Spell Idea: Maelstrom Bolt

[Fallen]

X-post of my idea on the officials.
----

I know many among us, whether for the idea or not, are looking to Disease to provide us with a bolt spell in our circle. However, I believe that there is another spell which can provide a better placement in terms of both costs and logistics. Disease as a bolt has never truly appealed to me in an IC sense. It could be made to work, and I would enjoy a bolt based vehicle for the spell, but I believe the spell has potential to be worthwhile without a bolt component.

A spell which also is in need of improvement in my opinion is Energy Maelstrom. I think a bolt aspect added to the spell would provide just the boost needed to make it viable throughout all levels, and not just earlier ones where one can afford to sit around for 20+ seconds while the storm forms. In stances above guarded, the sorcerer will focus his hybrid magic in the effort of conjuring a bolt formed of a churning Maelstrom. The manner of attack which this bolt will provide will vary just as the affects of the Maelstrom do differ. Whether the foe be struck with whipping winds, fierce lightning, or flying debris, that is only the first stage of the assault.
Once struck, the spiritual aspect of the bolt will begin to take affect. The storm will continue to rage around the target, building for one round to strike with the continued force of the spell's natural fury. As the formation of the spell did not take as long as is usually, so shall the duration suffer. However, the more powerful the sorcerer, the greater his control over control of both Spiritual and Elemental mana, the more rounds the spell will continue to strike.

Here is an example of what I have in mind:

You gesture at an Ithzir seer.
You hurl a bolt of dark churning energy at an Ithzir seer!
AS: +401 vs DS: +308 with AvD: +59 + d100 roll: +87 = +239
... and hit for 79 points of damage!
Violent winds swirl and intensify around an Ithzir Seer, while dark clouds gather over its head.

The winds form into a sinister vortex surrounding an Ithzir Seer.

Brilliant flashes of lightning surround an Ithzir seer.
... 50 points of damage!
Hideously bright electrical bolt sends left leg into another universe. Happy traveling.

Large hailstones pound relentlessly on an Ithzir seer.
... 70 points of damage!
Incredible blast shatters head into a red spray.
The Ithzir seer vainly struggles to rise, then goes still.

Obviously, the initial messaging regarding the spell's bolt based strike would need to be embellished. I think Unbalance DFs would be appropriate for the spell's actual damage. It would have to be fairly low, and it would not rise with lore training. I think the different aspects of the Maelstrom should have a chance for different status ailments. Lightning lore would increase a base chance of a payalytic effect should the maelstrom strike in the form of that element. Violent winds on the initial bolt would cause the target to have a base chance to be knocked prone, increased with Air lore, and boulders and the like could cause the target to be stunned by flying debris, base chance raised by Earth lore.

I think the Spiritual aspect of the spell equally represented by the ability to hurl the raw energy of the spell at a target, and have it then become focused upon it. Spell Aim currently determines the length of the Tempest in maneuver form, and I believe a truncated formula would be appropriate here too.

Thoughts?

[Warriorbird]

Spam Idea: Maelstrom Bolt?

;)

[ViridianAsp]

uh, why should sorcerers get a bolt spell? You've already got the more powerful spells around.

[Khariz]

I dunno...maybe because they already have a couple and they fully train in spell aiming anyway?

[Deathravin]

What's wrong with Maelstrom as it is now?
It takes a bit of time to start working (I think 10-20 seconds...), but that's why it only costs 10 mana. But once it's going its basically a guaranteed kill.

[Fallen]

Because when the game actually gets worth playing, standing in front of creature for 20 seconds without using other spells to disable/kill it is a bad, bad idea. That, and attempting to uphunt to ANY degree with the spell is worthless. I've strengthened a tempest 10+ times against a grizzled foe. Didn't come close to touching it.

Why shouldn't sorcerers have a bolt spell in their own circle? At the moment, they are the only pure class who doesn't.

Clerics - Holy Bolt - Some of the best DFs in the game
Empaths - Empathic Assault - Awesome lore tie ins for sick damage
Wizards - duh

[cronuss]

Because when the game actually gets worth playing, standing in front of creature for 20 seconds without using other spells to disable/kill it is a bad, bad idea. That, and attempting to uphunt to ANY degree with the spell is worthless. I've strengthened a tempest 10+ times against a grizzled foe. Didn't come close to touching it.

Why shouldn't sorcerers have a bolt spell in their own circle? At the moment, they are the only pure class who doesn't.

Clerics - Holy Bolt - Some of the best DFs in the game
Empaths - Empathic Assault - Awesome lore tie ins for sick damage
Wizards - duh

I completely agree.

Though, I'm nto sure about the Maelstrom Bolt idea... but I agree we need a Sorc bolt.

[Fallen]

I've had other thoughts on Maelstrom before. I think a lot can be done with the spell

http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=12259

http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=26220

[Asha]

I think it's a great idea, Fallen.
And that's precisely why it will never happen.

The disease bolt was a wet dream for me btw, but I got sick of lobbying for it.
Maneuver saving 704 was planned to happen a long time ago and still hasn't. I'll be long dead of old age by the time anything other than that happens.

Let me repeat it's a great idea though.

[fallenSaint]

I think it's a great idea, Fallen.
And that's precisely why it will never happen.

/agree(100%)

[Warriorbird]

I don't think "because everybody else has one too" is a great justification for a spell. I don't think sorcs really NEED anything. Make something more interesting.

[TheWitch]

uh, why should sorcerers get a bolt spell? You've already got the more powerful spells around.

And that would be what, implosion? That no one wants us to use because its the one that sucks up crap on the ground and vape's the target so there's no corpse left to loot? The one that focused sucks ass even a few levels over and open, pisses everyone else off - also for good reason? That one?

Play a sorcerer. Get a clue. Yea, it's powerful but anyone that relys on it is riding the ragged edge of disaster at all times. Which our characters likely don't care about, but the GM's with the disney mindset frown upon making other hunters sad pandas.

I like it, Evarin. Too bad absolutely nothing is happening in sorcerery development wise, except when one of the cleric GM's takes pity on us.

Yea, I'm not happy with the game right now.

[TheWitch]

uh, why should sorcerers get a bolt spell? You've already got the more powerful spells around.

And that would be what, implosion? That no one wants us to use because its the one that sucks up crap on the ground and vape's the target so there's no corpse left to loot? The one that focused sucks ass even a few levels over and open, pisses everyone else off - also for good reason? That one?

Play a sorcerer. Get a clue. Yea, it's powerful but anyone that relys on it is riding the ragged edge of disaster at all times. Which our characters likely don't care about, but the GM's with the disney mindset frown upon making other hunters sad pandas.

I like it, Evarin. Too bad absolutely nothing is happening in sorcerery development wise, except when one of the cleric GM's takes pity on us.

Yea, I'm not happy with the game right now.

[TheWitch]

I keep getting data base errors too, so if this is redundant...

I like it, Evarin. Too bad there's absolutely nothing going on development wise for sorcerers right now, except when a cleric GM takes pity on us.

[Snapp]

Merged the two threads.

[Peanut Butter Jelly Time]

Why should sorcerers gain circle bolting simply because they don't have it? What next, all sorcerers must gain artificial armor, because bards have it, and they don't? Quit focussing on what you don't have, and work with the tremendous amount of potent, easily castable spells you already have.

If you stop letting your bias towards one profession or another get in the way, you'll see my point. You'd scoff at anyone other than a sorcerer talking about getting a passive lashback spell, so why should you get one of the more prominent abilities of non-sorcerer professions?

[Apathy]

Reasoning for empaths and clerics having one then, hotshot.

[Peanut Butter Jelly Time]

Wizards aren't the only class with quality bolt spells, why should sorcerers be the only class with quality lashback?

[Apathy]

So wizards should be the only class with a bolt spell then right?

[Peanut Butter Jelly Time]

In fact, this is all moot. Sorcerers already have bolting access, and supported viability that has long been acknowledged. They're ALREADY competant bolters, and the fact that you're reaching so far simply for new messaging and an extended crit table is embarrassing for everyone around you.

I understand you're bored with the current state of things, but warriors have been bored for years. Paladins have been bored since they came into the game, and Clerics have been bored since they stupidly converted to Paladins. What makes you so special, in that your boredom demands change?

[Peanut Butter Jelly Time]

So wizards should be the only class with a bolt spell then right?

Ok, you're just fucking retarded if you don't get my point yet. I'm done trying to explain it to you. Scroll up or take a reading comprehension class or two. Kthx.

EDIT: Eh, actually, you'll have to do a bit more than scroll up now, but the point stands.

[Apathy]

Don't get pissy because you can't answer simple questions made to your statements.

[Peanut Butter Jelly Time]

I answered them before you even provided a question, your dumb ass is just too slow to realize it... Just be quiet?

[Apathy]

Still waiting. What's wrong, can't find your answer in that mess of shit you called your point but was actually just you being a trolling ass?

[Peanut Butter Jelly Time]

Ok, so the entire point of my initial post went flying over your head, and it's MY problem? Just stfu already.

Back on topic, If sorcerers ever DID have an in-circle bolt spell, why not give them something new, instead of just rip off Tonis bolt?

Set some kind of two part spell, similar to archery, but without the stupidity. 3 second casting RT on prep, followed by 0-3 second casting RT on cast.

Prep
XXXX places his palms flat together, and a ball of swirling black energy forms around his hands, growing larger with each passing second.

Ready to cast
The swirling energy surrounding XXXX's hands crackles with the sound of distant thunder, as it stops expanding.

Standard cast with crush crits, with chance of 1 hit ko in the form of outright disintegration. (Ball of energy expands as it is propelled at the target, and consumes the target completely, leaving nothing as it dissipates.

[Fallen]

Uh, Empaths have 2 maneuver defense spells, Troll's Blood and Regenerate. Both were likely oked by their guru's pointing at 712 as justification. Clerics have the ability to resurrect themselves while dead, but they likely be gaining a passive maneuver defense spell before everything is said and done. Wizards have Temporal reversion, which protects against every form of attack when it does activate. Bards have passive unstunning too.

Sorcerers are not unique due to Cloak of Shadows. Hell, if you don't have demonology lore, the spell will more than likely kill you before it does anything else.

Quit crying.

[Warriorbird]

Sorcs have multiple break the game skills.

In my book those are Scroll Infusion and Open Implode.

If you're gonna come up with a suggestion... how about an entirely new class of spell? This spell is like pablum.

[Fallen]

Entirely new type of spell? There is Bolt, Manuever, and CS. What the fuck else is there?

[Warriorbird]

Think about it. Then come up with something.

[TheEschaton]

DOT DOT DOT mothafuckas!

Though they already have that with 701, however that is still subject to a CS roll.

[diethx]

What's wrong with Maelstrom as it is now?
It takes a bit of time to start working (I think 10-20 seconds...), but that's why it only costs 10 mana. But once it's going its basically a guaranteed kill.

I thought it only cost 10 mana because for it to be at all effective you have to stack it like 20 million times?

[Fallen]

Depends on the creature, but many times it does exactly dick, especially if the creature is a few levels over you, as in less than 5.

[diethx]

Yeah I know, I was being a bit sarcastic. My main is a sorcerer and while i've never gotten near cap, I almost always uphunted like 5 levels and I didn't often use maelstrom cuz it took like 5 casts to be worth a fuck.

[Fallen]

That, and the spell takes a LONG time to form, even if you dump mana into it it still takes forever.

With nearly 70 ranks of summoning lore 125 destroyes 710. I just wish it had some lore tie ins, or mana control tie ins. Like I said, it is definitely one thing the sorcerer profession lacks; the ability to power their spells through lore and contols

[diethx]

I think the long form time was less problematic for me cuz I wasn't capped (therefore, easier/less risky mobs). A pain, but not really that horrible.

[Axhinde]

Set some kind of two part spell, similar to archery, but without the stupidity. 3 second casting RT on prep, followed by 0-3 second casting RT on cast.

Then it'd be 312 with different messaging.

[Apathy]

LOL @ PBJ being a zealot against sorcerer's getting a unique bolt spell then turning around and suggesting one.

I like the idea of updating 710, but I'm not crazy about order you have the things happening in. I would say keep the storm on the first cast, then change subsequent casts to some kind of storm-bolt.

Or they could just give major acid to sorcerers.