Auras: Are they bad for gameplay?

I am glad that this thread has been so active without my intervention. As any good discussion, we all have different opinions about the state of balance regarding auras. This is a good thing because it allows the discussion to really evolve.

I will probably be updating the post on different pros and cons of auras based on your feedback.

Maybe a concentration bar. (like DAOC)

lets say the bar is 75 concentration points that a player can use and auras cost 50 points to use. it would be separate from mana. self buffs like tempest shield could be 25 points so normally you could use one self buff and one aura.

I agree that the auras would have to be buffed and i like that idea alot like previously stated it would make people think more on what aura they would use.

This would free up mana which would be great and you could only use one plus a buff (Would be nice to see more single target buffs) and if some wanted to add more concentration it could be incorporated in the passive tree where you would have to spec for it.

Hell no as other people have quite clearly mentioned here this game most likely stole the idea of diablo 2 for auras, and not one aura did anything to your character impeding wise, like no draw backs. The fact we have mana reserved on PoE I found quite annoying, because then its not an Aura by definition of the english language because Aura is a natural energy pulsating, if we have to pay for it work how on earth is that natural? Anyhow to all the dudes saying you can stack 6+ auras I dunno about what character your using but that isn't happening to late game at all, if anything most people stick with only one or two auras until they have good enough gear to use more whilst still retaining usability of there mana, IT IS ONE OF THE BEST SKILLS TO USE TO LEVEL UP. How no one has mentioned that I don't know but could you imagine how much longer earlier game would be if you were limited to the amount of auras or even one aura you can use. Low level wise Wraith Hate and Anger are some of the best things to get to help you get that extra damage without having to farm every 10 levels to get gear so you can go through the next Act. Its a matter of two ideals, do you want to make End game much harder by nerfing auras and pretty much ruin the beginning and the fact you can slowly progress in nicely, or buff them completely make low level fun and so you can faceroll end game, either one is not a nice ideal.
But just please remember this fact even though it may not impede you or most as they won't need to low level again but if you did change auras as they are you would destroy so many early game builds or just easy leveling stratergies.

"

ScrotieMcB wrote:

Diablo 2 Auras vs PoE auras (assuming Inner Force is always on)

Fanatacism (D2): +33% attack speed, +400% melee physical damage, +150% accuracy
Vigor (D2): +45% movespeed
Haste (PoE): +8% movespeed, +17% attack speed

Holy Shock (D2): 1-936 lighting damage added to attacks, occasional pulse of 1-156 lightning damage
Wrath (PoE): 12-191 lightning damage

Salvation (D2): +108% to elemental resistances (but not poison)
Purity (PoE): 38% to elemental resistances (but not chaos)

Defiance (D2): +300% increased defense
Determination (PoE): +70% more defense

Meditation (D2): +800% increased mana regeneration rate
Clarity (PoE): 24.7 flat mana regeneration rate

Auras should both do far more than they do and cost far more than they do.

I've been thinking about this (and getting some feedback in Suggestions forum) and I think the best answer would be to allow Concentrated Effect (the support gem) to also increase aura buffs. 50-69% more aura effect for 60% more reserve cost is a pretty even trade, and could encourage players to strengthen the auras they already have rather than picking up new ones. The 30% less range would also be interesting in terms of group play.

"

Autocthon wrote:

Much as I hate to say this...

Auras should have a 2-per-character base limitation.

Then add "+1 Aura" notable nodes to various points in the passive tree. Specifically...

2 At templar
2 At Witch
1 At all others

To be honest auras in this game are terrible at "customizing" builds or differentiating characters. They homogenize builds because there are certain mandatory auras (Purity). And given the nature of mana you should ALWAYS have as much of your mana reserved in PoE as possible, Limiting truly heavy aura builds to players who focus on the auras (getting 6 auras is minimum 4 point investment above) wil encourage players branching into using aditional auras.

However as long as Purity exists in its current form it will be mandatory for all players.

Agreed, I would make it even 1 aura only and two +1 keystones, choose wisely. Customization is not being able to slap everything on your li'l avatar at once, customization is being offered multiple choices and choosing one of them, otherwise everybody would end up very similar. The problem is the game would have to get rebalanced, difficulty is currently set not to allow 6 aura builds to feel too powerful, as a result one aura or no aura builds feel weak so using them pretty much became mandatory (there are exceptions, but to make your generic build work you need auras badly). Anyway, I might of said it a few times already but, because we can do anything we ended up being required to do everything.

A soft solution would be making an aura active only as long as it sits on action bar, thus you would have a choice 'lot of actives, few auras' or 'lots of auras, few actives'.

"

LazerTechnoBuddha wrote:

totally disagree

auras are cool, and people going to great length to make room for more, is just more character customization, if you wanna run 5 auras you have to make sacrifices in other areas - you have to think about your character

1)buffs are good in every game they exist, and pretty much everyone uses them when they can why should poe be any different? the problem with mandatory skills is that you need that one specific, i dont see it as a problem when its whole type of skills you feel is mandatory, beacuse they all do different things and there is no "you need this one always" aura. you dont complain that every build uses curses? aura is just a type of skill like curses

2)dont see auras as D2 auras, see them as buffs and voila you have a cool and unique system for buffs called "aura". they grant a buff but they also reduces the flexibility of your build, you get something for something, which seems fair

3) you can pretty much achieve running with all beneficial auras on yourself, why dont you alone steamroll content then? auras isnt the problem, a very unbalanced game is (and thats what i love about arpg). if you removed auras completely, i believe after the metagame has adjusted the steamrolling would continue just as much

anyways my 2 cents

Try and run a witch without clarity or a maruader without determenation/grace. My maurader goes from sub 30 to almost 50% with those 2 auras. While it's not a absolute must, you would be a fool not to have them.