spec (which needs to get BUFFED)

The SPEC (along with Overseer) is underwelming, i don't think giving it to a tank of all things is a good idea, even with having self healing in mind

rtma · July 2018

Okay so this is intended to be a Slashing AT, tho last I checked, Form of the Swordsmen triggers from Bleeds, so unless you're adjusting that, then this isn't going to work well.
(Haven't been on PTS to check this out so understand if I'm unaware of changes)

magpieuk2014 · July 2018

Suggestion
New Archetype
The Samurai
Tank
Constitution - Dexterity - Recovery
Arbiter - Protector

Power Progression:

1 Reaper's Touch
1 Reaper's Caress
6 Cut Down OR Chained Kunai
8 Lighting Reflexes
11 Tornado Slash
14 Form of the Swordsman
17 Dragon's Bite OR Reaper's Embrace
21 Deflect
25 Relentless
30 Bountiful Chi Resurgence
35 Masterful Dodge or Imbue
40 Sword Cyclone

This works fine as a progression and you can do Q Zone dailies with it, which is probably more useful than Cosmic tanking. And don't replace the Stun on Tornado Slash with a Knock... that's no use in Q Zone, you need the Stun... and the Specs work fine, too.

Ideally in time you'd get a single blade version of SC which is a little lighter on energy (difficult to get a full charge here), but this works fine as it stands.

ownzd4 · July 2018

I haven't seen the sentry spec on many ATs, I think the dodge buff it has would be nice. All of the Tanks have protector warden or protector guardian. Sentry could be a nice tanking spec as well.

aesica · July 2018

magpieuk2014 wrote: »

And don't replace the Stun on Tornado Slash with a Knock... that's no use in Q Zone

I realize this is a bit off topic, but have you actually tried using Particle Wave in the QWZ? It's absolutely glorious. When timed right at activation, either a knock or a stun will foil the Sorcerers when they try to bubble their friends, but the knock has the added advantage of getting them in range to hack into pieces along with whatever else was caught up in the wave. The Soul Torturer dudes are normally spaced too far apart to kill at the same time...until you knock the other two toward you.

ownzd4 wrote: »

I haven't seen the sentry spec on many ATs, I think the dodge buff it has would be nice. All of the Tanks have protector warden or protector guardian. Sentry could be a nice tanking spec as well.

Sentry or Warden, or really anything with a defensive angle to it. Arbiter is a really weird choice for what's intended to be a tank, and it will result in this AT being a subpar product.

FC.31.20180708.1 - Single Blade/Archetype

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