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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0007190Valley 1Balance IssueDec 2, 2012 11:43 am
ReporterPenumbra Assigned To 
Status consideringResolutionopen 
Summary0007190: Flash of light lasts too long
DescriptionIf this spell were more like a flash of lightning, a quick way to get a glimpse of your surroundings.

As is, I only have use for light orb when I need permanent light. Light snake and moon lamps creative uses are easily replaced by just hitting flash of light every 8 seconds or so.
TagsNo tags attached.
Internal WeightFeature Suggestion

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parent of 0006293 considering Logistics Spell: Ping. 
Not all the children of this issue are yet resolved or closed.

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Terraziel

Apr 20, 2012 11:19 am

reporter   ~0022505

yeah, have to agree with this. make it 2 seconds rather than 10 seconds and it's still useful without being horribly overpowered like it is now.

That or make it have a cooldown longer than it's duration, so it is still powerful but you have to choose when you need it.

Penumbra

Apr 20, 2012 11:30 am

reporter   ~0022510

2 seconds on, 10 seconds off is a great idea!

BobTheJanitor

Apr 20, 2012 11:48 am

reporter   ~0022513

I'd dissent from that opinion. If it only lasted for a few seconds with a longer cooldown, I would never use it at all. It would make more sense to use light orbs.

Penumbra

Apr 20, 2012 11:58 am

reporter   ~0022520

I still would. It would help answer the "Where should I go" question. Maybe it should be 5 seconds on, 10 off. As for actually seeing monsters for dodging or platforms for jumping, having to use the other light spells should be better.

As is, flash of light is always the right spell to use, at all times.

I think light should have more function in stealth missions too. Just casting flash of light at all times there is even more unbalanced.

Terraziel

Apr 20, 2012 12:09 pm

reporter   ~0022522

Flash of light is as it stands by far the best light source in the game, heck it can even turn off night, and at Tier 5 lasts 50 seconds.

To clarify my first post that was an OR, so a 10 second duration with a 60 second cooldown, this means you can't rely on it, but that for 10 seconds you will be able to see literally everything.

I'd also suggest making the tiers only increase duration by say 2-5 seconds.

Penumbra

Apr 20, 2012 12:20 pm

reporter   ~0022525

Wow, I forgot about upgrades. Tier one is so great, I've never bothered.

Terraziel

Apr 20, 2012 2:35 pm

reporter   ~0022538

hmm, I just discovered it can also turn off The Deep. In the sense of disabling the darkness in it.

Penumbra

May 2, 2012 10:55 am

reporter   ~0023275

What if, instead of Flash of Light, you changed this spell to Sonar (Magic-dar?). It would be a single ping that would highlight boundary edges and monsters in the dark. Maybe even resources.

Spamming it would be fine, because it wouldn't be giving too much information, even if the "after image" remained for quite a few seconds. Really cool if enemies only appeared at the location where they were when the original ping occurred.

In the screen shot I just mocked up in my head, this is the coolest looking spell ever ;)

Penumbra

May 2, 2012 10:56 am

reporter   ~0023276

And, of course, Terraziel already suggested it. 0006293

Quaix

May 2, 2012 11:14 am

reporter   ~0023277

If flash of light was nerfed, I'd want light orb to have a bigger radius and NOT share a cooldown with placing a platform.

MouldyK

May 2, 2012 12:02 pm

reporter   ~0023282

If it gets nerfed, then there needs to be a better chance of getting light-emitting enchants because right now i've only seen like 1 light-emitting enchant (on an acid gills) out of like 300 enchantments i've gained and even then, it was worse in every other stat than my old one.

The sonar seems fine, but also spamming it would be annoying.

At the end of the day, Flash of Light just defeats the object of the other 5 or so light options and makes the first hour or so of a new continent based around getting that (well light snakes, then Flash of Light).

Penumbra

Jul 1, 2012 10:08 am

reporter   ~0026189

This has only gotten worse, now that it lasts 30 seconds right from the start.

Lighting should be an interesting problem, this just trivializes it entirely.

Kio

Jul 1, 2012 12:19 pm

reporter   ~0026191

Last edited: Jul 1, 2012 12:42 pm

edit- note: this was all posted before downloading the jun 28th update. wasn't aware how big a change was made. with that said, i still stand with my second idea, but minus the tier information. a toggle mp/s would be nice with this spell.

what about no major change (ie cool), besides cutting back durations from 10(+10) to like 2(+2), and in the line of other clearly-better options, make it have a prerequisite to craft - say ball of light 3, light snake 3? or perhaps even 4. so you have to take on at least 1, maybe 2 lieutenants to even get the tier orbs. Then from there, you'd have to rely on simpler light options until you can get your flash good enough to keep using. We all already know 10s is a great time for it and doesn't need much in upgrading unless you just want to press it less.

The other option/thought i have for it, tell me what you think... is instead of 10(+10), is toggle, acting like storm dash, and draining mp/s, and at higher levels, the cost is really cut back. Say T1 75/s, T5 10/s? maybe still with the prerequisite.

ADD-ON: I especially like the mp/s idea as it makes it so low-mana characters literally FLASH their inner light, still relying on simple light options, while someone like an age of magic character, with high mp and regen, can maintain a high-cost spell like that while still being functional, really showing off what a mastery of magic means. If in multiplayer, this just further helps emphasize the importance of a variety of character times to handle different tasks and challenges.

Misery

Jul 1, 2012 5:41 pm

reporter   ~0026200

Last edited: Jul 1, 2012 5:45 pm

Definite no.

I use this mostly because the other light sources are tedious. They dont add a challenge to the game.... they're *just* tedious. It also means I dont have to hit the bloody "make light" button every 5 seconds to the point where my arm flares up (this would literally stop me from playing this, period).

And that being said.... I still collect Moon Lamps, and still use the things. Generally in boss rooms, or other situations when I dont want to cast this every 30 seconds. And Light Snake is a must.


But if they changed this spell, they'd have to come up with some alternate, non-tedious way to handle light. Otherwise..... just use Draconites all the time, and NEVER, ever enter caves without using a Draconite. Is pretty much what my response to it would be.

Oh, and as for the person who pointed out "it even lights up night time!", there's also Sunrise.... which kinda COMPLETELY undoes night time and is easy to cast.

kaboro

Dec 2, 2012 11:43 am

reporter   ~0029086

Im against it too, turning a simple task like trying to see your surroundings into a tedium is not a good idea.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Apr 20, 2012 11:11 am Penumbra New Issue
Apr 20, 2012 11:19 am Terraziel Note Added: 0022505
Apr 20, 2012 11:30 am Penumbra Note Added: 0022510
Apr 20, 2012 11:48 am BobTheJanitor Note Added: 0022513
Apr 20, 2012 11:58 am Penumbra Note Added: 0022520
Apr 20, 2012 12:09 pm Terraziel Note Added: 0022522
Apr 20, 2012 12:20 pm Penumbra Note Added: 0022525
Apr 20, 2012 2:35 pm Terraziel Note Added: 0022538
Apr 23, 2012 2:02 pm tigersfan Internal Weight => Feature Suggestion
Apr 23, 2012 2:02 pm tigersfan Status new => considering
May 2, 2012 10:55 am Penumbra Note Added: 0023275
May 2, 2012 10:55 am Penumbra Relationship added parent of 0006293
May 2, 2012 10:56 am Penumbra Note Added: 0023276
May 2, 2012 11:14 am Quaix Note Added: 0023277
May 2, 2012 12:02 pm MouldyK Note Added: 0023282
Jul 1, 2012 10:08 am Penumbra Note Added: 0026189
Jul 1, 2012 12:19 pm Kio Note Added: 0026191
Jul 1, 2012 12:23 pm Kio Note Edited: 0026191
Jul 1, 2012 12:42 pm Kio Note Edited: 0026191
Jul 1, 2012 5:41 pm Misery Note Added: 0026200
Jul 1, 2012 5:43 pm Misery Note Edited: 0026200
Jul 1, 2012 5:45 pm Misery Note Edited: 0026200
Dec 2, 2012 11:43 am kaboro Note Added: 0029086
Apr 14, 2014 9:29 am Chris_McElligottPark Category Gameplay - Balance Issue => Balance Issue