Why don’t we have any good offensive spells

MostlyCharmless · 2023-04-04T02:34:10.841Z

I think it is fair to say that sorc builds are seen far less frequently that physical damage builds in all flavors (PVE, PVPC, PVP) of server.

Sorc builds don’t fit the mold of glass cannons that raise terror and inspire players to burst them down, they are simply easy targets.

In PVE, it is easier to go physical damage, with or without zombies or thralls.

NO ONE uses demon summons in PVE / PVPC or PVP.

So the OP does point out an underlying issue with Sorcery. It isn’t a viable alternative.

This could be fixed IMO by adding single target or small group debuff spells or DOT spells (that’s consistent with lore), or summoned creature buffing spells that make them terrifying opponents with the sorc being the achilles heel.

As it stands now… resource gathering is nice, a light globe is nice, but otherwise - meh.

You don’t even need the special rare resource spell once you have the blood crystal locations mapped.

Sorcery definitely needs a refresh…

Taemien · 2023-04-04T06:59:00.369Z

Using a pickaxe in the middle of a fight isn’t a viable alternative to actual weapons either. Sorcery is a tool like any other in the game that has other purposes. Using a sword, knife, axe, mace, or bow are the tools for killing someone in PVP. Or physical damage as you call it in PVE. Sorcery was never meant as a replacement for these means.

There’s a few spells that need another look.

Detect Corruption is a big one. In the beta, this spell helped you find locations to learn new spells. Basically you ran around the map casting this and looking through the ‘lens’ it put on your staff to see corrupted areas or entities that would have new spells and such. Near the end of beta, they replaced that system with the scavenger hunt style upgrade at the Thaumaturgy Bench system we have now. So the spell effectively has zero use.

It needs a revamp or replacement. Let’s be honest, seeing auras on people who are corrupted is ok for RP but has no real functional use in reality. Revealing NPCs with corruption to find items is almost equally worthless because of static spawns in the maps. If this game had randomized spawns, then that -might- be more useful. But not really IMO. So I suggest a deletion and replacement with some other utility.

Wall of Fire is a weird spell. This one went through many iterations. It used to summon an actual wall in front of you that increased temperature to those near it, did damage to those who tried to climb it (and you could climb it despite the damage in some situations). But it looked terrible. It looked like a big long burnt marshmallow.

The new version looks way better, but has even less use. This needs another pass to give it something of a use. Maybe something like keep the similar look but make it a wall again, but give it the no climb attribute.

Call of the Dead is a really interesting spell but needs a HP boost to the summoned zombies. Since they are temporary I would error on the higher end of things and give them between 1000-5000hp. That’s about all that spell needs.

Now I disagree that other spells are useless. I do use Lightning Storm as a bit of an extra DPS boost on bosses. It does do a significant amount of damage and makes some of the fights quicker. If damage to buildings isn’t a concern. This spell does really well on Purges attacking your base if you don’t need to knock out stuff.

If I’m playing a support character and don’t have to get in and melee myself, I will go fully corrupted and use spells and demon summons. The demon does a pretty great amount of damage. But the issue here is for players on 5-6 year old characters with several maxed out thralls with decent perks, the demon isn’t going to be as desirable. I mean this isn’t really a problem because do we really want a guaranteed pet to be the best in the game?

Sure… its got its downside that it will eventually turn on you. But we know how it works and unless you randomly go afk and don’t come back, its not an issue. You summon it, go farm stuff, and then when its done, tell it to stop following and leave it in the middle of nowhere.

The biggest issue with Sorcery is the corrupted perks. They’re balanced to non-corrupted perks in a vacuum. That’s the issue. They should simply be better due to the HP/Stamina loss. Buffs to them across the board would help.

SirDaveWolf · 2023-04-04T08:55:14.819Z

Tp5797:

1 first off why can’t we have any simple quick casting spells like idk maybe a fireball or something

There are other games for that…

giphy (2)

Tp5797 · 2023-04-04T13:29:53.662Z

Yeah Ik but I want something like that in Conan lol

Taemien · 2023-04-04T13:43:18.473Z

Use a mod.

Tephra · 2023-04-04T14:29:34.991Z

Fireballs in Conan would fit the setting as well as firearms.

erjoh · 2023-04-04T14:43:45.014Z

CodeMage:

Cue asshats

Yeah but that’s the issue isn’t it? Sorcery’s benefits tempered by ensuring asshats aren’t empowered doesn’t hold the value to it’s negatives. So in all reality, do we continue with sorcery as is with just RP factor or do we pump it up and aggressively goes after the asshats that abuse it?

syx · 2023-04-04T15:28:48.874Z

Demon Lord perk should give sorcerer permanently bound “Well Trained” demon pet. As of now I only use them for roleplaying.

CodeMage · 2023-04-04T15:43:47.868Z

erjoh:

So in all reality, do we continue with sorcery as is with just RP factor or do we pump it up and aggressively goes after the asshats that abuse it?

Unfortunately, that’s a false dichotomy in this case.

The problem is that under the set of circumstances created by your proposal, there’s a significant portion of playerbase that cannot “aggressively go” after those who abuse it. Your proposal leaves no in-game way of dealing with it in PVE(-C) modes. And frankly, I don’t believe we need yet another reason to report others via Zendesk, which would be pretty much the only recourse.

erjoh · 2023-04-04T16:48:34.976Z

CodeMage:

Your proposal leaves no in-game way of dealing with it in PVE(-C) modes. And frankly, I don’t believe we need yet another reason to report others via Zendesk, which would be pretty much the only recourse.

Hmmmm maybe build limits into the spell itself. Like Blight can only be cast once per day. Meaning you can only block one spot each day.

erjoh · 2023-04-04T16:51:45.575Z

GodlyVoice:

HAHAHHAHhahahha. ok

I’m doing that now on one PVE server. It’s an authority sorcery (I don’t think a combat sorcery build it doable) and having ball with the greater rocknose as my follower. I got another one made and thinking of going war party with it…just because you know…two rock demons charging in with 360 attacks against mobs…who wouldn’t love that?

CodeMage · 2023-04-04T16:58:19.978Z

erjoh:

Like Blight can only be cast once per day. Meaning you can only block one spot each day.

Sounds good to me. But it also sounds like you nerfed your own idea. I’m not saying this to troll you or criticize you, by the way. I’m just pointing out how these nerfs happen because designing new features is hard, and nerfing them is cheap.

erjoh · 2023-04-04T17:00:18.684Z

The difference? design changes BEFORE release is so much different than after. Sure root cause isn’t fixed (asshats) but the only solution to that is more regulation and enforcement as you pointed out.

MORE: That is why you want people on your team that are critical of your ideas because challenge is good and forces the idea to adapt.

NesterT2 · 2023-04-04T18:31:28.137Z

I havent read through this whole thread, its a thicc’n, but arent the Fire bombs and Gas bombs essentially a simulation of what your looking for? an “instant damage explosion”, and an “AOE damage DOT”. They’re one and done, just like if you would use up one of the Leather Satchel spell component bags. right , am i crazy? So just craft a crap ton of them and go toss em at unfortunate souls. Right? am i wrong ?

Tp5797 · 2023-04-04T19:32:38.089Z

Weight

Glurin · 2023-04-04T20:29:23.599Z

You are wrong. First, those bombs aren’t really sorcery. Yes, you can try to argue that sorcery is really just alchemy in the Conan universe, and you’d be wrong again. But more to the point, even though there is a relationship between the two, there is a very distinct difference between what people consider sorcery and alchemy.

To put it in an admittedly over-simplistic way, sorcery has you channeling the powers of the cosmos to manipulate mater and energy in an area in order to create a certain desired effect. Alchemy has you mixing up a stink bomb with your home chemistry set and throwing it at somebody.

Second, as TP5797 mentioned, there’s a weight difference. Demon-fire orbs weigh four pounds each and only get you an explosion in a small area. Leather Pouches weight three pounds each and can be used to call down a comparatively large area lightning storm or create a large smoke screen filled with a zombie horde. Either way it’s hardly the effect the OP was going for. Not that I support what the OP was going for, but there you have it.

Oduda · 2023-04-04T20:34:58.969Z

erjoh:

I’m doing that now on one PVE server.

SHHH!!! You don’t want to burst the bubbles of his delusions now do you?

syx · 2023-04-05T01:11:22.885Z

Uh what exactly is sorcerous about that? War party and well trained are non-corrupted perks. You can play beast master without touching sorcery mechanics.

erjoh · 2023-04-05T04:48:21.936Z

Still need minions to do the work. I fly around unnamed collecting fragments with a bat, I slow fall from the Highlands to the savannah, I mass cull resources, frenzy my troops, I’m a liche that doesn’t have standard mortal weaknesses. And my earth demons heal me with vampiric damage. Soooo what’s not sorcerous about it?

syx · 2023-04-05T14:26:58.298Z

I also love role-playing! Full corrupted sorcerer with my well trained pet. My liche doesn’t have standard mortal weaknesses like increased lung capacity, health pool.
Jokes aside, bat and cull resources are actually useful.