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What exactly is happening during savage defence?
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Post by
xenoblad
I know how it works mechanic wise and I think it's a great passive ability for absorbing dmg, but I just can't really picture how it occurs. Atleast not in a way I am 100% certain about.
A warrior blocking with a shield is very easy to imagine, a DK using magic to create a bubble of solidified blood around him is a little harder to imagine but not necesarily vauge and more people seem to agree on what is going on here. Savage defence seems to be more strange than the rest.
The icon shows a picture of bear teeth covered in blood.
My impression is that the bear crits allow the bear to rip out body parts of the enemy to block the enemy's attack with. Ofcourse, they don't have to be huge parts but a good chunk of mass can work as well.
Like imagine a trogg fighting a bear. The bear does a crit on the trogg with maul which severs that troggs arm and than the bear is quick enough to pick up the bloody arm with his teeth and than the bear block the trogg's next attack with his own arm. The arm, even though not completely used up or destroyed, is knocked out the bears jaws and that is how the bear used up his "savage defence" skill
My friend thinks that the bear scares the oppenent with a jaw full of the opponent's own blood, thus lowering their morale, and weakening their next attack. I can't imagine this working againt huge dragons and old gods, since I can't imagine Yogg soran or Onyxia being scared of a bear the size of their pinky, but he countered my view point with the fact that savage defence works on elelmentals which don't have limbs that can be severed.
So me and my buddy or at a stand still.
Flavor wise, what exactly is occuring that would explain what a bear is literally doing that would allow a very powerfull attack to translate into stopping some of the attacks of his/her opponents?
Post by
greywolfsage
Pretty sure its the opposite of what your friend thinks.
More of Morale + to the bear, as opposed to Morale - to opponent.
'Zerker rage/adrenaline/hahahahaha-you-can't-hurt-me-
pbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbt
Post by
Thror
I don't like the speculations provided so far. The explanation with morale shows bears as extremely emotionally unstable lunatics, with their morale constantly rising and falling a billion times in a duration of a fight. The explanation with ripping body parts sounds silly. Bosses do not have infinite body parts, and I hardly was ripping Nefarians scales out one after one.
If I was to come up with an explanation, I would compare savage defense to the frenzy some animals can go into, when they ferociously attack and do not mind any harm that is done to them while they do so. For example, a trained (or wild) dog would be able to bite you in the neck and hold on like a bear trap even if you were repeatedly stabbing him everywhere on his body with a knife in each hand. He just doesn't mind the damage in his frenzy, and will not back off even if it means that he dies immediately after you. Savage Defense could be something like this. A good attack that makes the opponent shed some blood awakens a short blood frenzy in you, and an attack that would normally be for 100k feels like only 80k to you, frenzied. We could explain Savage Defense as a constant struggle of the druid in bear form, where he is sometimes acting purely out of instincts, ferociously, and sometimes acts rationally and the intelligent druid that is in the Bears body actually has full control over all his functions. Critting the opponent hard would occasionally be the trigger that sets the Druids mind into a damage-ignoring blood frenzy, which is shortly after suppressed by the Druid's consciousness.
I am still leaning more towards the ultimate explanation:
Magic
.
Post by
xenoblad
I am still leaning more towards the ultimate explanation:
Magic
.
Aw cmon, there's no fun in that. Besides, I know you liked going into detail about what you speculate savage defence is.
I still like my idea of blocking dmg with your opponents body parts better but yours is a pretty cool theory too.
PS: I pray to joe pesci that this isn't moved to the RP forums.
Post by
greywolfsage
If I was to come up with an explanation, I would compare savage defense to the frenzy some animals can go into, when they ferociously attack and do not mind any harm that is done to them while they do so.
That's what I was aiming for. Damn your superior command of the language.
I am still leaning more towards the ultimate explanation:
Magic
.
Oh that's just such a crutch. Though its more like "It's
Blizzard
".
Post by
Thror
Thinking of it, a Bear specced Druid could be a fun character to write a story about, especially if his emotions were explored in it a bit. A Druid in Bear form is practically a huge ball of constant fury that can sometimes get out of control. Such moments of mind-bending rage could have quite an impact on the Druids overall character. He could either be in conflict with the nature of the Bear form, seeing it as a necessary evil and being super calm and stable in his normal form, or he could fully identify himself with the rageful Bear nature and would act very volatile and aggressive even in the humanoid form. It could also be interesting to make a character that has once accidentally harmed someone while being in a frenzy in Bear form. That could potentially have some emotional impact and perhaps serve as a drive for character development.
Post by
138583
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
LookOut
Gonna quote long time forgotten signature of someone (Thror) probably:
"I block with ma face!"
That would be Hashmel.
Post by
Trishi
Gonna quote long time forgotten signature of someone (Thror) probably:
"I block with ma face!"
And that explanation wouldn't go too well with the PETA, I'd wager :P
Post by
138583
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
101476
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Heckler
I think before you can address this question, you have to address why Bear Form offers equivalent-level protection from physical damage as Plate Armor in the first place. Once you have a good reason for that, you can expand it to include a Savage Defense style "temporary boost in protection."
I don't have a good answer, but I like the original Bear Form quest speech:
The bear spirit looks upon you with a calm and peaceful gaze. You hear a voice speak to you as though it was coming from the bear, but the creature makes no indication that it is speaking.
I represent the strength which bolsters you as a young druid. You have come to me to learn this strength, young one, and I will teach this to you. I will teach you all that is the spirit bear, provided you will listen and understand.
In order to know what it means to draw upon my spirit, you need to understand the importance of the strength of the body, as well as the strength of the heart.
Strength of the body is the power and swiftness of action. You must keep yourself fit at all times, both physically and mentally. The bear's girth highlights its strength, as it is a ferocious foe in combat. The bear's girth, however, belies its lithe agility and sharp mind. These are surprises you will use to your advantage.
You must rely on the strength of the bear's body in order to master the way of the Claw.
Strength of the heart is what gives you the resolve to take action... action that is rooted in intents that are pure and forthright. To keep the balance is not to be complacent or banal.
You must show resolve for that which you believe in, and you must be willing to fight for it. The mother bear shows endless conviction in protecting her young, as does an elder bear protecting his den. It is this resolve, this strength of heart, which you must come to know if you are to master the way of the Claw.
It remains to be seen if you are ready, young one. Even the wisest and oldest of druids are never truly ready when the ultimate time of testing comes.
You have heard my words, and now you must move on. Heed what I have taught you. There will be a time when you will have your strength tested. You must face your foe as the bear would - with strength of body and with strength of heart. Learn from the fight, young one. Go... with my blessings.
Post by
Thror
The entire paragraph of lore could be translated into RPG speech as simple "magic armor". Quest bear tells you you have to stay strong to master the Bear form, and that in the Bear form you call upon the bear spirits who then watch over you. It does not exactly say why a blade of a giant magnataur that weighs four tons does not crush you into toothpaste, but srsly. We are playing Fantasy here, so yeah our bear fur can be as durable as plate because
Druidic magic
said so. By the way, there are animals that have very curiously tough skin even IRL, like the Honey Badger that does not mind arrows, spears, and has to be shot with a high caliber straight in the skull to be killed .
Post by
Heckler
We are playing Fantasy here, so yeah our bear fur can be as durable as plate because
Druidic magic
said so.
That's good enough for me, though it is rather unsatisfying. =)
By the way, there are animals that have very curiously tough skin even IRL, like the Honey Badger that does not mind arrows, spears, and has to be shot with a high caliber straight in the skull to be killed .
Slightly more satisfying.
Post by
curlymon
Cept straight to the skull for us would not phase us... 10 or 20 would though.
Post by
undockingprawn
By the way, there are animals that have very curiously tough skin even IRL, like the Honey Badger that does not mind arrows, spears, and has to be shot with a high caliber straight in the skull to be killed .
ROFL. its good to see that its not just my guild master thats obsessed with that video :D
On Topic:
I do like the idea of some kind of feral rage awakening inside us bears making us more then meets the eye... :D
Post by
xenoblad
By the way, there are animals that have very curiously tough skin even IRL, like the Honey Badger that does not mind arrows, spears, and has to be shot with a high caliber straight in the skull to be killed .
ROFL. its good to see that its not just my guild master thats obsessed with that video :D
There's a video of a honey badger getting shot in the skull? O_O!
If there is, don't link it. I'd rather not see it.
Post by
pelf
Joe Pesci can't even break into a house guarded by a kid wielding cardboard cutouts and christmas ornaments. I don't think he's going to be up to answering your prayers.
Post by
335958
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
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