First a small rant about Battle Ragers.


There was/is a lot of discussion about how Ragers are overpowered, etc, etc.

Here is my point of view on this.

Ragers are supposed to hunt and slay mages. Yet most of their time they fight other classes.
Like other warriors, thieves and basically anybody they can find an excuse to bash (my personal view of that).

And although I see nothing wrong with fighting itself... Ragers use their powers to their advantage (how could they not).
I can live with resistance and bloodthirst, etc.

But DEATHBLOW skill is such a killer.
It gives Rager berserkers an extremely powerful advantage at no cost (aside being Rager).

It also allows rager to do cheap kills... where no brains, skills or anything like that is involved.


Here is my typical fight (I was a hero warrior with 1100hp):
------------------------------------------------------
Haljunei sends you sprawling with a powerful bash.
Haljunei's bash grazes you.
You yell yells 'Help! Haljunei is bashing me!'
Haljunei's slice MANGLES you!
Haljunei delivers a blow of deadly force!
Haljunei's slice does UNSPEAKABLE things to you!
That really did HURT!
Haljunei parries your slash.
Haljunei parries your slash.
Haljunei has some small but disgusting cuts.
...
Haljunei's slice MANGLES you!
You sure are BLEEDING!
Haljunei's slice *** DEMOLISHES *** you!
Haljunei gets in one more shot as you flee.
Haljunei's parting blow does UNSPEAKABLE things to you!
You have been KILLED!!!
-------------------------------------------------------

Now you can say I should prepare, get some help, etc.

But I am just a single warrior.
How much can I prepare and how much will it help me against THAT?

Plus preparation items are mostly LIMITED nowadays.
I can’t have them 24/7. Even if I did collect them - preparations would not last for several fights.

All what Rager Berserker needs to do is: call resist, call bloodthirst (optional), BASH!!!
Or pincer/cranial/etc.


This got me thinking...
Original Battle powers were designed to be a match for transformed/sanced/etc Masters of Magic.
Now Masters cabal is long gone. Even cabals which replaced it are gone too (never mind Scion).

Yet Rager philosophy/powers were left almost unchanged.


They still hunt mages... So how can we change deathblow so it would still fit the Rager thyme yet would allow fair chances for a fight for other classes who are not heavily protected to withstand deathblow.


Here is my IDEA:


Replace deathblow with automatic unblockable critical hit.

In combat: Rager Berserker vs. whoever.

"Cleaving through armadillo best defenses Rager_berserker strikes with a careful precision."
Rager_berserker wrath MANGLES armadillo.



Replace 'critical hit' with owaza/flurry-style deathblow (Variable damage 2x-4x, level dependant).
And the use this skill would have drain moves to prevent spamming.


In combat:

For Scout:
You start looking for an opening to deliver a powerful strike. (No echo for anybody else in the room)
...
(Several rounds latter: One of three results might occur)
a)
You see an opening but foil your timing and miss, leaving your own defenses open.
<One_hit back like with failed stab>

-Or-

b)
You gather all your strength and deliver a powerful strike.
Your_opponent partially blocks your attack but it still hits. (some reduction of the damage.)
Your pierce MANGLES Your_opponent.

-Or-
c)
You gather all your strength and deliver a powerful strike.
Your pierce ===OBLITIRATES=== Your_opponent.
===========================================================

Now what this change would do:

-Berserkers would be forced to think and use their skills.
And NOT brainless "bash,bash,bash and Deathblow will do the rest".

-It will actually give Berserkers advantage against classes who rely heavily on damage_reduction.

For example fight in quicksand with shielded/barrier-ed invoker would not be a death sentence for the rager.
Yet in fight 'Rager vs. unprotected warrior' - Person with better skills will prevail most of the time.

-Scouts will gain a skill which is useful in some situations and not so in others. And equal in power what they have right now. And as a bonus - it looks more fun.



Your input/comments/critic is most welcome.

Regards,


-NNNick-