So now that they've been out and about for awhile... how are people feeling about them? Are they OP'ed? Balanced? Any more bugs? Any problems with the policy around them?

This is for both people summoning the constructs and the people facing them.

My general feeling so far is that the AoE attack might be happening a little too often (And might be a little overtuned now that we finally stomped the bugs out). How is the self healing going?

Also I recently saw a log with the "his's" typo in the special attack but I swear I fixed that bug. Are people still seeing it? It looks fixed to me.

-Raesh

"Ever notice that B.A.'s flavor text swells in direct proportion to how much one of our characters is getting screwed?" - Brian Van Hoose

They are fine for what they do. Personally I haven't "used" them <i'd been saving coin with my family for a long time as auction usually happened on a night I had to work, so didn't get to attend. I made up for that this year, finally getting a few nice things besides a nice auction goodie. So the Moonies got the goodies this time around <tokka cards, other prediction tools, plus the trader got a nice exterior for the caravan <next years goal - Interior!>.

That being said, I managed to purchase a total of 3 glass orbs.
1. tried out all the verbs after studying it. One of the verbs - busted it.
2. tried out the orb the necro way, on bristle-back critters. Died because I already had a bleeder. who knew? Ooops. :-)
3. is going to sit in my backpack probably a long time. Or maybe on my table in my house. Unless she at some future times goes all-out perverse, its unlikely to get used. Or unless there comes a time when these can be manufactured somehow <crafted?> and not only available at guildfest. Can't really see her using 'em in pvp though, she tries to avoid it in most cases. <most people are either too much higher or too much lower to make it a RP event.>




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Oh and last one, DR at any given time has a population of weenies that will criticize at the drop of a hat, don't take things personally it happens to everyone.
Leucius

>>I'd be leary of AOE potency being nerfed because the glass monsters that are doing massive damage to even good characters are also almost certainly 'performance enhanced'

Explain?

-Raesh

"Ever notice that B.A.'s flavor text swells in direct proportion to how much one of our characters is getting screwed?" - Brian Van Hoose

<Explain?

Prediction + BUE + Empathy CJ comes to a pretty big Thanatology boost that iirc won't be available mechanically when global caps arrive.

I haven't, but have been told it works. Could be wrong.

>>Please let me know if prediction is working on Thanatology. It should not.

I didn't test this and it is totally off the cuff, but since Thanatology and Empathy are in the same skill "slot" (like when I type EXP EMPATHY, I see my Thanatology ranks...) would a prediction for Empath boost my Thanatology?

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"You always have to be a know-it-all. And you don't. Know. It. All." - GERSTEINJ2

>>It shouldn't be able to and aligning to Thanatology should be bad for you. If either of those is not the case...

Aligning to Thanatology isn't currently bad for you:

>>align thanatology
>>You focus internally and align yourself for a prediction on Empathy.
>>Roundtime: 2 seconds.

>>Isn't it supposed to cause DO for the Moon Mage or something wacky like that as opposed to try to do Empathy instead?

I feel like it used to show you the end of things instead of just aligning to empathy.

Hmph.

-Raesh

"Ever notice that B.A.'s flavor text swells in direct proportion to how much one of our characters is getting screwed?" - Brian Van Hoose

>>I'm more than a little surprised that these things are allowed to have their potency governed by Thanatology in the first place, instead of just using Targeted Magic. I realize we haven't arrived at 3.0 yet, but what happened to the "TM determines summoning power. Period." thing?

Thanatology driving the effectiveness of the construct is unique to just glass constructs. Dirt constructs are TM driven.

That said, Thanatology requires being combat to train and as far as I know it can't be taught, so I'd consider it less of an issue than if the skill check was based on something like PM or Scholarship or whatever.

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"You always have to be a know-it-all. And you don't. Know. It. All." - GERSTEINJ2

>>I'm more than a little surprised that these things are allowed to have their potency governed by Thanatology in the first place, instead of just using Targeted Magic. I realize we haven't arrived at 3.0 yet, but what happened to the "TM determines summoning power. Period." thing?

TM controls summoned pets because TM is the skill the best represents how accurate you are trying to bash something with a controlled creature. And these creatures in turn teach you TM while they bash on things.

The glass constructs are not controlled creatures. They aren't even pets. Thanatology is the skill that best represents the Necromancer's raw ability to create "life", but after that initial moment of creation the construct has no further interaction with the necromancer, aside from possibly crushing the tattered remnants of life from his body.

Given that, I am willing to review the formula in place. It's possible I was too generous (particularly at high skill levels) with the speed at which they scale.

>>Is this properly thwarted by the Blood Staunching spell?

Blood staunching stops regular bleeding. It does not stop a supernatural attack that is forcibly ripping the blood from your wounds.

-Raesh

"Ever notice that B.A.'s flavor text swells in direct proportion to how much one of our characters is getting screwed?" - Brian Van Hoose

>>Strange results are likely because of people juicing the construct.

The other thing to keep in mind is that many people are getting torn apart by constructs because, as per any heavily populated area, people don't tend to pay attention and are foraging and humming and casting up until their heads are removed.

So, yeah, an unprepared, not fully alert, possibly not armored person is going to get torn up by a glass construct rather quickly.

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"You always have to be a know-it-all. And you don't. Know. It. All." - GERSTEINJ2

I highly doubt constructs scale infinitely, or even much past the zombie TM limit. I doubt you really need to worry about runaway Thanatology ranks in 2013.

I also don't think you really need to do anything about the CJ aspect of it as CJs work for everything else in DR. Why would glass constructs be an exception?

Prediction isn't working as intended. Otherwise they're strong, but that was the point, was it not? The last thing anyone wants (besides people who just want Necromancers and their toys to be harmless or ignored in general) is for glass constructs to be neutered, summonable nuisances.

>>I know exactly where they scale to, after all I put the cap there :P. My concern wasn't that, it was how quickly they reach that point.

Ha. In the first part I was sort of talking to Algothi in regard to his concerns of Thanatology learning at a prime rate in 3.0 potentially creating legions of glass Godzillas.

But I am glad to hear that you seem to agree that they are a success as is and probably don't merit significant tweaking. They're the coolest thing to happen to Necros to come out since guild start. Thank you for adding them.

The constructs are weaker (in my experience) than the same Necro's zombie but offer perks like durability and AOE damage, so I think the power level is acceptable.

I am wondering if these are going to be for sale again any time soon. I had not been back long enough when the fest came around to have 15pl a pop to spend on them. But I would really, really like to purchase a couple for future use!

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Oh, I don't wanna lose those easy breezy summer days/ everything going my way/while I'm playin' my guitar/kickin' stones down the N.T.R./Oh, it's a young necromancer's life!

Anyone have one they would sell me?

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Oh, I don't wanna lose those easy breezy summer days/ everything goes my way/while I'm playin' my guitar/kickin' stones down the N.T.R./It's a young necromancer's life

If you're only looking for like one or two orbs I can sell you some. Not looking to sell my surplus, but one or two wouldn't be a thing so long as they're used for the greater good.

I have no intention of making them for sale 24/7. Will the be in the enchantment system? We'll see -- it's too early to say but it's something I'm interested in. However, if they are expect there to be limitations on how often you can make them.

-Raesh

"Ever notice that B.A.'s flavor text swells in direct proportion to how much one of our characters is getting screwed?" - Brian Van Hoose

I'd personally hope that the bottleneck for crafting them would be the way in which enchanting materials are obtained more than a notable timer where you can only make one every X days. Like how the bottleneck for kertig weapons being that kertig isn't easy to find.

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"You always have to be a know-it-all. And you don't. Know. It. All." - GERSTEINJ2