Willsave20
Indie Game Developer
Overall I understand why these changes were made, however only focusing on what appears to be melee/ranged feels like a slap in the face. I'm not so disappointed in the changes that were made versus the changes that needed to be made. Melees have been in a really great spot lately in the game imo, and I'm not really appalled by the changes that were made, they were needed.The following adjustments have been to class balance for this update. These adjustments are being made as we prepare to debut our upcoming "Fey event" and are part of our regular efforts to adjust class balance on a seasonal basis.
Finesse Pass:
- All weapons that benefit from the Finesse feat now innately use the higher of Dexterity or Strength for to-hit and damage, just like more recent versions of D&D. Scimitar is now a light weapon with a lower off-hand penalty so it is included.
- Crossbows will now innately use Dexterity for to-hit and damage.
- Dagger/Dart/Shuriken Thrown Weapons now innately use the higher of Stength or Dexterity.
- Throwing Axes/Hammers now use Strength for to-hit and damage.
- The Brutal Throw Feat is changing to +1 damage while using a throwing axe or hammer for every 8 points of Strength. (Starting stat, level increases and tomes here)
- Changes to the following feats/enhancements that changed Dexterity to-hit and damage....
Feat/enhancement Notes Weapon Finesse Now grants +2 to hit and 10% Fortification bypass Monk Basic Ninja training Cut text about dex to damage Advance Ninja training Now grants +1 to hit/damage in addition to double shot perk, cut text about dex to damage Ranger Tempest Core 2 and 3 Grants dex to hit and damage with all one-handed weapons weapons respectively. Text about turning scimitar to light cut because it is now a light weapon by default. Assassin core 1 and 2 Core 1 cut text about dex, still grants kukri feat, core 2 +1 damage 10% fort bypass, cut text about dex to damage Rogue Acrobat core 1,2 Unchanged Tabaxi (both types) Base Core 1 has had its description adjusted, Blazer gets quarterstaff compatibility, Improved Instincts is now quarterstaff-only, and the Improved Nimble Cat enhancement has been removed from Tabaxi since it no longer serves a purpose. Deepwood Stalker Improved Weapon Finesse Changes to 15% Fortification bypass, +3 to hit. Bard Swash a Buckle - Swift Strikes Removing It since it no longer serves a purpose. General changes in Swashbuckler text to support changes. Wood Elf Forest Finesse Allows Dexterity for to-hit and damage with all weapons, and no longer has pre-requisites. Morning Lord Grace Unchanged Halfling Skillful Thrower +2 to-hit and damage when using a Thrown Weapon instead of its previous purpose Elf Graces Allows Dexterity for to-hit and damage with all weapons, and no longer has pre-requisites
General Feat Changes
1. Cleave gains a +1 Critical Threat range and +1 Critical Multiplier Bonus.
2. Great Cleave gains a +1 Threat range +2 Critical Multiplier Bonus
3. Sunder gets a +10 to its attack roll.
4. Improved Sunder gets a +20 to its attack roll and gains a +60% damage bonus.
5. Hamstring Cooldown has been reduced from 15 seconds to 6 seconds and now gains a +50% damage bonus. No longer requires a rank of sneak attack.
6. Slicing Blow Cooldown has been reduced from 15 seconds to 6 and now gains a 40% damage bonus.
7. Whirl Attack gains a +1 Critical Treat Range and +1 Critical Multiplier bonus.
8. Stunning Blow and Sap cooldowns have been decreased from 15 to 10 and their base DC increased from 10 to 14. Sap still has no save.
9. Spring Attack gains a 20% damage bonus.
10. Improved Precise Shot now passively increases the Ability Score Modifier bonus to damage for Longbows and Shortbows by +50%, including when the stance is off. This stacks with Precise Shot.
Tree Stuff
1. Razor Claw: Magic Fang now has a max caster level of 20 so it no longer bugs when it hits over level 40 ahead of schedule.
2. Blight Caster's Blighted Charge and Jaws of Doom will use Conjuration instead of necromancy for DCs.
3. Favored Soul's Archon's Fury - Removed spell point cost per blast. Damage increased to 2d6 from 1d6+1 and stack size reduced to 10 (Change Not in this build)
4. Radiant Servant (Cleric/Sacred Fist):
i. Positive energy shield buff - increase temp hp to double healing skill, and x4 of healing skill is target is level 20 or above.
ii. Efficient Empowered Heal costs 1 Ap per rank instead of 2.
iii. Divine healing now scales with 50% positive spell power (only 50% since the duration is so long). Will now have a line of sight check, double spell range (ray range)
iv. Reactive Heal will either scale with spell power or be increased to 2000. (these kinda effects are tricky sometimes)
5. Mechanic
i. Mechanic Bomb spells in tree will now used disable device plus 1d20 random roll for their DC (just like bard fascinate) - (DC is not working correctly in this build)
ii. Mechanic Improve Traps bonus is now a +1/2/3 disable traps bonus instead of the previous specific bomb bonus. DC mod to "rogue traps" unchanged.
iii. Mechanic Bombs now deal:
a> Tanglefoot 4d6 +1 per sneak attack die in acid damage every 2 seconds. CC as before with Disable Trap Skill DC Driver +1d20 roll
b> Thunder Stone now does 4d6 +1d4/6/8 per sneak attack die in damage. CC as before with Disable Trap Skill DC Driver +1d20 roll
c> Ooze Flask now does 4d6 +1d6/8/12 per sneak attack die in damage. Debuff as before with Disable Trap Skill DC Driver +1d20 roll
d> Time bomb will now scale with 200% range power and also used Disable Trap Skill DC +1d20
iv. Leg shot has been replaced with Line Up and Sit Down - Ranged attack. 250% damage mod. Knocks down target for 2 seconds no save. 6 second cooldown.
v. Swap Core 5 Expert Builder with Sniper from T5 (gets crit multiplier accessible by level 12)
6. Vanguard (fighter/paladin)
i. Follow up now grants 5/10/15 melee power and lasts 30 seconds.
ii. Shield Smash damage now scales as 25/50/75% instead of 10/20/30 and it's MRR/PRR buff is replaced by a new buff called Battle Guard
Battle Guard: Lasts 12 seconds and stacks 5 times, 10 MRR/PRR per stack. Blocking for more than 3 seconds removes all stacks.
iii. Shield Charge now applies a knock down to targets in area for 2 seconds. DC(10 + highest ability modifier + character level + tripping bonuses), cooldown 25/20/15.
iv. Armor Strength melee power bonus increased from 10 to 15.
7. Kensai
i. Shattering Strike/Shot Damage increased to 25/50/100% bonus
ii. Reed in the Wind cooldown now 8 seconds. Damage bonus increased to 20/40/60%. Instead of dodge now grants Battle Guard. No longer requires Dodge Feat to take.
Battle Guard: Lasts 12 seconds and stacks 5 times, 10 MRR/PRR per stack. Blocking for more than 3 seconds removes all stacks.
8. Vistani Knife Fighting
i. Core 6 attack speed bonus only applies to when using a dagger or kukri.
9. Inquistive
i. Undaunted (Core 5) no longer grants Ranged Power.
ii. Master Inquisitive (Core 6)'s Ranged Power is reduced from +10 to +5
iii. Inquisitive's Path no longer grants Ranged Power.
10. Archmage
i. Increase School Mastery 2 DC bonus by +1.
ii. Each core now adds +5 Universal Spell Power (on top of the +1 for points spent in tree)
11. Battle Engineer
i. Tactical Mobility now costs 1AP.
12. Enlightened Spirit
i. Beacon now costs 1AP.
ii. Displacement now costs 1AP.
13. Soul Eater
i. Supreme Hunger now costs 1AP
ii. Feed on Magic now costs 1AP
14. Tainted Scholar
i. Spell Focus now costs 2AP.
ii. Planar Focus now costs 1AP.
iii. Eldritch Power costs 1 AP and grants 2 Dice instead of 1
Misc:
i. Death Ward now longer completely negates negative energy damage from inflict/necro spell damage but reduced it by 50%. This is flagged with the shield trait much like Fire Shield/Energy Shield is for Fire damage. A certain raid boss on the isle of dread will now stop stackings neg energy vul stacks, but this will not affect the Temple of the death wyrm raid. This also applies to monsters when they cast death ward so pale masters and shady clerics may rejoice.
ii.Lost Souls In Reaper Raids: The drop rate for lost souls in raids has been greatly increased (Not in this build)
Epic:
i. Fury of the Wild Epic Strike Quick Cutter - Cooldown increased to 8 seconds. Quick and Bleed duration changed to 10 seconds. Bleed damage reduced to 1d6 per character level. Bleed Damage is increased by rank 1 of Spirit of the Beast by 1d6 and Rank 1 of Primal Force for a net total of 3d6 (Change Not in this build)
ii. Unyielding Sentinel - Celestial Mandate now applies Battle Guard per target hit instead of it's previous buff. (if you are using a shield it always applies 1 extra even if you completely miss). Battle Guard: Lasts 12 seconds and stacks 5 times, 10 MRR/PRR per stack. Blocking for more than 3 seconds removes all stacks.
Known Issue Summary: (recap)
1. Mechanic DCs while displaying correctly in their tool tip do not work correctly.
2. Quick Cutter changes are not in this build.
3. Lost Souls drop rate is not in this build
This being said, I'd like to see casters brought back to prime in reaper and a larger effort towards that support. Not saying its annoying, but its kinda boring to 12 stack pure melees in a raid that just QC a boss into oblivion. Give casters a QC equivalent attack/bump and help even the playstyles in your game. I havent touched caster in years because they are clearly just ignored.
