Solborn [Unique +pic]

[hemp_co]

Solborn, the Lightmancer

http://www.guildwars.com/images/3drenderings/gw-monk1-large.jpg

http://www.playdota.com/img/site/strength.jpghttp://www.playdota.com/img/site/agility.jpghttp://www.playdota.com/img/site/intelligence-c.jpg
23+1.9 | 16+1.6 | 22+2.7
Movement Speed: 295
Attack Range: 550
Base Attack Damage: 42-57


Deflector
http://www.guildwars.com/images/professions/skillicons/monk/shieldofjudgment.jpg

Sets up a deflection mirror at target location. Deflector has an infinite lifetime and will die in 3 hits (creeps will not attack). Costs 120/105/90/75 mana at, and has a cooldown of 40/30/20/10 seconds. Has a sight range of 650, will be affected by Beacon of Sol, has invisibility but will be revealed by anyone walking within 200 range of it (like a sight ward) or anybody with invisibility detection (also like wards). You may have up to 1/1/2/2 deflectors at any one time. Each time Light Beam bounces off a deflector, the resulting (reflected) beam has 200 less range than the previous incantation.

Synergy spell. Can be used as a ward early on, and later provides as a mechanic for the second spell. Deflectors themselves have individual abilities, hotkeyed to Q and W, to turn them horizontally or vertically respectively.

Light Beam
http://www.guildwars.com/images/professions/skillicons/monk/banish.jpg

Solborn channels a beam of conccentrated light towards the target location. Deals 33/66/100/133 magic damage per second to anyone inside the beam. Spell is channeled, cancelable, and lasts for 1.5/2.5/3.5/4.5 seconds. If cast on a deflector, the light beam will bounce off it, or bounce to the nearest deflector in range if possible. Costs 40/45/50/55 mana per second. Cooldown of 5/9/13/17 seconds.

Main (only) damage spell. Varying damage (maximum 99 at level 1, 600 at level 4). Has a low width (100-150, around the size of a hero). This spell bounces off the deflector when cast on it, it bounces at a angle of reflection equal to the angle of incidence (the angle between the beam and the mirror). When cast on a mirror, if there is another mirror in range of the first mirror (including the range penalty) it will automatically travel to the second mirror and then bounce normally form that. Obviously the damage is quite high, but this is because the spell is easily dodgeable, and will often only damage enemy heroes for a second or two.


Beacon of Sol
http://www.guildwars.com/images/professions/skillicons/monk/scourgehealing.jpg

Solborn bends the light around him and his allies, increasing the line of sight of any allies in a 550 radius (along with Solborn himself) by 150/200/250/300 for 10/15/20/25 seconds. Costs 140 mana. 20 second cooldown at all levels.

Solborn's support spell. Synergizes with his other abilities to make him a powerful ganker effective at supporting his allies. Scales well into end-game. Medium mana cost, decent cooldown. Can be kept up constantly if wanted.

Blink
http://www.guildwars.com/images/professions/skillicons/monk/judgesintervention.jpg
Accelerating himself to the speed of light, Solborn warps himself through space and time. Teleports to a maximum of 400/700/1100 range, and leaves an image of himself where the spell was cast for 1/2/3 seconds. Image takes 300% damage and deals 0% damage, and continues whatever animation Solborn was doing at the time. Has a cooldown of 35/25/15 seconds, costs 160/200/240 mana. If cast on a deflector, will create images alongside each deflector in range and will teleport to the deflector cast on, along with the image left behind.

Basically an escape mechanism, but can be utilized in team fights or ganking. Unlocks right around the ganking stage of the game, giving him a necessary escape but with a low range at first. Scales well, increasing in effectivity throughout the game. This spell can work well with his first two as you can set up a deflector, then (at max level) teleport BEHIND the enemy, and fire a laser which bounces giving two large streams of heavy damage to the enemy, while they all think you're standing there for a few seconds until they realize its an illusion.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7978/solbornmirrorexample.png


Useful Items
http://i38.tinypic.com/nnml3n.jpghttp://i38.tinypic.com/5n51zp.jpghttp://i33.tinypic.com/2vxhv9f.jpghttp://i35.tinypic.com/172r06.jpghttp://i37.tinypic.com/f4fbdl.jpghttp://i35.tinypic.com/1iogwj.jpghttp://i33.tinypic.com/hufwk7.jpghttp://i36.tinypic.com/2hydr0o.jpg

Item Notes: I think this is one of the few heroes who could effectively use Harkon's Blade. He has higher than average strength gain (the same or even higher than puppet master's) making the lack of strength on Harkon's Blade manageable. Obviously all item builds are situationally specific so there's no clear way to make an item build I feel.

Alternative Skills
Prism
Places a prism at target location. When Light Beam is cast on the prism, he damage is spread into a 100/200/300/400 AoE around the prism.

__________________________________________________ _______________

I will/can post up more alternate spells in the coming weeks as I have a lot of ideas and I would love to see Solborn enter the game.

Please, post your suggestions for balance, changes, mechanics, etc or any questions you might have! I will answer all questions posted and try to reply to every suggestion or comment.

I think right now this hero has a good base but he needs YOUR help to polish him into the kind of quality hero that makes it into a game like Heroes of Newerth.

Thanks! PLEASE COMMENT :)

____________________________________________

Update Notes
-change (credit)

v1.0
-original release
v1.1
-changed attribute icons (War_Mech)
-balanced first skill based on suggestions (DestroTheGod)
v1.2
-updated mana costs, cooldowns, durations for all spells
-updated ultimate with new ability (yyr_)
-increased ultimate's level 3 range to meet range of light beam
-updated deflector to allow multiple deflector (check mechanics descrip)
-reworked base stats/stat gain (not sure why agi was highest LOL) (Anaklu)
v1.3
-added picture

[GrizmoBlust]

OP. :p

Looks very nice but it needs more lasers! pew pew pew

[Samo]

This is actually pretty decent, compared to the oh so many hero suggestions I've read and went *facepalm* afterwards. I vote YES.

[Destro]

ZGreat hero idea and I really do like it.

However, right now I think this hero would be underpowered. He gets absolutely 0 help from items in his skills for damage so he needs a strong early game to make up for this. The scaling of his skills are good for getting into mid game.

Using reflections in conjunction with the Light Beam is a skill. I very much look at this like I do at Devourer's hook.

First my ideas for changes.

Skill 1 - Deflector: The cd is too high for such a skill considering how easy this is to destroy. I think 40/30/20/10 would be better. OR, if you want the CD to remain about where it is, then there are 3 things I want done. Make it invisible, so it isn't destroyed as fast, give it low vision range, and it make it visible like a scout's eye (enemy gets close and then can see it).

Again, my reasons for this is because the Deflector is a skill shot. You have to aim light beam at it and get it to reflect. Having something that is hard to have up as well as hard to get a good shot out of seems a bit excessive.

Skill 2 - Interesting skill. The fact that you can bend it with the Deflector's makes it more cool. I really think this skill could be juiced up just a little bit.

Make this spell emit a beam in whatever direction you aim at. So you press "w" and then the spell casts and a beam goes to wherever you aim your mouse. The spell would have a mana upkeep of course. (I picture tort's ultimate in terms of an activation cost and mana upkeep.) :O

Skill 3 - I like this because it can make a good Dark Lady ult counter. I think that it should last for 25 seconds at all levels. You can refresh if you want (like ghost marchers), but it will cost 140 mana to do so :P

Also, adding the constant 25 seconds at all levels would give you a bit more utility if you decide to go for a skill build of 2 3 2 3 2 4 2 3 3 1. Right now though, I would probably never go 2 3 2 3 2 and would always go 2 1 2 1 2. :D

skill 4 - I would have to see this in action to judge because I can't accurately visualize how this skill might play out if used by a PRO at this hero. :P

Anyways, please only take my ideas with a grain of salt. They are just my way of thinking of things and you might not like them which is fine :D Well done in all regards. Cool pics and spell ideas in general!

Question: what happens if you create a lasor like set up with light beam and 2 deflectors? Can you instant kill people? Maybe the announcer would say "FRIED" :P

[NOSAKIAS]

This could be good, I support.
Hey no poll?

[War_Mech]

Great ideas, but I don't think you mentioned the sight range on a deflector and if you can only have 1 (If think you can only have 1 anyway, since the alternate involves more).

I think blink should have a little longer of a cool down at max level, 15 seconds seems a little too short, maybe keep it at 35 throughout, or just down to 25.

And I was wondering if beacon of sol would affect wards and deflectors, if so it would be interesting.

Oh and at first I thought he was an agility, since it has the agility icon with the blue glow, signaling that he has agility as his primary attribute. That scared me, might wanna go get the int icon from dota.

Great concept! I would vote yes, but no pole! I'll check for one, I assume you will make one.

[yyr_]

First spell is very underpowered, so relies on synergy to make up for it.

Second spell, because this pretty much sucks without the use of a shield (150 damage is probably all your going to get on each hero) and as your second skill relies on its synergy to make up for it being underpowered this skill needs fat buff. I think when a deflector is hit, it fires out a "new" beam of 1100 yards, so it affectively recasts your spell at the correct angle. This can than hit another reflector to make a sexy laser pattern. Also laser and deflectors should be invisible like scouts eyes, but larger radius maybe 300. As they can be hard to see from a distance (remember 600 is bow range). This means you can create a pattern in the ground that cause 150 damage each time they walk through it, which can bounce. eg

And anyone that walks through any line takes 150 dmagae. This would be really cool in teamfights. And this would allow deflectors to have lower hp.

Also if you made the channel have no c/d or duration, but have a mana cost per second as it takes his energy to create the beam, when he is at his peak (full mana) he should be able to maintain it for ages.

Third: not a big fan of sight skills tbh

Ulti: I think you should further promote synergy with your Deflectors as they are such an epic idea. something like.

You target a delfector, and a flash of light goes off, and your hero blinks to the one you targeted. But this spell also makes a copy of you at each other deflector within X yards to confuse your opponents, and the copies are "reflections" so they deal no damage but dont take any addiotional damage. (0%/100%). This means if you set up a defensive perimeter with lazor's everywhere due to your first two skills it gives good AoE damage to your team, and when you utli you could be at any of deflectors in a radius. I think that would make this skill amazing for teamfights and escape mech

Also you would have to add like a deflector cap.

Anyway love the idea t-up from me for sure. Esp if you add the laser path making =)

[yyr_]

you dont have a poll

[volcan33]

remembers ezalor

[dandylion]

Skill 1: You call it a deflector, I'm just not sure what it does (besides be a target for other abilities, which sounds like kind of a cheesy forced synergy).

Skill 2: Does this skill deal damage for the entire duration? Or does it burst after the cast time finishes like with Ezalor from DotA? I like the ability, just need some clarification.

Skill 3: While this is a really useful spell, I can't help but feel like a slot is being wasted. I would say passively make it a global effect of all allied heroes (like Glacius' mana regen) and reduce it slightly, and then give it an active ability that's way more epic or better scaling.

Ultimate: Doesn't really feel like an ultimate, as so many other heroes have a blink ability on a much lower cooldown, without the image. Again, I think something way more interesting could be done here!

I think you're on the right track, but I'm going to refrain from voting for the time being, because I want to see this develop a little more! I feel like you have a great start, but it just feels a bit unpolished. If you're looking for suggestions, I'd be more than happy to dream some up and help you out!

Edit: I also, the entire time I was reading, did not realize that his primary attribute was Agility. The entire time I was reading, I felt he seemed much more like an Intelligence hero.

[NOSAKIAS]

Casted vote.

[Izual]

I actually could see this hero being able to place multiple deflectors and have the light from skill 2 bounce off them all and get a hat-trick! But oh the pipe-dreams :)

Serious now, I would like to see the 3rd and 4th skills have a more direct Synergy with the deflector as it does seem a little useless besides being a mana ward. Especially since the 2nd skill is channeled so a deflector could easily be killed and the effect gone to waste.

Otherwise, very unique and brilliant!

[hemp_co]

Okay guys I threw up a quick update (basically rebalance of the Deflector). Thanks for the help, much appreciated.

Right now I'm trying to finish up the second spell, along with how it interacts with the first spell. Here's a couple of ideas so far:

-lower the damage of the 2nd spell, and change the cooldown to 2x the duration of the channel. so if the player channels the spell for 4 seconds there is a cooldown of 8 seconds. but this spell is easily dodgeable i feel (unless you get stunned :)) so I don't want to lower the damage much, so maybe a cooldown of 3x the channel time.

- @_yrr I like your suggestion for the ultimate. it promotes synergy and makes it a little stronger yet a little harder to use than just a straight blink. i am considering this. basically my only issue with it is it seem more balanced for late game team fights as an ulti, whereas I feel his other spells promote the ganking aspect of the game. though that being said, it would give him viability late game.

- I would love to buff the number of Deflectors that can be placed down (currently max at 1), but first I need to finalize the mechanics for the beam bouncing. here are some possible mechanics i've been thinking about:
- bounces at a 45' angle. a little elementary, but easier to program than a direct angle/bounce calculation. also deals with any issue of which way the deflector is facing.
- the deflector has its own set of skills, with no cooldown/mana cost, which change the direction it is facing (ie Q is left, W up, E right, R down) and then the beam cast would simply bounce off the surface at the logical angle. for example if the player shot a beam at a deflector with a 30' angle of incidence (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Reflection_angles.svg/170px-Reflection_angles.svg.png theta i is the angle of incidence) then it would bounce with a 30' angle of reflection (theta r in the photo).
- or a simplified version of the last one, having just two skills, one for placing it vertically the other for horizontally. with this version you could deflect off either side of the mirror. (this is my preferred choice as of posting this)


please keep posting your ideas/comments, i really appreciate the response and I hope you love this hero as much as i do

I will try to post an update daily!

EDIT: oh and just to clarify a couple things, YES he is INT! :P also this would not work like Ezalor's spell (I've never played the hero but from what I can tell he charges up his spell and then casts it). the way the Light Beam would work would be a small casting time (along the lines of lion's stun or hex, so fairly but not quite instant) and the beam channels (as in stays alive) while he is channeling. If he stops, it stops, and the damage is constant throughout.

[ImpBloody]

perhaps rather then making the ultimate leave behind an image, it sends a blinding light pushing back all units and blinding all enemy units causing a 55% miss =P.

[dandylion]

perhaps rather then making the ultimate leave behind an image, it sends a blinding light pushing back all units and blinding all enemy units causing a 55% miss =P.

Totally love this idea!

Glad you clarified that he is actually INT and that the spell does damage while it's being channeled, and not released at once at the end. I think that makes the possible synergy with deflector all that much better. You keep channeling and someone tries to juke it, all you do is flip it to where they're going :)

[hemp_co]

I got another update ready, I'll post it when I get home. Anthropology class is really good for working on heroes. :P

[Anaklu]

This is the first hero concept that truly impresses me -it doesnt just sound EPIC like most others i've read. he seems like he would be a truly fun hero to play once balanced (or not, rock vs scissors :D) and would require a lot more planning and strategy for successful play than pretty much any other hero.

comments:
his highest stat gain has to be his main category. why does he start with and gain more str than int? :p

how would you determine the angle the deflectors would deflect your light beam?

[hemp_co]

updated.... plz check it out!!
love to hear more comments/suggestions

[hemp_co]

bumped

[hemp_co]

to the top....

plz post suggestions for the ultimate

[SykoAzn]

I think Light beam needs a small movement speed reduction in it as well. It can then be utilized kind of like engineer's ult so you can trap people inside so they cant easily walk out under 1 second. maybe about 10,15,20,25% speed reduction? That might be a little OP so maybe if you want it constant idk what percentage it should be. It is in fact his main skill early game so it's best to give him some sort of defense other than blink.

[Cjimmortal]

Very awesome hero ide. I love the deflectors!

[pr4wn3r]

i like it, maybe give his illus some dmg...just like normal illus

[Capwned]

One of the best hero ideas I've read. Balanced and complex makes the hero seem interesting to play and not stupidly op like some of the other hero ideas.

[hemp_co]

i appreciate the feedback guys, thank you!


I think Light beam needs a small movement speed reduction in it as well. It can then be utilized kind of like engineer's ult so you can trap people inside so they cant easily walk out under 1 second. maybe about 10,15,20,25% speed reduction? That might be a little OP so maybe if you want it constant idk what percentage it should be. It is in fact his main skill early game so it's best to give him some sort of defense other than blink.

i think you are right here, tho I don't want to add a slow directly in with the beam's effects (I don't like the idea of him slowing/nuking an entire team)

i'll think about it and post an update up soon!

[Archers_bane]

Ultimate sounds boring. I'd rather just go blink with him or even shroud. Then the ultimate is pretty useless.

I like the concept of the bouncing lasers and stuff though. Seems like people would have fun playing this :)