![Newbie Guide](https://i.imgur.com/Uy7hIlu.png")
Post by Raditz Dragon Ball on Jan 19, 2024 22:23:49 GMT -5
PATCH 8.0
Hey Sparking! After a long stretch of silence, the staff team is proud to present a brand-new patch! We're adding the promised Destron Machine, clarifying a few things, touching up Buddy Builds, and MORE!
1: NEW SUPER ITEM - DESTRON MACHINE
As teased in our Christmas Event Update, a new Super Items comes to Sparking! This time its the Destron Machine, a fan favorite and bigger brother to the destron capsule item. Investing in it and landing a stray hit will lead to immense debuffs for your unlucky enemy... here's the description!
You'll find it available for purchase in the XP store... NOW!
2: INCAPACITATION CLARIFICATION
Essentially the forum equivalent to a house rule in D&D, incapacitation has existed as a murky, accepted outcome of an attack in DEs/ATs in the site's history. Those that wish to mechanically remove a target from combat with an attack without outright knocking them out. We're adding incapacitation "INCAP" to the official rules alongside listings for KO/WOUND/KILL to the COMBAT RULES page.
3. BUDDY CHANGES PART II
While Buddy Builds are still struggling to find their proper footing in most environments, they had access to grossly overpowered combinations that outpaced anything solo characters could offer. The following nerfs will be applied:
One important clarification! Quake had a weird interaction with Buddy Builds, since Quake+ ignores targets on a player by player basis while Quake itself would hit ALL Buddies. Additionally, the way tech slots are gained is being tweaked.
However, in order to compensate for these nerfs/fixes and to provide Buddy Builds with some QoL to keep up, we're adding a few more changes!
4. MECHANIZATION & GHOSTING
A popular request, the ability to cheat death prematurely has been added to Sparking! Characters will be able to sacrifice a portion of their power in order to become a GHOST or CYBORG instead of waiting a revival timer out. You can find more information on the dedicated page, here.
5. CHARACTER ARCHIVE REVERSAL
Yes, you read that correctly. We're now offering a supervised, limited system to undo archives on your characters! Until February 19, 2024 there will be NO CAP on the post count or deletion status of the previous profile and/or character. You can read more about this in-depth on the dedicated page, here.
6. SEVENTH CHARACTER SLOT
Exactly as it says on the tin! This will be the FINAL EXPANSION to our character slots. No eighth, no infinity. Go wild!
A compact machine that you can fasten onto your arm, back, or wherever else. It takes in oxygen and corrupts it into vile Destron Gas that saps away at a foe's stamina when breathed in. 1/Thread, you may add the unique 'Destron' variant to a standard offensive technique. DESTRON: If the technique deals at least 10% damage, the user is afflicted by POISONED, additionally taking 5% HP damage at the end of every turn for four turns.
You'll find it available for purchase in the XP store... NOW!
2: INCAPACITATION CLARIFICATION
Essentially the forum equivalent to a house rule in D&D, incapacitation has existed as a murky, accepted outcome of an attack in DEs/ATs in the site's history. Those that wish to mechanically remove a target from combat with an attack without outright knocking them out. We're adding incapacitation "INCAP" to the official rules alongside listings for KO/WOUND/KILL to the COMBAT RULES page.
3. BUDDY CHANGES PART II
While Buddy Builds are still struggling to find their proper footing in most environments, they had access to grossly overpowered combinations that outpaced anything solo characters could offer. The following nerfs will be applied:
- The Gang Up trait does not trigger on damage from fellow Buddies, but still works with outside allies.
- Cash Money, Favorable Contracts, Wealthy, & Aftermarket Contacts can no longer be taken on a single Buddy. If you'd like to use one of these traits, EVERY Buddy must also take it in the same slot.
- Any trait that provides free variants or Sparking variants will still work, but Buddies will be entirely unable to MERGE the technique with their fellow Buddies AND outside allies.
- Buddies with Evasive-boosting traits will get to keep them, but the boost will not carry over to other Buddies even with the 'Battle Buddy' trait. The Buddy may still make use of the Bansho Fan super item to grant others their boosted Evasives.
- Underdog & Survivalist will now calculate based on the TOTAL of ALL Buddy PL instead of the individual Buddy.
- Buddy Builds may only defend against each unique instance of damage with a single Shield Variant instead of being able to stack Shield.
One important clarification! Quake had a weird interaction with Buddy Builds, since Quake+ ignores targets on a player by player basis while Quake itself would hit ALL Buddies. Additionally, the way tech slots are gained is being tweaked.
- Quake damage will now ONLY target the 'Main' account of a Buddy Build.
- Each Buddy now gains their own Technique Slot based on the total PL of the Buddy Build. Battle Buddy has been adjusted to still allow for unique shared techniques: "Technique slots are now shared across all Buddies instead of each individual Buddy gaining slots, and all Buddies have access to other Buddy techniques."
However, in order to compensate for these nerfs/fixes and to provide Buddy Builds with some QoL to keep up, we're adding a few more changes!
- Buddies are allowed to freely intercept attacks without using KP. Their fellow buddies may still protect them, which leads into...
- The FREE DISTANCED granted specifically by Buddy rules can be used to assist a Buddy's defense, even if they intercept for you directly! This works a bit different from vanilla Distanced.
- Buddies will now gain Sparking Techniques at the SAME RATE as the 'Main' character.
4. MECHANIZATION & GHOSTING
A popular request, the ability to cheat death prematurely has been added to Sparking! Characters will be able to sacrifice a portion of their power in order to become a GHOST or CYBORG instead of waiting a revival timer out. You can find more information on the dedicated page, here.
5. CHARACTER ARCHIVE REVERSAL
Yes, you read that correctly. We're now offering a supervised, limited system to undo archives on your characters! Until February 19, 2024 there will be NO CAP on the post count or deletion status of the previous profile and/or character. You can read more about this in-depth on the dedicated page, here.
6. SEVENTH CHARACTER SLOT
Exactly as it says on the tin! This will be the FINAL EXPANSION to our character slots. No eighth, no infinity. Go wild!
