=ED= April 5, 2019 - Passive Skills Return!


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=ED= April 5, 2019 - Passive Skills Return!

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4/5/2019 22:02:42

One Winged Angel1357
Member

quote:

April 05, 2019
Passive Skills Return!

The day has finally come! It's been nearly 6 years and and after hundreds of contructive and not-so-constructive comments, emails, and forum posts later Passive Skills have returned to the skill trees of EpicDuel! Party like it's 2013 and experiment with build options not possible in years, if at all!

Balance
Passive skills return to replace their former active skills! If you're new to EpicDuel, you're probably wondering why this is significant. Passive Skills haven't been a part of the game since 2013 and the game has changed a lot since then. At the time, we felt that Passive Skills didn't make the battles feel dynamic enough. On the surface, Passive Skills aren't as cool as summoning a lightning bolt or activating a space laser, but because they can impact almost every round for 0 cost, they're extremely powerful and essential for most builds. We replaced them with new active skills hoping that would make energy management more valuable and diversity builds. Sound theory, but the removal of Passive Skills left a large hole in EpicDuel that the new skills never quite replaced. This reversal could have happened much sooner, but many of the Passive Skills were completely shredded in the transition with the assumption that we would never go back. While some were simple to return (Blood Lust and Reroute are still equipped to many NPCs), others had to be rebuilt. This was a big, scary change with many unknown consequences, but hopefully it will all be worth it!

Bounty Hunter

Blood Lust - Replaces Mark of Blood

Shadow Arts - Replaces (Active) Shadow Arts

Massacre - Removed Lifesteal

Mercenary

Adrenaline - Replaces Adrenaline Rush

Hybrid Armor - Replaces (Active) Hybrid Armor. Now based on % of Defense / Resistance rather than flat value

Tech Mage

Deadly Aim - Replaces Fire Scythe. Reduced in power due to sidearm damage amplifying cores

Reroute - Replaces Battery Backup

Cyber Hunter

Plasma Armor - Replaces (Active) Plasma Armor. Now based on % of Resistance rather than flat value

Shadow Arts - Replaces (Active) Shadow Arts

Tactical Mercenary

Reroute - Replaces Battery Backup

Mineral Armor - Replaces (Active) Mineral Armor. Now based on % of Defense rather than flat value

Blood Mage

Blood Lust - Replaces Mark of Blood

Deadly Aim - Replaces Bludgeon rather than Energy Parasite as it is extremely valuable to many Blood Mage builds

Supercharge - Removed Lifesteal

Since this is such a major change to battle dynamics, and the game has changed so much in 6 years, we'll definitely need some follow up updates to balance the returning skills. This'll be an ongoing process, but a major step towards returning something dearly missed by longtime players.

Core Changes

Shell Shocker defense reduction increased to 15% from 10%

Blood Bullet damage increase reduced to 125% from 135%

Hairstyles
Since enough people liked the April Fool's armor, I've separated the head from the armor and added as a hairstyle. Now you can have whatever helm or hair you wish with the armor!

Bug Fixes
Spirit Meld now properly ignores armor on user. Additional defense reduction penalty added to description.

Tags:

< Message edited by Battle Elf -- 4/14/2019 14:06:44 >

AQW

Epic

Post #: 1

4/5/2019 23:55:44

SouL Prisoner
Member

HYPE!!!!!!!

AQW

Epic

Post #: 2

4/6/2019 0:15:23

Cataleptic
Member

Before I start off, I'd like to thank Nightwraith for bringing back passives into the game as we've been asking for so long after its removal!

Now that passives are back in play again, I really think there are some passive skills that should be removed from the game that were acting somewhat of a substitute for the old, now returning passive skills. And for the other passive cores to get a buff so most, if not all builds don't, in fact, revolve around the same passive cores. The is a chance for players to find a new build to make, as I believe the developers were hoping all along for removing passive skills (which ended up catastrophically horrendous) and implementing active cores to the game. Passive cores like unbreakable heart, unbreakable spirit, eternal protection (maybe), and absorption should no longer exist in the game. While these passives were reliable to use in the game when passives were gone, they are no longer necessary. Some classes suck at some if not most builds these passives exist. I understand that not every class should be good at using the same build but these cores are just bad entirely for the PvP aspect of the game. Passive cores from the vendbot, most of which that have been around since the start of omega, aren't used because they are not reliable to the current meta. Older passives like curse arura are also passives that need buffing. The same goes for active cores as well. I won't go through every single core because not all of them is either broken or weak. Those are just some that should be looked into for next weeks release.

The active skills from the skill tree also need adjusting for better scaling with passives now that they're back. There are obvious skills like smokescreen that should be taken upon review to see what would be the preferred scaling for them with passives. There are other skills like maul that cost little energy for their use that I believe should have either their energy cost increased or have their stun chances a bit lowered.

Matches are still a bit low, the game needs more players. The 100x on stats is one thing that should also be removed from the game, which players have been asking for quite some time now. And underdog should no longer be part of the game as well. With the return of passives, I'm sure players can make a variety of builds that don't make legendary ranks a handicap for them. No player in the game, even those that have underdog to help them don't even like having underdog in the game anymore. It is hated from both sides! Its time that it gets removed!

Post #: 3

4/6/2019 1:58:05

Mother1
Member

Here is something I would like to ask.

While I am happy that passives are back why is static grenade, and worst of all energy parasite still here? These 2 moves were added as IMO poor band aid fixes due to the massive strain on energy the actives caused, so now that we have passives back and the energy strain isn't there for them anymore these moves should have been removed and the moves that were their originally should have been put back respectively.

This means Static grenade should have been replaced with EMP grenade, and Energy parasite should have been removed with Bludgeon seeing as instead of removing energy parasite when aim assist came back Bludgeon was removed.

Epic

Post #: 4

4/6/2019 3:40:07

RaXZerGamingZ
Member

the game's actually not too bad with both passives and energy skills

Post #: 5

4/6/2019 4:06:46

Emperor_Blitz
Member

This was a huge step in the right direction. I think some of the cores should be removed, classes will need tinkering but only time will tell what will need to be changed exactly. Personally think weapons should have requirements again. Remove the x10 deal. Revert gun damage back to strength buff support slightly. Give Bounty Hunter EMP like it used to be they shouldn't have static grenade same with Blood Mage they shouldn't have parasite they should have bludgeon. Also make cores cost 0 energy like before. Remove legendary ranks or enable them only for PvE, refund the people who bought the legendary points if you choose to remove them all together.

< Message edited by Emperor_Blitz -- 4/6/2019 4:36:04 >

Epic

Post #: 6

4/6/2019 4:29:54

King FrostLich
Member

Could this be....a dream?

Epic

Post #: 7

4/6/2019 9:46:46

Foulman
Member

Just to be clear, were Stafic Charge, Static Grenade, Energy Smash and Parasite purposely left as active skills, with only Battery Backup turning back into a passive? I guess we'll just have to wait and see if Frenzy/Sceptre are enough for TLM and TM.

I love having no wasted skills again

AQW

Epic

Post #: 8

4/6/2019 13:31:26

Mother1
Member

@ Foulman

those moves were never passive to begin with. Static grenade was added as a poor band aid fix due to the massive energy problem bounty hunter had when passives became active. Energy parasite was the move that replaced deadly aim when passives became actives but when Nightwraith changed them back for whatever reason he purposely left it there and instead took out bludgeon.

As for Static smash it was already there before the first passive to active change and was never passive to begin with which was why those moves stayed. Battery backup like energy parasite was also the active that replaced the passive reroute. However unlike energy parasite it was taken out for reroute.

Epic

Post #: 9

4/6/2019 14:24:50

dfo99
Member

well, now are leg npcs unbeatable?

shadow arts are too weak and a lot of passives have too high requirements..

Post #: 10

4/6/2019 15:28:38

Battle Elf
has ten 1v1 wins

Liking the change so far. Rip to all the posts and PMs over the years with "passives are never ever coming back" lol

AQW

Epic

Post #: 11

4/6/2019 16:49:52

sippingcider
Member

over 200 people on the server! And I keep getting disconnects, but that just makes me happy (because I think it is due to to many players)! But actually, not too happy, maybe server upgrade is needed :D

Post #: 12

4/6/2019 19:01:04

dfo99
Member

quote:

Liking the change so far. Rip to all the posts and PMs over the years with "passives are never ever coming back" lol

lol.. i remember, the phrase "never say never" shows true af

Post #: 13

4/6/2019 19:03:00

dfo99
Member

quote:

over 200 people on the server! And I keep getting disconnects, but that just makes me happy (because I think it is due to to many players)! But actually, not too happy, maybe server upgrade is needed :D

I'm seeing people i have not seen for years.

Post #: 14

4/6/2019 19:12:49

Lord Noonien Soong
Member

Really happy to see this! Kind of hard to believe that it's been six years in the "Dark Ages" as some people have coined it, haha.

Post #: 15

4/6/2019 19:30:19

Foulman
Member

@mother

you reckon BH should get their EMPs back again?

AQW

Epic

Post #: 16

4/6/2019 19:41:57

dfo99
Member

quote:

This was a huge step in the right direction. I think some of the cores should be removed, classes will need tinkering but only time will tell what will need to be changed exactly. Personally think weapons should have requirements again. Remove the x10 deal. Revert gun damage back to strength buff support slightly. Give Bounty Hunter EMP like it used to be they shouldn't have static grenade same with Blood Mage they shouldn't have parasite they should have bludgeon. Also make cores cost 0 energy like before. Remove legendary ranks or enable them only for PvE, refund the people who bought the legendary points if you choose to remove them all together.

so.. what you suggest to keep doing when reach the lv 40?

Post #: 17

4/6/2019 20:25:52

Emperor_Blitz
Member

^ Play the game... that is if you want to. Do missions fight bosses for achievements whatever the balance is completely skewed right now because of passives but it will be better overtime once things get changed. Everything I said would make balance a lot better than it is right now. Your reply makes it sound like you want more levels that would be the dumbest thing for the game right now with the balance in its current state.

< Message edited by Emperor_Blitz -- 4/6/2019 20:27:41 >

Epic	Post #: 18

4/6/2019 21:57:08

dfo99
Member

based on what you are saying the best should not even have lvs on the game, everybody just starts with full stats like a lv 40 then... i don't support this..

Post #: 19

4/7/2019 8:16:26

Foulman
Member

I just went from only having Field Medic to having a perma +18 Tech boost, and the difference is insane. Battles are so much easier now, and it just feels dirty to me. Passives made this game fun again, but some of the skill cores created since 2013 need to be fixed. Also, that Energy refill skill and the +30 Def/Res ones seem creative, but a little too powerful to deal with.

< Message edited by Foulman -- 4/7/2019 8:19:15 >

AQW

Epic

Post #: 20

4/7/2019 9:44:30

Mother1
Member

@ foulman

Yeah and Energy parasite needs to be removed as well. The whole reason these classes got those energy gaining moves is for the soul purpose that the actives made where they were having trouble competing in the first place due to energy costs.

Now with passives back that issue is gone and for anyone who remembers how these classes were they didn't even need energy regaining abilities due to them being able to function just as well without them.

Epic	Post #: 21

4/7/2019 19:19:01

ForsakenDemon
Member

@Mother1

I don't agree.

Blood mages (BM) should keep EP (Energy Parasite). My strat as a merc going against a blood mage is to BB (Bunker Buster) then drain energy and BB again; doing this almost guarantees the win. In fact, any class (except BM) can follow a similar strat.
Simply hit hard, drain energy and hit hard again. EP is't quick in recovering energy. Thus the poor BM is expected to use whatever 80 or 90 energy regained to come out victorious. Close to impossible.

Of course not all matches are like this, but the majority are. I don't know how to fix this, but removing energy parasite will make it worse. Maybe buff BM's passive abilities because honestly BM give me no trouble at all. They are fair fights at their strongest and easy wins at their weakest.

Post #: 22

4/7/2019 19:59:24

Emperor_Blitz
Member

No Blood Mage was fine before Energy Parasite and Mercenaries shouldn't even have Static Smash I completely forgot they use to have Atom Smash just like Tactical Mercenary. The reason why passives are broken right now (Hybrid Armor, Mineral Armor, Plasma Armor, etc...) is because they are % when they use to be flat.

http://epicduelwiki.com/w/Talk:New_Releases/1.3.0

http://epicduelwiki.com/w/Template:Release_Log

< Message edited by Emperor_Blitz -- 4/8/2019 2:18:08 >

Epic	Post #: 23

4/8/2019 21:24:05

Mr. Black OP
Member

After this update which classes can do Legendary NPCs? Doesn't seem like any class is able to have infinite energy via battery back up anymore and reroute doesn't seem like it will be enough to heal loop.
Anyways Diamond Blades Coming back soon? lol

< Message edited by Mr. Black OP -- 4/8/2019 21:30:19 >

Epic	Post #: 24

4/9/2019 15:48:33

Mother1
Member

@ MR. Black OP

there are people who have beaten legendary bosses with certain classes now that passives have returned I have seen posts on twitter showing it. Heck classes that couldn't beat them before are also popping up doing it now thanks to this change.

Epic	Post #: 25

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