How to level the playing field between LS and DS
I don't think the difference is as great as people are talking about, mostly at top end of arena do we see the biggest differences, but just some thoughts on what we could do to make it more even.
FYI, this is probably going to be a long post, so apologies ahead of time. This is not an exhaustive list of all toons, just the ones that are seen most (or need the most help) and how in some cases some DS toons could be changed to help out
Tanks - three main types - Auto, pre and activated and one psuedo type (R2)
Auto taunt -
LS - GK super toon no real downsides. Taunt happens anytime any ally gets crit hit. Has decent to awesome other skills. But he should as he is a Raid reward toon. All but 1 team in my top 50 uses him in arena, one is even on a Nightsisters team, he is just too useful (in a good way).
DS - Royal Gaurd and Sith Trooper
Royal Guard - could be made better and more useful pretty easily - change auto taunt to anytime any ally falls below 100% health or any empire ally falls below 50% protection he taunts for two turns and gains protection up (only 5-10%) for one turn if he doesn't already have it (non-stacking).
Sith Trooper - change the order of buff gain, have it be taunt, defense up then retribution instead of defense up, taunt and then retribution.
This would allow both tanks to be more effective taunters without making them OP. This will be a recurring theme, but GK is usable in any team, while Sith T only works in Sith team and RG (after my suggested rework) works better with an empire team.
Pre taunt -
Baze vs Shore and Zombie - pretty even here
Activated Taunt
Old Ben, STHan, Poe vs Storm and FOST - other than Ben's double taunt pretty even. Major difference is that Ben and SThan (and to a lesser extent now than before Poe) can be used across multiple teams where Storm and FOST really need there faction friends to be really effective
Pseudo Taunt - I'll touch on this later, but R2 is the biggest difference between LS and DS as he allows grouping across multiple factions to work together, and his smoke screen is a great mechanism.
Attackers - in general the main DPS toons are pretty well spread out between the sides. The only real difference is Raid Han shoot first. But that is kind of his thing and not sure other than maybe a couple DS toons that start with stealth to avoid the stun. Or have stun immunity. I like how Han works so don't want them changing it, even though I orginally suggested shoot first would just put speed down on instead of stun.
Biggest general difference - DS is mostly focused on debuffs while LS mostly focused on buffs. And with cleanse, potency up and the fact that buffs can't fail while debuffs can even with potency up, the LS has a default bonus against the DS. I was so happy they created an ability that gave a team bonuses for resisted debuffs, and then they gave it to an LS toon (CLS) which in my opinion was poor planning, it should've went to Thrawn.
Teammates -
Ls has a ton of two toon bonuses - Wiggs, Chaze, Finn/Poe, Skyguy/Snips, Cas/K2, while DS has only one that I can think of DK.DT
some could be added - EP/RG (anytime EP is damaged while RG alive, RG taunts and EP gains protection up (10%) for two turns. EP/DV, Sid/Dooku, Sid/Maul, Maul/SO, etc.
Faction Synergies -
This is pretty even as Empire, TrooperZ, NS, FO (under KRU or Phas lead), Sith all have good synergies. With the Exception of
Bounty Hunters - need fixed and it is probably pretty simple, make thermal detonators unable to be resisted or cleansed. They were useless when the game came out and with cleanse, potency they are even more useless now. This may require some rework of other skills on the BH toons to make it work and not be OP, but that is fine and maybe add one or two to help out some synergy.
Legendary Characters -
Yoda vs EP - here they both actually need some help. Yoda has his zeta's but could use his pre-nerf damage back. Ep needs a zeta, a friendship bonus with either RG or DV. I like the idea that any time he is damaged RG gets taunt and he gains protection up (10%) for 2 turns (non-stacking).
Thrawn vs BB-8 - First time on the list that DS wins. BB-8 is great and now part of the meta, but Thrawn has been in the meta since the start and has the best capital ship in the game. Neither needs any kind of rework
R2 vs ???? - I intentionally took the 2nd DS legendary against the 3rd LS one because R2 is such a difference maker in the game. Because the bad guys always die in the movies, we don't have a DS toon that can span Sith, Empire, FO for the glue to bring a diverse DS team together. I was hoping beyond hope that somehow TLJ would bring us someone who could fill that void. I don't know what to do here, as we can't go around making up SW toons, but hopefully something can be done to allow for that kind of synergy and all around DS usefullness that R2 brings to the LS
Journey Characters
Well we run into the problem here that LS has 2 (which are now 2 of the top 5 toons in the game) and DS has none.
Suggestion (that I made after Luke was announced) was a Fall to the Darkside journey for Anakin and Vader which would give you, NOT a new toon, but Vader's 5th (and maybe 6th?) ability. Release Padme and have Anakin, Padme, R2, (maybe C3PO) and GK fight a couple rounds, then its DV, and some empire toons, at the ends you have a new Vader, who is back where he belongs in the meta. I have a much longer description, but basically it fits, you need 7* GK, 7* Padme (so there is a panic farm) and we get some needed DS help.
Possible third legendary DS toon - Darth Revan (though cannon he is eventually a good guy, so maybe he is legendary and then there is a journey of redemption for him when they start releasing the rest of the KOTOR toons).
I think we just need to equalize the tanks (GK is in too high a percentage of teams right now). And get a couple more all around good DS toons (only have GAT and to a lesser extent Nihilus right now).
Sorry for the long post, Happy New Year to all.
FYI, this is probably going to be a long post, so apologies ahead of time. This is not an exhaustive list of all toons, just the ones that are seen most (or need the most help) and how in some cases some DS toons could be changed to help out
Tanks - three main types - Auto, pre and activated and one psuedo type (R2)
Auto taunt -
LS - GK super toon no real downsides. Taunt happens anytime any ally gets crit hit. Has decent to awesome other skills. But he should as he is a Raid reward toon. All but 1 team in my top 50 uses him in arena, one is even on a Nightsisters team, he is just too useful (in a good way).
DS - Royal Gaurd and Sith Trooper
Royal Guard - could be made better and more useful pretty easily - change auto taunt to anytime any ally falls below 100% health or any empire ally falls below 50% protection he taunts for two turns and gains protection up (only 5-10%) for one turn if he doesn't already have it (non-stacking).
Sith Trooper - change the order of buff gain, have it be taunt, defense up then retribution instead of defense up, taunt and then retribution.
This would allow both tanks to be more effective taunters without making them OP. This will be a recurring theme, but GK is usable in any team, while Sith T only works in Sith team and RG (after my suggested rework) works better with an empire team.
Pre taunt -
Baze vs Shore and Zombie - pretty even here
Activated Taunt
Old Ben, STHan, Poe vs Storm and FOST - other than Ben's double taunt pretty even. Major difference is that Ben and SThan (and to a lesser extent now than before Poe) can be used across multiple teams where Storm and FOST really need there faction friends to be really effective
Pseudo Taunt - I'll touch on this later, but R2 is the biggest difference between LS and DS as he allows grouping across multiple factions to work together, and his smoke screen is a great mechanism.
Attackers - in general the main DPS toons are pretty well spread out between the sides. The only real difference is Raid Han shoot first. But that is kind of his thing and not sure other than maybe a couple DS toons that start with stealth to avoid the stun. Or have stun immunity. I like how Han works so don't want them changing it, even though I orginally suggested shoot first would just put speed down on instead of stun.
Biggest general difference - DS is mostly focused on debuffs while LS mostly focused on buffs. And with cleanse, potency up and the fact that buffs can't fail while debuffs can even with potency up, the LS has a default bonus against the DS. I was so happy they created an ability that gave a team bonuses for resisted debuffs, and then they gave it to an LS toon (CLS) which in my opinion was poor planning, it should've went to Thrawn.
Teammates -
Ls has a ton of two toon bonuses - Wiggs, Chaze, Finn/Poe, Skyguy/Snips, Cas/K2, while DS has only one that I can think of DK.DT
some could be added - EP/RG (anytime EP is damaged while RG alive, RG taunts and EP gains protection up (10%) for two turns. EP/DV, Sid/Dooku, Sid/Maul, Maul/SO, etc.
Faction Synergies -
This is pretty even as Empire, TrooperZ, NS, FO (under KRU or Phas lead), Sith all have good synergies. With the Exception of
Bounty Hunters - need fixed and it is probably pretty simple, make thermal detonators unable to be resisted or cleansed. They were useless when the game came out and with cleanse, potency they are even more useless now. This may require some rework of other skills on the BH toons to make it work and not be OP, but that is fine and maybe add one or two to help out some synergy.
Legendary Characters -
Yoda vs EP - here they both actually need some help. Yoda has his zeta's but could use his pre-nerf damage back. Ep needs a zeta, a friendship bonus with either RG or DV. I like the idea that any time he is damaged RG gets taunt and he gains protection up (10%) for 2 turns (non-stacking).
Thrawn vs BB-8 - First time on the list that DS wins. BB-8 is great and now part of the meta, but Thrawn has been in the meta since the start and has the best capital ship in the game. Neither needs any kind of rework
R2 vs ???? - I intentionally took the 2nd DS legendary against the 3rd LS one because R2 is such a difference maker in the game. Because the bad guys always die in the movies, we don't have a DS toon that can span Sith, Empire, FO for the glue to bring a diverse DS team together. I was hoping beyond hope that somehow TLJ would bring us someone who could fill that void. I don't know what to do here, as we can't go around making up SW toons, but hopefully something can be done to allow for that kind of synergy and all around DS usefullness that R2 brings to the LS
Journey Characters
Well we run into the problem here that LS has 2 (which are now 2 of the top 5 toons in the game) and DS has none.
Suggestion (that I made after Luke was announced) was a Fall to the Darkside journey for Anakin and Vader which would give you, NOT a new toon, but Vader's 5th (and maybe 6th?) ability. Release Padme and have Anakin, Padme, R2, (maybe C3PO) and GK fight a couple rounds, then its DV, and some empire toons, at the ends you have a new Vader, who is back where he belongs in the meta. I have a much longer description, but basically it fits, you need 7* GK, 7* Padme (so there is a panic farm) and we get some needed DS help.
Possible third legendary DS toon - Darth Revan (though cannon he is eventually a good guy, so maybe he is legendary and then there is a journey of redemption for him when they start releasing the rest of the KOTOR toons).
I think we just need to equalize the tanks (GK is in too high a percentage of teams right now). And get a couple more all around good DS toons (only have GAT and to a lesser extent Nihilus right now).
Sorry for the long post, Happy New Year to all.
