Return of Reckoning

Would it be at all possible to rework the Sword Master Vaul Mastery tree? I know in live Crushing Advance was available in the Vaul tree with 10 points spent and Crashing Wave was available with 14 points spent in the Vaul tree (That is assuming of course no mastery points are spent along the way).

As it stands now Crushing Advance is available 14 points spent and Crashing Wave was at 10 points spent. I understand moving Crashing Wave to a point where it is more obtainable in order to allow all tanks access to a knockdown and see no issue with that. .

I move that Crashing Waves location remain where it is, however, Crushing Advance be made available at 6 points spent and relocating Redirected Force to be available at 14 points spent. That or Vaul tree be reverted back to as it was on live now that R40 RR40+ is available

Redirecting Force, while having a decent base DMG value, really is not all that useful outside of tanking PvE. Classes such as the Black Guard (I understand BG is not the mirror of SM) and Black Orc having abilities in their 6 points spent that deal more base DMG as well as having an additional added benefit to ORvR. This is not to drag other classes into the conversation by saying they are OP, merely as evidence for this change.

Crushing Advance granting only a 5% block increase and 618 armor (according to RoR and WAR builder) I believe does not constitute it to be so highly located in the Mastery tree. Comparatively to SMs "mirror" BO is able to achieve a higher block % and increase armor with no where nearly as many Mastery points spent (I there are no identical classes and do not wish for there to be). I would even argue lowering the position of the BOs 50% channel block rate ability to where it was during live but that is for another time.

TL;DR
Revert SM Vaul tree to as it was on live or put Crushing Advance in the 6 point spent slot and Redirecting Force, formerly in the 6 point spot, to the 14 points spent slot.

Vaul is in limbo at the moment because I'm not keen on seeing any buffs to SM that would open me up to criticism.

I was initially going to move CA to 6 pts, RF to 14 points and make RF a long punt, but the question of whether to give SM a long punt or a defensive pounce was never resolved.

Azarael wrote:Vaul is in limbo at the moment because I'm not keen on seeing any buffs to SM that would open me up to criticism.

I was initially going to move CA to 6 pts, RF to 14 points and make RF a long punt, but the question of whether to give SM a long punt or a defensive pounce was never resolved.

Glad to know I was not alone in thinking CA should be relocated . I don't think a long range punt would be balanced personally as now they would be the only tanks with 2 punts and a knock down (Well except BG M2). What do you mean by defensive pounce? As in they could pounce to a member of their realm and instead of doing DMG the SM or the realm/group members around them get a defensive buff of some sorts?

So question Aza, if the debate between what to do with RF is still on the table why not make the changes to the Vaul tree with shift CA's position to RF and then address the RF issue late? Or was the balance issue regarding if moving CA's position would cause a problem?

Crushing Advance should be taken off the stance system or changed so that it is a normal Stance ability. It is impractical to have an interrupt ability that requires advanced or perfect stance.

Annaise16 wrote:Crushing Advance should be taken off the stance system or changed so that it is a normal Stance ability. It is impractical to have an interrupt ability that requires advanced or perfect stance.

That may be but you comment is relatively off topic to the nature of the post. The focus is getting CA moved to a spot in the tree where it is more easily available than it currently is given the nature of the ability hardly constituting it to be so high up in the tree and the, what I perceive, uselessness of RF in its current state.

Worrying about the stance CA requires right now seems superfluous in comparison to making it more available considering how important it is for a SnB SM build.

With the current strength of SM and BO's i dont believe a defensive pounce is necessary for either class anymore?

You assume that we will be successful in blocking the power creep that about half the forum will push for, which will knock SM and BO out of balance again.

What power creep are you referring to? That moving CA to the place of RF would cause an imbalance in power between SM and BO? Or the ideas you mentioned earlier about revisions to RF? Either way RFs position would be relocated to CAs current position correct? Assuming CA is not the topic of what could possible knock SM and BO out of balance (which I do not want to see occur either) wouldn't moving its location right now or the near future not negatively affect anything?

I ask the questions not taking a stance against you but out of not know myself. I trust your opinion on the matter over mine or anyone else given the experience you have in dealing with these circumstances.

Azarael wrote:You assume that we will be successful in blocking the power creep that about half the forum will push for, which will knock SM and BO out of balance again.

I have faith in your ability to put your foot down and say no and you are much more reasonable than most SM mains so i belive you know when to stop the power creep before it spirals.

Furthermore you've already shown time and agian that you're able to pick and tell which people to really listen to

like me :^P