[Cspace]

While I begin to organize the abilities, strengths, and weaknesses of each class... I figured that I would post threads revolving around what is planned for specific trees. By the time I post a thread like this, the basic idea for the tree is fairly solid, but I'm just giving previews for anything that would add new or different stuff to DS.

These are descriptive threads focusing on something unique about a given class. Therefore, stances, nukes, and other abilities along those general lines won't really be discussed unless significant. Almost every third-tier tree will have at least one unique thing that no other classes receive. A tree may revolve around that strength, or there may merely be a concentration or box that provides it, but it will be something to easily influence one's tactics and make them different from an adversary's.

Some unusual trees may provide more than one such ability, and for them I may write more than one thread.

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Arcanists & Time Dilation

It's hard to trick an arcanist... Not because they can necessarily see what's coming, but because they can go back and change events as necessary. Something very unique about arcanists is their ability to jump through time. While some master arcanists in history claimed to be able to open portals for significant time travel, none today are known to possess that ability. The vast level of affinity required for such a task far exceeds the capabilities of any known mortal.

But short-range jumps? Not a problem for a powerful arcanist, and they can go back as well as forward.

Some such arcanist abilities provide the ability to jump back a certain number of turns in battle. These are either conditional or require a relatively long time to cast, however, so they won't be jumping back and forth all they want... But when you face an arcanist, you need to be aware that whatever you do can potentially be undone. Most of these abilities require a long casting time... So if an arcanist would want to undo two turns, he/she would be required to cast the spell for something like five turns (at the fifth turn, in effect, going back seven turns). During this time the arcanist can potentially be defeated altogether, or the spell be interrupted... It's recommended for the arcanist to use an appropriate stance to prevent this. If it is successful, the applicable turns would be undone, with all involved (including the arcanist) set back to exactly how they were at the destination point.

Arcanists can also travel forward in time. Given the proper conditions, in effect the arcanist would disappear for a set number of turns. Be aware that while the arcanist is gone, you're free to heal yourself or otherwise prepare for his/her return.

There are also rumors... That the most powerful arcanists will be able to project spells back in time, themselves remaining in the present. The targets of such spells may feel a bit disoriented, as they forget exactly what happened to them but are placed under the arcanist's spell.


These abilities may not be worth much against some adversaries, but against those who require downtime for casting spells, arcanists will really be able to mess with you. There are ways to counter these abilities, but if one is incapable of doing so, he/she will be standing at the edge of disadvantage for the entire battle.

... But arcanist wouldn't be an ideal class for one to start with. Without an arsenal of abilities to change the course of the battle once you go back or forward, you'll put yourself into the same situation as the other guy every time. No use in doing that.

Arcanist is probably recommended for those with a lot of abilities that invoke status effects, as well as for those who are strong when it comes to interruption.

[Neraphym]

Great idea giving us previews like this. Arcanist looks like a very interesting class, and if I somehow get a post count of 100000, I might look it up!

[Darkness]

Snazzy