Tricks of the trade prodigy change proposal

[Strongpoint]

I like the concept of the prodigy. Trade artefact shop for some useful skills. Problem is that skills are not that useful even for intended users and other classes may take it only if player wishes challenge, because scoundrel tree is not worth prodigy and no artefacts.

What if tricks of the trade will grant rogue\shadowblade talents instead of that +0.2 stealth stuff that ties the tree to a class?

+1 Level of Dual Weapon Training is useful for anyone who has dual weapons tree by default.
+1 level of Dual Weapon Defence is + useful defence for reavers, mindstar users and short staff+dagger builds.
+1 level of Stealth is marginally useful for all classes
+1 level of shadowstrike is useful for all classes if they have at least some stealth
+1 level of lethality is useful for all classes
+1 level of shadow cunning is useful for all casters
And so on.


I suggest to change a prodigy to something like:

1) +1 level of stealth. The only non-random benefit of the prodigy.
2) X number of random rogue metaclass rogue class talents, with number of talents being excluded, weighted probabilities and zigur check to not get spells. It should be possible to get same talent more than once
3) Give unlocked 0.9 mastery tree or give +0.1 mastery in one of generic trees from the list: (Acrobatics, Scoundrel, Survival, Thuggery, Conveyance, Mobility)
4) Give random benefit from the list : (invisibility penalty damage penalty reduction, +% to nature damage, +% to darkness damage, + defence, + crit chance and more)

[Bormoth]

I like the concept of the prodigy. Trade artefact shop for some useful skills. Problem is that skills are not that useful even for intended users and other classes may take it only if player wishes challenge, because scoundrel tree is not worth prodigy and no artefacts.

What if tricks of the trade will grant rogue\shadowblade talents instead of that +0.2 stealth stuff that ties the tree to a class?

+1 Level of Dual Weapon Training is useful for anyone who has dual weapons tree by default.
+1 level of Dual Weapon Defence is + useful defence for reavers, mindstar users and short staff+dagger builds.
+1 level of Stealth is marginally useful for all classes
+1 level of shadowstrike is useful for all classes if they have at least some stealth
+1 level of lethality is useful for all classes
+1 level of shadow cunning is useful for all casters
And so on.


I suggest to change a prodigy to something like:

1) +1 level of stealth. The only non-random benefit of the prodigy.
2) X number of random rogue metaclass rogue class talents, with number of talents being excluded, weighted probabilities and zigur check to not get spells. It should be possible to get same talent more than once
3) Give unlocked 0.9 mastery tree or give +0.1 mastery in one of generic trees from the list: (Acrobatics, Scoundrel, Survival, Thuggery, Conveyance, Mobility)
4) Give random benefit from the list : (invisibility penalty damage penalty reduction, +% to nature damage, +% to darkness damage, + defence, + crit chance and more)

Dunno invis damage reduction is pretty good for shadowblade who can out regen drain from invis (Shadow feed scales with speed and at level 5 gives 2 mana every time you act, there are lots of similar situational or mostly one class prodigies. Scuondrell, I wouldn't say it as no, but it is no biggy as well as stealth level. It is really useful for anorithils too. Stealth to empower crits, and darkest light damage reduction negation.
Artifact shop is a bit overrated. More often then not I finish my character build by time I get it, and it is used to replace few useless items with maybe marginally better randarts. And to really to abuse shop you need to make quite a few dangerous farportal runs.

Again shop gives only 1 tier highier arts then bosses in farportals, for someone it is good, but for me not really. For me the randart shop is only reason is it only allows to turn those useless mountains of gold you have by that moment into something maybe useful. If there was something else to spend gold for I wouldn't mind, lack of randart shop too much. (Saves, status resistances, blessing buffs)