#Shadowblade Feedback - Early Game

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

crystal tartan
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Shadowblade feels a bit rough/unfun at early levels.

The issues:

  • Starts with only 2 active skills, one with an 8 second cooldown.
  • Neither skill hits particularly hard.
  • Lurking Shadows DoT requires you to be in Shadowform, but when you get Shadowform active Lurking is still on cd and the mob is already lowish health.
  • Level 5 skill isn't a damage ability.
  • Shadowstep doesn't do anything for you in PvE.

(For contrast, the Assassin starts with 3 active abilities with low cd and gets another at 5)

Possible solutions:

  • Reduce cooldown on Lurking Shadows to 6 seconds so that it's cooldown better lines up with when Shadowform procs. Would also generally help the feel/dps at low level.
  • Alternatively, have Lurking Shadows always apply the DoT, and apply a more powerful version that includes the Healing debuff during Shadowform.
  • Swap Haunting Shadows and Envelop Shadows levels, so that you get another attack ability at 5.
  • Add an backstab attack to Shadowstep, so that you get another attack at lvl 10 and a defensive ability (Envelop Shadows). The skill then becomes a viable opener in PvE (Boh already said he's in favour of this change to Shadowstep, but just putting into words here).

@fluid phoenix

fluid phoenix
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Skill orders for all classes is something i want changed. Maybe even having 20 be when you get your last skill not 30. So you get your kits sooner.

crystal tartan
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Yeah I think skill order will make progression feel better on many classes. My worry with getting them all by 20 is that 20-30 might feel boring in terms of build / power progression. But I look forward to seeing what you do!

fluid phoenix
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Eventually there would be new ways of seeing build/power prog after 20 in this situation

fluid phoenix
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A quick example would be maybe you can augment (with an item requiring a drop or craft to unlock) the paladins deliverance ability to do reduced damage but hit 2 nearby enemies

crystal tartan
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Love the sound of that

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Is there any rough timeline for when your class updates will come?

fluid phoenix
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some stuff is super easy and some ideas require new effects/mechanics so it all depends

full dome
fluid phoenix
drifting lintel
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Chisme said Leech shines on the lategame with many monsters, but I'm approaching the late game, that skill still feels like a waste of space

crystal tartan
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I will say, after playing Paladin and Hunter, Shadowblade damage feels quite low early game for a "burst" class.

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Paladin literally 1 shotting mobs once you get Deliverance

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I also wish Rogues had a bit more survival tech early on, like stuns, since they are fairly squishy. Shadowblade's blind and Envelop Shadows are great in that regard and reward skilled timing, but due to the low damage the fights last too long so you usually still end up taking quite a lot of damage.

crystal tartan
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Also some interesting ability combos like Stun > Spike damage vs stunned mobs would be nice to see in Rogues

crystal tartan
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@fluid phoenix just realized you've already changed around the level reqs - Thank you!!

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Just started another Shadowblade

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Shadow's Embrace at 10 is going to be very helpful, and Haunting at 5

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I'll let you know how it feels to level now

crystal tartan
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Not sure if it's something you can fix, but Shadowform buff doesn't appear above your hotbar on Shadowblade

image.png
fast gorge
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might be possible to fix that easily

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it's automatic in the event a spell "Requires" that particular status - so we might be able to make one require 0 stacks

crystal tartan
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It's displayed under your nameplate and beside the mini-map already on Shadowblade, just not on the hotbar

fast gorge
crystal tartan
fast gorge
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kk that works

crystal tartan
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Yaaaay

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Shadowform signaling needs some work (vfx/sfx), but this a good first step to help see when it procs

fast gorge
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could do something like this

crystal tartan
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I think that's slightly better than current. Making the player actually go into some shadowform would be sick, but probably not something you guys can easily implement

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Honestly the VFX for Envelop Shadows has better visual clarity

image.png
remote nimbus
# fast gorge

This would be so helpful. It’s hard to tell sometimes

full dome
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Same same for Duskbow and Shadowcaster with some indicator and also above hotbar would be helpful to a Spellblade moonlighting as a Shadowblade... >.>

crystal tartan
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Early game Shadowblade already feels HEAPS better. Thanks guys :)

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Changing Shadowform from 8>6 stacks feels so much smoother

crystal tartan
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I'm level 11 now and Shadowblade feels very fun

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Moving Shadow's Embrace to level 10 feels amazing

crystal tartan
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The Elementalist skill order changes look amazing too

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excited to try it

crystal tartan
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(duskbow too)

remote nimbus
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@fast gorge Is it possible to show infused shadow stacks above the XP bar on duskbow, currently only shows when you get into shadowform

fast gorge
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Yea definitely

crystal tartan
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Just want to say that the recent changes to Shadowblade are amazing. Class feels 10/10 now 🙂

long mist
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I wanted to drop by and say, the recent changes have been great. I had swapped away from shadowblade after starting the game with it because it felt a bit underwhelming. Right now it feels really satisfying, very much unlike before

crystal tartan
crystal tartan
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speedy ninja

crystal tartan
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@fast gorge The attack portion of Shadowstep doesn't apply your imbued weapon damage or give stacks of Infused Shadow

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-# Also make it a dual-weapon attack pls ty

robust lichen
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Was really hoping getting zone of darkness @ 25 was gonna do aoe dmg like the assassins poison aoe. Only two skills that have very small aoe potential on the class feels meh, but i guess thats the tradeoff for the high survivability

fast gorge
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always open to augment ideas

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#general message

robust lichen
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Would you want to shoehorn shadowblade to be dex+daggers like assassin is? i don't think theres anything stopping someone going swords + strength

crystal tartan