Official: ESN: Solance (1140)!

[audioserf]

audioserf note: The spell sucks so much I spelled the name wrong in the thread title, deal with it I guess?

On the ninth day of ESN, empaths gained access to a new spell... Solace (1140)!

Solace can be used to IMPRINT a player in the same realm as an auto-success and no spirit cost. It grants 3 + (Mental Lore, Trensference Bonus / 50) charges and lasts the standard imprint duration. Mental Lore, Transference also increases the range of Solace to adjacent realm at 35 ranks, near-adjacent at 70 ranks, and far at 105 ranks. Finally, for 30 seconds after the casting of Solace, the empath can transfer from that player regardless of whether they are "in combat" or not.

Solace has a 60 minute cooldown which can be reduced by 12 seconds for every rank of Spiritual Lore, Blessings.

Let me know what you think!

~ Konacon

This message was originally posted in Empaths, Developer's Corner - Empaths. To discuss the above, follow the link below.

http://forums.play.net/forums/19/232/2595/view/561

[audioserf]

I can't imagine a more underwhelming 40th level spell, oh my god. Pretty much over the ESN at this point.

[Fallen]

It should have some sort of alternate use that is a benefit to the caster for a 40th level spot.

[audioserf]

This is the worst of any 30th, 35th, or 40th level spell in the game.

[audioserf]

I asked if there was any non-healing stuff in ESN, turns out there isn't, but at least he said no nerfs (at least not as part of THIS review... heh)


> I'd like to start by saying that I really appreciate the work put forth during ESN and it's had some seriously cool stuff (I love the messaging updates and hope to some day win the blood mist one myself!) That being said: would it have been more accurate to call this a Healing System Review than an Empath Review? Is there anything for the non-healing focused among us to look forward to during ESN?

You are correct. In hindsight I should have gone for a less catchy name, or maybe just chosen HSN... My apologies for that. I have one thing for you tomorrow (Technically for ALL empaths), and I can also give you the comfort of telling you that no nerfs to empath hunting are a part of this review.

~ Konacon

[Fallen]

This is the worst of any 30th, 35th, or 40th level spell in the game.

Eh, Commune should be a cleric ability, not a 30th level spell slot. I would hazard to guess the majority of Clerics at/over level 30 have never cast it. Increase that number even more when you rule out accidental or "What does this do again?" casting.

[Gelston]

This is the worst of any 30th, 35th, or 40th level spell in the game.

It is better than 940.

[Taernath]

"Here's a 40th level spell that does the same thing as an innate ability, just slightly better"

[Fallen]

> 1) In this context, does the word "charge" mean how many individual wounds may be transferred before the imprint is broken?
Yes.

> 2) When I cast solace, do I cast it AT a person or do I cast it on myself and then IMPRINT while its up?

Cast it AT the person, like you would use 116 or 225.

> 3) Why does normal IMPRINT rely on healing skill check roll for charges (can you give us an idea of how many extra charges you get based on success?) instead of also using Transference bonus like the Solace spell does? (yes I know the success includes that lore but I'm curious why Solace uses Blessings specifically to provide additional charges)

IMPRINT uses the roll for additional charges to help encourage and differentiate between each empath's focus on training in healing-specific skills/spell research. Solace doesn't have a roll, so I picked Transference to provide additional charges to add more benefits for this new lore.

> SWEET. Now how do I train my friends to get my attention?

IMPRINT CALL is a good way as long as your on their imprinted list...

> 4) Is there any easy way in-game to know how much time is remaining on this cooldown? I haven't used it yet but I'm assuming there might be a spell effect on you when you're in cooldown?

There should be a spell effect for the cooldown that is easy to see in SPELL ACTIVE, yes.

~ Konacon

[khorpulent]

It is better than 940.

I'm not so sure of that. At least 940 could one day be a cool spell, whereas 1140 will apparently never be a cool spell.

[Tgo01]

GMs: Here, empaths! A new ability! IMPRINT!
Empaths: Well that's cool, I guess.
GMs: And A NEW SPELL!!!
Empaths: WOO! What's it do?
GMs: It performs the IMPRINT ability we just released!
Empaths: wut?

[Gelston]

I'm not so sure of that. At least 940 could one day be a cool spell, whereas 1140 will apparently never be a cool spell.

If they made 940 into a spell, it would only exist to nerf every other spell wizards have.

[Taernath]

If they made 940 into a spell, it would only exist to nerf every other spell wizards have.

940 Power Word: Estild

Teleports the wizard the the rerolling screen, and applies a warning to your account

[Fallen]

What a waste of a perfectly good spell slot

It's significantly better than what was in that spell slot for the last 9 years, which was nothing. And if we have a good idea for a profession, we almost never limited by having/not having a spell slot. The constraint is lack of good and balanced ideas, not empty spell slots.

Those who question the spell are probably not understanding the full implication of it. Empaths may have the ability to IMPRINT, but it's a skill check (which most empaths will probably only have a 35-50% chance to succeed at) and the target must be in the same room as the empath. Solace (1140) changes that dynamic. With enough lore, you can instantly imprint with guaranteed success and heal anyone in the game every hour. And even with no lore, anyone in the same realm. Now when little Timmy falls down the well in Wehnimer's Landing and calls out for help on the amulet, you can cast 1140 while resting in Ta'Illistim to imprint and heal him.

GameMaster Estild
.

[Gelston]

"Now when little Timmy falls down the well in Wehnimer's Landing and calls out for help on the amulet, you can cast 1140 while resting in Ta'Illistim to imprint and heal him."

Gamewide amulet chat confirmed.

[Tgo01]

Now when little Timmy falls down the well in Wehnimer's Landing and calls out for help on the amulet, you can cast 1140 while resting in Ta'Illistim to imprint and heal him.

First of all, it's spelled LNET. I tease.

I mean it might be a decent spell if not for the lore requirements. Because yeah, that's actually a pretty nifty scenario he just described there and if this were 12 years ago where I could make a good living as a purely healing dedicated empath then it might be kind of cool and fun. But the last thing I'm gonna do is train in all of these lores that only help with healing just so I can heal someone on the other side of the world once every hour, or every 20 minutes if I train in yet ANOTHER lore that I don't want.

[Gelston]

First of all, it's spelled LNET. I tease.

I mean it might be a decent spell if not for the lore requirements. Because yeah, that's actually a pretty nifty scenario he just described there and if this were 12 years ago where I could make a good living as a purely healing dedicated empath then it might be kind of cool and fun. But the last thing I'm gonna do is train in all of these lores that only help with healing just so I can heal someone on the other side of the world once every hour, or every 20 minutes if I train in yet ANOTHER lore that I don't want.

Eh, they're just trying to Make TSC Healing Great Again.

[Tgo01]

Eh, they're just trying to Make TSC Healing Great Again.

Well they got a long way to go until they convince me. So far it's been "Make Healing Meh Again."

[Viekn]

Eh, they're just trying to Make TSC Healing Great Again.

If you take a long view of improvements to the game, they made being a healing focused empath a lot better than it was. Nothing more or less.

[Tgo01]

First of all, it's spelled LNET. I tease.

I mean it might be a decent spell if not for the lore requirements. Because yeah, that's actually a pretty nifty scenario he just described there and if this were 12 years ago where I could make a good living as a purely healing dedicated empath then it might be kind of cool and fun. But the last thing I'm gonna do is train in all of these lores that only help with healing just so I can heal someone on the other side of the world once every hour, or every 20 minutes if I train in yet ANOTHER lore that I don't want.

The obvious solution is post cap character improvement training. Stuff. If I could train in lores passed 2x at cap then this might be kind of nifty.

[Fortybox]

This just in - 375 is released!

375 - Super Resurrection

Allows clerics to raise the dead.

https://media3.giphy.com/media/nXxOjZrbnbRxS/giphy.gif

[Fallen]

Remote raising would be interesting.

[subzero]

This would have been interesting for my Shattered empath.

[khorpulent]

The obvious solution is post cap character improvement training. Stuff. If I could train in lores passed 2x at cap then this might be kind of nifty.

Yeah, I think it's just the lore requirement that annoys me about this spells. I ain't about to give up combat skills just so I can heal people. People on the other side of the world can go fuck themselves.

[audioserf]

Yeah, I think it's just the lore requirement that annoys me about this spells. I ain't about to give up combat skills just so I can heal people. People on the other side of the world can go fuck themselves.

I'm with you but I think this is also exactly what they want. They want hunting empaths, healing empaths, and mediocre at everything empaths. I'll stick to hunting.

[Fallen]

I'm with you but I think this is also exactly what they want. They want hunting empaths, healing empaths, and mediocre at everything empaths. I'll stick to hunting.

I understand having to make hard choices pre-cap, but I agree with the idea that post-cap if you put in the stupid amount of hours it takes to hit 2/3/4+ x cap, you have the potential to maximize the strength of all of your abilities. It shouldn't be terribly unbalancing either, as being fully specced for one or the other already has to be balanced. You could argue this creates cookie cutter builds out of the highest level characters, but I think that's silly. Of course the very best of each profession would be good at everything. They should be.

[audioserf]

I understand having to make hard choices pre-cap, but I agree with the idea that post-cap if you put in the stupid amount of hours it takes to hit 2/3/4+ x cap, you have the potential to maximize the strength of all of your abilities. It shouldn't be terribly unbalancing either, as being fully specced for one or the other already has to be balanced. You could argue this creates cookie cutter builds out of the highest level characters, but I think that's silly. Of course the very best of each profession would be good at everything. They should be.

Agree. The post-cap experience is weak as is, making it so that certain classes can be the best at everything (semis and way post cap squares) and others have to choose (pures) is weak sauce.

[Fallen]

Agree. The post-cap experience is weak as is, making it so that certain classes can be the best at everything (semis and way post cap squares) and others have to choose (pures) is weak sauce.

I'd say allow Pures to 3x lores at cap and Squares to 3x CM. Semis could be 2.5x Lores/CM. It isn't all I would ever want to see from post-cap development, but it'd be a hell of a start.

[AnOrdim]

One of the post cap ideas that has come up a few times is a way to earn a second/different type of EXP, lets call it prestige, that can be used to buy upgrades that are inherent to the character. Some of the examples were natural padding, additional AS and similiar. If they are in fact creating a system like that I'm sure adding natural enhancives that can break the cap shouldnt be too hard. The problem is that I dont see this development team actually doing anything fun and in demand like that. They are very clearly happy being milquetoast and not really deciding on a direction for the game in regards to a hardcore item lose/punishment verses a more casual "numbers go up is fun" direction that modern gaming has embraced.

[Fallen]

They are very clearly happy being milquetoast and not really deciding on a direction for the game in regards to a hardcore item lose/punishment verses a more casual "numbers go up is fun" direction that modern gaming has embraced.

So when are you rolling your HARDCORE character, eh?

[Taernath]

[Private]-GSIV:Ginto: "want healing?"
[PrivateTo]-GSIV:Ginto: "I'm not even injured"

https://i.imgur.com/aVOSkIC.gif

[Parn]

There's problems with post cap advancement, mainly it will dis-incentivize people starting out. Getting to cap takes years in this game, adding more years to that makes it very unpalatable to even starting the game.

And yep, this spell sucks. Anyone else been seeing the power decline across the board from items to spells to event drops ever since Mario took over?

[Fallen]

The longer someone plays the more likely they will be near/at cap. These are the players you need to retain. "New" players are assumed to be quite rare. A person with a capped character starting over isn't likely (IMO) to be disincentivized by post-cap goals as he already has experienced said grind. You could argue it either way, but I know as a player with both capped and new characters that I would like more development in the post-capped side of the house.

[Jhynnifer]

There's problems with post cap advancement, mainly it will dis-incentivize people starting out. Getting to cap takes years in this game, adding more years to that makes it very unpalatable to even starting the game.

And yep, this spell sucks. Anyone else been seeing the power decline across the board from items to spells to event drops ever since Mario took over?

Mmmm conspiracy theories. Let's not remember the number of RTCFs, GM auction or DMs where high end items have gone out since Mario took over. Or the Hot Sorcerer Nights, flares/padding/weighting enchanting, SWP changes, etc. I'd say there's been far more improvements to the game then "declines."

If your goal in playing Gemstone is only to cap, then sure it might seem like a daunting task to get to 100 for people just starting out. That being said, the game wasn't really amazingly better for me at cap then it was post 50. It was/is the storylines, customizability and community that keeps a lot of people playing. I'd swap a capped character for a fully fleshed out, interesting, well-dressed/styled lowbie anyday... in fact I often do! =p


The longer someone plays the more likely they will be near/at cap. These are the players you need to retain. "New" players are assumed to be quite rare. A person with a capped character starting over isn't likely (IMO) to be disincentivized by post-cap goals as he already has experienced said grind. You could argue it either way, but I know as a player with both capped and new characters that I would like more development in the post-capped side of the house.

Also this +1

[Soulance]

I'm NOT changing my name!

[gilchristr]

There is no solace, only soulance

[Soulance]

https://i.imgur.com/gabNldd.gif