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Daevryn | Sun 08-Sep-13 10:19 PM |
Member since 13th Feb 2007
11117 posts
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#2842, "Shamans! Part 2."
Edited on Sun 08-Sep-13 10:25 PM
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(Part 1 having been the Warpriest thing several years ago.)
This marks the introduction of Shaman Paths. Consider it the equivalent of an Open Beta -- a set of abilities is basically complete but is likely to see tweaking and fixing as players get a hold of them and do clever or unclever things with them.
Today 12 Paths are being released. The original too-ambitious design was for 20, and you will probably start to see more of the "missing" (or as Arvam likes to say, DLC) 8 paths trickle in over time.
At this time, Paths are set by your empowering immortal much like paladin virtues. Shamans who are part of active religions (that is, have "real gods") can get up to two Paths; shamans who belong to self-created or godless religions such as Greenways should expect one. More in either case is theoretically possible but should be expected to be rare.
Your god will have a limited subset of all Paths that they may choose for you. So, for example, even if you're an orderly good Daevryn shaman you won't get the Path of Archon's Choir. In the original design for Paths the idea was that the shaman could choose from the list of Paths offered by their god; this may or may not be something I tackle at a later date depending on a number of factors including my impression of the current version in play. Indefinitely, your god picks.
All shamans, including already-existing shaman characters, experience the following changes from their previous skillset:
- Earthquake and Tsunami are no longer on the shaman supplication list; they are more in theme with one of the 8 incomplete Paths.
- Along similar lines, Rot in the form you're used to is much more in theme of one of the incomplete Paths. Shamans who are not of that Path (that is, all of you right now) still have the Rot supplication, but its "best" result is essentially more damage and a very long Wasting Disease. It does not deal damage over time or drain more CON over time.
- Shamans of the Path of Revelation retain full-power Locate Object; shamans of other paths will find their ability diminished from previous. That is to say, the maximum level of objects they can locate is a bit lower.
Not currently appearing (yet?): the concept of Path Conduits, affects you would permanently have for having a path (like Forgiving Cruor or Unbound Spirit). These also may appear later without warning.
And here are our initial twelve paths. Helpfiles are currently in progress and probably will trickle in over the next few days as my time permits:
PATH OF ANARCHY
Some shamans are gifted with the power of randomness and chaos. These priests afflict their enemies and the battlefield in ways that may surprise even them.
Regardless of their deity, only chaotic shamans can walk the Path of Anarchy.
Level Ability 22 Sicken 27 Chromatic Fire 33 Disorient 40 Ethos Protection 45 Havoc
PATH OF THE ARCHON'S CHOIR
Some shamans are favored by the archons of the heavens. These priests possess benevolent gifts beyond those of most shamans, as well as abilities that punish the wicked and unreliable.
Regardless of their deity, only non-chaotic good shamans can walk the Path of the Archon's
Choir.
Level Ability 21 Charity of the Archons 25 Holy Justice 33 Emblaze 37 Sermon of Censure 43 Majesty
PATH OF THE BREAKER
Some shamans seek to demoralize the enemies of their faith and are gifted with the power to cause doubt and break wills.
Level Ability 22 Questioning Thoughts 29 Fearful Mind 32 Devalue Life 39 Harrowing Visage 44 Forbidden Thoughts
PATH OF DIVINE ANGER
Some shamans embody the divine anger of their god and make of that holy rage a weapon, raining inescapable wrath down upon their god's enemies.
Level Ability 21 Shield of Retributive Rage 27 Amplified Affliction 32 Instrument of Judgment 36 All Seeing Eye 47 Unerring Smite
PATH OF DEMONSPAWN
Some shamans are favored by the demons of the Abyss. They can mimic some of the abilities of such demons, and possess other destructive talents.
Regardless of their deity, only non-orderly evil shamans can walk the Path of Demonspawn.
Level Ability 21 Challegha Aspect 23 Mors Gravis Aspect 27 Demonic Summons 31 Harmentia Aspect 38 Abyssal Flame 39 Morosa Aspect 45 Acid Spray
PATH OF HELL'S PACT
Some shamans are favored by the devils of the Hells. By calling upon the power of sin they triumph over their enemies.
Regardless of their deity, only non-chaotic evil shamans can walk the Path of Demonspawn.
Level Ability 21 Covetousness 27 Heresy 33 Gluttony 34 Hellfire 40 Betrayal 45 Aspect of the Devil
PATH OF LIFE'S CHAMPION
Embodying the forces of life, shamans of this Path bear a special enmity for the creatures of the undead and their dark masters.
Regardless of their deity, only good shamans can walk the Path of Life's Champion.
Level Ability 23 Lifebind 31 Searing Ward 32 Soul Citadel 37 Vivimantic Aura 47 Luminous Assault
PATH OF PAIN Some shamans are gifted with the ability to afflict the enemies of their faith with great suffering. These priests are also gifted with exceptional abilities to embrace or ignore their own pain as they see fit.
Level Ability
21 Dolorous Coil 28 Anguish 33 Spasms 38 Embrace Pain 38 Reject Pain 43 Wrack
PATH OF REVELATION
Gifted with divine precognition and foretelling, shamans of this path foretell the doom of their enemies.
Level Ability 21 Sanctimonious Sight 30 Dire Omens 33 Oracle 39 Miraculous Foresight 48 Seal Fate
PATH OF SERAPH'S WING
Some shamans are favored by the angels of Elysium. These holy soldiers in the war against evil call forth the power of angels and even angels themselves.
Regardless of their deity, only non-orderly good shamans can walk the Path of Seraph's Wing.
Level Ability 21 Soldier of the Light 28 Shadowbane 34 Celestial Choir 37 Aspect of the Angel 45 Elysian Shower
PATH OF VENGEANCE
Embodying divine justice and retribution, shamans of this Path possess the power to exact fair punishment on those who have wronged them.
Regardless of their deity, only orderly shamans can walk the Path of Vengeance.
Level Ability 21 Tooth for a Tooth 27 Bulwark of Faith 32 Rally the Fallen 40 Ethos Protection 45 Eye for an Eye
PATH OF VENOMS
Poison is a tool in every shaman's arsenal, but those who walk the Path of Venoms have a mastery of toxins well beyond that of others. They both fear poison less than most and make more irresistable use of venom against others.
Level Ability 21 Cataplexy 28 Miasma 32 Noxious Cloud 37 Avatar of Venom 45 Malice
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FYI...,
Daevryn,
13-Sep-13 05:33 PM, #8
For you, i'm curious. What two paths would you love to ...,
CD,
16-Sep-13 12:20 PM, #9
neutral shamans,
Dallevian,
09-Sep-13 11:30 PM, #6
RE: neutral shamans,
Daevryn,
13-Sep-13 05:31 PM, #7
Looks cool!,
Calion,
09-Sep-13 10:46 AM, #4
RE: Looks cool!,
Daevryn,
09-Sep-13 11:18 AM, #5
This is huge,
Doof,
09-Sep-13 06:12 AM, #3
Helpfiles:,
Daevryn,
08-Sep-13 11:42 PM, #1
Thanks for putting in the work to finish this, Daevryn....,
jalbrin,
09-Sep-13 06:12 AM, #2
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Daevryn | Fri 13-Sep-13 05:33 PM |
Member since 13th Feb 2007
11117 posts
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#2851, "FYI..."
In response to Reply #0
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Work continues on this with code being checked in to fix and adjust the new stuff just about every day this week.
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CD | Fri 13-Sep-13 06:32 PM |
Member since 05th Jul 2012
277 posts
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#2852, "For you, i'm curious. What two paths would you love to ..."
In response to Reply #8
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Just like virtues, of course, they all fit a certain type of genre. They each are potent and each offers different utilities and approaches. The same as shapeshifters(part of the reason i play so many, each is different. EVEN if you get two same top-tier forms you have different variety of abilities in the lesser to utilize).
So i ask understanding that your two will likely not be my two. But I am curious. On the same idea, if you were a shapechanger what two foci would you pick for yourself?
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Dallevian | Mon 09-Sep-13 09:16 PM |
Member since 04th Mar 2003
1639 posts
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#2849, "neutral shamans"
In response to Reply #0
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a couple of these read as though they'd fit neutral align shamans pretty well. is that on the horizon?
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Daevryn | Fri 13-Sep-13 05:31 PM |
Member since 13th Feb 2007
11117 posts
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#2850, "RE: neutral shamans"
In response to Reply #6
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There has been discussion but it is not something I am currently planning on opening up.
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Calion | Mon 09-Sep-13 10:02 AM |
Member since 04th Mar 2003
367 posts
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#2846, "Looks cool!"
In response to Reply #0
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Though I'd prefer if you could choose the 1st path yourself, instead your deity (sort of your primary path; it'd be somewhat disappointing not to receive the path you had in mind when creating the character)... Other than that, it's great to have more variety in shamans, so this is a welcome change. Well done!
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Daevryn | Mon 09-Sep-13 11:18 AM |
Member since 13th Feb 2007
11117 posts
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#2847, "RE: Looks cool!"
In response to Reply #4
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As per my giant post... what you have today is not what was originally envisioned as the Path selection mechanism. It is the mechanism that let me make something available now instead of at some unknown future date. It is not guaranteed to be the final such mechanism.
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Doof | Mon 09-Sep-13 04:10 AM |
Member since 03rd Dec 2009
200 posts
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#2845, "This is huge"
In response to Reply #0
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Thanks for all of the effort.
Oh, and ignore the butthurt that pops up from time to time. It's just venting because I full-looted them again.
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Daevryn | Sun 08-Sep-13 10:39 PM |
Member since 13th Feb 2007
11117 posts
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#2843, "Helpfiles:"
In response to Reply #0
Edited on Sun 08-Sep-13 11:42 PM
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The helpfile editor is spacing things crazy right now so I'm going to just start putting them in here.
Edit: Figured out a work-around, helpfiles will proceed through normal channels.
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jalbrin | Sun 08-Sep-13 11:54 PM |
Member since 20th Apr 2009
211 posts
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#2844, "Thanks for putting in the work to finish this, Daevryn...."
In response to Reply #1
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Well, if not finished exactly, playable. The addition of paths and whatnot will make for nice little surprises to drop on us.
I'm curious about something - you've said that Shamans gaining empowerment from a specific, named immortal will get two paths. Will this be like legacies, where every shaman WILL get two paths? Or will it be more like paladins, most of whom will get two virtues if they play a reasonably non-#### character, but the timing of when/if they get virtues is left entirely up to the empowering imm?
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