“But muh numbers!”
No. None of that.
We aren’t talking numbers or tuning here. THAT can be changed/adjusted/balanced.
I’m talking spec feel. And I mean two talents in particular and some later talents related to it.
First Up.
Raise Dead (unholy tree)
Turning this into a choice node with the current perma-pet option. OR a new option.
Call The Damned. 1.5 min CD
Your Raise dead spell now raises three ghouls for 30 (45?) seconds.
then of course we could adjust All Will Serve when this choice is selected to also summon three risen archers. Given they will also be temporary.
This then also demands we address the next talent Dark Transformation.
I say to ALSO make this a choice node. With Dark Transformation being first adjusted as follows:
Transform one of your ghouls into an undead monstrosity for 15 sec
What’s different? Well given we have the option to NOT have a perma-pet this change makes it transform one of your ghouls at random (with preferred priority parameters obviously though) this could be an Army ghoul an apoc ghoul or one of your Called ghouls. Or if you take perma-pet, then THAT ghoul is the chosen target. Basically it’s changed to allow coding for the new talent option.
now the NEW choice option.
Summon Abomination.
Summon an abomination in a shower of gore dealing shadow damage to nearby enemies and then attacking your target for 15 (20?) seconds.
“Wait what’s the difference between them then?”
Well mechanically not much. It’s mainly flavour. And you don’t expend a ghoul for Abom.
I’ll explain why it’s ‘important’ later though. Ok? Just bear with me.
Now with abom we could also add talents later or change talents so that it extends diseases or applies Unholy blight/death rot or such. It adds options.
What about Apocalypse?
Yeah with Call the Damned, Apocalypse suddenly feels worse on paper.
But if we adjust the choice node after it. Make Magus of the Dead summon a mage for each wound same as Apoc summons a ghoul per wound. then it suddenly feels better. But that’s not built in. And this is true. I’d extend the Apoc ghouls duration but that then just adds to it’s uptime not really making it feel better but only providing a mathematical increase. So how do we make it feel better? Well what if we made it… summon MORE GHOULS? Like if we double the number of ghouls but halve the damage, then it’s the same amount of damage. In theory, I know. But like I said we aren’t focusing on numbers here. Or the other way. maybe instead of Apoc summoning mere ghouls they summon a BIGGER undead? Like what? I dunno actually. Maybe Banshees or nerubians?
Blizz can figure it out.
We’d also need to adjust sacrificial pact in the general DK tree. Same as Dark transformation. Sacrifice one of your ghouls for blah blah blah. you get it. Right? Good.
By now I hope you see what I’m aiming at here. Really leaning on that Disposable Army, Lord of the Undead vibe. That you get an option to really present as the cold-hearted commander that doesn’t give a damn about their underlings. That you lean on that temporary army to overwhelm and drag down your foes by sheer numbers.
And this is where I say why the difference between DT and Abom matters. Feel. How it feels to use it. Because how it feels to Juice up a ghoul as opposed to CALLING IN DA BIG GUY is different. And over time it can be made more mechanically different too. One option could be more upfront damage while the other is more buff the other minions/damage over time or crowd control. The thing is for many players, how it emotionally feels to press a button is important to their enjoyment of the game. This can be a response to BIG NUMBER or it can be a response to something like this that is visually stimulating. And the reason I don’t just suggest a glyph is that the choice is also emotionally important. And it gives an avenue for more options and variety mechanically to the spec down the line. As I mentioned. So moving on.
Now I know that plenty out there will be like:
“Oh god not MORE CDs to press.”
That’s fine. I hear ya. But to me that whole line of button presses feels thematically good like BOOM BOOM BOOM I have an ARMY WHO’S GONNA STOP ME NOW?! insert maniacal laughter here
Like just lining up ALL THE SUMMONS.
Army, Ghouls, Apoc, Gargoyle, Abom then rack 'em up with Unholy Blight if you wanna pack that in too. you get to have like 20 seconds of raw unholy carnage!
Not everyone will be into that. I know. But it adds that wider spec identity. It lets you shape your build’s… personality.
How many are out there that would be into this? Let me know.
If you don’t like it… then at least be constructive in your comments.