[0.915 Balance Issue] I don't think +XP% Skills should affect Paragon.

from Elemental Forums

Paragon says it increases the champion's level by 1.  I think it would be better if it always just levelled the champion up once.  It doesn't say in the description that it "increases the champion's level by 1 plus bonuses for all the +XP% skills".  Besides, using the bonus Exp skills makes Paragon totally broken, if champions can get to ridiculous levels like 100.

So I suggest Paragon always levels up champions one level, no more, no less.  Since the problem arises because XP is given rather than level increased, maybe a calculation could be done of how much total XP it would take to get to the very start of the next level and then "setting" the XP to that level, rather than adding XP to get to the next level, which is then affected by +XP% skills.

Anyway, the important thing is that levelling multiple times each Paragon cast is totally broken, so however it's done, there needs to be a way to always limit it to one level-up only each cast.

3,676 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I like it the way it is.  Too busy shamelessly exploiting it to think about balance.  But then, strong heroes are the reason why I like to play this genre, and Paragon is how you get them.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Of course, this is made worse by the fact that it doesn't reduce the sovreign's HP like it says it does.  To me, it seems that if they let the xp scalars apply, then the cost should go up to at least 250 mana or so like the other champion-boosting spells - with henchman bard/trainers, trainer champs, and a General sov, I've been able to acheive 4 levels/casting with this (and with the upcoming upgradeable shard shrines + arcane monoliths + master scouts, even that mana limitation might not be enough).

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Just because you like it the way it is doesn't mean that it isn't totally imbalanced. ;-)

You don't need Paragon for strong heroes.  In all my games I've only used Paragon a few times, and in every game that's lasted a while I had strong heroes.

Let's define "strong heroes".  I think a strong hero is L20+ or even lower if you have an Assassin with Double Strike, Charge, and Sweep, you think a strong hero is up to L100+.  The fact is that you can get strong heroes in most (if not all) games, NEVER using Paragon.  FACT.  Multiple level ups for -5HP for Sovereign, totally imbalanced.  FACT.

That is the cold hard reality.  I bet you didn't like it when champion XP was split either.   But it is necessary to tone done Paragon, especially since it says something like "+1 Level" not "+1 Level plus XP% bonuses".

Alternatively, we could always make the Sov loses 5HP every level gained by a Champion using Paragon XP.  Would you prefer that?  The -5HP for Sov is meant to be per level, not per cast.  So I think you can have one or the other - 1 Level Up per Paragon, or -5HP for Sov per Level Up caused by Paragon, down to the minimum where Paragon can't be cast.

If Paragon doesn't reduce Sov HP, that's a bug.  I'll report it.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I've never cast this myself, but my Sov is Ironeer & with the adventurers lvl choice and a lvl or two I could field a lvl 8-9ish hero, if I'm understanding this correctly this would be a nice start

honestly I'm not sure which way to lean on this as this is sorta balanced some considering one can a get free hero hiring (trait) & a tech that allows for higher lvl heroes right out tha gate