Auras, Their Visibility and Possible Visuals

[Confuted]

When I first played Titan Quest my first mastery combination was Spirit and Nature. Using the Death Aura, I quickly learned how far my aura actually reached and how close I had to be so my wolves would have the advantage against the enemies now with -% bleed and damage resist.

I would like to request for a more "opaque" aura effect upon the player's character. When I ran around with the Death Aura for the first time, I really didn't feel like I had the power of death at my disposal...the aura was puny and transparent. Comparing to the undead mages I encountered throughout the TQ world, it was as though my character really wasn't the master of the Death Aura. Their cloud almost covered the half the room while mine only covered the relative range my character could swing a blade.

Continually I think it would be neat if an aura graphically did something to the creatures affected by it (that's if there's a skill similar to Death Aura). Sure in TQ the red splash on the creatures was a very visible indication that they were being affected by the Death Aura, but I would greatly like to see something more "graphic". All I can really ask for is a cloud that is larger in diameter and more opaque. A special effect that would be neat to see would be for the cloud to change to a different color around a creature inside the aura. (For example: the cloud is the same color or darker than Death Aura in TQ and as a creature steps in it, the cloud area around the creature fades to a more neon-ish blue/purple, maybe glows a little red).

Another idea that just came to mind would be that pets within the aura change slightly in appearance. For example: whenever a wolf is inside the Death Aura, the wolf appears to be undead...mottled fur, rotting leg, however an undead wolf would appear, then once it leaves the aura the wolf looks like it's alive again. (Prospectively, I don't think the wolves' appearance should be affected by another player's Death Aura if the wolves' controller doesn't know the Death Aura skill).

[yerkyerk]

Myeah, but what if you have 3-4 different aura's on? In TQ, I walked around with at least that many aura's all the time (Spirit had 3; Death Ward, Dark Covenant & Deathchill), I think it'd got a little confusing.

[Kluga]

Myeah, but what if you have 3-4 different aura's on? In TQ, I walked around with at least that many aura's all the time (Spirit had 3; Death Ward, Dark Covenant & Deathchill), I think it'd got a little confusing.

Agreed. Also, you mention things changing their appearance when in and out of the aura. It's a nice idea but might be a bit tough to implement and might also slow performance

[ExNomenDei]

Adding a good effect to indicate enemies or allies get hurt/helped by the aura is indeed important. However, considering the good sound and visual effects the devs added to TQ, I've no doubt they'll do well here: I play Dream a lot and you can really feel Trance of Wrath hitting the enemies, you know exactly when it happens. I would also like to see lines run from the player to all nearby enemies to hit them, real energy lines to suck energy or to do damage or something.

All that, though, depends on what classes and abilities we're going to see in GD.

[Dejnov]

Hi guys,

Actually I'd like to add my two cents to the discussion about auras and in game effects. Personally, I'd like to see a reduction in game spell effects, especially for auras. I find that effects that reduce my visibility tend to limit what I can see and how I target monsters.

For titanquest, squall was the worst offender. The in-game effect made me loathe casting it. Every time you cast squall it makes it a pain in the ass to target melee monsters and make decent storm melee fighters.

Please limit these effects. I don't really need to worry too much about where my aura is, so long as I can see the bad guy to click on them.


Dejnov.

[yerkyerk]

I wouldn't mind a clear border though; that'd be a good thing. A very transparant circle with an (almost) non-transparant edge would do.