Design Notes
February 24, 2012
Skyguard Grenadier
Courage And Explosives!
Later today we will be releasing the Member Only Skyguard Grenadier Class along with the new addition to the Skyguard storyline.
Before we get to the skills breakdown let me remind you of a few things.
- The Member Only Skyguard Grenadier Class is, you guessed it, for Members only.
- TODAY people who have already worked to get their Skyguard Rep up to Rank 10 will get a full week to preview of the class and master its skills.
- NEXT FRIDAY we will be releasing an AC version of the class (Also Member Only)
- The only way to get the rest of the set (Helm and Gun) are through the Skyguard Rep Shop (Rank 10 like the class)
Now that that's out of the way, let's get crackin'.
SKYGUARD GRENADIER CLASS SKILL SET
Many people don't know what a Grenadier is. Long ago, just after the development of the first hand-thrown explosives, they were bravest and physically strongest soldiers. They'd have to be brave to walk around lobbing explosives that could blow you to bits and they had to be strong so thew could toss them as far as possible.
This combo of traits meant that every Grenadier was half fearless and half insane. As the technology of warfare developed, grenade launchers were invented so you no longer needed to be the strongest but you still had to have that special mixture of courage and madness that makes the grenadier so unique.
The Skyguard Flightpack is not part of the set.
They are often chosen to lead special assault teams and used as shock troops. Each Grenadier is worth a whole squadron of less specialized soldiers.
WARRIOR is the enhancement that you want to use for this class. It's also built on the Warrior mana regen model so you get mana from both hitting and getting hit.
The interesting thing about this is that each skill is a different grenade and each applies its own state to your foe, but the last skill applies a secondary effect based on which state you have applies to the enemy.
AUTO ATTACK
2 second cooldown
A basic attack, taught to all adventurers.
Here is your basic attack. Nothing flashy but it gets the job done.
HAMSTRING
10 mana, 4 second cooldown
Light damage, lowers enemy damage output for 4 seconds plus applies Weakened State. Weakened State replaces any other state.
This is the first skill that you get. It's the cheapest and has the fastest cooldown but also the weakest. The debuff is nice but once the last skill applies the secondary effect this skill gets nicer. I know that it;s hard to hamstring someone with a grenade but somehow you manage to do it. You're that good.
FLASHBANG
20 mana, 8 second cooldown
Moderate damage, reduces enemy chance to hit plus applies Blinded State to enemy. Blinded State replaces any other state.
Twice as costly as the first grenade and with twice the cooldown time. Again, another nice debuff but again it's the secondary skill that makes Flashbang a sweet skill.
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
SLEEPING GAS
20 mana, 10 second cooldown
Moderate damage up to two enemies, reduces enemy haste and has a chance to stun for 4 seconds, plus applies Gassed State to enemy. Gassed State replaces any other state.
Again, this grenade has a longer cooldown than the two before it but has multiple effects even before you use the last skill. It's a multi-hit attack with moderate damage, reduces enemy haste on both targets and COULD stun both targets.
ADRENALINE RUSH & BATTLE HORN
Rank 4 passives
Increase Dodge by 10%
Increase Damage by 10%
Decent Rank 4 passives. Increase survivability a LOT and do more damage. What's not to love?
REACTIVE GRENADE
30 mana, 9 second cooldown
High Damage, plus has secondary effect based on whichever State was last applied to your foe. Weakened State secondary effect – Bleed causing Damage Over Time to enemy. Blinded State secondary effect – Rally causing Heal Over Time to to you. Gassed State secondary effect – Elude causing increased Damage Resistance to you. Secondary Effects all last 6 seconds.
Ok, there is a lot going on here so let's take it one step at a time.
Each of the 3 earlier grenade skills apply a State. Weakened, Blinded and Gassed. In addition to doing High Damage, this will add a secondary effect based on which state you have applied.
- If your enemy has the Weakened State applied, then this skill will do High Damage and cause BLEED which is a fairly strong Damage Over Time (DoT) to the target.
- If your enemy has the Blinded State applied, then this skill will do High Damage and apply RALLY to you, which is a VERY strong Heal Over Time (HoT). This is a great heal, and one of the strongest HoTs in the game.
- If your enemy has the Gassed State applied, then this skill will do High Damage and apply ELUDE to you, which is a decent Damage Reduction buff.
TACTICIAN
Rank 10 passive
Rarely, you see your chance to turn the battle in your favor. You give this attack everything you've got causing VERY HIGH damage to up to 2 targets!
You've seen this type of passive before, but this one causes HIGH DAMAGE to up to 2 targets. If you're fighting a boss then it will just be a nice chunk of extra damage, but if you're farming then BOOM, you just cleared the field.
More To Follow
Keep your eyes here on the Design Notes for more notes on today's release!
301 days until Just Another Day