Editing AC2:Announcements - 2005/05 - Legions (section)

== Letter to the Players #1 ==
{{AC2 Article
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://forums.ac2.turbinegames.com/showthread.php?t=13132</nowiki>
 | Title = Legions Letter #7: Details of Hero 2.0
 |  Text = 
Welcome to the first of many Legions Letters! These letters will detail game systems changes that are included in AC2: Legions. The first three letters will be about the three Empyrean classes.

While we’re providing all the numbers on the skills so that you can see how they'll work, please understand that even now, the numbers are still subject to change. We have a new batch of players trying out the classes now, and we will likely make some final tweaks to the classes based on their feedback.

We have omitted Empyrean Hero information for now -- we’ll discuss the Hero Powers of Empyreans, and which skills can be raised past level 50, in a later update. But now, let’s talk about...

{{big|'''The Empyreans'''}}

They fled the Olthoi centuries ago. Now, guided back by an unknown hand, the Empyreans have returned to Auberean. But this is not the Auberean they knew. The Seaborne Empire is gone without a trace, and the last shreds of hope for the world are in peril – threatened by an enemy even deadlier than the Olthoi. Where there was once peace, now there is only strife.

A handful of primitive races – Humans, Tumeroks, Lugians – have taken up the banner of the Heroes of Dereth. These Heroes will rise to challenge the new foe, but they cannot win alone. It is time for the Empyreans to put aside their differences, and fight alongside these brash young allies to reclaim their lost world.

The Empyreans are no strangers to the ways of battle, slaying their enemies with exotic melee techniques, ancient spells of power, or the raw force of the perfectly-disciplined mind. Today we present their melee skills, which lead to the more-advanced skills of the Templar at higher levels.

{{big|'''Empyrean Melee'''}}

Most Empyreans learn to use a sword very early in life. They have devised an elegant, graceful combat system which lacks the physical brutality of other races, but makes up for it in agility and a touch of potent magic.


Skill Tree
Code:
<pre>
23                Draw Blood    Perfect Light
              ___/     |              |
             /         |              |
18 Death Blow     Demoralize      Salvation             Unfettered Fury
             \_____    |    \______   |    \___                |
                   \   |           \  |        \               |
13	            Deceive         Purge     Brilliance   Maiming Blow
                       |              |            |   ___/
                       |              |            |  /
8                   Engage          Stun         Feint
                          \________   |            |
                                   \  |            |      
3                                  Fleche        Soothe 
                                      |       __/
                                      |      /          
2                              Jugular Thrust
                                      |
                                      |
1                                  Thrust
</pre>

{{big|'''Skills in Detail'''}}

'''Thrust'''
<br>This skill does significantly more damage when the target is vulnerable.
<br>Credits: 0
<br>Vigor Cost: 32
<br>Recovery: 1 second
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: Weapon Only
Notes: this is the free skill that all Empyreans get at level 1. It cannot be raised.

'''Jugular Thrust'''
<br>A melee attack. This skill does significantly more damage when the target is vulnerable.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 32
<br>Recovery: 1 second
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
Notes: the melee-tree "vuln-taker" skill.

'''Fleche'''
<br>A melee attack.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 50
<br>Recovery: 2 second
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)

'''Soothe'''
<br>Improves the user’s health regeneration.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Recovery: 300 seconds
<br>Duration: 120 seconds
<br>Range: Self
<br>Effect: 3 (L1) – 15 (L50) percent increase.

'''Engage'''
<br>A melee attack that taunts the monster to attack the user.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 30
<br>Recovery: 3 second
<br>Range: 1 meter
Taunt: 5 (L1) – 10 (L50) percent.

'''Stun'''
<br>A shield attack that stuns the target.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 160
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Duration: 3 (L1) – 10 (L50) seconds.
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
<br>Effect: stuns target for 3 (L1) – 10 (L50) seconds

'''Feint'''
<br>A melee attack. This attack will apply a bleed effect to the target.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 120
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Duration: 30 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
<br>Effect: 2 (L1) – 8 (L50) damage per second.

'''Deceive'''
<br>A melee attack that attempts to get the monster to stop attacking the user in favor of someone else.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 80
<br>Recovery: 5 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
Detaunt: 10 (L1) – 15 (L50) percent.

'''Purge'''
<br>A user centered area-of-effect attack.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 150
<br>Recovery: 5 seconds
<br>Range: 8 meters
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)

'''Brilliance'''
<br>A self-targeted skill that reflects a portion of damage back to the attacker.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Recovery: 300 seconds
<br>Duration: 120 seconds
Damage Reflected: 8 (L1) – 35 (L50) percent

'''Maiming Blow'''
<br>A shield attack. If executed after Feint, this attack will lower the targets offensive masteries.
<br>Credits: 1
<br>Vigor Cost: 120
<br>Recovery: 5 seconds
<br>Range: 8 meters
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
Successful Combo: 10 (L1) – 100 (L50) offensive mastery lost.

'''Death Blow'''
<br>A powerful attack that has increased bonuses to critical strikes.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 110
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meters
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50).
<br>Effect: attack has a 20% chance to critically-hit for double damage. (This is the same bonus as other critical-strike attacks such as Critical Throw or Betrayal.)

'''Demoralize'''
<br>A melee attack that drains some of the target’s vigor and gives it to the user.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 140
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
<br>Effect: Drains 50 (L1) – 250 (L50) vigor from the target and gives 150% back to the user.

'''Salvation'''
<br>A self-targeted emergency Vigor heal.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Recovery: 300 seconds
Vigor Healed: 20 (L1) – 250 (L50)

'''Unfettered Fury'''
<br>A double-strike melee attack.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 140
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 2 meters
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)

'''Draw Blood'''
<br>A melee attack that drains some of the target’s health and gives it to the user.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 200
<br>Recovery: 4 seconds
<br>Range: 2 meter
<br>Damage: 3 (L1) – 75 (L50)
<br>Effect: Drains 10 (L1) – 100 (L50) health from the target and gives 300% back to the user.

'''Perfect Light'''
<br>A powerful melee attack that sets the target on fire.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 300
<br>Recovery: 5 seconds
<br>Duration: 30 seconds
<br>Range: 1 meter
<br>Damage: 12 (L1) – 260 (L50)
<br>Effect: Drains 2 (L1) – 10 (L50) damage per second

{{big|'''Empyrean Templar'''}}

Starting at level 15, an Empyrean can choose to become a Templar. The Templar is a tank class. With sword and shield at the ready, a Templar uses his considerable defenses to keep others alive. The Templar thrives on hardship – indeed, he is empowered by it – and this feeling of “Giving Oneself for Others” permeates the Templar’s skill set.

As the Templar takes damage, they gain Valor. After a Templar has taken enough damage (roughly 1/4th of their total health), they reach <br>Valor Level 1 – their body emits a bright light. Further damage will increase this to <br>Valor Level 2 and then <br>Valor Level 3, at which point they will be glowing with energy.

Certain skills in the Templar tree are more effective when used while the Templar has <br>Valor Levels. Once one of these skills is used, the Templar’s <br>Valor Level resets to zero. The rate at which a Templar gains Valor from damage is determined by their level in Sigil of Valor, and can be further increased by the Righteousness skill.

{{big|'''Skill Tree'''}}

Code:
<pre>
40                          Inspiration
                                 |
                                 |
35 Blade of    Blood Bind    Atonement    Compassion
   Conviction            \____   |    ___/       
      |                       \  |   /                 
30 Blade of                   Gift of    Righteousness
   Judgment                  Devotion   _/            \_            
            \____                |     /                \          
25               Scorn       Au’s Grace                  Sacrificial
                      \_____     |     \___           __/  Boon              
                            \    |         \         /                  
20                           Blindside     Affliction
                                 |   _____/     
                                 |  /      
15                         Sigil Of Valor
</pre>

{{big|'''Skills in Detail'''}}

'''Sigil Of Valor'''
<br>Grants the Templar the ability to accrue Valor when taking damage. Also bestows health and armor to the Templar. This is a toggle skill; it can be turned on and off at will.
<br>Credits: 5
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Recovery: 4 seconds
<br>Duration: Toggle
<br>Range: Self
Effect: 70 (L1) - 100 (L50) percent of incoming damage is counted towards increasing your <br>Valor Level. Also, bestows 1 (L1) – 100 (L50) additional armor and 20 (L1) – 600 (L50) max health.
<br><br>
'''Blindside'''
<br>A shield attack that stuns the target.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 110
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 2 meter
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
Effect: stuns target for 3 (L1) – 10 (L50) seconds
<br><br>
'''Affliction'''
<br>A bloodletting attack. This skill is improved if the Templar has <br>Valor Levels.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 120
<br>Recovery: 7 second
<br>Range: 2 meter
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
<br>Valor Level 1: 180 Damage over 15 seconds.
<br>Valor Level 2: 300 Damage over 15 seconds.
Valor Level 3: 480 Damage over 15 seconds.
<br><br>
'''Scorn'''
<br>A melee attack that taunts the monster to attack the user.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 170
<br>Recovery: 5 seconds
<br>Range: 2 meters
Taunt: 15%
<br><br>
'''Au’s Grace'''
<br>A self targeted heal.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 220
<br>Recovery: 4 seconds
<br>Range: Self
Heal: 50 (L1) – 500 (L50)
<br><br>
'''Sacrificial Boon'''
<br>Grants the Templar’s fellows health over time, while causing the Templar to lose health over time. This skill is a toggle buff; it can be turned on and off at will. If this skill would lower health so much that the Templar would die, the skill turns itself off instead.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Recovery: 4 seconds
<br>Duration: Toggle
<br>Range: Aura
<br>Fellow Effect: 2 (L1) – 20 (L50) health per second restored
<br>Templar Effect: 2 (L1) – 20 (L50) health per second lost.
Notes: losing health isn’t a terrible thing for a Templar – they can gain Valor from this damage just as if they had been attacked by a monster. In fact, this skill has many tactical uses. For instance, it is handy for giving the Templar <br>Valor Level 1 before they ever enter combat.
<br><br>
'''Blade of Judgment'''
<br>A melee attack that does additional damage, regardless of the target’s armor.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 200
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 2 meter
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
Additional Damage: 50 (L1) – 150 (L50) through armor damage.
<br><br>
'''Gift of Devotion'''
<br>Negates some of the damage that the Templar and his fellows suffer.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Recovery: 300 seconds
<br>Duration: 120 seconds
Damage Negated: 10 (L1) – 30 (L50) percent.
<br><br>
'''Righteousness'''
<br>Increases the Templar’s ability to accrue Valor.
<br>Credits: 2
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Recovery: 300 seconds
<br>Duration: 120 seconds
<br>Effect: When the Templar is attacked, the damage they receive counts towards their <br>Valor Level at an increased rate. The rate is increased by 1% (L1) – 50% (L50).
<br><br>
'''Blade of Conviction'''
<br>A powerful melee attack. This skill is more effective if the Templar has <br>Valor Levels.
<br>Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 180
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Damage: 7 (L1) – 200 (L50)
<br>Valor Level 1: Additional 10 (L1) – 100 (L50) damage attack.
<br>Valor Level 2: Two Additional 10 (L1) – 100 (L50) damage attacks.
<br>Valor Level 3: Three Additional 10 (L1) – 100 (L50) damage attacks.
<br><br>
'''Bloodbind'''
<br>Places a protective ward over the Templar’s fellows. While active, this ward will reflect damage inflicted upon the Templar’s fellows onto the Templar. This is a toggle skill; it can be turned on and off at will.
<br>Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 1
<br>Recovery: 4 seconds
<br>Duration: Toggle
<br>Effect: 10 (L1) - 30 (L50) percent of damage inflicted on the Templar's fellowship is negated. 80% of the damage negated is inflicted directly onto the Templar.
Notes: assuming that Sigil of Valor is enabled, the Templar gains Valor for the damage they receive from this skill.
<br><br>
'''Atonement'''
<br>A melee attack that takes health from both the user and the target.
<br>Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 200
<br>Recovery: 12 seconds
<br>Range: 2 meters
Damage Bonus: 12 (L1) – 260 (L50)
Target <br>Damage: 30 (L1) – 300 (L50)
Templar <br>Damage: 25 (L1) – 250 (L50)
Notes: assuming that Sigil of Valor is enabled, the Templar gains Valor for the damage they receive from this skill.
<br><br>
'''Compassion'''
<br>A heal that affects the Templar's fellows. This skill is more effective if the Templar has <br>Valor Levels.
<br>Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 400
<br>Recovery: 7 seconds
<br>Range: 20 meter
<br>Effect: Heals 25 (L1) – 250 (L50) Damage.
<br>Valor Level 1: Heals 50 (L1) – 400 (L50) Damage instead.
<br>Valor Level 2: Heals 100 (L1) – 600 (L50) Damage instead.
<br>Valor Level 3: Heals 150 (L1) – 900 (L50) Damage instead.
<br><br>
'''Inspiration'''
<br>Restores the vigor of the Templar's fellows. Does not restore the vigor of the Templar. This skill is more effective if the Templar has Valor Levels.
<br>Credits: 3
<br>Vigor Cost: 280
<br>Recovery: 10 seconds
<br>Range: 20 meters
<br>Effect: Heals 20 (L1) – 200 (L50) Vigor.
<br>Valor Level 1: Heals 50 (L1) – 350 (L50) Vigor instead.
<br>Valor Level 2: Heals 100 (L1) – 500 (L50) Vigor instead.
<br>Valor Level 3: Heals 150 (L1) – 700 (L50) Vigor instead.
}}