Curse

Hella Good · Apr 13, 2006, 07:09 PM // 19:09

Arcane Sabotage:
I was talking with some guys over at the Mesmer forum and I thought it would be really cool if Mesmers got a new elite spell, in a future release, that is an elite version of Arcane Thevery. I thought Arcane Sabotage sounded cool.

The idea is to have the skill steal a spell from you target (much like Arcane Thevery) and give it to you but, unlike Thevery, you get the spell at the same level your target had it at. For example, if you steal a spell your target had 16 points in the spell's attribute, you get the spell at that level. I think it will be loads of fun. And seems pretty reasonable and could be balanced out easily. Spell thieves unite!!!

Arcane Thevery:
This skill is really fun but I noticed it got doubled in Factions, and I have been messing around Echoing it and all... I found two things that probably need to be looked at:

No1) Arcane Thevery is clearly not random- it tends to steal the same spell during a match (happens more often than not, so I'd say definitely over 50% chance of it behaving like that).

And No2) Arcane Thevery when Echoed, the Echoed Thevery ignores which spell the non-Echo one stole and sometimes (again over 50% chance) it steals the same spell... so you end up having actually wasted you Echo and the Echo Thevery. This will be an issue with Arcane Larceny in Factions as well... Thevery should behave more smartly. I think it's fair for it to know that another Thevery already stole a spell and to look for a different spell to steal.

I think these 2 suggestions will add tons of fun to the Domination line, as well as some viable new strategies. I know I'd love to play a build like that. I don't see how it can ever get boring- you are always going to be playing with different skill!

Anyways, lemme know what you think.

Mandy Memory · Apr 13, 2006, 08:13 PM // 20:13

It could be a little more random...but I disagree with it not being able to randomly pick the same spell. It is random after all.

Mysterial · Apr 13, 2006, 09:38 PM // 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

No1) Arcane Thevery is clearly not random- it tends to steal the same spell during a match (happens more often than not, so I'd say definitely over 50% chance of it behaving like that).

That doesn't meant it's not random, it means the game's random number generator sucks. That's not a surprise; most games use the terrible standard C/C++ library's random number generator.

Undivine · Apr 14, 2006, 03:53 AM // 03:53

Hang on... Let me ask you something.

When you experimented with Arcane Thievery, did you do this in PvE? Because most enemies in PvE do not have a full set of spells. Some only have like 3 spells.

Hella Good · Apr 14, 2006, 06:04 AM // 06:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undivine

Hang on... Let me ask you something.

When you experimented with Arcane Thievery, did you do this in PvE? Because most enemies in PvE do not have a full set of spells. Some only have like 3 spells.

I barely ever PvE these days. In fact, I haven't PvE-ed (apart for 55 troll farm every now and then) for more than 2-3 months now. Plus why would I use Arcane Thevery in PvE? I don't even have the skill bought on my PvE Mesmer... AT and Ignorance are the only two skills I haven't bought on him.

It's probably the messed up randomization method. But whatever it is... I know it has a tendency to steal RoF on Boon Prots. In fact, if you Echo AT, it most likely will steal RoF twice... happened to me at least 5-6 time today... kind of too coincidential.

And I'm positive it also takes a liking of certain skills during a match- it keeps on stealing the same skills 3-4 consequitive casts sometimes. Again, that's some weird "random" selection...

Terra Xin · Apr 15, 2006, 12:22 PM // 12:22

I'm sure you probrably already know this... but to cut out any confusion that could arise from your post...

Arcane Thievery steals spells only

TA^^

Arcane Saboutage would need a bit of a penalty for casting, there are some spells that become really good at high levels.