Shattered Pixel
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Duelist’s Third Armor Ability | Patreon Poll #38
🕑 Added 2023-02-06 20:42:19 +0000 UTCHey Patrons!
Based on the results of last poll, I’ve been lacking some confidence on the Duelist’s third armor ability. It did very poorly on that poll, and I do agree that it wasn’t very exciting compared to the other two options. I’ve been thinking on this a bit and have come up with an alternative ability. Seeing as it was the poll that made me unsure about Parry/Riposte in the first place, I thought I’d put it to a vote!
The winning choice will be implemented during the Beta as the Duelist’s third armor ability!
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Please vote for all the options that you like, not just for your one favourite! I allow multiple votes as it means that a higher proportion of people will end up voting for the winning choice.
All patrons are encouraged to share their opinion by commenting and voting, but currently only the votes from Golden+ Supporters are counted when determining a poll winner. Votes from Shattered Supporters are worth double!
Parry and Riposte
As I’ve mentioned previously, the initial idea for this ability is pretty much the same as the Gladiator’s parry effect. It would grant temporary immunity with a free responding strike. Talents would let this ability become more powerful, with things like multiple ripostes or bonus damage.
The main impetus for this ability was to give the Duelist a bit of a ‘panic button’ armor ability option that fit her well thematically. Parrying does perhaps fit her better, but there’s no denying that it’s a bit boring to just use the same ability as the Gladiator, even if it does fit well here.
Feint
This is an attempt at an ability that still works as a panic button and fits thematically but avoids outright copying from another hero.
When she chooses to feint, the Duelist will fake an attack, move to a chosen adjacent cell, and leave a temporary invulnerable afterimage of herself. That afterimage will attract the attention of enemies for a brief time before disappearing. Talents could do things like grant haste or bonus damage if the afterimage is attacked or let the afterimage last slightly longer.
Comments
Shattered Pixel
Adrenaline is rare being it's an extremely powerful buff. I only ever really designed it intending for it to apply to allies. Also as mentioned there would probably be separate talents for haste and any sort of damage boost, the idea being that one helps with retreat/reposition and the other helps with attacking back.
Shattered Pixel
The arterimage is largely a gameplay compromise to simulate an enemy being baited by the Duelist's feint, as it's much easier game-logic wise to still have them be attacking something at her old position.
Veek
Would you consider Adrenaline instead of Haste for the talent? Would make for a really nice combo to go full aggressive on enemies while they are distracted or be able to still run away/relocate. Adrenaline is just such a rare buff and as far as I’m aware there is no way to obtain the buff as the player currently.
Veek
I think a good way to further differentiate that its not just a “wooden decoy” would hopefully be a talent that will allow the image to counter attack or riposte its aggressors. Unless I am misreading, and the image already attacks. Either way, I know it will be well thought out!
Shattered Pixel
You're absolutely right that feint takes a bit of inspiration from Rogue. I suspect it's so much more popular because it would offer more gameplay flexibility and is merely similar to some other abilities, instead of being a direct copy.
Shattered Pixel
Sacrificing HP would be more of a warrior thing. It's also how armor abilities used to work and very few people used them because they were rarely seen as worth the cost.
Chris Thompson
Not sure I understand all the support for feint if the perceived shortcoming of Parry is that it's a copy of something else? Feint smells strongly of the Rogue's armor abilities as well. Personally, like the thematic consistency, and think that upgrades could do a lot for it, but...I'm clearly in the minority :D Best of luck sorting this one! Either way, really looking forward to the new heroes!
Tobias Arclightning
Could the duelist sacrifice part of her HP for extra damage work as a armor subclass? Or is it too late to change it?
