I’ll be doing a thread with my opinions on each Specializaiton line:
- Ready Up AMA Inititial thoughts: Deadly Arts
- Ready Up AMA Inititial thoughts: Critical Strikes
- Ready Up AMA Inititial thoughts: Acrobatics
High Level thoughts:
- Screen shots of the traits
Initially the community at large will hate thieves running SA. People don’t like fighting what they can’t see, we get complaints as thieves for non-shadow arts builds already, so understand that people will be complaining. Even seasoned PvPers will be complaining until they get their internal stealth timers adjusted, fighting 4 second stealths instead of 3 second stealths requires a timing adjustment. I don’t know how everything is going to shake out with all the power creep everywhere so it’s hard to gauge how OP SA is as of the AMA, but I can with certainty say this is another mandatory line in the state they showed everything in.
Minor Traits
The minor traits are all useful. I like that they fit with the theme of stealth. There are some changes that do seem warranted though.
- Last Refuge – Unchanged. I’d consider moving this off minor as people want the option to play without this triggering.
- Meld with Shadows – Unchanged. This in the meta is going to ramp up the rage levels on thief haters.
- Resilience of Shadows – This is now gained for using SA. It’s a great support concept. The numbers will need lessened play around with 30 and adjust from there.
Adept Traits
At first glance I saw to take Shadow’s Embrace. I get that you could combo Merciful Ambush off Resilience of Shadows and that could be a thing, but I don’t know. This set lacks an offensive option in my opinion, but that doesn’t mean it has to have one.
- Merciful Ambush – I’ll take this if the combo with Resilience of Shadows is worth it. Condi damage not being reduced could be a deal breaker for this trait depending on the meta.
- Concealed Defeat – I don’t think anyone will ever touch this. Maybe merge it with Merciful Ambush or some other trait or junk it and put something else here.
- Shadow’s Embrace – Unchanged. This will be the go to currently in my opinion.
Master Traits
The master traits seem solid. There’s a support and offensive option.
- Shadow Protector – Unchanged. You get regen, unless you already have it. I’d rather see the duration shortened and guarantee regen, but no big deal.
- Descent of Shadows – Unchanged. Fall damage trait, I guess these have to be somewhere.
- Leeching Venoms – Unchanged. The core venom power creep I’d move to this trait honestly, give this the +1 venom charges don’t make it core. Maybe adding life steal thief burst could become a thing with this and leeching sigil procs.
Grandmaster Traits
I think there’s a lot of mixing and matching that can be done between the Blind on Stealth, Initiative Gain Interval on Stealth, Healing during stealth, damage Reduction in Stealth, boon gain in stealth, and Condition removal upon stealth effects. Maybe merge more of these effects into two traits, a selfish and support version when stealthing and make them compete in the Grandmaster row. As it stands right now, you can spec to get all the benefits.
- Cloaked in Shadow – This doesn’t feel like a Grandmaster. Lots of stealthing involves blinding anyway, so it’s not build defining. I’d consider moving this to master or adept or a minor trait or merge it somewhere (an option could be Resilience of Shadows with a reduction to the Damage Reduction and move it to a Grandmaster option).
- Shadow’s Rejuvenation – This is the other thing that will have the thief haters raging. It’s too potent currently, but maybe I’m wrong given all the other power creep.
- Venomous Aura – This seems appropriately placed. You’re either a stealth buffed thief or a venom thief. The problem with making venoms a compelling choice though is that you miss out on a lot of defense. I don’t know if you’ve played with having venom’s break stun or give stability, but this could be a trait to put that on if it can be balanced.
I like the idea of choosing between being a venom thief or stealth buff thief in this line, with the stealth buffs having the additional choice of choosing between supportive damage reduction or selfish stealth choices. I just think competitively venoms need some survivability options, otherwise everyone is going to take the stealth path. The numbers obviously need to be addressed with Resilience of Shadows; I’m sure others will need tweaked as well.
Norn Guardian – Aurora Lustyr (Lv 80)
Mia A Shadows Glow – Human Thief (Lv 80)
(edited by Shockwave.1230)