Update 76 Release Notes

Of Special Note:

The Symphony of the Fey event has arrived!

News and Notes:

Balance Update:

• [p]Update 76 includes a series of balance changes with a particular focus for earlier heroic gameplay. Please read below for more information.[/p][/*]
• [p]Finesse Changes:[/p][list]
• [p]All weapons that benefit from the Finesse feat now innately use the higher of Dexterity or Strength for to-hit and damage, just like more recent versions of Dungeons & Dragons. Scimitar is now a light weapon with a lower off-hand penalty and is now included as benefitting from the Finesse feat.[/p][/*]
• [p]Crossbows now innately use Dexterity for to-hit and damage.[/p][/*]
• [p]Dagger/Dart/Shuriken Thrown Weapons now innately use the higher of Strength or Dexterity.[/p][/*]
• [p]Throwing Axes/Hammers now use Strength for to-hit and damage.[/p][/*]
• [p]The Brutal Throw Feat is changing and is now +1 damage while using a Throwing Axe or Hammer for every 8 points of Strength.[/p][/*]

• [p]Weapon Finesse: Now grants +2 to-hit and 10% Fortification bypass[/p][/*]
• [p]Ranger Tempest Core 2 and 3: Grants Dexterity to-hit and damage with all one-handed weapons respectively. Prior text about scimitar has been removed.[/p][/*]
• [p]Assassin core 1 and 2: Core 1 has had its text adjusted. Core 1 continues to grant the kukri feat, core 2 provides +1 damage and 10% Fortification bypass[/p][/*]
• [p]Tabaxi (both types): Base Core 1 has had its description adjusted, Blazer gets quarterstaff compatibility, Improved Instincts is now quarterstaff-only, and the Improved Nimble Cat enhancement has been removed from Tabaxi since it no longer serves a purpose.[/p][/*]
• [p]Deepwood Stalker Improved Weapon Finesse: Changed to 15% Fortification bypass and +3 to hit.[/p][/*]
• [p]Bard Swash a Buckle - Swift Strikes: Removed since it no longer serves a purpose. General changes have been made throughout Swashbuckler text to support this adjustment.[/p][/*]
• [p]Wood Elf Forest Finesse: Allows Dexterity for to-hit and damage with all weapons, and no longer has pre-requisites.[/p][/*]
• [p]Halfling Skillful Thrower: +2 to-hit and damage when using a Thrown Weapon instead of its previous purpose.[/p][/*]
• [p]Elf Graces: Allows Dexterity for to-hit and damage with all weapons, and no longer has pre-requisites.[/p][/*]

• [p]Cleave gains a +1 Critical Threat range and a +1 Critical Multiplier Bonus.[/p][/*]
• [p]Great Cleave gains a +1 Threat range and a +2 Critical Multiplier Bonus.[/p][/*]
• [p]Sunder gets +10 to its attack roll.[/p][/*]
• [p]Improved Sunder gets 20 to its attack roll and gains a +60% damage bonus.[/p][/*]
• [p]Hamstring's cooldown has been reduced from 15 seconds to 6 seconds, and now gains a +50% damage bonus. Hamstring no longer requires a rank of sneak attack.[/p][/*]
• [p]Slicing Blow's cooldown has been reduced from 15 seconds to 6 seconds, and now gains a 40% damage bonus.[/p][/*]
• [p]Stunning Blow's and Sap's cooldowns have been decreased from 15 seconds to 10 seconds, and their base DC has been increased from 10 to 14. Sap still has no Saving Throw.[/p][/*]
• [p]Spring Attack gains a 20% damage bonus.[/p][/*]
• [p]Improved Precise Shot now passively increases the Ability Score Modifier bonus to damage for Longbows and Shortbows by +50%, including when the stance is off. This stacks with Precise Shot.[/p][/*]

• [p]Razor Claw: Magic Fang now has a max caster level of 20 so it no longer bugs when it hits over level 40 ahead of schedule.[/p][/*]
• [p]Blight Caster's Blighted Charge and Jaws of Doom will use Conjuration instead of necromancy for DCs.[/p][/*]
• [p]Favored Soul's Archon's Fury - Removed spell point cost per blast. Damage increased to 2d6 from 1d6+1 and stack size reduced to 10.[/p][/*]
• [p]Radiant Servant (Cleric/Sacred Fist):[/p][list]
• [p]Positive Energy Shield buff - The temporary Hit Point grant is now twice your Heal skill, and four times your Heal skill if your target is above level 20.[/p][/*]
• [p]Efficient Empowered Heal costs 1 Action Point per rank instead of 2.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Divine Healing now scales with 50% Positive Spell Power (only 50% since the duration is so long). Will now have a line of sight check, double spell range (ray range)​.[/p][/*]
• [p]Reactive Heal scales with Spell Power.[/p][/*]

• [p]Mechanic Bomb spells now use Disable Device plus a 1d20 roll for their DC, just like a Bard's Fascinate ability.[/p][/*]
• [p]Mechanic Improve Traps bonus is now a +1/2/3 Disable Device bonus instead of the previous specific bomb bonus. The DC mod to "rogue traps" is unchanged.[/p][/*]
• [p]Mechanic Bombs now deal:​[/p][list]
• [p]Tanglefoot 4d6 +1 per Sneak Attack die in acid damage every 2 seconds. Crowd Control is the same as before with its Disable Trap Skill DC +1d20 roll​.[/p][/*]
• [p]Thunder Stone now does 4d6 +1d4/6/8 per Sneak Attack die in damage. Crowd Control is the same as before with its Disable Trap Skill DC +1d20 roll​.[/p][/*]
• [p]Ooze Flask now does 4d6 +1d6/8/12 per Sneak Attack die in damage. Debuff as before with Disable Device Skill DC +1d20 roll.[/p][/*]
• [p]Time bomb will now scale with 200% Ranged Power and also use a Disable Device Skill DC +1d20​.[/p][/*]
• [p]Leg Shot has been replaced with Line Up and Sit Down - Ranged attack which is a 250% damage modifier. Knocks down target for 2 seconds with no Saving Throw. 6 second cooldown.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Swap Core 5 Expert Builder with Sniper from T5 gets a critical multiplier accessible by level 12.[/p][/*]

• [p]Follow up now grants 5/10/15 Melee Power and lasts 30 seconds.[/p][/*]
• [p]Shield Smash damage now scales at 25/50/75% instead of 10/20/30 and its MRR/PRR buff is replaced by a new buff called Battle Guard​.[/p][/*]
• [p]Battle Guard: Lasts 12 seconds and stacks 5 times, 10 MRR/PRR per stack. Blocking for more than 3 seconds removes all stacks.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Shield Charge now applies a knockdown to targets in area for 2 seconds. DC is 10 + highest ability modifier + character level + tripping bonuses, cooldown 25/20/15.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Armor Strength melee power bonus increased from 10 to 15.​[/p][/*]

• [p]Shattering Strike/Shot Damage increased to 25/50/100% bonus​.[/p][/*]
• [p]Reed in the Wind cooldown now 8 seconds. Damage bonus increased to 20/40/60%. Instead of Dodge now grants Battle Guard. No longer requires Dodge Feat to take.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Battle Guard: Lasts 12 seconds and stacks 5 times, 10 MRR/PRR per stack. Blocking for more than 3 seconds removes all stacks.​[/p][/*]

• [p]Core 6 attack speed bonus only applies to when using a dagger or kukri.​[/p][/*]

• [p]Undaunted (Core 5) no longer grants Ranged Power.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Master Inquisitive (Core 6)'s Ranged Power is reduced from +10 to +5​.[/p][/*]
• [p]Inquisitive's Path no longer grants Ranged Power.[/p][/*]

• [p]School Mastery II now grants +2 to the chosen DC.[/p][/*]
• [p]Each core now adds +5 Universal Spell Power (on top of the +1 for points spent in tree)​[/p][/*]

• [p]Tactical Mobility now costs 1AP.[/p][/*]

• [p]Beacon now costs 1AP.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Displacement now costs 1AP.​[/p][/*]

• [p]Supreme Hunger now costs 1AP​.[/p][/*]
• [p]Feed on Magic now costs 1AP​.[/p][/*]

• [p]Spell Focus now costs 2AP.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Planar Focus now costs 1AP.​[/p][/*]
• [p]Eldritch Power costs 1 AP and grants 2 Dice instead of 1[/p][/*]

• [p]Death Ward no longer completely negates negative energy damage from inflict/necro spell damage, but reduces it by 50%. This is flagged with the Shield trait, much like Fire Shield/Energy Shield is for Fire damage. A certain raid boss on the Isle of Dread will now stop stacking negative energy vulnerability, but this will not affect the Temple of the Deathwyrm raid. This also applies to monsters when they cast Death Ward, so Pale Masters and shady Clerics may rejoice.[/p][/*]
• [p]Lost Souls In Reaper Raids: The drop rate for Lost Souls in raids has been greatly increased​.[/p][/*]

• [p]Fury of the Wild's Epic Strike Quick Cutter has had its cooldown increased to 8 seconds. Quick and Bleed duration has been changed to 10 seconds. Bleed damage has been reduced to 1d6 per Character Level. Bleed Damage has been increased by Rank 1 of Spirit of the Beast by 1d6 and Rank 1 of Primal Force for a net total of 3d6.[/p][/*]
• [p]Unyielding Sentinel's Celestial Mandate now applies its Battle Guard effect per target hit instead of its previous buff. If you are using a shield it always applies 1 extra even if you completely miss. Battle Guard: Lasts 12 seconds and stacks 5 times, 10 MRR/PRR per stack. Blocking for more than 3 seconds removes all stacks.​[/p][/*]

Other Changes:

• [p]The Mists of Ravenloft expansion bundle item vendor can now be found in the Eberron Hall of Heroes. Players that own the Collector's or Ultimate Editions of Mists of Ravenloft can now speak to this NPC to claim items from this expansion.[/p][/*]
• [p]Relentless:[/p][list]
• [p]The Helmed Horror can no longer fly, preventing an issue where this enemy refused to properly return to the ground.[/p][/*]
• [p]The Time Taken is now available for Relentless Runes[/p][/*]
• [p]The Mask of the Killer now shows its correct appearance.[/p][/*]
• [p]The Memory of Animated Objects from The Life for the Lifeless now has its correct description: "You recall bringing life to lifeless forms, and control you had over the inanimate. +171 Equipment Bonus to Rust and Repair Spell Power, +24% Equipment Bonus to Rust and Repair Spell Crit Chance, and +25% Enhancement Bonus to Rust and Repair Spell Crit Damage."[/p][/*]