Feedback and Suggestions (Path of Exile 1) - Shadow class, survivability issues. - Forum

deathspenalty: Its a pitty that you didn't write it in this thread: http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/46540/page/1 I think issues you are talking about are very close to evasion/lack of health issues in this thread. + it would be easier for the devs to follow it up... ;) Last edited by Demoniq#3585 on Aug 22, 2012, 12:00:00 PM	Posted by Demoniq#3585 on Aug 22, 2012, 11:59:41 AM Quote this Post
" Charan wrote: I'll probably clean up the rant I made on another thread and stick it here, but it basically agrees with the OP, mostly in consideration with the hodge-podge, misleading starting area the Shadow has to work with. For now, I am working on two Shadows at a melee capacity: A Blood shadow, who totally disregards the starting area except for the path to Acceleration, and an evasion Shadow, who....also totally disregards the starting area, actually, including not bothering with Acceleration. I think this is an inherently Skilldrasil-based problem rather than 'class'. Then again, what is a class but its place on the Skilldrasil and the nodes around it? There is a form of energy-shield melee-leeching coming, by the way. One of the diamond uniques is spearheading it. I fear all it will do is encourage more CI usage, which I find to be...not entirely thematic with the Shadow in my opinion but hey, it works. Torin: I'm sorry, but related to my rant, I've observed that while dex/int might seem not to include melee, the starting Shadow area certainly encourages melee as a viable path to take. I agree with this. They totally blew the mixed classes passive trees. Too many options to be pidgeon holed into 4 paths. That sheild is going to be so broken. I can already see it being abused. 75% block + 46% spell block, lol...	Posted by indczn#2602 on Aug 22, 2012, 1:11:19 PM Quote this Post
My solution? Heavy armour. I'm now level 55, running a dual dagger Lightning Strike crit shadow with traps and Temporal Chains totem, with Whirling Blades for escape and positioning. I'm only 1000hp and can't facetank, but it gives me a buffer from oneshots and swarms. Now I only die if I make silly mistakes and overestimate my tanking potential. The biggest weakness for me is with skills, it takes a lot more effort to get a favourable socket combination. Edit: Actually my biggest weakness is archers haha. Can't wait til 0.9.12! Last edited by BurnOutBrighter#5741 on Aug 22, 2012, 8:19:49 PM	Posted by BurnOutBrighter#5741 on Aug 22, 2012, 8:15:01 PM Alpha Member Quote this Post
I took Arrow Dodging on an eva/es bow shadow and my survivability jumped an absolutely massive amount. I can still die to melee swarms, but that's why I'm packing temporal chains and frost wall. Just wanted to drop an anecdote in here. For melee shadow I have absolutely no idea how to survive without going IR, but for ranged shadow I'm pretty confident that CI isn't a hard requirement.	Posted by pneuma#0134 on Aug 22, 2012, 8:50:20 PM Alpha Member Quote this Post
In my brief view the Shadow appears exceptionally well placed for early and ongoing emphasis on offensive potential. Their defensive options are, more generally, external to the class yet still relatively close by. I wouldn't say the overall class design is weak in any sense of the natural branching possibilities available.	Posted by Yewthane#0713 on Aug 22, 2012, 9:07:32 PM Quote this Post
The Shadow's starting area is rather lackluster compared to the other classes, even for a spell oriented build. It also doesn't help that everything past the start is the worst part of the Skilldrasil in my opinion; the stuff you get seems insubstantial, and is often spaced fairly far apart. The other classes get fairly solid defensive and offensive stuff early, and generally have at least some synergy between the two branches, whereas Shadows are either spells or stabbing, then a bit of crit or shitty defensive nodes, and then a lot of wandering around. Ultimately, to get to any of the defensive stuff, you either go up for CI or dig real deep down for IR, always fun. In theory, evasion and ES work really well together, but it doesn't really pan out that way.	Posted by InVermilion#7677 on Aug 22, 2012, 9:18:59 PM Quote this Post
Actually, i had tought about it for a while. Its true shadows have a really lackluster starting point, apparently claws are getting some love. But i really want to know what GGGs standpoint is on how classess should work. Do they intend to make all classess viable, and strong late game, and balance them all the time? Or are they ok with some beeing worse off than others like in diablo 2. Shadow is the child of witch and ranger crossing. Both are fragile and focused into mostly ranged attacks. But the shadow gets the melee weaponry. So now he is with the defensive powers best suitable for ranged characters but pushed into melee range. I wouldnt overdo it with increasing defensive options for shadows as to make them stronger, but some reliability, or sustainability would be good as at this moment his options are neither reliable (evade) nor sustainable (shield) in melee combat or in combat where you might get hit more than once. So you really dont have a choice but to go a caster build. (Lightning strike is considered a spell as you pretty much just cast 3 lightning bolts).	Posted by deathspenalty#0833 on Aug 23, 2012, 6:32:57 AM Quote this Post
I just want to add: the highest shadow in the 1 week hardcore race is, at this moment, coming 47th. 47th. If I like a game, it'll either be amazing later or awful forever. There's no in-between. I am Path of Exile's biggest whale. Period.	Posted by Foreverhappychan#4626 on Aug 30, 2012, 1:05:51 AM Alpha Member Quote this Post
" Charan wrote: I just want to add: the highest shadow in the 1 week hardcore race is, at this moment, coming 47th. 47th. I guess ill have to run a shadow next time :)	Posted by indczn#2602 on Aug 30, 2012, 1:53:47 AM Quote this Post
hmmm i agree, i've spent time trying to make a melee shadow useing, viper stike, and a few other gems, but in toll, i'm finding shadow's truely suck when it come's to melee, so far i have made 13 atempts to make a melee shadow, and to think shadow class is my favret top class-(rogue/assassin) base class but sadly i'm giveing up onn shadows and gonna stick with the 2 top (godly) melee class's murader and duelest as well as templer Life sucks; but damn i'm havin a ball doin it.	Posted by Nuitariwolf#5737 on Aug 30, 2012, 6:02:15 PM Quote this Post