New Spell and New Spellement Packs

[Robobot1747]

So... yeah. This is a thing now: https://www.wizard101.com/game/promo...bscriptionsale

tl;dr: pay $2 a month, get a pack of spellements every week. You're also guaranteed to unlock Steal Pip on your first open, which is a balance spell that costs 0 pips and steals 1 pip from your target.

I don't know how to feel about this. On one hand, it's nice that I don't have to fill my inventory with pack junk to get the spellements, but this feels like they're testing the waters with something.

[richardDkht]

So... yeah. This is a thing now: https://www.wizard101.com/game/promo...bscriptionsale

tl;dr: pay $2 a month, get a pack of spellements every week. You're also guaranteed to unlock Steal Pip on your first open, which is a balance spell that costs 0 pips and steals 1 pip from your target.

I don't know how to feel about this. On one hand, it's nice that I don't have to fill my inventory with pack junk to get the spellements, but this feels like they're testing the waters with something.

yeah it's called "p2w".

Because after all the "bla-bla, game will be more equilibrated if we undo this and that" that devs dumped on us with their spell remakes, now we get this steal-pip-for-free thing that, of course, is PERFECTLY BALANCED, yes?

I mean, let's put it for argument sake in the infamous PVP where it will be used. Say, me Vs an opponent.

I cast steal pip
he can't use his spell
I cast steal pip
he can't use his spell
I cast steal pip
he can't use his spell
I blast him with all his pips plus mine, then restart casting steal pip while he only gets one pip...

Even if I was to reshuffle, his actions are limited to 1 vs 3 of mine.

Sure, not unbalanced at all. But wait! it's a paying spell, so everything is ok.

Welcome new owners!

[Robobot1747]

yeah it's called "p2w".

Because after all the "bla-bla, game will be more equilibrated if we undo this and that" that devs dumped on us with their spell remakes, now we get this steal-pip-for-free thing that, of course, is PERFECTLY BALANCED, yes?

I mean, let's put it for argument sake in the infamous PVP where it will be used. Say, me Vs an opponent.

I cast steal pip
he can't use his spell
I cast steal pip
he can't use his spell
I cast steal pip
he can't use his spell
I blast him with all his pips plus mine, then restart casting steal pip while he only gets one pip...

Even if I was to reshuffle, his actions are limited to 1 vs 3 of mine.

Sure, not unbalanced at all. But wait! it's a paying spell, so everything is ok.

Welcome new owners!

I don't think it's as bad as you say it is. You're limited to 3 per shuffle at max upgrade as far as I know, and that gives your opponent a whole lot of time to shield themselves. It also only steals one pip, so they'll still be gaining one pip per round instead of a power pip.

[richardDkht]

I don't think it's as bad as you say it is. You're limited to 3 per shuffle at max upgrade as far as I know, and that gives your opponent a whole lot of time to shield themselves. It also only steals one pip, so they'll still be gaining one pip per round instead of a power pip.

ok! want another example?

assuming 100% PP chance:

I use steal pip
you get a pip
I use supernova
you are down by two pips (one you had earned)
i steal pip
you do nothing
I use supernova again (well yes, since two rounds + the pip i stole)
you have three pips
i steal pip
you have four pips
I use supernova..

and that's with 3 steal pip. Yeah, it does little damage (a base 1200~ish in total) since supernova is based on pips. But imagine interleaving stuff there, like a blade or a feint here and there, + gear and pet, modifiers, and you can see how it plays out. And shields.. yeah... against balance :D

Loremaster was nerfed for way less than this reason. BUT that was a free spell. That's the difference, imho.

Well who cares. I don't play PVP

[MagicalMe]

This is a pass from me I already hate the spellement idea. I hope this isn't a new thing that is gonna happen :/

[Eric Stormbringer]

I don't think it's as bad as you say it is. You're limited to 3 per shuffle at max upgrade as far as I know, and that gives your opponent a whole lot of time to shield themselves. It also only steals one pip, so they'll still be gaining one pip per round instead of a power pip.

Possible complications arise if this is a spell that's liked by shadow trickster. In that case we could have a legit lockdown mechanism with a balance playing a stall centric strat. Ofc with shadow backlash and timer, such a stall strategy would tend to lose but sitting there for 30 minutes isn't exactly fun and interactive gameplay.

EDIT: Nevermind, at 3 copies per reshuffle and it being neutral to trickster, there is no way for this spell to act as a lockout mechanism.

- - - Updated - - -

ok! want another example?

assuming 100% PP chance:

I use steal pip
you get a pip
I use supernova
you are down by two pips (one you had earned)
i steal pip
you do nothing
I use supernova again (well yes, since two rounds + the pip i stole)
you have three pips
i steal pip
you have four pips
I use supernova..

and that's with 3 steal pip. Yeah, it does little damage (a base 1200~ish in total) since supernova is based on pips. But imagine interleaving stuff there, like a blade or a feint here and there, + gear and pet, modifiers, and you can see how it plays out. And shields.. yeah... against balance :D

Loremaster was nerfed for way less than this reason. BUT that was a free spell. That's the difference, imho.

Well who cares. I don't play PVP

Supernova doesn't remove pips and mana burn is a 5 pip spell....

[Torpzun26]

If this had cost $2 in Crowns per month, this would be something I'd take with little hesitation. But unfortunately I can't really afford to spend more real money on this game than I already do. A shame too, because this does seem like it would be pretty good if it were a once-per-month payment of whatever $2 in Crowns would be.

[JaredSpellFrost]

Yeah, uh, no. What is KingsIsle thinking, locking this spell behind a terrible paywall?? I thought that the predatory EA execs left the company! And isn't MGI doing anything to halt these blatantly harmful business practices?

Steal Pip isn't even a spell that Players voted on in the Spellement polls, which I find a bit odd. Plus, Steal Pip isn't exactly a spell befitting of the lawful Balance class- that's why it's function was fitted into the Shadow School! I mean, Balance is a perfect support class that has a spell to donate pips, not take them away. "Cheaty" spells like this should be reserved for bosses and Shadow spells, not slotted into the 7 Schools. So much for the Devs focusing on "school identity"...
I certainly hope that we won't be seeing the upcoming Spellemental spells be introduced in this way. These spells offer an obvious advantage to whoever has them trained, so locking them behind an RNG paywall and devilishly insane droprates is not the way to go.

"Better yet – when this special deal renews, it’ll renew at the same price and you’ll continue to receive a Deluxe Spellement Pack every 7 days!"
Translation: We will scam unsuspecting Players who forget to turn off this auto-billing system.

[Tanner Hex]

Oh boy, I bet there are gonna be some questions about this in the upcoming KI Live. Will Steal Pip eventually become obtainable outside of packs? Do they plan to introduce more spells like this? Etc. etc.

[Dylan Windwalker]