Underrail Forum

Underrail => Development Log => Topic started by: Styg on November 18, 2016, 11:49:13 am

Title: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Styg on November 18, 2016, 11:49:13 am
Hi guys,

In the expansion, we'll be adding a new psionic school in called "Temporal Manipulation", which will primarily feature delayed damage and buffing/debuffing abilities.

(http://underrail.com/images/DevLog/Expedition/TemporalMainipulation.gif)

This psi discipline will, probably more than any other, will function well as a support skill that can be incorporated into other builds, rather than a primary skill around which a build is made, though I have no doubt that some of you will find a way to prove me wrong.

Here are the abilities:
That's about it. Let me know how you guys like the new psi school.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Tygrende on November 18, 2016, 12:56:42 pm
It's always the psi builds that get the coolest stuff. I like that all those buffs  can be helpful for pretty much any build out there, the question is if the Psi Empathy HP penalty will be worth it just for them.

Some of those abilities are extremaly powerful, too. Especially 
Limited Temporal Increment (even more so if there will be a more powerful version), Psycho-temporal Dilation/Contraction because both 15 AP and 30/50 MP are big bonuses/penalties and Stasis since it will allow even the most squishy builds to easily survive things like Aimed Shot from snipers (unless the AI will be smart enough ro save their abilities if you use it but I doubt it)

Overall I have some concerns about balance but it sounds fun.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Yonaiker on November 18, 2016, 02:47:48 pm
Pretty interesting new psi school, Precognition makes me think if will work with characters with massive armor penalty (95%), meaning I will have dodge/evasion like a Nimble character?
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Altos on November 18, 2016, 04:40:13 pm
Pretty interesting new psi school, Precognition makes me think if will work with characters with massive armor penalty (95%), meaning I will have dodge/evasion like a Nimble character?
If I'm reading the description correctly, it says that Precognition increases your Dodge & Evasion by a percentage of your skill level in those categories, so if we assume the maximum gain is 25% (because I've noticed that Styg likes to make 25% the maximum for all these percentage-based skills/feats :P) then your Evasion and Dodge would still be getting reduced by 70% due to your armor penalty (or 55% with Nimble).
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: hilf on November 18, 2016, 05:42:50 pm
Pretty interesting new psi school, Precognition makes me think if will work with characters with massive armor penalty (95%), meaning I will have dodge/evasion like a Nimble character?
If I'm reading the description correctly, it says that Precognition increases your Dodge & Evasion by a percentage of your skill level in those categories, so if we assume the maximum gain is 25% (because I've noticed that Styg likes to make 25% the maximum for all these percentage-based skills/feats :P) then your Evasion and Dodge would still be getting reduced by 70% due to your armor penalty (or 55% with Nimble).

It doesn't say it increases Dodge&Evasion, but rather your chance to dodge and evade attacks.
Dodge and Evasion are one source of dodging and evading, Precognition would be another one (hence stacking 'additively').
That would also mean armor penalty has no effect on those chances as it reduces skills.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Yonaiker on November 18, 2016, 05:59:58 pm
Pretty interesting new psi school, Precognition makes me think if will work with characters with massive armor penalty (95%), meaning I will have dodge/evasion like a Nimble character?
If I'm reading the description correctly, it says that Precognition increases your Dodge & Evasion by a percentage of your skill level in those categories, so if we assume the maximum gain is 25% (because I've noticed that Styg likes to make 25% the maximum for all these percentage-based skills/feats :P) then your Evasion and Dodge would still be getting reduced by 70% due to your armor penalty (or 55% with Nimble).

It doesn't say it increases Dodge&Evasion, but rather your chance to dodge and evade attacks.
Dodge and Evasion are one source of dodging and evading, Precognition would be another one (hence stacking 'additively').
That would also mean armor penalty has no effect on those chances as it reduces skills.

Lol my bad, I thought it was linked to the <Skills> not the value itself.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: TrueNeutralEvGenius on November 18, 2016, 08:00:57 pm
Needs practical tests, but looks interesting. Temporal Distortion and Limited Temporal Increment look the most interesting, imho. Psi skills which are raising AP and MP doesn't look so cool & original, because we already have medicine and drugs like that. But still good enough to have them, we will have possibility to combine and empower. Precognition can be super supportive to some exact builds. Overall style is excellent.

Thanks once more for enduring work on the wonderful game which Underrail is.


Upd. Can you send info about school teachers, action points cost, ranges and so on, so I can write it down in the wiki already? Or let's wait for the release, maybe you still think a lot about it can change?
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Yonaiker on November 19, 2016, 12:35:54 am
A bit off-topic, makes me ponder now we have a time-based psionic we will have a gravity-based psi school in the future?
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: reinhark on November 19, 2016, 05:02:45 am
Not gonna lie, this stuff excites me more than the expedition contents itself.

Keep up the good work Styg.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Lucifuga on November 19, 2016, 05:44:50 am
Such flashy animations :o

I spot several "target"s in there regarding the buffs
They seem to me like the perfect NPC/partner support skills

Maybe I run too many "1st turn" characters but I've never seen one go behind cover at the end of their turn
Neat!
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Yonaiker on November 19, 2016, 03:38:51 pm
A bit off-topic, makes me ponder now we have a time-based psionic we will have a gravity-based psi school in the future?

I doubt that. Psychokinesis already has matter manipulation abilities (implosion) that would befit such psi school and you can't have much fun with gravity on a 2D game without physics engine.

Temporal manipulation on the other hand is thematically perfect fit for Underrail. Those with keen eye and sharp wit may already have seen something similar in the game...

Maybe I run too many "1st turn" characters but I've never seen one go behind cover at the end of their turn
Neat!

Are you playing on easy or running an old version? The latest version has neat AI updates. All of them apply on hard, some on normal, easy is the same old dumb NPCs.


A siphoner man can dream...

On a serious note, then matter domination is my new bet, I have seen Implosion as applying a crushing pressure to the enemy instead of any kind of disintegration effect. as psychokinesis says its description "exerting mechanical force".
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Altos on November 19, 2016, 08:03:08 pm
Those with keen eye and sharp wit may already have seen something similar in the game...

Boy, with all the time-related jokes and mechanics in this game, I think I'm developing vertigo! ...Timelapse Vertigo! :P

...

I'll see myself out.

I regret nothing!
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Lucifuga on November 20, 2016, 06:48:05 am
Are you playing on easy or running an old version? The latest version has neat AI updates. All of them apply on hard, some on normal, easy is the same old dumb NPCs.

I run on 1.0.1.4/normal
I'm always reluctant to update but that is something to look forward to along with Expedition
Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Planet-X on November 25, 2016, 10:54:55 am
I can not wait to play this again!
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Fenix on December 11, 2016, 12:14:10 am
Agree!
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Melinoe on December 19, 2016, 09:27:39 pm
Temporal Manipulation looks like it's gonna be killer for supporting a lot of different playstyles, especially the classic Dex/Agi/Will focused psi-monk. Extra movement and action points go a long way when you need to get up and personal FAST and your attacks are already low-cost.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: To_an on January 18, 2017, 09:43:56 pm
Hello, i have one question about this new 'psi school' after reading this :
Quote
Veteran characters no longer receive base ability or skill points during leveling...
How could i use this new discipline in the expansion whith, let's say a psi bluid, if my character has reached the level cap ? Maybe i am misunderstanding something, but to be usefull, i will need to start a new playthrough ?

Thanks
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Styg on January 18, 2017, 10:36:27 pm
Hello, i have one question about this new 'psi school' after reading this :
Quote
Veteran characters no longer receive base ability or skill points during leveling...
How could i use this new discipline in the expansion whith, let's say a psi bluid, if my character has reached the level cap ? Maybe i am misunderstanding something, but to be usefull, i will need to start a new playthrough ?

Thanks

Yes.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: UnLimiTeD on January 26, 2017, 12:14:44 pm
Quote
In cases when the original damage was very slight, the recurrence may actually empower it.
Could someone explain this to me? I think I may be misreading it, for I don't quite get it.
On a related note, can "target" be one-self in most of those abilities?
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: Yonaiker on January 26, 2017, 10:25:16 pm
Quote
In cases when the original damage was very slight, the recurrence may actually empower it.
Could someone explain this to me? I think I may be misreading it, for I don't quite get it.
On a related note, can "target" be one-self in most of those abilities?

Let's say you make a pistol shot and cause "10" points of damage and the ability may consider it slight or low damage, then the recurrence would cause a damage tick of "25", that's how I understand the psi skill.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: TheAverageGortsby on January 27, 2017, 06:26:49 am
Hello all.  Quick question, if I may.  At very high skill levels, Implosion can cause 75% or more of target health in damage.  If Implosion, on a full-health target, is followed by Entropic Recurrence, will the target be taking 100% of its health before it can act?  Sounds like 75% + (75/3)%.  Quick way to handle pesky boss-types, if so.  Thanks much, and thanks for making this game.  Been having a blast with it, even if your burrowers do give me angina.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: TheAverageGortsby on January 27, 2017, 06:44:52 pm
Entropic Recurrence repeats only a percentage (depending on Temporal Manipulation skill) of the original damage, not the full damage. Also keep in mind that Implosion does not ignore damage resistance. Besides, there is already a better Implosion trick for instant kills. ;)
Ah, the importance of the proper article.  The description in the OP says "the percentage" not "a percentage" so I thought that meant if you did damage equal to X% of the target health, ER would smear an additional X% across 3 turns, effectively doubling whatever the damage was.  So it's not a doubling, just some sort of additional DoT.  OK.  Thanks for the clarification.

I try to avoid instant-kill tricks so haven't really made much use of Implosion, but there certainly are a lot of shenanigans available if you've got all three psi schools at your disposal.
Title: Re: Dev Log #49: Temporal Manipulation
Post by: UnLimiTeD on February 01, 2017, 12:22:01 am
... So the recurrence empowers the damage, not the target? Wording, gentlemen.
... I'm confused.

Edit: If Psi-Skills continue to have a synergy, a full PSI character might end up getting easily 30 points in Temporal Manipulation without investing anything. Worse comes to worst, just don't gain the last level, then when the addon comes around you can dump 35 points in it and get most of the stuff that might require spent base points. With universal bonus gear that ought to result in a good 60 or so skill level. Not sure how skill level will play into it anyways, a lot of them look like they have no variable components.