Dark Knight Megathread

[Zairava]

snip

Me wanting Dark Arts to be like it was prior is nothing more than a want. I already know they aren't going to change it back realistically, and I also know that it isn't the best path forward for the job to actually evolve.

To reiterate, here's most of my post from the page prior.:

What if we brought back Dark Arts as an actual ability, but kept its current form of giving free mp costs?

It would have no mp cost, and can hold up to 2-3 charges. This could be a GCD to prevent clipping (especially in an already oGCD heavy burst) with a short recast (think mudras from Ninja, or Eukrasia). It would function exactly as it does now: as a method of letting you use one offensive mp spender for free [per charge]

TBN would still cost mp, and the shield breaking is what grants charges of Dark Arts, exactly as it does now.

To simplify it this in an outline:
Dark Arts returns as an ability, costs no mp, requires Dark Arts stacks (granted from TBN or otherwise) to use
Dark Arts provides the same effect it does now. It lets you use an offensive ability that costs mp for free
TBN functions identically to how it does now

These modifications would preserve the cost-reward of possibly not gaining a free usage, but also allows you to optimize when and where you wish to use Dark Arts for free expenditure instead of forcing it on the next edge/flood use, ultimately preventing a method of accidental mp overcap when preparing your burst while simultaneously providing player agency on what to use Dark Arts charges on and when.
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On a separate note, I'm not entirely sure how to make another method of granting Dark Arts charges. As a spitball, they could give us a new mp spender on a 30s CD that grants it, but I feel like there's better ways.

This is a pretty good path to take, I feel. It keeps the current effect of Dark Arts while building upon it, making it a central and crucial part of DRK's kit.

They could just give us another charge without making Dark Arts(albeit revised compared to prior to Shadowbringers), but revising it to what I suggested it would be needed for mechanical "depth", if such is the right term here. Engagement might be better. Given that that we want more mp spenders to begin with, this would absolutely provide player agency. (that being, how and what the player decides it is used on.)

To continue, I've tried thinking on a number of methods of how we can have more than just TBN provide Dark Arts charges.

Other defensives costing mp and granting DA wouldn't necessarily work unless it's granted immediately, and no matter how you look at it, it would be seen as offensive tool anyway.
Other mp spenders would only realistically work for more edge/flood spam, as they would very likely be put on a cooldown since otherwise it would be effectively infinite MP..

It's worth mentioning that unless we make these DA charges relatively frequent and add more mp spenders, there is no real management and we still end up at the same place we are now, save them for burst on edge/flood and snore outside of bursts.

So...this led me to another train of thought. Using Blood Gauge spenders. I'll just use Power Slash and Delirium as sample abilities here.

Power Slash:

• Is a GCD
• Does X potency
• Requires 20 Blood Gauge
• Grants one charge of Dark Arts
• 20-30s Cooldown

Delirium:

• remains an oGCD
• Costs 50 Blood Gauge
• Grants one charge of Dark Arts
• 60s Cooldown
  -It's worth noting that Living Shadow would either need it's Gauge cost removed or/and become an MP spender for this version of Delirium to work.-

As for mp spenders...ideas for those are up in the air. Giving Shadowbringer an mp cost as well as Abyssal Drain are a couple I'm in favor of.