Please just redesign this class and rework its static leylines. Maybe the leylines are lore-friendly, maybe they look cool, maybe they're shiny, but please step back for a moment.
The static leylines are encouraging toxic gameplay:
I can expand on this.
The game encourages standing relatively still in that leyline (within its circle) by reducing cast times. AoE about to hit them? They now begin calculating whether a manaward while staying in the leyline is worth it. Boss has moved but still barely in range while leyline still up? They likely will continue casting from Narnia, while potentially out of range of other team buffs or heals (assize/whispering dawn, etc).
A BLM usually doesnt want a teammate near them while they're on their leyline. If the boss does a line attack on random target, and a teammate is between BLM and boss, there's a chance the line will target through the teammate to the BLM. Then it's a tragedy when the mage has to step off the leyline to temporarily dodge a mechanic. If the boss does a puddle-type of AoE on random player, and the chosen player is near the BLM, similarly the BLM might have to leave the leyline.
I often see BLMs not want to move to do mechanics. For example, stack markers that are comfy with 4 people, but *could* be done with 3. More often than not, if a BLM has spawned their leyline, they are not going to help w/ the stack marker, letting the three poor brave souls take a much greater hit than normal.
Solution? Rework the "Ley Lines"(lvl52) and "Between the Lines"(lvl62) so that the ley line buff is instead an aura around the BLM and can let him/her move freely and maintain said buff. The second skill, not sure, perhaps add another charge to Aether Manipulation, or create a new trait. Perhaps the people nearby the Aether Manip destination get a short buff of some kind -- if not broken, this would definitely encourage the BLM coming to teammates instead of away from them.
It all begins with design change, and then selfless gameplay will follow. People should be encouraged to work together and not stand by themselves.
Continue reading...
The static leylines are encouraging toxic gameplay:
- standing relatively still in fixed position
- not wanting teammates near them
- not moving to do mechanics
I can expand on this.
The game encourages standing relatively still in that leyline (within its circle) by reducing cast times. AoE about to hit them? They now begin calculating whether a manaward while staying in the leyline is worth it. Boss has moved but still barely in range while leyline still up? They likely will continue casting from Narnia, while potentially out of range of other team buffs or heals (assize/whispering dawn, etc).
A BLM usually doesnt want a teammate near them while they're on their leyline. If the boss does a line attack on random target, and a teammate is between BLM and boss, there's a chance the line will target through the teammate to the BLM. Then it's a tragedy when the mage has to step off the leyline to temporarily dodge a mechanic. If the boss does a puddle-type of AoE on random player, and the chosen player is near the BLM, similarly the BLM might have to leave the leyline.
I often see BLMs not want to move to do mechanics. For example, stack markers that are comfy with 4 people, but *could* be done with 3. More often than not, if a BLM has spawned their leyline, they are not going to help w/ the stack marker, letting the three poor brave souls take a much greater hit than normal.
Solution? Rework the "Ley Lines"(lvl52) and "Between the Lines"(lvl62) so that the ley line buff is instead an aura around the BLM and can let him/her move freely and maintain said buff. The second skill, not sure, perhaps add another charge to Aether Manipulation, or create a new trait. Perhaps the people nearby the Aether Manip destination get a short buff of some kind -- if not broken, this would definitely encourage the BLM coming to teammates instead of away from them.
It all begins with design change, and then selfless gameplay will follow. People should be encouraged to work together and not stand by themselves.
Continue reading...