Paradox Failure formula changes

[lukep]

Currently, failure rates for chronomancy talents are calculated as: (Backfire and Anomaly calculations are analogous)

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	local chance = math.pow(((self:getParadox() - self:paradoxChanceModifier())/200), 2)*((100 + self:combatFatigue()) / 100)

or, a different format (I believe it's the same at least):

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([Paradox - (Willpower * Paradox Mastery)] ^ 2) /40000, modified by fatigue

Willpower has very little influence the resource pool, to the extent that a gain of 100 Willpower from the start of the game to the final fight only lets you cast 100 (or 165 with Paradox Mastery) more Paradox worth of talents (about two or three high level spells) before reaching the same failure rates.

This is far below the 500 mana (3-10 spells), 200 stamina (5-10 techniques), or access to 100 failure free equilibrium (~10 summons, or 8-9 breath attacks) you get with other resource types. This does not account for the 6-20% increase in damage that 150 extra paradox would give (at 1000/1150, and 100/250, respectively).

I have two ideas to change Paradox scaling, giving a bigger bonus for Willpower. The first is a simple multiplication of the Willpower scaling by four, bringing it closer in line with other resource types, at the cost of allowing much more powerful paradox scaling skills. The second is to flatten the curve, based on Willpower, maintaining most of the equation but replacing "self:getParadox()" with a function of Paradox and Willpower like:

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Paradox * (100 + Willpower) / 200

This would lead to 100 Willpower cutting the failure rate in half as well as giving the extra room. A third option is a combination of the two, in some ratio to be determined.

[Postman]

Completely agree. Also For Temporal Warden failure penalty is too harsh comparing with Paradox Mage, making high-paradox state not practical - it blocks some vital functions like dim step, wormhole etc. I suggest for TW reduce failure rate and increase Anomaly rate instead, that would make playing TW a lot more tactical.

[edge2054]

Paradox Mage and Temporal Warden failure rates aren't really meant to be compared like that Postman. One relies on spells to kill things, the other sustains. It's like comparing a Mage's mana pool and mana regen to an Arcane Blade or a Shadow Blade. A Paradox Mage is a sitting duck when their paradox gets to high to cast reliably, a warden is not.

I realize that the Willpower reduction is basically a straight buffer of extra Paradox but Paradox itself isn't a resource you can easily compare to others. Taking 100 Paradox off the top at 600 Paradox means a lot more then taking 100 off the top at 400 and has even more meaning the higher your Paradox score is.

Keep in mind that there's three equations not one and they're all effected by willpower. So yes willpower only effects failure rates by X but it also effects anomaly and backfires as well which both scale much faster then failure rates once they kick in (^3 and ^4 respectfully). Because the willpower bonus is factored in before the values are multiplied willpower has a much larger effect on these two formulas.

All of that said I'm not 100% opposed to the idea and I'll consider making willpower more valuable, especially for Paradox Mage's (because I think they could use some help), when I get a chance to start coding again (my wife's on vacation so it's just my son and I till the end of the month).