Idea for TBN

[Mikey_R]

I think you missed my point. The point was DRK needlessly clashes with the design of WHM, and I simply am speculating ways that the inherent flaws of TBN could be mitigated without sacrificing identity. But to touch on that, I think it's a little disingenuous to say that 99% of White Mages do that especially in an MMO setting where player habits differ. ....

There is an argument to be made that at that point, we are trying to optimise dungeon runs with random people and ultimately, it doesn't matter. You cannot predict anything at that point just try and adapt on the fly, sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong, all that matters is the dungeon is completed.

Also, you didn't really touch on the fact that external mitigation can just straight up prevent TBN from breaking. For example, I TBN some SAM who just got hit by an AOE and a raid wide is about to kill them. The WHM applies Benison, they use third eye, and I use reprisal. BAM TBN doesn't break because we all mit too much to save the guys life... Yet I got punished for literally doing my job. There's factors that are out of my control and I can't exactly predict because again player habits differ.

First thing, a dead Samurai is going to cost more damage than losing out on a Flood/Edge. Second, with shields, the one with the shortest duration takes priority, in this case, TBN's mitigation would be used up before Benison. But this is a specific scenario where we don't even know if the damage would kill the Samurai, would TBN be too much?, would an Oblation have been fine? Did they even need extra mitigation in the first place? etc. It is again a situation that you cannot optimise. (However, just to bring this back to your OP, at great power [allowing the SAM to live] at a cost [a use of flood/edge] is, in your words, the identity of DRK).

We definitely both have stubborn views and aren't going to change each other's minds, but I appreciate the discussion nonetheless. Every opinion/idea should be counteracted by an opposite. But I also think we shouldn't be so quick to disagree.

It is refreshing to see someone who actually wants to have these discussions. However, I do still stand by the fact that HP sacrifice shouldn't be used in the pursuit of more damage. In the case of Living Dead, you don't sacrifice your own HP, the initial part is just Holmgang after all and I don't think anyone is going to claim Holmgang is a HP sacrifice. Living Dead then allows you to heal up the HP once you have 'died'. The difference to a HP sacrifice then is that you can die before you get healed, there is no safety net and again, you cannot guarantee a Souleater or Carve and Spit coming soon after the HP sacrifice, so they aren't reliable and a healer is likely going to heal it up before then.

[ShionAsrai]

I've thought about this a little, and thought it would be a decent way to add some HP sacrifice to DRK while tackling the issue of TBN being annoying to break.

If you use TBN, it changes into another ability, let's just say Blood Price. Blood Price can be used to sacrifice 10% of your HP to break TBN's shield and grant you dark arts. This gives the player an option if they accidentally use TBN at the wrong time; either sacrifice 10% of your HP to not lose DPS, or if things are dire enough, just accept the DPS loss.

I think this could actually make DRK perform better in casual content. For example, I can't fit 5 edges into raid buff windows because I can't consistently pop TBN unless there's a well timed raid wide or tank buster. With this new TBN, I just HP sac to be able to fit that 5th edge of shadow. Yea yea, optimizing for casual content but what other fun is there to be had in that type of content. If anything, it brings more identity into casual DRK.

Maybe this could result in PF being terrorized by shitty DRK main tanks constantly taking extra damage, but I argue that's the core identity of DRK; great power at a cost. But a good DRK knows when to control themselves and accept the loss (or just get gud and break your TBNs properly). Nevertheless, designing jobs around bad players has already proven itself to be kind of shitty.

They should simply increase the duration of the ability, i use it on tankbusters or big pulls to make sure it breaks in time, aside from that i spam Edge and Flood abilities until i have 3000 MP left for TBN assuming duty is above lv 70

[DRKoftheAzure]

If TBN also gave 50 blood gauge, 3 stacks of delirium, reduce the cooldown on Shadowbringer by 1 minute, and reset the cooldown on Carve and Spit WHEN it breaks, THEN it would be worth saving 3k MP for TBN...

[Carighan]

If TBN also gave 50 blood gauge, 3 stacks of delirium, reduce the cooldown on Shadowbringer by 1 minute, and reset the cooldown on Carve and Spit WHEN it breaks, THEN it would be worth saving 3k MP for TBN...

Don't forget making you fresh pizza!