Spiral Knights - Seraphynx - Ray of Light: Too short, too weak, too slow

Seraphynx - Ray of Light: Too short, too weak, too slow

14 replies [Last post]

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 12:56

El-Odio

Seraphynx is supposed to fill a supporting role in a group. That much is obvious and fine. However, what good is the Ray of Light then?
First thing is the time it needs to iniatie: Little thing needs to realize you want something and, out of pure joy about that, just has to make a looping before actually getting into position. Now the thing is, most enemys tend to, you know, move. Depending on where you are trying to pull it off chances are good you can't move in a straight line long enough with enough room between you and those vile creatures to give the Seraphynx time to get ready. The thing here is, you can hardly use it in advance, because, even with maxed range, it won't have much more range than a Suda.
And if you do make contact?? Well, you are treated to some miniscule knockback and laughable damage. Shield-bashing does more damage. And if it connects long enough for all hits to damage? Might have as well hit once with your weakest weapon. Sure, it goes through enemys but, still, might have as well hit with a sword or whatever you are carrying.

Ok, and here comes the best thing: You're actually wasting a move. What I mean? You can't be doing anything else while commanding it.
In a pinch and want some room to breath? Shield barely holding? No can do, bro, gotta put that shield down and wave your hand for me to help you.
You're in the middle of a combo? Nah, I'll wait till you finished it - don't wanna take the spotlight.
Holding a key or something about your head? Well, bad for you, but I can't help.
It doesn't end there however - while you are giving the command - that is, wave your hand - you can't cancel out of it to do something else. You have to finish issuing the order.

Let me get this straight, it's supposed to support you in a fight and to do that, it demands that you make yourself completly defenseless, so it can fire a 4-tile long and 1-tile wide beam (if you maxed range). For reference, that is not far enough to bridge the chasm on the left side of the training hall.

To get to the gist of it: I don't want it to do more damage - it should be a supporting move. I don't want it to do more knockback - it would just look silly.
What I ask for is to increase it's range by at least 2 tiles.

(Do not get me wrong, I have grown quite fond of the little critter and like the update in general, but this skill is... a joke.)

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 13:11

Juances

Did you put all 3 skill points in magnify?

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 13:16

El-Odio

Yes. In hindsight, they could have been spent better, but I was young and expected something... different.
I can provide screenshots if you'd like.

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 13:26

Juances

Not that way, I want to compare them and see whetever we should increase the base distance or increase the effect of upgrading it.

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 13:52

Hexzyle

I believe that players have given feedback on the beam attack being very useful aimed sideways to operate as a beam-shield. Hope that helps.

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 14:22

El-Odio

So, coaxed a random bystander into showing me an unleveled RoL:
Base range - 2.5 tiles
Each upgrade - 0.5 tiles

As some kind of barrier? That thing needs as much time to activate as it actually lasts, and barely stops anything with as so little ground covered.
I could see that if it had a range of "until it hits a wall" and would last more than 2 seconds, but like this I find it highly impractical as anything other than a gimmick.

P.S.: Oh, and thanks for that heads-up, would have never gotten the idea that might have been in their minds when it came to the RoL.

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 16:30

Zeddy

Ray of Light is a defensive ability because Seraphinx is a defensive sprite. The delay between the command the activation gives you time to get behind the wall you've ordered to be made.

You can move while issuing sprite commands, by the way, you're hardly defenceless.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 04:31

El-Odio

Right now that skill can't

Right now that skill can't defend you for the hell of it. It lasts not nearly long enough, activates far too late and reaches not much further than a Triglav (if not skilled).
And to add insult to injury: "The delay between the command the activation gives you time to get behind the wall you've ordered to be made."
I can understand if some people want to defend the choices that have been made, but this is just wrong. You know how far you can move before the "wall" even build? 7 tiles. That is enough to get out of range as a gunner (roughly the range of a Valiance shot). And not just that: If anything is chasing you with the same movement speed as you, you would have to be more than 7 tiles away before even attempting to run. If anything with less movement speed than you is chasing you, why even bother with a "barrier" - you can outrun it after all. If you are escaping zombies for example, their MS is so low, they might not even reach the "barrier" before it has already finished executing. If they jump into the "barrier" they are not knocked back enough, and still pass the barrier.
Ok, now let's say everything comes together and you are in a small room, with a lot of enemies and little chances to outrun them.
First problem would be where to make a barrier that keeps them from getting close - after all small rooms usually have enemies coming from all sides.
Second problem would be, how to make enough room for it to actually activate.
Last problem would be, why a two second breather would be better than a chance to get a bunch of hearts or a shield for a longer duration with easier execution, and a guaranteed effect.

If it should actually work as a barrier it would need to start sooner and have a far greater range than the sorry excuse we are given at the moment.

By the way "running around" does not count as "defending". For the duration of the command you can neither shield, nor attack, nor dash, nor bash which are all the things you'd do to protect you self.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 14:07

Thunder-Bolter

I Agree

I'm a fellow Seraphynx user, and I really think that Beam of Light isn't really worth using. If there were light orbs being fired, however, that would be awesome.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 17:44

Mad-Wolver

Agree

I agree, the Ray of Light is really pointless. It barely does any damage even when you do hit all and it barely ever hits because like you said, by the time you deploy the enemy is out of your way. I think that they should either:
A. Increase the length, like you said
B. Give all sprites auto aim, so you dont have to rotate until your in the right spot or stand completely still to face your enemy to get on target
C. Increase the width of the ray to it hits more enemies
D. This is a completely different skill I am suggesting in place for the ray of uselessness. Have light that comes 360 degree all around and push all enemies back at least 5 tiles. Since Seraphynx is supposed to be a defensive only sprite, this would seem to suit it better than the ray anyways. We can call it "Rush of Light" instead of ray and the animation could be something like the sprite charging up for like 1 second while it glows more and more overtime and finally a release of the energy in a circle around it, knocking all enemies back and doing very slight damage or causing a 1-3 second stun.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 17:53

#10

Khamsin

"If anything with less movement speed than you is chasing you, why even bother with a "barrier" - you can outrun it after all."

Unless, you know, you can't run away. Which is basically every serious encounter ever.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 22:12

#11

Shaderofshadows

I did kinda hate the Ray of

I did kinda hate the Ray of Light at first, but I guess I've made lemonade out of lemons. If there is a Gun Puppy (or another turret enemy), I might command my Seraphinx to attack the Gun Puppy while I try to focus on another enemy. Even if she (yes I call it a she) doesn't destroy it, it is still weakened a bit.

Mon, 09/16/2013 - 11:27

#12

Shamanalah

my 2 cents

I only use the Ray of Light against bosses to reduce their defence. Period.

And even then... Aura is better in most cases.

Tue, 09/17/2013 - 00:46

#13

Batabii

If you pick Disintegration Ray as your ultimate, it IS a support skill. Reducing enemy defense so your team can be more efficient.

really it's way better than Ray of Light ever was.

Tue, 09/17/2013 - 03:40

#14

Inferno-Forum

Derpuraptor Strikes Back

I facepalmed real hard when I saw this.
Seraphynx is supposed to be weak, if you want offensive bonuses get a Drakon or a Maskeraith. A Sera is a defensive sprite.

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Seraphynx - Ray of Light: Too short, too weak, too slow