Nerf/Buff HLA's, 1., 2...

caruga

In a similar spirit to the item nerf and buff thread, I'll get started on what I think are some things that need close examination:
1. Just a general suggestion: stagger how they are obtained a bit more, with maybe more of a hierarchical attainment progression and more variations on the same power with incremental improvements.

I found that when you first get HLA's they are exciting, but afterward, once you've got all the key ones, you feel overpowered and a bit bored with choosing them again. I don't have any other ideas to hand on a fix, all I know is advancing a level after you get all the HLA's you want and can only get 'more uses' had none of the usual familiar buzz that I got from levelling up, it was like there was nothing left to reach for and grabbing those extra HLA's made me acutely aware of it, it was just 'more power' that I scarcely needed.

Or maybe it was just that they were really, really powerful, and power is a paradox in this sort of game: you spend all your time pursuing it but if you get it to the point that it makes you convincingly dominant over the game's challenges, it turns out to be actually very boring.

caruga

2. Whirlwind, particularly greater whirlwind. I can confidently say I would not have found soloing TOB with a swashbuckler easy were it not for this.
Suggested nerf: Make it +5 APR rather than =10.

caruga

3. Use any item. I think it should be situationally or barely useful. I don't think I need to elaborate, i'll just suggest a few fixes:

1. Make it an activated ability lasting a few hours. This is a two-fold drawback since you have to 'purchase' more uses at level-up.
2. That's all I can think of for now.