Improve Acrobatics

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Fruz wrote:

There is your problem.
And obviously, on a gladiator, what you want is to maximise block ...

• First off, the route of investment. If you go dodge, it is NOT worth it at all unless you sink in for Acro+PA. As both an RNG-based system *AND* a flat-percentile method of hit reduction, each extra 1% is worth more than the one before it: 25% dodge only improves your eHP by a measly 1/3, while 50% doubles it, and 75% quadruples it.
  
  While block DOES share that "go big or go home" approach, where it differs is, again, the route it takes to build it. Acro+PA being mandatory, along with having to explicitly stack it with other sources. Rumi's isn't mandatory for block builds, but it's nice; but Vaal Grace is mandatory to pack along for dodge.
  
  
• Secondly, there's such a tiny narrow range of builds that can use it, thanks to the penalty; halved armour's pretty stiff. Worse yet is halved ES: no one who understands building would outright sacrifice half their pool for some RNG-based mitigation. This limits it to pure evasion builds; no hybrids, and certainly no pure ES or pure armour.
  
  On top of that, consider the weapon layout; the outright reduced block (even if meant as a BALANCING mechanic) means a shield is a bad idea. Dual-wield, likewise, is out, leaving two-handed weapons, of which rangers only specialize in one kind: bows.
  
  In short, Acrobatics is kinda just an RNG reward for playing an archer.
  
  

• Swap the "50% less Energy shield" for EITHER "50% less energy shield recharge" or "50% slower start of energy shield recharge." Makes a hybrid build useful, but not TOO easy to simply evade/dodge all hits long enough to consistently recharge your ES between every hit.
  
  
• Change "30% reduced block chance" to "30% reduced maximum block chance." The problem wasn't block IN GENERAL, it was the prospect of stacking max block with max dodge. Simply cutting the max block would help prevent that.
  
  
• Add OPTIONAL nodes that'd convert the player's block chance to dodge chance as well, if they wanted a lower-investment route to easily cap dodge. (at the expense of having zero block) Might help make the buckler-and-rapier builds actually feasible.
  
  

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ACGIFT wrote:

On top of that, consider the weapon layout; the outright reduced block (even if meant as a BALANCING mechanic) means a shield is a bad idea.

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sidtherat wrote:

math is better than superstitions and napkin calc

2000 dps of incoming damage. damage taken by player

Block (75):
2000*(1-0.75)=500dps

Acro(40) + Block(40):
720dps

Block(27) + Acro(43) + EV(34)
540dps

so 'block stacking is better'? yes AND no. why? the last setup is taken from my real character (BUDGET one, so i miss SEVERAL sources of block and my EV from the chest is GARBAGE) and it took me literally: 3 block nodes (other than the 3 nodes in Ranger that id have taken anyway) and 5 points for phase acro
maxing block requires a) picking pre-made build b) items that provide block chance c) money as maxing anything is always costly d) picking spec. ascendancies/cheeze choices like Necro+offerings..



before anyone claims that 'big hits are more important than theoretical damage per second' - true. but there is NO DIFFERENCE between block(75) and other setups in this regard - as ALL THESE SETUPS fail when finally hit for 'damage > life pool' in single hit

changes to Acro did NOTHING to change that situation, the only difference is how often you will get one shot. not 'if', but 'how often'.


if i change the formula and replace current values with better gear i get
Block(34) + Acro(43) + EV(49)
383 dps

adding even 1-2k of AR (this DOES NOT REQUIRE anything more than picking EV/AR items with high defensive rolls) makes phys damage pretty harmless

elemental damage is unaffected by changes to AR so i settled for 'damage' instead of att phy/att ele/spell phy/spell ele as these are mostly identical


obsession with 'max everything' costs people A LOT of money in real life when they do not know when to stop, and here makes them ignore mechanics that are far more complex than simple 'max is best' rule. it is simply easier to settle with something that is easy to 'understand' than to explore deeper parts of the system


btw - hybrid buffs in 3.0 will make these types of builds like mine EXTREMELY strong. and because most people will NOT leave their small 'safe spaces' i expect these items to be dirt cheap