Ratbeard on Jul 31, 2015 wrote:

By putting it on First Strike rank 3 you have effectively made swashbucklers immune to hidden attacks.

That's incorrect. And it's frustrating because I know that you know it's incorrect.

What happens to a Swashbuckler who is attacked by a hidden ranged attacker? Or a magic attacker?

What happens when he is attacked by a hidden melee attacker, and that one melee attacker triggers all three First Strikes before the second attacker moves in?

You have also made it so only melee can remove melee hidden and ranged can remove ranged hidden.

That's correct. It's also in direct opposition to your first statement, which is how I know that you know it's not true that Swashbucklers are "immune" to hidden.

Coupled with putting the power to remove hidden on a responsive epic it means that the swashbuckler can easily avoid it via targeting ranged units with melee and melee with ranged.

Again, correct. Which is another way of saying that Swashbucklers who use Black Fog now have to make more informed decisions about who they attack-- and especially so for Fogged companions.

Indisputably, a Swashbuckler using Black Fog on his entire team has fewer valid targets after this change than before-- assuming that the defender chooses to avail himself of the tools provided.

There are pets with Scent-- but nobody wants to use them because they are "not reliable."

There are companions (many, many companions) who now have rank 3 of a 100% proof against Hide-- but nobody wants to use them because they'd have to sacrifice something cooler. (And by "sacrifice" I mean, "Spend my brand new unlocked talent slots on anything besides more sick offense.")

No "fix" will provide a direct counter for the Swashbuckler's signature class power. Some folks (not you necessarily) seem to be moving the goalposts to now apparently include, "And I don't want to have to change my team, my strategy, or otherwise be inconvenienced thinking about how to counter it."

I appreciate you helping to look for the right fix.

Eric Stormbringer on Aug 2, 2015 wrote:

That's incorrect....
You are right of course- I should have clarified(A swashbuckler is now immune to melee hidden). That being said-A swashbuckler only has to realistically worry about a ranged hidden attack from the musketeer class and a fellow swash's Ranged unit. In terms of magical attacks- Any witch worth his/her salt will be using spell power and witch doctor companions are as rare as the Easter Bunny(and about as effective). As for a swash being attacked by a melee unit using all first strikes and then being attacked by another hidden unit. There are only 2 companions in the game with the ability to utilize an offensive hide- kan-po and clone and sarah steele and clone.

Indisputably, a Swashbuckler using Black Fog on his entire team has fewer valid targets after this change than before-- assuming that the defender chooses to avail himself of the tools provided.

The targets remain just as viable-it all comes down to the swashbuckler having the presence of mind to read his opponent's epics and counter with the opposing class.

No "fix" will provide a direct counter for the Swashbuckler's signature class power.

My solution isn't a perfect counter. It can still be defied via walking through another unit or the opponent's epic missing. The difference is the prerogative to end hidden is not necessarily in the swash's hand with my change while the swash has complete liberty under your current change.