Suggestion: Unlock Stasis for PMs

[jenx]

At the moment, it is difficult to win with a PM without going cornac, as most players wish to unlock 4 categories. This leaves you no extra infusion slots.

I suggest Stasis be unlocked, because it starts at level 1, almost all players get it, and it is not OP, or require deep understanding of PM mechanics, the way flux does.

It would nice to be able to experiment with other race combos with PMs.

[0player]

I would argue that Time Shield is too bloody good to be in an unlocked category.

[ZyZ]

Time shield is not that important for PM (but still extremely good). Main reason to unlock it is "Stop" and "Spacetime stability".

With Statsis unlocked you could unlock everything as shalore / giant and that would make you basically unstoppable.

Atm flux + stasis + energy are pretty much must have so you have to decide if you want timeline threading or spellbinding. Both are v. good and in essence they both boost damage. Unlocked statsis = every PM will be pretty much the same and no one will consider cornac because additional category will most likely be converted to additional rune/inscription and giant have that for free (+ much more)

//edit

Offtopic. Spacetime Folding is a bit underwhelming

[rekenner]

Sure, why not give archmages meta and temporal unlocked, too? It'd let them take all the trees they want while also having 5 inscriptions, too.

[jenx]

Sure, why not give archmages meta and temporal unlocked, too? It'd let them take all the trees they want while also having 5 inscriptions, too.

But that's my point. You can only have 3 inscriptions atm even with cornac, if you unlock all trees.

You basically have to take energy at level 10 because entropy is so critical to pm. So for other races you are looking at level 20 for stasis or flux, level 34 for the other and then return from east for threading or binding.

So you are locked into a very predictable pattern.

I've played hundreds of PMs and I think unlocking stasis would make the class more investing and more flexible.

[bpat]

You don't actually need the fourth category until very very late, so I wouldn't be surprised if one could get away with skipping it completely. Here is a character sheet of my current Insane run with PM, where I try to demonstrate just how little is needed to succeed as Paradox Mage. This character has cleared all four Prides, has not consumed the Wyrm Bile, has taken no prodigies, hasn't put stat points in anything but Mag and Wil, and has only spent 28 class points and 32 generic points. I'll probably need to get either Hidden Resources, Spellbinding, or Static History to manage the final battle and possibly the Slime Tunnels bosses since I expect to have to handle very high spell saves. Also I think Timeline Threading will prove valuable for survival thanks to jenx's insights on why Temporal Fugue is so good, so I may take that over Static History. However, up to this point, spamming Attenuate, Stop, Entropy, Seal Fate, and Webs of Fate can get the job done without much more. Time Shield isn't even needed really, the really good stuff in Stasis is Stop and, to a lesser extent, Spacetime Stability (I have 1/1/5/0 in the category). I took Stasis at level 36 and Attenuate spamming got me there without too much difficulty.

I think if anything, Flux or Energy would be better to be unlocked by default since those are the two categories I cannot imagine playing a Paradox Mage without, though Energy can be probably skipped on Normal/Nightmare since sustains are less problematic and fights are shorter. Even so, Paradox Mage doesn't really need the buffs, and having five good locked categories makes you really think through when you unlock categories. I also didn't find Cornac necessary, I picked Ogre instead and also I am sure that Shalore would work even better since Timeless is way better than a Wild Infusion, and it can extend the Out of Phase buff from my Phase Door Rune. I would not consider any other race for Paradox Mage except maybe Doomelf, but that's because they don't have much synergy with the class (Thalore) or are just worse than other races (everything not an Elf or Ogre).

[Amphouse]

The problem is that PM is already borderline too strong/OP and giving non-cornac PMs what amounts to a free category point would tip them well over that line. Maybe if you also nerfed PM talents at the same time this would be acceptable.

[Puška]

PM is NOT only good with Cornac. PM is pretty much winnable with every race.