Friday, 20th January 2012, 08:13 by The Mantis
Assessment of Constriction
By The Mantis
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This is an attempt to outline objectively the merits and detriments of the current use of constriction by the octopode and naga. While it intends to be a guide on the subject, it is not comprehensive. The author hopes that it will aid in reflection on this subject.
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Quick points: utilizing OpSt, constriction melee was very powerful at the start, much like playing a Minotaur.
Although the defense of both characters was not high, the damage helped supplement their survivability.
This was not true of insubstantial creatures: a single wraith caused enormous physical drain due to there being no real way for a naga-stalker to kill such an enemy with the method selected and eventually chosen. This method was geared toward constriction and melee.
However, once the subjects grew in experience its power really started to flatten. The incidence of giants and dragons crippled the amount of possible enemies that could be attacked with the bonus of constriction. In addition, many common enemies after that point, such as slime creatures, are not small enough to be readily constricted by an octopode's tentacles and so were only vulnerable to the constriction of the naga.
The Naga had much better uses of constriction due to good health and better defense (in specificity, superior armour and the use of a shield). This permitted the naga to use constriction continuously, which is not the case for most octopodes without a form of status support (see below).
The octopode really suffered, and the bonus damage from this acquired ability was negligible later. While in the Lair, the ability was most useful due to packs of green rats attacking the player. However, many enemies in the Lair of Beasts are also of an extremely large size, preventing constriction from the Octopode.
The naga traversing the dungeon did better because of the larger amount of candidates and the capability to remain in play adjacent to enemies whilst constricting. A naga-stalker is probably the superior candidate for this due to natural poison resistance and excellent power to remain undetected.
Comparison
The Octopode Stalker suffered greatly due to the near-total lack of opportunities for an Octopode to sensibly melee entire groups of dangerous enemies simultaneously, which is the chief advantage of Octopode constriction over that of a Naga. In addition, the Octopode suffers from having one armour slot that can be enchanted to a maximum of +2. Since AC is the primary method of defending against offense that uses multiple attacks, this makes an Octopode possibly the worst candidate for attacking multiple enemies in melee at the same time for any reason, without status support.
Use of Status Support
Status support via Evaporate assisted attacks. However, in a case where Evaporate is effective, it is unlikely that constriction would dispatch enemies to a greater effect than simply stabbing them. The advantage of a constriction Stalker, which must in this case be noted for fairness, is the ability of the Octopode to immobilize opponents whilst dispatching them. To a lesser extent, this is also true of a Naga. However, in both cases, only one out of all possible moves will not be an attempt to break constriction. Therefore, this is a less effective use of one's powers than might be first believed.
Comparison Versus Field Effect Use
A niche use of constriction is in conjunction with Freezing or Poisonous Cloud against a valid opponent. While Constriction requires Strength to be truly viable, continuously applying it via high Dexterity means that opponents find it difficult to escape. Casting Freezing or Poisonous Cloud just once permits a serpent or cephalopod of an enterprising spirit to maintain an enemy in the field until satisfaction is achieved. Much earlier, the use of Conjure Flame also allows this against animals, whom would otherwise flee before being defeated.
Other Notes
The most obvious use of constriction is to prevent fleeing or retreat. This is not an invalid use of constriction; however, a fleeing conjugant will seek to break contact. As such, the use of field or status effect support is mandatory to utilize it effectively.
A secondary use is far later; the ability to damage multiple opponents in melee is useful when attacked by summons that would otherwise force one to use turns attacking them. The most egregious example is a ynoxinul's summoning of attendants, who will immobilize any enemy incapable of outrunning them - at least temporarily - by surrounding them. Considering that ynoxinul are found in the Abyss, where it is unwise to remain immobile for reasons of security and zero profit, this is a highly notable capability that sidesteps the lack of power implicit in a variety of naga that utilize constriction, Strength being the province of few classes. Equally, this is true of octopodes; however, an octopode suffers much more from being mobbed.
Overview
In addition to two games played online, there has been additional playtesting to support this analysis (about five hours).
The conclusion is that constriction, by itself, is not useful for its damage - but rather for its supplementary abilities.
While the naga are potent toward the end-game, their initial power is supplemented by venomous spit, which is typically ignored by the undead and an increasingly large amount of natural and unnatural enemies, and an additional armour slot, which is extremely rare. This ability enters a niche between those points; I argue that it is not strong enough, as it stands. While naga have enormous power at the nascent stage when constricting, it becomes gradually less useful later.
Comparison 2: Octopodes
The new ability is a much-needed boost to the post-initial melee of a race with few available options for defense. Initially, of course, tentacles are a powerful method of attacking opponents for an octopode. Slightly later, octopode melee is inefficient and even dangerous! This, like with the naga, slots in to a period of development that is difficult unilaterally for the octopode.
Postscript
It is considered largely that the best means of improving constriction would be removing initial damage and restoring all anti-translocation that naga previously had. Increasing the constant damage of constriction according to physical power would equalize this. There is no reason to tie it to the level of experience a naga or octopode has; physical strength is something that can be trained. If this seems punishing, so be it.
An additional means of improving it, to counter this, would be to make constricted enemies type 2 candidates for stabbing after a certain period of constriction.
- For this message the author The Mantis has received thanks:
- XuaXua
