2009-11-27, 03:05:15
I've done a little search and couldn't find a topic specifically regarding casting delays and times.
Infernal's Chaos Teleport used to have a delay of about 0.5 seconds if I remember correctly, but now it's much less noticable, only the animation takes a bit of time. This small buff may seem insignificant at first, but makes using the Infernal so much better.
However there are other skills that still have a casting delay/time. The one most would be familiar with is Lightning Storm. As many have pointed out before, not only is its casting delay 1 second, but the range is definitely under 1000. About 800-850. Other AOE spells such as the Frost Robot's Ice Rain ultimate have a range of about 950. Hunter's Acid Cloud and Gravity Grenade also about 950 range.
Another skill with noticable delay is Heavy Tank's Hail of Bombs ultimate. The delay with this skill is in the animation. When activated, the tank shoots a blank or a flare or something, then the hail comes out. Unecessary animation has caused this skill to be delayed. Whether this is itended for balancing purposes, as some have complained about Hail of Bombs' strength, or whether it was overlooked I don't know.
Also, apart from the small casting time, Hail of Bombs is not an easy skill to aim. There aren't many skills that rely on the direction of the tank when activated, the only others that come to mind are Sky Fortress' Turbo Boost and Medivac's Superthrust. However these skills work well and are easy to aim due to both being air tanks. The problem with Hail of Bombs is that the tank has to manoeuver past obstalces: terrain, creeps, other tanks and trees. The air tanks obvisouly don't suffer from this problem and you can simply right click in the direction of your enemy and fire the skill, which makes it almost like an oridinary skill. There are other skills that are directional and similar to Hail of Bombs such as Demolisher's Jet Wave and Earth Robot's Dust Wave. These skills have a targetting reticle because they are ground tanks and I can imagine both skills being difficult to aim. Again, this may be an intended effect for balancing purposes.
Some other skills with delays that come to mind are: Shredder's Unit Teleport and Hunter's Gravity Grenade. There are others, but most of them seem to be animation related delays.
So I would like to see the following changes if possible:
1. Remove the Casting Delay from not just Thunder Storm, but all skills. A skill should not have to be delayed to be balanced.
2. Increase the range of Thunder Storm to match the likes of Ice Rain and Acid Cloud -> ~950.
3. Make a small change to Hail of Bombs so its animation time is reduced.
4. Give a targetting reticle for Hail of Bombs to be directed by the user.
5. Change Air Ship's Healing Drones so when activated, the tank won't stop if already moving. Make it like Light Tank's Repair.
Infernal's Chaos Teleport used to have a delay of about 0.5 seconds if I remember correctly, but now it's much less noticable, only the animation takes a bit of time. This small buff may seem insignificant at first, but makes using the Infernal so much better.
However there are other skills that still have a casting delay/time. The one most would be familiar with is Lightning Storm. As many have pointed out before, not only is its casting delay 1 second, but the range is definitely under 1000. About 800-850. Other AOE spells such as the Frost Robot's Ice Rain ultimate have a range of about 950. Hunter's Acid Cloud and Gravity Grenade also about 950 range.
Another skill with noticable delay is Heavy Tank's Hail of Bombs ultimate. The delay with this skill is in the animation. When activated, the tank shoots a blank or a flare or something, then the hail comes out. Unecessary animation has caused this skill to be delayed. Whether this is itended for balancing purposes, as some have complained about Hail of Bombs' strength, or whether it was overlooked I don't know.
Also, apart from the small casting time, Hail of Bombs is not an easy skill to aim. There aren't many skills that rely on the direction of the tank when activated, the only others that come to mind are Sky Fortress' Turbo Boost and Medivac's Superthrust. However these skills work well and are easy to aim due to both being air tanks. The problem with Hail of Bombs is that the tank has to manoeuver past obstalces: terrain, creeps, other tanks and trees. The air tanks obvisouly don't suffer from this problem and you can simply right click in the direction of your enemy and fire the skill, which makes it almost like an oridinary skill. There are other skills that are directional and similar to Hail of Bombs such as Demolisher's Jet Wave and Earth Robot's Dust Wave. These skills have a targetting reticle because they are ground tanks and I can imagine both skills being difficult to aim. Again, this may be an intended effect for balancing purposes.
Some other skills with delays that come to mind are: Shredder's Unit Teleport and Hunter's Gravity Grenade. There are others, but most of them seem to be animation related delays.
So I would like to see the following changes if possible:
1. Remove the Casting Delay from not just Thunder Storm, but all skills. A skill should not have to be delayed to be balanced.
2. Increase the range of Thunder Storm to match the likes of Ice Rain and Acid Cloud -> ~950.
3. Make a small change to Hail of Bombs so its animation time is reduced.
4. Give a targetting reticle for Hail of Bombs to be directed by the user.
5. Change Air Ship's Healing Drones so when activated, the tank won't stop if already moving. Make it like Light Tank's Repair.