Kinetic Battery (weapon item for spirit only builds)

[nathanieljbrill]

Kinetic Battery
Weapon
costs 1250
+15% spirit damage against npcs.
+10% bullet resist.
Passive
Every second you aren't shooting your gun you gain a stack of 1 spirit. Max 30 stacks. If you shoot your gun once you lose all stacks.

I often want to just forgo shooting entirely but it really isn't a thing. This allows the fun playstyle to exist a little better.

 

[fennekandchu]

It seems odd to encourage literally not shooting, even in an opt-in item context, in an FPS game? Even if you prefer not to use your gun for damage there are still mechanics like soul denys/confirms that should always be relevant.

 

[nathanieljbrill]

It seems odd to encourage literally not shooting, even in an opt-in item context, in an FPS game? Even if you prefer not to use your gun for damage there are still mechanics like soul denys/confirms that should always be relevant.

Orbs should always be relevant you're right. There can be a workaround in the passive, like only if you deal damage with your gun does it remove the stacks, or it could even be just damage to a player but that would remove the justification for the increase npc spirit damage which was supposed to take the place of your gun in farming.

 

[gibnewitems]

Soul shredder bullets and Mystic shot exists at this price point, and I don't know any hero that's actually gonna want to build this item within a spirit build over those two.

 

[nathanieljbrill]

Soul shredder bullets and Mystic shot exists at this price point, and I don't know any hero that's actually gonna want to build this item within a spirit build over those two.

Competing with those two is definitely a challenge. I do think they would fill slightly different roles in that those two want heroes that will shoot some as a part of their attack while this one is meant for your attack to be entirely spirit attacks. That said what is something you would suggest to make this the best choice for its precise niche? 8% cooldown reduction? More potential spirit?

 

[gibnewitems]

Competing with those two is definitely a challenge. I do think they would fill slightly different roles in that those two want heroes that will shoot some as a part of their attack while this one is meant for your attack to be entirely spirit attacks. That said what is something you would suggest to make this the best choice for its precise niche? 8% cooldown reduction? More potential spirit?

The issue is that this item's design would lock you out of so many options that are actually really core on most spirit builds (mystic shot, ssb, tesla, spellslingers, spiritual overflow). Even items like suppressor, it's upgrade, and healbane would be out of the picture since tesla bullets are the most consistent way to proc those items for a lot of heroes (even on spirit builds).

8% cooldown reduction?

Cooldown reduction is supposed to be a hard to access stat. 8% on a tier 2 (especially in the weapon category) would cause it to be bought on pretty much everyone just for the cdr, similar to what happened with enchanter's barrier.

More potential spirit?

30 on a t2 weapon item is already pushing it. That's as much as some tier 3s in the spirit category provide.

I don't think that a "niche" that involves not interacting with a core system of the game would be healthy for the game. The fact that you even have to suggest things like cooldown reduction and even more spirit on an item that's already broken the healthy spirit limit for an item of it's slot and price should make it quite self-evident that this item needs to spend a lot more time at the drawing board or just be scrapped altogether. There's better ways to encourage and promote spirit builds.

 

[nathanieljbrill]

The issue is that this item's design would lock you out of so many options that are actually really core on most spirit builds (mystic shot, ssb, tesla, spellslingers, spiritual overflow). Even items like suppressor, it's upgrade, and healbane would be out of the picture since tesla bullets are the most consistent way to proc those items for a lot of heroes (even on spirit builds).

Cooldown reduction is supposed to be a hard to access stat. 8% on a tier 2 (especially in the weapon category) would cause it to be bought on pretty much everyone just for the cdr, similar to what happened with enchanter's barrier.

30 on a t2 weapon item is already pushing it. That's as much as some tier 3s in the spirit category provide.

I don't think that a "niche" that involves not interacting with a core system of the game would be healthy for the game. The fact that you even have to suggest things like cooldown reduction and even more spirit on an item that's already broken the healthy spirit limit for an item of it's slot and price should make it quite self-evident that this item needs to spend a lot more time at the drawing board or just be scrapped altogether. There's better ways to encourage and promote spirit builds.

Oh it's definitely a niche that needs a build path. Pure spellcaster isjust a fun way to play. It would be a different build path than those "core" items . Something it definitley wouldn't be bought by everyone for the cooldown rate though. I didn't inclue the cooldown in the base item but if you were to do that it wouldn't be a must buy at all. If you're constantly shooting your weapon you used a slot on something half as good as cooldown reducer.

 

[gibnewitems]

Oh it's definitely a niche that needs a build path. Pure spellcaster isjust a fun way to play

You already can build for heavy spirit builds with existing items. Making "pure spellcaster" (whatever definition you have in mind) would be like making an item that allows a neutral creep only playstyle to exist. It's just dumb, and invites balancing issues that don't need to exist akin to setting your own hand on fire.

Something it definitley wouldn't be bought by everyone for the cooldown rate though. I didn't inclue the cooldown in the base item but if you were to do that it wouldn't be a must buy at all

Can you read? I literally just gave you an example of this exact scenario happening with enchanters in recent memory. Same percentage as well, while also being permanent instead of a conditional on a traditionally stacked item slot, so this time it would be even more broken.

If you're constantly shooting your weapon you used a slot on something half as good as cooldown reducer.

Again, this didn't stop enchanters barrier from being a must buy just because of the cooldown. Even haze was picking this up over combat before it got nerfed.

 

[wilsoncat.VS]

Cool idea, but agree with the no shooting part... BUT I like the idea of when you are not shooting gaining a MELEE dmg boost (idk if multiplier or added bonus) so it can promote more melee play (maybe another type of boost)? Takes away from being spirit based and thats okay would combo nice into Abrams for sure imo.