Scoundrel's Flickerveil

[Scowndrul]

Hello everyone! Please keep in mind while reading this idea to evaluate based on the concept and not on the numbers. Numbers can always be tweaked. Feedback is always welcome!

Pickled Brain
(900)
+

Mystic Vestments
(400)
+
Recipe
(1000)
=

Scoundrel's Flickerveil
(2300)

Bonuses:
+5 magic armor (Does not stack with other magic armor bonuses)
+300 mana
Flicker (active)

Flicker - On use, applies a buff to self that grants invisibility for 1.3 seconds which is not broken by casting spells or using items, then the user becomes visible for 0.7 seconds. This effect occurs 5 times for a total of 10 seconds, even if the user is stunned, silenced, hexed, feared, disarmed, silent, or otherwise disabled. Does not grant unitwalking.

Role:
This item is intended primarily for support casters, allowing them to manuevre around the battlefield without being instantly killed by targetable magic and physical attacks. They are able to operate somewhat efficiently as they are able to carry on their usual role of casting support magic and using support items while maintaining some form of cover, along with having a nominal boost to mana and magic armor. It is also useful for luring enemy point nukes as they will have an idea where the target is, but will not always know for certain. During a fight, the user will have a presence without being torn to pieces instantly.

What it ISN'T for:
Scoundrel's Flickerveil is not for a physical carry, as the invisibility is dispelled on regular attacks, it provides no bonus to damage while using an item slot, and the target is still able to be tracked somewhat so it is not greatly useful as an escape mechanism in a scenario where a chase can happen. Since a tank will also likely have a Shaman's Headress in a heavy magic environment, this item will also not be the best for a sturdier hero, as AoE spells will still hit the target quite easily.

Overview:
This item provides survivability even after being focused
-Can't be physically hit very often
-Point-cast spells are difficult to land
-Applies invisibility even while disabled
This item allows presence to be felt even while remaining protected
-Can cast spells and use items without breaking invisibility
This item is affordable for support, but not abuseable by heavy dps.
-Attacking causes the invisibility to dispel

Change Log:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2-20-11)
Adjusted prices for recent patch

[Woopdeedoo]

Interesting concept. The buildup you propose might make it a bit overpowered in some cases, because Mystic Vestments are great on practically everything in most games. Though I really would like to see them used in more items.

The active effect might work well in theory, but I'm not so sure it would interact with the game engine so well. Ranged attacks and a lot of skills fail if they connect with a target that became invisible while they were in flight. I honestly have no idea how annoying this might be.

Not voting either 'yes' or 'no' since I'm honestly not convinced either way.

[Scowndrul]

Part of the entire concept of this item is to increase survivability DURING a fight. Part of the benefit of this item would be the ability to not be hit with as many (or any in the situation you presented) physical attacks. The idea behind the flicker is that the user is not invincible or untargetable. It is not an initiation and it is not an escape. It simply makes them a more difficult target to take down, as they are much, much harder to hit. It creates a buffer in which they sort of fade in and out disrupting the damage stream, and possibly causing the enemy to switch to an easier target, allowing the player to survive.

Also, just as an Assassin's shroud is annoying and requires dust and counter-play against it, popping dust would render this item useless for the fight. It provokes the enemy to buy items such as dust and wards, while giving survivability for those who need it when this counter-play is not done.

I see this item potentially on heroes like Wretched Hag, Vindicator, Demented Shaman, Jereziah, Soul Reaper, and other heroes who have a powerful spell-casting presence without needing to attack often. Heroes this item would not be good on are those that require a large amount of physical attacks, or wish to draw fire.

Heroes this item would NOT be good on include Magebane, Chronos, Legionaire, Pestilence, and others that rely on getting or delivering a hit.

If the buildup is a bit too powerful, the recipe cost can always be increased, or additional componants added that benefit support casters (as this item is primarily for them).

[Scowndrul]

Kinda funny comment: I was talking to my brother about this item and said, "Even though it will probably never get implemented, and even though every person on the same team wouldn't get it if it DID get implemented, imagine how funny it would be to see 5 of these bad boys activated at once." He responded, "It would be like Whack-a-mole!"

Made my day.

[Scowndrul]

Please remember to leave feedback in regards to your vote! Thank you!

[[WGG]cmageeLoL]

I like the idea of this. Most of the time the spell casters are erased from existence before they have a chance to even be helpful. Vote =Yes

[VitaTimH]

I like the idea, but I think it would ultimately make the game worse. Remember how fun the game was when Phase Boots (ghost marchers) gave +7 armor. Hard-to-kill supports do NOT make the game funner. Null-vote.

[Scowndrul]

Just to try and sway you to my side, the invisibility is a lot cheaper to counter than +7 armor is. All it take is 90-100 gold, and the effect is negated entirely. It just takes a bit of counter-play and coordination on the enemy team's behalf. In order to get rid of that 7 armor, it would take something like a Shieldbreaker or Daemonic Breastplate which are both in upwards of 3,000.

In addition, the boots were good on all heroes, giving them damage and armor, netting survivability for any hero that wanted to use them. The Flickerveil is limited to be most useful on support heroes through its mechanics.

[VitaTimH]

Well, back then most carries stuck with Steamboots (they got nerfed by 10% attack speed between then and now) or Post Haste so pretty much only supports got Ghost Marchers, so that was the main problem.

The issue I have isn't the fact that this item is broken (it's actually fairly balanced imo), it'll just make the game an absolute ***** to play when all supports start picking this up. Imagine if supports start juking with this item. Whenever you lose someone in fog you'll pretty much have to blow a just ON THE OFF CHANCE that they went invis and ran out in the open and are not still just chilling in the trees. So again, I like the item in THEORY, but I do not EVER want to see it in the game.

[Scowndrul]

You are always entitled to your opinion, as is everyone, but as the creator of this item I have to try and sell the idea to as many people as I possibly can; so I have to keep posting to try and sway you haha.

Assassin's Shroud is 1000 gold more, provides damage, lengthy invisibility, and a burst effect for initiating with it. It makes juking and escaping very simple.

The Flickerveil on the other hand, is littered with bursts of periodic visibility, and adds only slightly to the ability to juke. The idea behind the flicker is that you can't use this item to escape or initiated, only to survive. Granted, it isn't impossible to do the other two, but an enemy following closely behind someone with a flickerveil (say Moraxus for example) will not have a hard time taking them down. The slow is too great, and the invisibility simply does not last long enough for them to hide.

The main purpose is to deter some attack damage, and possibly some point-cast magic. AoE will not be much more difficult to land. The Flickerveil does not provide speed like Assassin's Shroud does either. So, as I see what you are saying, I think that this item's use is limited to during a fight.

[MimicU]

T up. I will also add it gives no movespeex, correct? Thus making it even less usable for escape. This item is just awesomely unique and good in theory. However, the items don't match it I feel. The mana maybe, but magic armor? Still love the concept

[Scowndrul]

Correct, it does not give movement speed.

[Dumi420]

may i suggest changing the recipe to be something like the +6 agi item and the +6 int item? making vestments as part of a support survival item seems... very strong lol

same logic in making tablet of command not use major totem any more

[Scowndrul]

Bump

[[EWGH]Drognok]

I've already voted this idea up a long time ago, but i just want to re-iterate that it is one of my favorite item suggestions to come across this forum. I love everything about it, down to the name.

[Scowndrul]

Glad to hear it Drognok, but it needs to get votes if it wants to make it to popular and have any legitimate consideration. If you have any friends, tell them to up-vote it!

[[SOE]BiggDogg]

The active lasting 10 seconds is OP. For 2300 a caster can last 10 seconds in and out of invisibility, spamming casts.

[[EWGH]Drognok]

For god's sake people stop commenting on the numbers. You're sposed to analyze the concept.

[Scowndrul]

Bump to push for "popular".

[[WGG]MadnessHero]

Nice idea. Entire teams of this would be hilarious.