[DEV1313] [DEV1314] Howling Fist combo bonus change suggestion

[Shiki_Lockhart]

Was my misunderstood on reading the combo and position effect. But we learn always new things everyday. My main was always PGL/MNK but since I saw we would more dmg on back I couldn't care less if I was losing the combo bonus.

And thank you Penguin, for the explanation. I can now do what I have been doing as usual without any worries

[Kikosho]

The combo bonus is damage not accuracy. Boosted Accuracy is something that is inherent to the WS if done from the side similar to Sucker Punch's MP drain. If you do not perform the WS from the side you do not get boosted damage in combo nor the inherent boosted acc if it was done in/out of combo. The simple way to tell is the combo sound effect/visual that surrounds your character when you successfully perform a combo action. So if you don't have buffs available, do Howling Fist from the side for maximum damage.

[Penguin]

The combo bonus is damage not accuracy. Boosted Accuracy is something that is inherent to the WS if done from the side similar to Sucker Punch's MP drain. If you do not perform the WS from the side you do not get boosted damage in combo nor the inherent boosted acc if it was done in/out of combo. The simple way to tell is the combo sound effect/visual that surrounds your character when you successfully perform a combo action. So if you don't have buffs available, do Howling Fist from the side for maximum damage.

You have tested this right?

Because the small amount of testing i have done would indicate either the damage bonus is very small or the damage bonus effects both, but again i have done a very small amount of testing and with the variation in damage being so large at times it would require a decent amount of testing to be 100% sure.

The problem with the example you gave is for example with Sucker punch it is actually required that you hit it from the side to gain any mp at all since hitting it from the front or back will not provide any mp, and since the combo bonus is based on mp absorption its impossible to test if it were to work from any other direction, also not to mention Sucker Punch is a mid combo weaponskill and so it makes much more sense that it would require you to fulfill the combo requirement to hit the combo bonus which as i said before may not be the case for final combo weaponskills.

I would love to see someone with a decent amount of patience test this though because it could be useful information for the future.

[Kikosho]

The placement of the WS in the combo is a non issue. The game checks for 2 conditions to give the player any kind of bonus for a WS: Positional Requirements and Miss/Resist. Howling Fist is unique in the sense that it's the only current combo finisher that has a positional requirement to attain the bonus. If you don't get the purple effect around your character when you perform a WS/Spell, you gain no bonus.

As far as Sucker Punch is concerned, it was at one time a combo finisher (still is for PGL). I'm not exactly sure I'm following you 100% on the rebuttal but a comparison to Howling Fist still has merit and can be tested. Howling Fist/Sucker Punch performed from the side, in or out of combo, will always give you boosted accuracy/MP absorption. Done in combo, you get boosted damage/increased MP Absorption. You get two quantifiable values with each scenario, Damage/MP absorption.

As far as how much the actual damage is boosted, I can't give you any concrete info at this time as I haven't thoroughly tested it. That is something that I'm currently doing, testing unbuffed Howling Fist out of combo from behind and the side, and Howling Fist from behind and the side in combo. It may end up being similar to your tests where the boost is negligible but I'll try and get on it to put it out there.

EDIT: After a bit of testing, it seems the game still applies the damage bonus regardless if you complete the directional requirement for Howling Fist. Runs contrary to how the combo bonus works for other spells/WS finishers. So you were right Peng. Damage increase is 100~ dmg btw.

[Meleena]

It wouldnt make sence to not give the damage bonus since it's comboed anyway.
The last positional requirement is for the accuracy bonus and has nothing to do with combos, otherwise the description of the skill is wrong.

The only reason that this purple effect at the end exists is to act as a visual indicator to inform the players that a next comboable action is ready (last hitters also have the effect because they will probably have other skills that combo from them in the fututre).

[Kikosho]

Meh, I was incorrect in regards to when the bonus actually affects the WS which threw the concept of how I thought Combos worked, out. Now I understand what Peng meant with the Sucker Punch explanation. Live and learn~

[Mister-Wonderful]

Meh, I was incorrect in regards to when the bonus actually affects the WS which threw the concept of how I thought Combos worked, out. Now I understand what Peng meant with the Sucker Punch explanation. Live and learn~

/Comfort___

[fusional]

Meh, I was incorrect in regards to when the bonus actually affects the WS which threw the concept of how I thought Combos worked, out. Now I understand what Peng meant with the Sucker Punch explanation. Live and learn~

cheers!