Warp Shadows breaks threat vs target

jarvisandalfred · March 2015

Basically, using Warp Shadows (either the Starship Trait or the singularity power) works completely fine. Any nearby targets (when using the singularity power) or anyone shooting you (when using the trait) will attack the warp shadow. However, if the target remains alive after the warp shadow disappears naturally (especially prevalent in BDE or vs a final-boss type NPC, such as Tactical Cubes, Gateways, Vessel # of #, Borg Queen, Voth Citadel Dreadnought, etc), threat vs the target is basically broken.

What I mean by this, specifically, is that most of the 'normal' rules for threat no longer appear to be in force. Threat no longer goes to the person who at that point has consistently pulled aggro off of his team in that queue and others. It's instead, to the best of my ability to tell, based on whoever has the most raw damage to that target.

In addition to that, the person being targeted by that NPC will jump around in some cases, switching in some cases five times in 10 seconds. This is unlike most other NPC's, who will pick one target, and occasionally, but rarely, switch targets. I suspect that there is currently a threshold required - 1.2x or something - of increased total threat vs the target to pull aggro off of someone else. This mechanic, if it exists, is also no longer applying to the target once it's taunted.

Third, and the most concrete proof I can provide, the target is no longer affected by taunts. Using Warp Shadows will still create the shadows, which will get targeted while you're stealthed (assuming it can't see you), but they will not hold aggro on that specific target any more. I have tested this out using both the singularity power and the starship trait, using one then the other, or using one twice, no matter how I do it, the taunt fails to work.

I have replicated this at a 100% success rate, with both my own and other people's Warp Shadows, in PvE queues, solo patrols, and everywhere they're used.

rmy1081 · March 2015

Yeah it's really irritating in some pug matches when you're trying to hold aggro and the little guy in the t'varo pops warp shadows for some reason. I hope it's an easy fix.

Actually, I would love a season 11 where they release an aggro/tanking specialization (maybe call it operations? idk) and do a revamp on the whole aggro mechanic.

jarvisandalfred · March 2015

rmy1081 wrote: »

Yeah it's really irritating in some pug matches when you're trying to hold aggro and the little guy in the t'varo pops warp shadows for some reason. I hope it's an easy fix.

Actually, I would love a season 11 where they release an aggro/tanking specialization (maybe call it operations? idk) and do a revamp on the whole aggro mechanic.

Good idea. Along this line, I've tested and no, Lone Wolf (pilot fleet) doesn't come close to doing this.

jarvisandalfred · April 2015

You know, if we're going to introduce more taunts into the game, you should make sure that they'll have a chance to work - which they won't if someone's already hit the target with the (still bugged) warp shadows. Just a thought.

borticuscryptic · May 2015

Thanks for the info regarding the Iconian Tier 5 Rep clickie. Comparing that against Warp Shadow allowed me to track down where the behavior issue appears to be.

I've made a change that should fix the issues you've reported. It still needs to go thru QA before we push it live, to verify that it addresses the issue(s).

rmy1081 · May 2015

oh man thanks borticus!!!!

jarvisandalfred · May 2015

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Thanks for the info regarding the Iconian Tier 5 Rep clickie. Comparing that against Warp Shadow allowed me to track down where the behavior issue appears to be.

I've made a change that should fix the issues you've reported. It still needs to go thru QA before we push it live, to verify that it addresses the issue(s).

Fantastic. I'm really glad to hear that. Like, this seriously made my weekend. Did you apply this to both versions of warp shadows (the singularity power and the starship trait), or just one? Because I've been experiencing this bug with both.

borticuscryptic · May 2015

jarvisandalfred wrote: »

Did you apply this to both versions of warp shadows (the singularity power and the starship trait), or just one? Because I've been experiencing this bug with both.

It will apply to both.

(Disclaimer: If it works... You know how AI stuff can be, sometimes...)

jarvisandalfred · May 2015

borticuscryptic wrote: »

It will apply to both.

(Disclaimer: If it works... You know how AI stuff can be, sometimes...)

Fantastic, I'm so glad to hear this. Looking forward to testing it out on tribble and working with it on live!

jarvisandalfred · June 2015

borticuscryptic wrote: »

It will apply to both.

(Disclaimer: If it works... You know how AI stuff can be, sometimes...)

This about sums it up. It works just enough now to where I can clearly tell it was changed (I had a 100% reproduction rate of failure on it earlier), but nowhere near 100% of the time. I'll bump this thread again when I have a good theory on what makes it work or not.

darkjeff · June 2015

Feign Disintegration also resets Threat to 0, I wonder if it's plagued by the same issues.

shadowwraith77 · June 2015

borticuscryptic wrote: »

It will apply to both.

(Disclaimer: If it works... You know how AI stuff can be, sometimes...)

Yeah, like an advanced tac cube keeping me focused, for not even attacking it, allowing my entire PUG group to pound its brains in, with no retaliation to anyone but me.

I mean, I was literally able to stay just outside the 10km range [roughly 11km] and, have it follow me around everywhere, while it just got its butt handed to it by the other 4 players!!!

Guess the Borg, aren't as bright as they think they are, huh?

:rolleyes:

Warp Shadows breaks threat vs target

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