Why Are We Penalized for Switching Powers During Combat?

safespacecadet

Why does my power go on cooldown when I switch to a different one during combat? Isn't it hard enough to do that during combat anyway? (Depending on what I'm doing, of course.)

And for that matter, why is it that artifact can't be changed during combat, even if the currently equipped artifact is not on cooldown? How are they equipped? How large are they? Am I not able to reach into my bag during or grab it from my belt during combat?

armadeonx

For gear, I guess it's to reflect the fact than if someone is swinging an axe at your head you don't really have the opportunity to go fiddling around in your bags... The items on your belt are reflected in your 'belt slots' which can be activated instantly - if they are not there, they are not on your belt.

cilginordek

Because you're not supposed to switch powers during combat.

safespacecadet

Why aren't you supposed to switch powers during combat? What is the reason?

And how then, do I take potion off my belt or out of my bag and drink it during combat? How do I blow a horn, flip a coin, or ring a bell? How do I use a voodoo doll?

For that matter, mages shouldn't be able to cast spells if they are hit by anything while they're casting. Not just control powers. Anything can interrupt a spell being cast in real D&D.

greyjay1

I think powers go on cooldown even if you switch them outside of combat.
I think one of the VIP-ranks removes that cd.
I can switch powers in combat without getting them on cd, what you can't do is swap a power out that already is on cd, because that would potentially be highly abusable.

safespacecadet

Yes, I don't want to switch a power while it is on cooldown. I just don't understand why powers go on cooldown after I switch to them during combat. Or out of combat for that matter.

And really, one of the VIP rank removes the cooldown of powers when switching them? Seriously?

pitshade

Switching powers or class features has always led them having a cooldown unless you are at a campfire or shrine. The rank of VIP that lets you pray anywhere does so by making your characters mobile shrines (other people can pray standing next to you) so it also means that your powers won't go into cooldown when you switch them. However, it doesn't count for changing loadouts, nor can other characters respawn at you...

One occasionally useful fact is that powers with charges (specifically Healing Word but others work the same) don't count as being on cooldown so long as at least one charge remains. A DC can quickly heal themselves after a fight by popping a portable altar (assuming no VIP) and swapping in HW, cast up to 2 charges (no cooldown) and going back to the previous power. It is also useful for emergency heals in situations like MC/VT lightning phases.

safespacecadet

I know powers have always done this. I've been playing on and off since mod 4. However, I see no reason for it. Perhaps for mages and maybe priests (because they have to bring the spell to memory or say a quick prayer), but I see no reason for there to be a cooldown when switching powers on a gf, gwf, tr, or hr at all. Their powers are physical combat skills that they have trained for the most part.

EDIT: Well, some of the TR's powers seem to be magical like Deft Strike (teleportation) and Path of the Blade. And a few of the HR's powers seem to be Druidic in nature. (Which is true to old school D&D, as higher level Rangers would gain access to lower level Druid spells.)

oldbaldyone

Because they have a hard enough time balancing the game around people using 5-6 skills at a time. Rapidly switching skills mid combat is not something they want people doing, as evidenced by the fact that they don't have a powers switch bar (loadouts was close, but needs a campfire).

pitshade said:

The rank of VIP that lets you pray anywhere does so by making your characters mobile shrines (other people can pray standing next to you)

Really? VIP12 since day 1, and I never knew that lol. Will have to test.

pitshade

I suppose philosophers could debate whether the character is the shrine or an invisible shrine is following them around as only the coders know for sure. But if you have VIP since it was introduced, there would never have been a point at which you could have noticed. I played for a few weeks before getting VIP and ran with an old friend that had it. It is funny logging into my banking alts now and suddenly someone is invoking as it my storage minion was a holy vision.

safespacecadet

But I can rapidly switch skills in combat with my GF. By clicking P, scrolling down, and dragging. I just have to wait for the cooldown. I've done it often lately. Particularly when soloing sHEs in RD. It doesn't effect the balance. It actually increases difficulty a little because I have to make sure I'm not getting killed while I can't see the screen for a few seconds. The reason I do it is that some powers are better against large groups of mobs, while other powers are better for fighting bosses or single targets with high defense and hp. If they don't want us to switch powers, why did they give us so many to choose from? I would just rather not have to wait for the cooldown. Hiding something which should be a basic game function behind a paywall is not cool. If you want me to pay a subscription, make the game totally based on subscription. Why should I pay a subscription when I still have to deal with all the nasty grind, capricious RNG, and ridiculous loot tables inherent in a free-to-play themepark whether I pay or not?

P.S. I paid a monthly subscription when I played Everquest 2. Quit because I hate their endgame. Not gonna pay monthly just to grind for loot and gear in dungeons and raids.