Cantha Elite Specialization - The Shadow Thief

[Hollow.5382]

The Shadow Thief is a support elite specialization that uses shadow magic and its own Living Shadow to heal, buff, and mitigate damage for allies.

The main feature of the Shadow Thief specialization is the Living Shadow. The Living Shadow is a permanent/semi-permanent minion-type creature that follows the Shadow Thief wherever they go. The Living Shadow looks like the Shadow Thief, cloaked in darkness. The Living Shadow functions as an extension of the Shadow Thief, allowing the Shadow Thief to safely support from range. The Living Shadow is sturdy, but it can be destroyed, at which point it will dissipate for a period until it can reform itself; this is when the Shadow Thief is the most vulnerable.

The Living Shadow itself does minor/average damage. It can Shadowstep to enemies on a fairly low cooldown. Otherwise, it auto-attacks unless augmented with Steal Shadow (more below) or directed with utility abilities.

The price for breathing life into their Living Shadow is the Shadow Thief must sacrifice a portion of their own vitality. (-xxx vitality to the Shadow Thief)

Steal:Steal is replaced with Steal Shadow. Steal Shadow generates a set of stolen skills unique to the Shadow Thief that augments the Living Shadow and buffs allies in the Living Shadow's radius. When a stolen skill is used, the Living Shadow will temporarily be granted stats and a few abilities—abilities similar to the creature the skill was stolen from—that the Living Shadow can use autonomously. Allies near the Living Shadow periodically receive buffs while the Living Shadow is augmented in this way.

Weapon:Scepter or Shield(staff would have been ideal but daredevil)This weapon would be tailored towards supporting allies and preserving the life of the fragile Shadow Thief.

Utilities Ideas:

• An ability that traps enemies near the Living Shadow in a dome that they cannot leave (think Bandit Executioner dome); reflects projectiles.
• An ability that allows the Shadow Thief and the Living Shadow to switch positions; uses charges.
• An ability that pulses healing around the Shadow Thief and the Living Shadow.
• An ability that prevents conditions from being applied to allies near the Living Shadow.

Trait Ideas:

• A percentage of all damage taken by the Shadow Thief is transferred to the Living Shadow.
• The Living Shadow aids in the resurrection of downed allies.
• Allies around the Living Shadow periodically receive buffs.
• When a Shadow Thief would be downed, instead destroy the Living Shadow and heal the Shadow Thief for a percentage of their hp.
• The Shadow Thief sacrifices a portion of their offensive power to empower the Living Shadow and allies around the Living Shadow. (-xxx power/precision/ferocity/condition damage to the Shadow Thief)(+ x% damage to allies near the Living Shadow)

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Thoughts?

[Phoenix the One.4071]

I kinda want to see dual sword.. or greatsword.. both playing on ronin theme :)

[Antycypator.9874]

Still better than overused GS which doesn't fit thief thematicaly, but I think this is a shadow version of a Rev's Ventari. Support needs to do something more. Everything that doesn't grant quickness or alacrity won't be taken as a good support (PvE) — and it would be usable only in specific encounters, because it seems to be more like a spec for a simple job (projectile denial, protection from conditions). Every healing spec has a set of skills designed to heal players (not just one skill).I like the idea of Living Shadow (I'm thinking about these shadows near the Zawadi bounty), we just need an absolute control (pls don't give us mindless minions like necro's).

An ability that traps enemies near the Living Shadow in a dome that they cannot leave (think Bandit Executioner dome); reflects projectiles.It's in the game (preparation skills).Allies around the Living Shadow periodically receive buffs.Unique buffs or boons?