71 point build thought experiment

[Shajin]

So, with the debates about level cap, and adding new skill points, as an experiment what would you build with 5 more soul points.

I see a lot of comments like, "five points doesn't seem like a lot but would totally unbalance things" and "with five more points I could build an unstoppable spec" (ya I don't remember citations for that).

So without saying if it is good or bad, what kind of builds can you make? Are there good 44/27 point deep combinations? 51/20 combos?

[Magipants]

Honestly, from the cursory glance I've given most trees thus far, there's nothing too game-breaking with only 5 points added. X% stat increase here, an extra CD there, etc... However, what the main problem is, in my opinion, that the trend would only continue. That is, the level cap would have to be raised again, and more points added. With more points comes an increased ability to reach clutch skills in not only one tree, but multiple trees.

[Pixel Monkey]

is this what you want?
http://oi41.tinypic.com/1266vyw.jpg

[Shajin]

Did someone glitch out their game to get more soul points to produce that crit? If so I am not sure how that's relevant.

I also couldn't find much to do with 5-10 points. I suppose if it continued beyond that they might have to rework the whole skill trees.

[lusciifi]

I would hope if they end up adding more skill points they would add a 56 point ability to every tree or rework the trees somehow. An expansion with no new abilities would be a bit boring.

Another option if people like the skill trees as they are, might be to add useful skills in the 3rd tier of PA or a new PA tree. I could see having new talents that you buy with PA but don't become active until you have x points spent in a soul. This would fit with the current system of being able to fill out all the PA's trees while limiting the abilities you have access to. Making sure you don't have pyro's with access to some massive chloro heal for instance.

[Araenn]

Some souls that already synergies well might not see a boost from direct talents but the scaling per point mechanics. Things like pyro and warlock for example.

It would give a boost to 51-pt pure souls, since 20 points is where you start to see the more potent abilities and spells for each soul ( mortality, dev shadows, soothing stream, etc) allowing pures the additional skills/flexibility (or additional passives) needed to make them more viable.

Personally I don't know about raiding, but I'd have a ton of fun with a 71 pt necrolock, SC/ele (solo) and an sc/pyro.

And realistically if they raised the level cap they'd add 6 to 7 more soul points because of the 1,1,2 pattern leveling 1-50

[Vyxagallanxchi]

5 levels added would be 7 points. 51 and 54 would both add 2 points.

[Alex113]

66pts to spend from 50lvls. I'd say they can just keep the points and add 10 more lvls while simply just increasing core stats.

[Remli]

They cannot worry about raising a level cap until they balance out the current content. That being said, even 5 more points would make significant differences in warrior tanking builds in pve and rogue NB/RS builds in pvp, among other things.

[Sumelar]

5 levels added would be 7 points. 51 and 54 would both add 2 points.

If they want to add 5 levels to keep the numbers nice and round, but only want to add 5 more points for balance sake, they will. Just because things work a certain way for part of the game doesn't mean they will for new stuff.

[ShazzamCrucia]

a 51point sin build with fell blades

[Shajin]

I just picked five because that is basically one skill or passive (for a lot of them).
An assassin with fell blades might be pretty interesting. Not sure if it would be totally overpowered, might be ok.

Some interesting ideas. I was assuming they didn't increase skill trees above 51, since that does introduce problems with soul point scaling builds. Just if you had five more to splash around in your secondaries. Would probably be pretty ridiculous for a 51nb/20rs. Those extra five in RS add a lot of functionality.

[Petgroup]

66 point builds aren't even close to being balanced. Rogue souls specifically will NEVER be balanced as long as.. If they raised the cap in the next 6 months it's for pure expansion profit$

[Kaliguwra]

Can't add another soul, add more points, or expand the current souls in anyway with the severe unbalance that they have right now.

Pretty much what Petgroup said.

[masakari81]

Any mage spec with spark comes to mind. Spark was placed high up in the tree to balance not all specs dipping into it.

Suddenly 51 wardens also have access to protect the flock.

My 51 cab can get clinging spirits too.

As they stand, a lot of builds often have the if-I-want-this-ability, I-need-to-sacrifice-this-ability feel. It makes for a lot of fun planning and missing just those 1 or 2 points. If I can start including all the key/nice skills in the build, the soul trees are going to lose a lot of their shine. The more points you add, the more homogenized the choices are going to be become.