[.91] Acrobat trait rebalance request

from Elemental Forums

The current trait as it stands is remarkably powerful when you can unlock it at lv5 - equivalent to 2 levels in dodge, and it keeps getting better and better as you level up. However, it has the slightly amusing effect of rendering a melee with any character with it an experience in hammertime; can't touch this.. at level 7, you can reliably solo dragons, and at 10 the elemental lords are jokes.

 

I suggest either reducing it's stat power to either +1 per level (making it equal with dodge at the first chance you get it, with more fun promised later on), increase the min level it unlocks to ~lv7, or make it an end trait tree ability, IE, needs 2 lvs in dodge to even have a chance of seeing / becomes the bonus for Dodge 3 (changing the set bonus of +15 to dodge total to +10, +2x lv)

4,626 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

The 2nd suggestion, replacing dodge 3 with it, just isn't enough. You'd just have 1 less trait, and 5 less dodge. I was able to get some 120+ dodge in my last game, so 5 less doesn't seem like it would fix the problem, and I'd have another trait. If a nerf is in order, it definitely needs to be +1 per level. Maybe make it less rare or something to compensate.

Although honestly, I think they just need to establish some kind of cap on dodge/accuracy. Make it so that there is always a 10% min chance of hitting/dodging something... that should help greatly. Might even make combat a bit more random and interesting.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Heh, yeah, as it currently stands, accuracy and dodge are fairly unbalanced mechanics; either some values are too high, or others too low. The 10% base chance of hit/dodge to all is a good idea; I thought they carried that over from WoM and the appearance of 138% chance to hit was a statistical anomaly which the combat engine disregarded.

Digression aside, acrobat as it stands is simply too powerful an ability; it completely nullifies the need to invest in any other dodge traits, giving you essentially 3 free trait points to spend as you desire.. I didn't purchase any further ranks in dodge when I first unlocked it, and in subsequent playthroughs I ignored them completely beyond the first level. And can you imagine just how tedious a fight with any opponent who has ranked in it would be?

 

It is an end-game ability, and should either recieve similar requirements as others of it's ilk, or be reduced to be more fitting to the part of the game it accessable; if I can get in within the first 30 turns of play, it's power should be reflective of that.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top


well, in its defence, it is rare. I've only come across it through Path of the Assassin - is it listed or heavily biased there?

In general, all of the abilities that scale with level are better than those which are fixed value, largely because it is so easy to level up, especially early.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I like having some heroes with high Dodge. There are still plenty of ways to kill them. Accuracy starts at 63% and goes up by 3% per level. Acrobat is simply keeping up with that increase. It adds some nice flavor to have some units that rely on Dodge to defend. Most of my cavalry use dodge if they can to reduce the danger of being the only unit near the enemy. But there are other things that would help balance this out. For one thing, there needs to be more magical stuff that increases Accuracy by large amounts. Balanced Axe, Bow, and Shortsword need to have a +30 Accuracy so that they can put monks in their place. An amulet to increase accuracy per level would be nice and how about making Training Yard do +10 Accuracy? For units that don't try for high Dodge, it will not matter, but every good army should have at least one unit that can hit with very high accuracy.