Hey can we talk about Prodigy?

[Deleted]

So, this types getting brought back up. Today I want to talk about Prodigy, both version. Whether someone wants to admit it or not, Prodigy is a very weird type. We’re not here to talk about the boosts, but rather something more problematic about the type. So, let’s begin this with me saying that reading over both Prodigy types today I’ve come to realize that the type is busted. Not busted in a “its broken, its op” sort of way, but busted in the way that it’s been built. Prodigy is a weird Frankensteins monster of both low level play and end game play. But this doesn’t work. “What do you mean?” I’m sure someone is asking himself or herself. Well let’s look at the type.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Click here}
Type: Prodigy Version 2

Description:
Someone who is extremely skilled, and has possessed a natural talent for things since a very young age. These individuals have skyrocketed ahead of their peers thanks to this natural talent. However, this talent is a double edged sword that has occasionally caused them to become too accustomed to having it easy, and not having to work hard, which can come back and bite them.

Advantage:
Level 1: 50% increase to either Reiatsu Strength or Spiritual Pressure. 50% increase to either Energy sensory or Healing Expertise. (i.e. 100 becomes 150) This Type is capable of using higher level techniques a class early. (i.e. Capable of using class 2 techniques at class 4, instead of having to wait until class 3.)

Level 2: Double either Reiatsu Strength or Spiritual Pressure. Double either Energy sensory or Healing Expertise. (i.e. 100 becomes 200) This Type is capable of using higher level techniques a class early. (i.e. Capable of using class 2 techniques at class 4, instead of having to wait until class 3.)

Level 3: Triple either Reiatsu Strength or Spiritual Pressure. (i.e. 100 becomes 300) Double either Energy sensory or Healing Expertise. (i.e. 100 becomes 200) This Type is capable of using higher level techniques a class early. (i.e. Capable of using class 2 techniques at class 4, instead of having to wait until class 3.)

Level 4: 350% increase to Reiatsu Strength or Spirit Pressure. 350% increase to either Energy Sensory or Healing Expertise. (i.e. 100 becomes 350) This Type is capable of using higher level techniques a class early. (i.e. Capable of using class 2 techniques at class 4, instead of having to wait until class 3.)

Disadvantage:
Select either strength or speed to be cut by 2/3 (100 would be 33). Instinct is cut by 2/3. Select either Energy Sensory or Healing Expertise (whichever was not boosted) to be cut by 2/3. A character may not “avoid” this drawback by leaving the stat at zero. A Prodigy v2 must put at least 25 points per Rank Level (up to 100 SP at Rank 4) in the stat being decreased. Characters of this type cannot take points in either Calm Mind or Lack of Fear (or equivalents thereof), and are also prone to mental instability and mental games.

Race Restrictions: Available to All Races. However, though this Type is available to all races, the bonus weapon is limited to Shinigami and Bount.

Initial Weapons: One Start Weapon (i.e. one Zanpaktou, one Doll, etc)

So as any experienced member of this site can tell you is that Prodigy isn’t something that anyone who isn’t at least above Class 3 or has less than 1000 SP should take. It’s obviously a type designed for end game right? We can look at the drawbacks to see this. You have a drawback to the type that doesn’t change for rank (besides the SP Sink), and absolutely murders low classers. Hell, we have high rank characters that still can’t even survive these drawbacks. Prodigy is designed as a end game type for races with an abundance of SP (Shinigami, Arrancar, Beast Clan, Saigo Fullbringers). Seems simple right? Well, here’s the Frankensteins monster part…the unique advantage of this type is…well…useless on a Class 1.

Prodigies are able to use techniques that are two classes ahead of them, as you can see in the advantage section. This means that a Class 4 Prodigy is going to have a technique advantage over other Class 4s. But…a Class 4 shouldn’t be using Prodigy because the SP requirement to survive the drawbacks is going to basically cripple them. Class 1s can’t use Class 0 techniques without themselves being Class 0, so this advantage is completely useless on a Class 1 Character…you know…the Class that can hopefully handle the SP requirements. See what I mean? You have a type that is clearly designed for end game play, but has an advantage that only benefits levelers. That doesn’t work. This means that Prodigy is actually a busted type. It has advantages that benefit a character that’s leveling…but you’d have to be insane to take this type at lower classes because of the SP drawbacks.

So…how do we fix it? Can we fix it? I think we can, but doing so means that we have to weaken Prodigies buffs which will then weaken the nerfs. I want to maintain the types unique technique focus, but it needs to be done in a way that can still benefit a Class 1. And…I think I came up with something today that might work.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Click here}
Type: Prodigy Version 2

Description:
Someone who is extremely skilled, and has possessed a natural talent for things since a very young age. These individuals have skyrocketed ahead of their peers thanks to this natural talent. However, this talent is a double edged sword that has occasionally caused them to become too accustomed to having it easy, and not having to work hard, which can come back and bite them.

Advantage:
Level 1: 50% increase to either Reiatsu Strength or Spiritual Pressure. 25% increase to either Energy sensory or Healing Expertise. (i.e. 100 becomes 125) This Type receives two extra Technique Slots (20 would be 22). This Type is capable of using higher level techniques a class early. (i.e. Capable of using class 2 techniques at class 4, instead of having to wait until class 3.)

Level 2: 75% either Reiatsu Strength or Spiritual Pressure. 50% either Energy sensory or Healing Expertise. (i.e. 100 becomes 150) This Type receives three extra Technique Slots (20 would be 23). This Type is capable of using higher level techniques a class early. (i.e. Capable of using class 2 techniques at class 4, instead of having to wait until class 3.)

Level 3: Double either Reiatsu Strength or Spiritual Pressure. (i.e. 100 becomes 200) Double either Energy sensory or Healing Expertise. (i.e. 100 becomes 200) This Type receives four extra Technique Slots (20 would be 24). This Type is capable of using higher level techniques a class early. (i.e. Capable of using class 2 techniques at class 4, instead of having to wait until class 3.)


Level 4: 250% increase to Reiatsu Strength or Spirit Pressure. 250% increase to either Energy Sensory or Healing Expertise. (i.e. 100 becomes 250) This Type receives five extra Technique Slots (20 would be 25). This Type is capable of using higher level techniques a class early. (i.e. Capable of using class 2 techniques at class 4, instead of having to wait until class 3.)

So, what we have here is a Prodigy type with lowered boosts, but still maintains the technique advantage that the type is clearly wanting…but is one that still works with Class 1. Naturally the drawbacks to the type would need some tweaking, but this is just a rough draft I cooked up and is meant to get a discussion going. Again, this isn’t to say Prodigy is a bad type or anything…this is just a perceived bustedness I’ve seen and wanted to talk about.

[Deleted]

Ray I really don't think that Prodigy's drawbacks are really that heavy if you can plan out your own stats.  This coming from someone who played a low level prodigy at class five and rank two. I had 800 SP and I never felt that I was lacking in any department, as well as the boost from the unique advantage of this type being unusable for most levels doesn't really feel true, mostly because the low amount of CTP required to rank up for most races makes getting TTP a bit of a wasted endeavor given that TTP costs for techs grow rapidly and that amount of TP could be better spent on other things. As well as the benefit of being able to learn techs and master them faster if you're a higher class than them.

With the rework it seems to just be a better version of solider only due to the boosts to either HE or ES, also the added tech slots seem really odd and tacked on, but this is only my two cents. Also as a prodigy player I never saw the uniqueness of this type to be for technique advantage, the type for that is TM not prodigy.

[Amagai Kuchiki]

Prodigy is an incredible type as is, as far as the boosts go. Like, I love this type, it's what made Allen WORK. So I'm coming into this conversation with that as a bias.

Yes, the Prodigy "I can use techs" is wonky, and I'd be in favor of trading it out. But bonus tech slots? That's a Genius thing. And we've tried hard to distinguish Prodigy and Genius. Which is also why I'm against the flattening of Prodigy's bonuses. Given the advantages that Genius has over it (no mental drawback, lesser physical drawback, no sensory drawback, etc), Prodigy's defining feature, it's draw, is the incredible level of stats that it gets.

Also, don't forget that there are subtle differences between V1 and V2 (such as V1 getting 2 Zan and V2 getting faster learning).

Faster learning was also intended to be weak, as the rest of Prodigy was incredibly strong.

[Kento Waffles]

I feel that this complaint originates as a result of two faulty premises.

First - That Types should all be usable at every level. But if you observe the design method behind Types and this game itself, you come to realize that no, not everything was made to be usable by any character of any level. You can even look at the likes of Leader for further confirmation of this. It's a Type literally designed to be switched to after having leveled up with a different Type. There are Types that are better for low level, some that work for mid level best, and some that are exclusively for higher level. We're a forum that uses both training tier and power tier. Some things favor power tier.

Second - That Types should be usable by anybody. This is not the case. This game, as all games are, is designed to have varying level of difficulty and to be rewarding for those who are skilled at the game. Prodigy, as explained by Zou, has and is a Type that requires a greater knowledge and mastery of the combat system and of how stats and powers need to match one another. The heavy cuts make it very difficult to just take the Type. In order to make it work, you need to do a lot more thinking than with something basic such as Soldier. It's a hard Type to use, yes, but it is intentionally designed that way. It is also very rewarding for those who succeed. As a current user of the Type, I can safely say that it is very nice to have. No others would have fit my character like this one does, and I don't see much reason to change it. There are ways to make it function at lower levels too, if one has the patience.

[Deleted]

About five days too late.