KoBS/Chosen dev plans

[AxelF]

Would it be possible to get a brief dev comment regarding your plans for adjusting KoBS/Chosen mechanic please, which I know is your intention.

I have both a KoBS and an IB, and as much as I love the IB it's impossible to justify bringing him to an organised WB over KoBS as pretty much all of the buffs that the IB can provide to his oathfriend can be not only provided by the KoBS to all group members (str, toughness, crit %, resists, AP) in similar numbers, but the KoBS also debuffs all enemies. The IB also has to be in melee range and not have all of his attacks not parried/blocked.

I know the KoBS/Chosen mechanic is being looked at but I was hoping to get a steer regarding the intended changes to give me some hope that time levelling the IB won't be better spent levelling the Knight instead. I think I saw that the plan is to drop the aura range to 30 feet, and also make them activate on ability use? Is the plan still to keep the buff/debuff numbers about where they are? As even with a reduced range it'll be very hard to justify bringing a char which can provide ST buffs over an AoE buffing char if the size of the buffs are roughly equivalent. If the aura buffs are likely to remain the size they are now will they stack with IB/BG buffs to ensure that the IB/BG buffs aren't irrelevant? Thanks in advance!

[Natherul]

Nothing is set in stone or even decided as we have a few plans for them. All we can say with certainty is that right now they are too strong, especially since its currently a set it and forget it kind of thing, which makes it not okay at all

[Thelen]

Wargrimnir posted a general version here:

viewtopic.php?f=72&t=23216&p=259772#p259772

They will likely become active abilities with different uses based on your target and buff/debuff uses. The following are examples, not set in stone, as we need client control to make sure we can build these properly.

Ranges on these will be taking a significant hit, probably 30' range to apply, and 30' radius on the target. Duration of the buff/debuffs might be extended in exchange for being able to cleanse/shatter/sever the effects.

Heal debuff and cast time build-up auras for example are only effective on an offensive target anyway, so they will likely be something you place on an enemy which radiates from them.

TGH/Resist/STR auras would be offensive/defensive AOE's, so you can choose a defensive target and apply the buffs, or an offensive target and apply the debuffs.

Damage and Backlash auras would be PBAOE, and apply the debuff to all players hit. Similar in range/cone to Challenge.

Heal and AP auras would be similar to live, where you apply it on yourself and affect allies/enemies near you.

Well, maybe it's not such a rough draft, but that's the general idea for making them more active and skillful in use.

[anarchypark]

pbaoe channeling buff/debuff, like WP's Martyr's Blessing?

[KikkL]

Maybe some kind of cast/cooldown.

Cast time: Instant.
Duration: 10seconds.
Cooldown: 30seconds.

Limit: 3 active auras at any time.
Each aura having its own cooldown timer. Eliminate the global cooldown so you can choose which 3 to cast at anytime, given they are not on cooldown.

[snot]

While Chosen/Kotbs bring the best utility to a group they are the most boring to play and have significantly lower dps compared to rest tanks. If devs nerf the utility, they should also give something in return.

[Ridduk]

The stagger nerf was enough imo. If something just has to be changed make it where only 2 auras can be active instead of 3

[AxelF]

The big problem with them is the fact that KoBS provide similar buffs to an IB (both in terms of type and size of stat buffs) but apply to 6 people instead of 1 and also debuff all enemies within a certain radius.

Even if KoBS/Chosen are returned to having to activate auras every X seconds, and we nerf the radius to 30 feet there's still no real reason to bring an IB to a WB scale fight over a KoBS. Why bring a tank who can buff 1 ally when you can bring one who buffs 6 and debuffs all enemies within a certain radius?