City Of Heroes: Vigilance and an Explanation: Update from geko

Vigilance and an Explanation: Update from geko continue...

Most recently, Defenders received their Inherent power. We have always felt Defenders were fairly well rounded. When we thought about their Inherent power, we had to think about what makes a Defender a Defender. They are not the best damage dealers, so an increase in damage was not a good fit (that's the domain of Blasters and Scrappers). They defend others, not themselves, so additional armor or Mez (control) protection was not a good fit either (that really belongs to the melee classes like Tankers). One of the things that make Defenders unique is there Primary Power Sets. More so than other Archetypes, the Primary Power Set a Defender chooses drastically changes the Defenders play-style. So a boost in Heal ability, buff ability or debuff ability just wouldn't mean the same thing for every Defender.

So looking back at our roots, we thought about what it means to be a Defender Hero - and that means when a Defender's Teammates are in trouble, no matter how tired he is, he will find it within himself to save his friends. When things are under control, and everyone is safe, there is no need for concern (and no need for a buff). But in a long hairy battle, when everyone is exhausted, and the Defenders allies are in trouble, we wanted to make sure that Endurance was not a problem. So we gave them Vigilance. "Vigilance" gives a drastic Endurance Discount to a Defender when his Teammates are hurt. The less Hit Points a Defenders Teammates has, the greater the Discount (Up to 80%). The Discount also increase with the number of Teammates. Below is a chart of the Endurance Discount Vigilance offers:

Vigilance Formula (% Endurance Discount)

Click Here to See the Chart

As you can see, the discount is significant. With just one Teammate at 50% health, you already have a 33% Endurance Discount. With 4 Teammates at only 80% Health, the discount is 50%. And with a full team, you can reach your maximum Endurance Discount if all your Teammates are at less than 50%health.

Vigilance is not about being a good or bad Defender. Its about giving you that extra help when your teammates need it most. It is there for those low to mid level Defenders who have to defend a large team on their own. Vigilance should also reduce the need for powers like Stamina. It should also reduce the need for Endurance Discount Enhancements, allowing the Defender more slotting options. It will help you resurrect that defeated teammate, or use that mega power and not have to wait until you have enough Endurance. Its about ensuring you can cast your Twilight Grasp when your team is surrounded and you have used all your Endurance casting Tenebrous Tentacles. Its about ensuring that your Dispersion Bubble wont fall because you left Sprint on. It will help you cast 7 more Deflection Shields and 7 more Insulation Shield when they all time out in mid-battle and your Teammate start taking a lot more damage all of a sudden. Vigilance is simply about being a better Defender.. a Hero that you can depend on to rise to a challenge and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

-geko

Here's the Thread to check out everything that is going on.