Battlemages, not a suggestion.

[f0xx]

Also there's this other thing that can be done for them, which was done for berserkers - remove diminishing returns for AC for the class. They are the AC class after all.

[Mmm Coffee]

34 minutes ago, f0xx said:

Also there's this other thing that can be done for them, which was done for berserkers - remove diminishing returns for AC for the class. They are the AC class after all.

Dude, you're on fire with BMG change recommendations.  *thumbs up*

The BMG attrition game is something that shouldn't be overlooked though.  They're somewhat like paladins in this regard.  Difficult to kill, difficult to kill with.  The flip-side is having to maintain 733094 spells in order to maintain that "Difficult to kill" status.  That said, I propose the following modification of @f0xx suggestion:

A magical version of air shield that the BMG has to choose from.  Something akin to mana shield except it only grants the same damage reduction air shield does for physical.  Perhaps call it "Ether shield".  You couldn't have both Ether and Air shield up simultaneously.

Coat-tailing other suggestions where reflective field could be reverted back to its former glory, now a BMG could potentially reduce whatever damage type their opponent is using (which would make field tactics on both sides of the PK very interesting.  I imagine a lot of demon talisman macros and cancellation) as well as rust specific items to give them a better chance to use mals.  Changing nothing else, I think this would balance the class beautifully.  No change to terra shield, possibly adding weapon procs although I don't agree with it since a BMG can choose to wield a weapon that procs (mithril sword for example).

[Gaunticles]

Battlemage is my favorite class so I will put in some sugestions not based on balance but based on fun and what makes sense thematically.
 

Battlemages should have,
Enchant armor and weapons. *It fits them perfectly*
second attack *Invokers get second attack, right? How do they out melee a more melee orientated mage?*

Ability to craft golems that they can haste.

[Kyzarius]

oie can we do this without adding yet another pet class. 

[Gaunticles]

5 minutes ago, Kyzarius said:

oie can we do this without adding yet another pet class. 

They are not pets, they are murder machines with haste!

[Mmm Coffee]

Just now, Gaunticles said:

They are not pets, they are murder machines with haste!

That's what cabal choice is all about

[Gaunticles]

It's just a shame one of the unique spells battlemages get is mostly used to benefit others in groups. That being haste, sure you can haste your self to dodge better and gain a puny extra attack but it's nothing compared to hasted martial class.
Some cabal pets are perma hasted while others are unhasted with equal or greater attacks.

[Magick]

39 minutes ago, Gaunticles said:

second attack *Invokers get second attack, right? How do they out melee a more melee orientated mage?*

The simple answer is they don't.  Just because invokers get more held weapon attacks doesn't mean they out-melee battlemages.

Invokers get second attack and passive damage through fire/ice shield.  Up to three attacks per round.  And firestorm.  All while casting spells.
Invokers get parry.
Battlemages get one attack, two blades and dancing blade.  Four attacks per round with the ability of dancing blade having a chance to disarm or trip or hit 4-5 times consecutively.  And reflective shield.  All while casting spells.
Battlemages blades (if I remember right) parries, as does dancing blade.  Terra shield.  Blur.  Lots more defensive, too.

 

[Gaunticles]

I get what you're saying Magick but passive damage like fire/ice shield and blades are better than autoattack, they really shouldn't be compared with second attacks. 

Because Invokers and battlemages aren't stacking hitroll and dam. It's a token attack and I think battlemages should be on par with invokers for the sake of being a battlemage.

[Magick]

I've wondered that in the past, too.  But if I remember right, the argument was that it's because of the other passive attacks is the reason behind BMGs not getting second attack.

The only other class that doesn't (to my recollection, and only when holding a weapon) are monks.  Still, as you said, it's a token attack anyway.  So why would we need to give them second attack?

Of course, we've been around for a long longer and can now see some other points that could go either way.  Weapon procs, for example.  Two attacks effectively give twice the chance to proc.
Alright.  That's the only other one I can think of offhand.

So with some of the proposed changes, many awesome ones by Foxx, would this still be a viable option?  I'm still not convinced that this would help.  A token attack as a token gesture to help a class that people are saying is on the wrong side of the meta at the moment.

[Gaunticles]

39 minutes ago, Magick said:

The only other class that doesn't (to my recollection, and only when holding a weapon) are monks.  Still, as you said, it's a token attack anyway.  So why would we need to give them second attack?

Personally, I like to see many attacks. If you haste that's 4 possible attacks right? 4 token attacks = 1 legit attack?

[Zhurong]

Should just make rust a one time cast.

You cast rust on Blah.

Blah's armor continues to rust over the course of 10 hours.

Each tick gains +20 ac equalling a total of +200 ac until rust wears off.

 

[Magick]

1 hour ago, Zhurong said:

Blah's armor continues to rust over the course of 10 hours.

Each tick gains +20 ac equalling a total of +200 ac until rust wears off.

And laugh maniacally when you catch someone just as they cast reverse time.

[Fool_Hardy]

Yeah, get damned while your a savant.

Talk about hard choices.

[egreir]

I've played some pretty damn strong,  successful battlemges. I don't even practice rust lol 

[f0xx]

13 hours ago, egreir said:

I've played some pretty damn strong,  successful battlemges. I don't even practice rust lol 

That's exactly why it should be changed.

It's a spell available only to BMGs, making it a useless signature spell. We already have so many spells/skills that are available to many classes, we can't afford to have useless signature abilities. It makes classes lose their identity.

[mya]

On 06/09/2017 at 2:03 AM, Magick said:

And laugh maniacally when you catch someone just as they cast reverse time.

I have one word for you: Ectsasy.

[Magick]

50 minutes ago, mya said:

I have one word for you: Ectsasy.

I have been there before.  On the receiving end.  Against Messalantha.  Can't remember if there was a monologue attached or not.
Long story short: I died.  No surprise there.

[Unknown Criminal]

On time I accidently reverse timed a braindeath and forget, I was screwed for a little while... lol