Happy Wednesday, Legends! It's time for another preview! As you know, the Beach Blanket Burglar event continues this week, but the STS dev team is hard at work finalizing even more of the new expansion content!
For example, a new set of ARRRR-inspiring pirate weapons!
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But it's not all art and vanities we're working on. The designers have been hard at work on a wicked multi-phase battle for the expansion's final boss: The
Kraken.
While the visuals aren't finalized yet, I'm happy to share the description of it here for your enjoyment and feedback! Let us know what you think and if you'll enjoy running this encounter.
The encounter is still in development and could change significantly before its release.
Phase 1:
Taunt mechanic:
Standing in the Deep Sea Altar (a rune circle that appears in front of the boss) taunts the Kraken causing the current target to receive Kraken's Curse (a timed DOT). Another party member must step into the Deep Sea Altar and take the Kraken's Curse before the DOT times out... or the player with the DOT dies! So, you'll need work as a team to juggle the boss's aggro and prevent unnecessary deaths.
Fist mechanic:
The Kraken warns of an impending attack with a rectangular warning area that covers 1/3 of the room. Exit the hit area before Kraken's crushing attack arrives or you will be killed instantly!
Kraken Crud / Personal Space mechanic:
The Kraken will look for someone who is not nearby (we're looking at you, ranged players!). If he finds someone, he puts a visible Kraken Scourge debuff circle on them.
After a short period, the Scourge falls away from the affected player and creates Kraken Crud (a virulent poison pool) on the ground. Shortly after this poison pool appears it will damage any players in it. Players affected by the Kraken Scourge would be wise to have the Kraken Crud pools drop in places where they won't hurt the rest of the party.
If the Kraken doesn't find a suitable target at range, he'll release an attack for 'personal space'. This is a big circle attack around him that, again, will instantly kill players in the way. Get out or die.
When the boss is at 50% health, he will enter Phase 2.
Phase 2:
During this phase, the Kraken is invulnerable.
A Giant Sea Slime and a bunch of little slimes spawn. The Giant Sea Slime has extremely high defense at the start but can be debuffed to be defeated.
If a little slime is killed nearby the Giant Slime the Giant Slime will absorb the little slime to increase his damage output. If a little slime is killed far away from the Giant Slime, the Giant Slime loses durability. Kite the little slimes away from the Giant Slime before killing them to make the most of their debuffing effects.
When the Giant Slime dies, the Kraken moves on to phase 3 (even if little slimes are still alive).
Phase 3:
The Kraken resumes his powerful attack series until he reaches 10% health.
At 10% health, a 'final' debuff is placed on all players, and other mechanics stop.
Players lose health and cannot use potions. Kill the boss before your health runs out.
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As you can see, this encounter requires teamwork, attention to mechanics and telegraphs, and some good power. As always with expansion previews, these mechanics are a work in progress and subject to change, but all the same...Let us know what you think!
As the expansion release draws closer, you'll start seeing these previews more often. So, feel free to continue to let us know what kind of previews you'd like to see! See you next week!
