How to fix powers

ethion

You know as I posted a long time ago I think the greatest problem with this game is 1. You can pick pretty much any type or power from every power set.  and 2. you have too many powers giving you inevitably every type of ability.

So I've been racking my brain on how to make a constructive post for the official forums on how to change this system and make it more diverse and more engaging...

Just a recap on the issue.  The issue is that with the large numbers of powers you can pick and no real restrictions on what you can pick you end up having pretty much every type of ability...

On my character who is lvl 27 now I am darkness to start.  Then I have an AE ability, I have a heal ability, I have a passive offensive, I have an AE hold, I have a larger self heal, I have a defensive ability that will eventually break holds, and I have healing bots.  For my remaining powers I'm planning to take an energy surge ability, a self rez ability, and maybe some pets or something.  I'm not sure as I can't think of much I want...

So now there is some variety but mostly looks but not a lot.  So what's missing and what can be changed to make more diverse characters?

I was thinking perhaps rather then having like 3 tiers in powers make it 4.  Add powers with more varied functions like maybe intrinsic bufs or debufs for higher tiers.  Greater impact of stats on powers and more synergy especially at higher tier powers.  Also make the frameworks more specialized.  If Ice is going to be about crowd control they are lacking in dps, heals and tanking.  Mixing frameworks beyond 2 should be something where you have to sacrafice something.  Maybe tier 4 powers require 7 in a framework.  Remove the cross framework qualification or make it steeper.  So to take a tier 2 power requires at least 1 tier one power in the same framework plus 3 in any framework or 2 in the same framework. 

The idea here is to make jack of all trades builds loose out on top tier abilities.  So if you want to be a dps/healer/tank/crowd control character you can but you won't be as effective as someone that focuses specifically on one area.  IE the ice guy that focuses on ice and takes it to tier 4 would be better at crowd control then any hybrid character.

Also I think that powers should have more upgrades that again are a bit more diverse and focused on the key aspect of that power.  So a single target power upgrade would be focused on maybe things like energy reduction, increased damage, increase in the core function of that power set.  ie fear, chilling, etc.  An AE power would be more focued on AE function then simply damage.  Maybe upgrade the range of the ae or the cone of the ae or add to the duration of the ae.  It shouldn't be focused on damage increases or if there are they would be small.  Same for heals and other types of powers.

I think there need to be more utility type powers or bufs and debufs.  A hold resister for classes that are maybe big into holds.  Melee classes would have travel power removers.  abilities to pull enemies to them.  Burst DPS enhancers for a dps oriented framework.  These bufs and upgrades might include self, single target, and group upgrades or perhaps maybe these aspects come in at higher tiers.

I'm probably not putting this together well but I'm hoping someone will get my point and maybe state it better

 

Malakhon

well you do get specialization points, and you can't spec out all your powers. So if you choose to focus up your sword power to add an AOE cone on to it, thats sort of that higher tier you are talking about?

 

I do agree, that each power set should be deep enough to take your entire career to master. You should be able to get combo bonuses for doing the powers in certain order. In example, I use one to drop a 'bleed' on someone and another attack that takes advantage of the bleed. More of that.

I would also love it, if depending on the travel power you took, it opened up combat powers specific to that Travel power. So for instance, Acrobatics opened up a few unique passive dodge abilities that stack well with other dodge abilities. You could only take these IF you have the pre-requisite.