Title.
Hey there,
I more or less a lurker but do post every so often.
Thus, this post of improving how thief plays.
As was mentioned in a previous post, preparedness should be made baseline (and perhaps kleptomaniac too depending on balance)
The 15% additional raw/condi damage of trickery makes it the go to over DA or CS, let alone leaving SA in the dust.
Perhaps as a way to amend this:
DA – upon inflicting a condition from a skill that uses initiative, conditions do 15% more damage for x seconds.
CS – something along the same lines but based on raw damage to scale with the power builds that use it.
The issue of shadow arts.
Shadow arts needs a little more oomph to be taken, perhaps along the lines of the elementalists water magic.
- above 90% hp gain x% damage
- attacks from stealth deal y% more damage
- increases duration of stealth by 66% (now 5 seconds)
These as minor traits would make it a more competitive trait line and give a reason to use it.
Taking preparedness and kleptomaniac out of trickery sort of reduces the need for it – perhaps the addition of addings boons to boons; think of an ace up the sleeves
- on gaining one boon, gain another that is similar
Ie. Gain might, gain additional fury – as both are combat boons
This along with a 2-3% damage buff per boon would allow boon thieves to continue to play as they do with an added buff to boons whilst losing preparedness and kleptomaniac.
Finally, acrobatics
A traitline the needs a bit of meat to it.
Perhaps minor additions to either crit or raw damage when effected by swiftness or vigor and a greater effect when both boons are used at once
This would play into the hyper agile aggressive play of an acrobatic thief along.
Anyhow, these are just some reflections on my past few weeks of playing and digging through the forums
All numbers are up in the air for the ideals of balance,
Suggestions are welcome
Thank you for reading,
-Phyrak
Edit:
These changes could be considered additions to minors or completely new traits depending on how they are balanced – e.g. stealth on steal is still in SA and now gains one of the three suggestions as well
Sorry if it is a little hard to read, I’ve had a long week and my brain is every which way
