Soul stones

[tardy steppe]

A real discussion on unique/legendary soul stones, what can be done to make them still be fun but not game breaking. What can we do to make them still have some impact without being a Pokémon battle of who has the best ones.

Im leaning more toward leaving them as is, but giving them a negative. Like stalwart skeleton or demonic frenzy.

These give decent buffs, but it's a trade.

So since the legendaries and uniques give amazing, game changing buffs and abilities, they should have a downside.

For example: Let people have a chance to freeze, but reduce their damage, or even move speed by a significant amount.

This is just an example of course, but I feel we could do more than just removing them or their effects, and it would give other builds a chance to see the light of day.

[tribal lintel]

I want them all gone, they need so much work to balance and the devs have enough balance work on their plates already I don't trust them to deal with it properly at this point

[cerulean prairie]

Frost is the only problem soul stone, all the others are fine. All they gotta do is make a downside the frost and 'everyone' will be happy (except for the guy above me, he'll still be upset)

[zealous viper]

They’re fine except frost imo. Maybe a very low drop rate on nightmare for legendary+ and let them epics and rares drop there too. They are some of the most exciting loot.

[tardy steppe]

Unpopular opinion: i think only the soul stones that have effects after you die (I shall dub them spite stones) should be removed, those ones completely missed the mark of a skill based pvp game.

A lot of fights are close, what's the point in both of you dying bc one person has a spite stone or two slotted and landed a slow/stun before they died?

Granted thats only a serious problem in solos, but those stones just seem to be in bad taste.

[cerulean prairie]

I can see the soul stone that drops the poison thing after you die and the explosion one being annoying (I've died to the poison one out of stupidity before ;-;), but honestly they are pretty easy to avoid

[tardy steppe]

Not if you get frost stoned or cleric maced just before you knock them

[blissful igloo]

How is Frost Touch and a Mage spamming ice arrow any different?
Balanced. 🤷‍♂️

[tardy steppe]

a mage can't stunlock you infinitely for one, and a mage cant smack you for 200 damage with a resource-free quick swing of their weapon.

[rocky abyss]

I think they all qualify as spite stones and should just be removed. But you already knew that.

[tardy steppe]

Yeah I remember your stance, I like the idea of them, but their current state needs fixing, how is the question. Obviously things like removing the cc stacking on frost touch is a necessity.

And here's a thought I never had. Are soul stones going to be different every wipe? Or are they like gear and they'll just be recycled?

Bc if theyre gonna be different we may just be shouting at the void, since the devs known they'll be replaced next wipe.

[rocky abyss]

I do like the idea of negatives to counteract their effects that currently have 0 penalties for the abuse they incur...

Say equipping a centaur rush stone while enhancing movement speed, decreases attack speed. Something like that I could get behind.

[tardy steppe]

Yeah this is exactly what I mean, shifting them into something that changes your build instead of just buffing you up immensely for free.

[rocky abyss]

Thats a good idea then! Let's hope it gets traction. The question would be then, how would the devs balance that?

Thats my only quip and worry. But, nothing ventured...nothing gained. Worth a shot. Maybe.

[blissful igloo]

@tardy steppe we're not talking about squishy barbs with war mauls. We're discussing Frost Touch.
Like I said the mechanic is no different.
If you want to complain about barb join the other threads.

[tardy steppe]

Simmer down, we're just having a discussion, I wasn't only talking about Barbs, I'm trying to make a point, the infinite stun lock was referring to rogues with the stone; barbs AND fighters can rock you pretty hard after a freeze, ntm the freeze was likely a hard hit, and the next hit also has a chance to freeze. Forget it if you're up against a full team and they all have the stone and you don't.

My problem isn't that freezing exists. its that its the only viable option for melee pvp if you want to consistently have a shot at winning right now, and soul stones should be switched up to provide reasonable choices of builds as opposed to "whoever has frost touch wins"

[void bough]

What? The majority of people want them completely removed. #📊│polls

[rocky abyss]

I devised the perfect counterbalance to equipping a frost touch soulstone.

Equipping a frost touch soul stone should result in your character being reset to lvl 1, running nothing but one handed crossbows and support bandages indefinitely. 😬

[versed terrace]

What kinda idea is this? This would be way too imbalanced…

Get rid of the bandages…

[tardy steppe]

Let me enhance it further, no supplies except ps1 windlass crossbow with no ammo, only smacks.

[lavish prawn]

How about u sell the unwanted soul stones for blood shards instead of gold. So I can cash in purple gear and unwanted soul stones to make chests to try and unlock better or missing ones