darkSpyro

I got to thinking about some additional changes they could do for Giants (and yes this thread still relates to Skylanders Vanilla). Elemental Power...what is it good for....absolutely nothing... O.k. I'm back now. Seriously what a worthless stat. For the most part Skylanders are so powerful that they don't really need a power boost. No survivability is where it's at. Since we already have armor I was thinking, what if the replaced Elemental Power with additional HP???!!!??? How much more useful would that be. They wouldn't have to make a new stat just change any Elemental Power bonus (either by hat or challenge) to an HP bonus. I'm thinking maybe +5 per challange. What do you guys think? Have you ever changed Skylanders just to take advantage of an Elemental Power boost? Do you ever use a hat that only has Elemental Power (just for the power boost and not for the looks)? Elemental Power needs to go.

Hehehe. I had the same thoughts. However I've yet to check how it affects the character in battle mode but this is the most useless stat for me.

I personally don't change my char because a certain part of the map has an elemental boost. For me it is too time consuming plus I'd yet to select a main fig for the other elements (I play mostly with prism break and trigger happy, bash, dino-rang).

HP would surely redefine the characters if it were to replace elemental power.

Well, based on what I have read and heard, the game designers really wanted you to change characters at each and every point when the boost changed. I do realize that it is a ton of switching, but it sorta makes sense really. I dont think additional HP would be all that beneficial. Change your game play style ( hang back more or dont rush in blindly ) and you might live longer. One thing hardcore D2 taught me, and taught me well, it is perfectly ok to retreat and come back from a different angle or using a different tactic.

Quote: Monsinour

Well, based on what I have read and heard, the game designers really wanted you to change characters at each and every point when the boost changed. I do realize that it is a ton of switching, but it sorta makes sense really. I dont think additional HP would be all that beneficial. Change your game play style ( hang back more or dont rush in blindly ) and you might live longer. One thing hardcore D2 taught me, and taught me well, it is perfectly ok to retreat and come back from a different angle or using a different tactic.

I agree wholeheartedly with the last half and have no problem playing defensively. That being said have you ever needed to (or wanted to for that mater) switch Skylanders because you thought you could actually benefit from the extra power. Power isn't a Skylanders problem. I'm not saying HP is needed to play/enjoy the game I simply think it would be more useful to have a stat that was more applicable to the player.

Quote: Tigorus

Quote: Monsinour

Well, based on what I have read and heard, the game designers really wanted you to change characters at each and every point when the boost changed. I do realize that it is a ton of switching, but it sorta makes sense really. I dont think additional HP would be all that beneficial. Change your game play style ( hang back more or dont rush in blindly ) and you might live longer. One thing hardcore D2 taught me, and taught me well, it is perfectly ok to retreat and come back from a different angle or using a different tactic.

I agree wholeheartedly with the last half and have no problem playing defensively. That being said have you ever needed to (or wanted to for that mater) switch Skylanders because you thought you could actually benefit from the extra power. Power isn't a Skylanders problem. I'm not saying HP is needed to play/enjoy the game I simply think it would be more useful to have a stat that was more applicable to the player.

Me personally, no. My kids, absolutely. If you have played D2, then you know what a LL Zealot is. That is the play style my kids play with. Since there is no LL in this game, they die rather fast. Having them do more damage is actually beneficial simply because the bad guys go away faster and the live, somewhat, longer. I have tried reasoning with them and educating them on how to play the game. But they are 5 and 8, its just not time yet.

HP is beneficial in battle mode. It does offer some benefits in game mode. However you are correct that any seasoned player can manage using a skylander with the low HP.

See I personally have Skipped the Elemental Power challenges. Not because I can't complete them but simply because, to me it's a worthless stat. I do all the armor/crit./speed challenges because those are stats that are always applicable. I guess I would just like to see a more useful stat. Skylanders are usually so powerful and some are more glass cannons than others. More HP would help those become less glassy and more cannony.

Quote: Tigorus

See I personally have Skipped the Elemental Power challenges. Not because I can't complete them but simply because, to me it's a worthless stat. I do all the armor/crit./speed challenges because those are stats that are always applicable. I guess I would just like to see a more useful stat. Skylanders are usually so powerful and some are more glass cannons than others. More HP would help those become less glassy and more cannony.

Isnt the point of a glass cannon to stay back away from the brawlers and take things out from a distance? How does more HP help that?

Quote: Monsinour

Quote: Tigorus

See I personally have Skipped the Elemental Power challenges. Not because I can't complete them but simply because, to me it's a worthless stat. I do all the armor/crit./speed challenges because those are stats that are always applicable. I guess I would just like to see a more useful stat. Skylanders are usually so powerful and some are more glass cannons than others. More HP would help those become less glassy and more cannony.

Isnt the point of a glass cannon to stay back away from the brawlers and take things out from a distance? How does more HP help that?

Mainly for fights where you can;t simply stay back. Like certain parts of that Cyclops castle. Or the battle with KAOS. There are plenty of others but those come to mind first. Skylanders like Hex, Gill, Trig, Flameslinger, Boomer have amazing offense but can't really take the heat if something closes in. Again I'm not saying they NEED HP I'm just pointing out that they definitely don't need more gimmicky power. HP simply seems more useful than Elemental Power and I doubt very many people switch to take advantage of it.

I never change to fit a particular areas element. I do appreciate when by coincidence I receive the boost but never go out of my way to get it as only a few of my characters have enough heroic challenges completed to have a decent Elemental stat. I only see it being useful in PvP where some elements have advantages over others. This could be some of the reason for Cynder being a good counter to Stealth Elf (Undead>Life). I personally haven't tested Cynder vs. Stealth but from what I read she's the only answer the the crazy little elf.

Quote: Tigorus

Mainly for fights where you can;t simply stay back. Like certain parts of that Cyclops castle. Or the battle with KAOS. There are plenty of others but those come to mind first. Skylanders like Hex, Gill, Trig, Flameslinger, Boomer have amazing offense but can't really take the heat if something closes in. Again I'm not saying they NEED HP I'm just pointing out that they definitely don't need more gimmicky power. HP simply seems more useful than Elemental Power and I doubt very many people switch to take advantage of it.

Isnt the cyclops castle an air bonus area? Doesnt sonic booms attack push the baddies back a little bit? Whirly would certainly gain an advantage with them clouds of electricity doing more damage there.

I am fairly certain that the Kaos battle is a magic area and it seems like the developers wanted you to use spyro to "win the game"

Quote: Monsinour

Quote: Tigorus

Mainly for fights where you can;t simply stay back. Like certain parts of that Cyclops castle. Or the battle with KAOS. There are plenty of others but those come to mind first. Skylanders like Hex, Gill, Trig, Flameslinger, Boomer have amazing offense but can't really take the heat if something closes in. Again I'm not saying they NEED HP I'm just pointing out that they definitely don't need more gimmicky power. HP simply seems more useful than Elemental Power and I doubt very many people switch to take advantage of it.

Isnt the cyclops castle an air bonus area? Doesnt sonic booms attack push the baddies back a little bit? Whirly would certainly gain an advantage with them clouds of electricity doing more damage there.

I am fairly certain that the Kaos battle is a magic area and it seems like the developers wanted you to use spyro to "win the game"

The fight with KAOS is a non-elemental bonus fight (I'm fairly certain all fights with KAOS are neutral). In regards to the Cyclops castle I'm talking about those tower rooms where they have those tied up Hulking Cyclops that do like 100 damage (I don't remember the actual amount) right next to you when you enter. Plus "forcing" (I say this loosely hence the quotes ) a player to switch to make a situation easier seems to contradict the fact that we are supposed to play how we want. Now I can beat the entire game with Boomer so I'm not saying I need more stats. to make the game better I'm just thinking a more useful stat could be in order. Plus more life would go a long way to the younger crowd than a temporary damage buff.

Um get close to Flameslinger and just hope you don't get caught in a pillar of fire. Hex has her bone wall to help keep opponents at bay, gill grunt is very maneuverable so "getting away" shouldn't be an issue, boomer has his ground slam, and triggs could shove a golden pot in your face. These characters definitely shine at a distance but are by no means fodder when approached.

Quote: ISlingZeFlames

Um get close to Flameslinger and just hope you don't get caught in a pillar of fire. Hex has her bone wall to help keep opponents at bay, gill grunt is very maneuverable so "getting away" shouldn't be an issue, boomer has his ground slam, and triggs could shove a golden pot in your face. These characters definitely shine at a distance but are by no means fodder when approached.

I'm not saying they're defenseless I'm simply saying they aren't the best at close quarters combat. Keep in mind I'm not saying they need this I'm just saying Elemental Power is kinda worthless.

Let's take this in another direction....What else could you see them using instead of Elemental Power (this is really for anyone that wants to answer).

I don't necessarily think Elemental Power is entirely useless. I can't say I always switch to fit the scenario, but if I'm doing a speed-run, for instance, and come into a room full of enemies that has to be defeated, I would possibly be inclined to use someone with the elemental advantage, especially if I have multiples of that element registered.

Quote: Tigorus

Quote: Monsinour

Quote: Tigorus

Mainly for fights where you can;t simply stay back. Like certain parts of that Cyclops castle. Or the battle with KAOS. There are plenty of others but those come to mind first. Skylanders like Hex, Gill, Trig, Flameslinger, Boomer have amazing offense but can't really take the heat if something closes in. Again I'm not saying they NEED HP I'm just pointing out that they definitely don't need more gimmicky power. HP simply seems more useful than Elemental Power and I doubt very many people switch to take advantage of it.

Isnt the cyclops castle an air bonus area? Doesnt sonic booms attack push the baddies back a little bit? Whirly would certainly gain an advantage with them clouds of electricity doing more damage there.

I am fairly certain that the Kaos battle is a magic area and it seems like the developers wanted you to use spyro to "win the game"

The fight with KAOS is a non-elemental bonus fight (I'm fairly certain all fights with KAOS are neutral). In regards to the Cyclops castle I'm talking about those tower rooms where they have those tied up Hulking Cyclops that do like 100 damage (I don't remember the actual amount) right next to you when you enter. Plus "forcing" (I say this loosely hence the quotes ) a player to switch to make a situation easier seems to contradict the fact that we are supposed to play how we want. Now I can beat the entire game with Boomer so I'm not saying I need more stats. to make the game better I'm just thinking a more useful stat could be in order. Plus more life would go a long way to the younger crowd than a temporary damage buff.

RE: Forcing switch

Now your thinking. But what if you dont want to switch. And what if your character dies? Do you really want to start over? Now imagine your 8 years old. No way you are going to start over, you worked too hard to get here. Its time to pull out another skylander and put it on the portal so you dont have to start over. Whats that? You ran out of skylanders that are alive? I guess its time to buy more.

^ that is why they have low HP.

There really isn't a point to switch in the game. On each level, your character will more than likely be at an acceptable level to defeat all the enemies in the level. Really, the worst one is the Knights on the Lair of Kaos Level, and even then, most any character can dispatch them quickly.

Its nice to have the bonus sometimes though, but yeah, I don't see the point in having it as a separate stat.