Kaleidoscope L2 item

[tabanli]

I think kaleidoscope is a very very bad L2 item and it is barely an ok L1 item. So I propose it to be an L1 item. It is good in the beginning but becomes almost useless as the heroes mature.

[KGB]

I agree it's too weak for a L2 item. But we already have 3 L1 items for the ring slot. So I'd rather we just fixed the item so it's worthy of being a L2 item.

In another thread here I suggested adding some more skills to items that we currently are missing. Here are 3 of those suggestions that would fit with the ring (replace the +2 UL).

1) Construct skill - Value of 2 to allow heroes with this item to construct towers/rebuild cities AND do it cheaper (adds to hero build skill).
2) Pathfinding skill - Value of 2 to allow heroes with this item to move easier in terrain (adds to hero pathfinding skill).
3) Upkeep skill - Item would give 50% reduction in upkeep cost for all units in heroes stack (when in city would reduce upkeep of all units in the city by 50%).

KGB

[SnotlinG]

An easy fix would be to lower the goldvalue of the Kaleidoscope, i.e. increasing the gold you get when finding this item in the ruin...

[Chazar]

I actually quite like the item: putting it on a ranger with maxed view range, this item gives a tremendous intelligence on enemy troop placement, which we leveraged a few times in our team games.

Sure, crows and scouts can do the same, but are often easily countered by the enemy, tying up production.

The UL is also nice to have for a ranger, too. A ranger on Level3 Ruin duty needs help, but the +2 is rather meager for that purpose.

The intelligence is just a waste on a ranger, who quickly runs out on things to put ability points already.

Bottomline: give it a boost by increasing the view range by one and the UL by one or two, and least I will want this item in any game where a ranger is in play.

Nothing wrong with specialised items, or does anyway jump for joy at retrieving ragnarök without having or planning on a barbarian?

[KGB]

Chazar,

The problem isn't the item itself but rather what it's categorized as: A Level 2 item.

Level 2 items normally give you a major advantage of some kind. This is the only item that isn't close in value to the others. What you say it gives you is true but it's equivalent to a Level 1 item right now. To make it worthy of being Level 2 it either has to give a *lot more gold* or else it needs an change to one of it's powers.

Snotling if you want to go the gold route, then this item should be valued at 150 gold based on the formula of 1050-item/2 - (1050-item) so it would give a range of 450-900 gold. That's reasonable given a Level 2 gold ruin is 500-1400.

KGB

[Chazar]

Well, I don't see how it is inferior to the Infernal Cranium or even Lucifers Visor, at least not if UL & View are increased by a point.

[KGB]

Infernal Cranium gives 25% learning vs 15%. That's a whole level worth (+10% learning per level is what a hero gets). Also it has a handy +2 defense bonus to leadership which is nice for all the Leadership heroes.

Lucifers Vision gives +1 group move which is always welcome for any hero stack. The +5 UL is a HUGE benefit for heroes who search ruins since it makes a Ranger (or Assassin) 100% guaranteed to open L2 ruins at 18 UL and when I get this item it means they can also think about L3 ruins if they have another 4-5 UL from Scouts/Wizards/Ghosts.

Adding +1 view and +1 UL still don't make it a worthy item since just about any other Ring item is better (even L1 items). I'd rather it just remain a crappy item and instead give out a large gold bonus so that it's just an afterthought to the gold you get.

KGB

[tabanli]

Kaleidoscope only gives ability and no skill. In another word it gives nothing in regular combat. Infernal Cranium is not my favorite L2 item but it is much better than Kaleidoscope since it gives +2 leadership defense which is something of a combat bonus. You may survive critical hero battles with that. So L2 items should give something of a combat bonus or it should give more gold.

[smursh]

I do find the UL and extra view range useful, but not hugely so. Adding an additional power of low value such as 10% group ward makes sense as it is hard to ambush somebody with improved senses. Combined with the already improved abilities it makes for a nice item. Not a lvl-3 massive power boost, but enough to justify as a lvl-2 item.

[SnotlinG]

Item has had its gold value updated from 500 to 300. We start with this and evaluate in a while and see how it feels

Thanks for all feedback, and sorry for the late response!