[NEUT-AGI] Kur'talos Whisperwing, Balance Druid

[JJE92]

Kur'talos Whisperwing,
Balance Druid

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CHANGELOG

June 9, 2010

• Posted entry.

July 2, 2010

• Updated post with name, some stats.
• Again updated name.
• Skill 1 changed to an active to make it balanced.
• Reworked numbers of skill 1

July 3, 2010

• Updated post with Skill Synergy, Item Synergy, Hero Synergy, Gameplay, Hero Introduction.
• Finished entry.

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INTRODUCTION



Summon Balance Druid


Named after Kur'talos Ravencrest, who fought against the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancient, Kur'talos Whisperwing, currently one of the most powerful Balance Druids, decided to join the battle. Living up to his class' name, he fights to maintain balance. Neither good nor evil can be completely destroyed, they have to be kept in a good balance. Destruction and Restoration need to be in an equilibrium, so that the nature isn't harmed. Neither complete offense, nor complete defense can win a battle, only a balanced midway can lead to a successful end.


Kur'talos is a support hero, but in its own unique way. Hes average early-game, but will become stronger and stronger. His role isnt limited to supporting allies, but he can also semi-carry and finish off fleeing enemies. His trademark skill is clearly Restorative Attack, allowing him to attack allies to heal them, which also clearly points out his role as a semi-carry-support hero. State of Equilibrium is another flexible support skill with both offensive and defensive purposes. His third skill, Aspect of the Crow as well isnt limited to support, because apart from saving allies from enemies with the slow, it can also be useful for chasing enemies. With his Ult, he can deal great damage based on his max MP, but looses great MP as well. However it can be switched so that it restores MP, but at the cost of healing nearby enemies. This and the fact that you need to make fast decisions in difficult situations and always need to think whether you need to use your skills in an offensive or defensive way makes him a very hard hero to play.

Strength - 17 + 1.8
Agility - 19 + 3.1
Intelligence - 26 + 1.9

Learns Restorative Attack, State of Equilibrium, Aspect of the Crow and Ancient Wisps

Skillset:



Attack range of 620
Movement speed of 300

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HERO INFORMATION

Affiliation: Neutral (If you ask yourself why not Sent, look at Story)
Role: supporter, finisher, semi-carry
Theme: Druid, Balance, Crow, Wisp


Kur'talos Whisperwing, the Balance Druid

Starting Hitpoints: 150 + 323 = 473 (Base HP: 150 + Str HP Bonus )
Starting Mana: 338 (Base MP: 0 + Int MP Bonus )
Starting Damage: 16-27 + 19 = 35-46 (Base DMG + AGI Damage Bonus )
Starting Armor: 1.5 + 2.7 = 4.2 (Base Armor: + AGI Bonus Armor )

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HERO ABILITIES



Restorative Attack
Orb Effect

Kur'talos improves his own attack damage for a short time, but in order to keep balance, he can also use it to heal allies by attacking them.

Level 1 - +5 attack damage
Level 2 - +10 attack damage
Level 3 - +15 attack damage
Level 4 - +20 attack damage

• A unique new healing method.
• Turn this on, attack your ally in the same way you attack enemies or deny allies and youll heal your ally instead of dealing damage or doing nothing.
• You can as well improve your damage output by attacking enemies.

Type: Active
Duration is 5

Cooldown: 20/16/12/8
Mana Cost: 85/80/75/70


Mathematics, Damage Calculation without items or any dps buff/debuff:
Keep in mind though, that this is a heal over some time and it only heals that much if you arent disabled, your damage isnt decreased and you can target the same ally without interruption for the whole duration.

Considering max, meaning leveling this skill each time you can.
Lvl X: X damage, Y AGI --> Z DPS --> overall XY heal/damage
Lvl 1: 40+5 damage, 19 AGI --> 31.5 DPS --> 157 heal
Lvl 2: 43+5 damage, 22 AGI --> 34.4 DPS --> 172 heal
Lvl 3: 46+10 damage, 25 AGI --> 41.2 DPS --> 206 heal
Lvl 4: 49+10 damage, 28 AGI --> 44.4 DPS --> 222 heal
Lvl 5: 52+15 damage, 31 AGI --> 51.6 DPS --> 258 heal
Lvl 6: 56+15 damage, 35 AGI --> 56.4 DPS --> 282 heal
Lvl 7: 59+20 damage, 38 AGI --> 64.1 DPS --> 321 heal
Lvl 10: 68+20 damage, 47 AGI --> 76 DPS --> 380 heal
Lvl 15: 83+20 damage, 62 AGI --> 98.1 DPS --> 491 heal
Lvl 20: 99+20 damage, 78 AGI --> 124.6 DPS --> 623 heal
Lvl 25: 114+20 damage, 93 AGI --> 152.1 DPS --> 761 heal

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State of Equilibrium

Kur'talos' power is used to achieve as much balance as possible. If target is an ally, his STR, AGI and INT is changed to the value of the highest stat. If target is an enemy, his STR, AGI and INT is changed to the value of the lowest stat.

Level 1 - Lasts 3 seconds.
Level 2 - Lasts 4 seconds.
Level 3 - Lasts 5 seconds.
Level 4 - Lasts 6 seconds.

• A flexible and original (de-)buff skill.
• You target a hero, if its an ally, his two lower stats will be increased for a short time to the amount of his highest stat (not necessarily the main stat), only counting base stats without stat bonuses granted from items or something else.
• If its an enemy, his two higher stats will be lowered to the amount of his lowest stat.
• If all the stats are the same, nothing happens.
• STR/INT bonuses can temporarily increase your HP and MP, but these increasements are removed as soon as the effect wears off.

Type: ally/enemy hero/self targeted Active
Duration is 3/4/5/6
Casting Range is 500
Casting Time is Instant

Cooldown: 18/16/14/12
Mana Cost: 100

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Aspect of the Crow

By combining his Crow form with his knowledge of druids' power to command the forces of nature, Kur'talos has learned of a way to enhance his movement and mobility. The next movement order will be performed as a teleport to his destination slowing enemies around him when he leaves the area and when he reaches his destination. Each successive cast increases the MC temporarily.

Level 1 - 200 max range, 10% slow
Level 2 - 300 max range, 12% slow
Level 3 - 400 max range, 14% slow
Level 4 - 500 max range, 16% slow

• A new unique mechanism, which grants Kur'talos the mobility he needs.
• Upon casting this skill, Balance Druid's next movement order (and only movement, not attack orders) wont make the hero move towards the destination, but instead teleport at the destination (if range between you and destination is lower than max range) or teleport towards the destination (if range between you and destination is higher than max range).
  
• If you attack a hero and he moves away, you will normally move forward towards him, you will really only teleport if you right click on the ground.
• Mana Cost increases for each repetitive cast if it has been already cast within the last 8 seconds. At first cast it will be 70, then 120, then 170 and lastly 220. However, if it reaches the fourth repetitive cast, the skill will be disabled afterwards for 20 seconds.

Type: Active self-buff
Duration is until performed or maximally 20 seconds, 3 seconds (slow)
Max Range is 200/300/400/500
Casting Range is -
Casting Time is Instant

Cooldown: 0, but when MC reaches 220, this skill will be disabled for 20 seconds (to prevent Ult abuses and for balance)
Mana Cost: 70, a stacking +50 MC if this skill has been cast within the last 8 seconds. Bonus MC is removed if this skill has not been casted for 8 seconds.

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Ancient Wisps

Kur'talos calls forth two powerful wisps close to him, one of them capable of creating destructive forces, the other one capable of creating regenerative forces. However, only one of these forces can be kept active at the same time.

Level 1 - Summons two wisp
Level 2 - Summons two wisp
Level 3 - Summons two wisp

• If you activate this skill, two wisps are summoned right next to you, who will move along with you all the time.
  
• One of them is gleaming green - Destructive Wisp - the other one blue - Regenerative Wisp -, but only one of them can do its effects at the same time, meaning one will be active, whereas the other one is inactive.
  
• Subskills can always be switched, whether main skill is in duration or in cooldown or not casted and even when hero is silenced, disabled or stunned, the subskills can still be switched.
  
• If hero's MP is empty and Destructive Wisp is active or MP is full and Regenerative Wisp is active, then there will be no effect until the Wisp's toggled.
  
• Only visible enemies (*and hero units) will be affected by the heal, but invisible enemies and creeps will be affected by the damage.
• Aghanim numbers and changes are in brackets with a star (*). They are intended to improve the skill's potential of farming.

Type: Active, switchable aura
Duration is 10(*12)
Casting Range is -
Casting Time is Instant

Cooldown: 70 (*30)
Mana Cost: 0

Subskill 1



Destructive Wisp

The destructive Wisp uses her power on Kur'talos' Manapool and nearby enemy's HP Pool. Activating Regenerative Wisp switches this skill off.

Level 1 - Costs 10% of your max MP per second and damages enemies by 10% of your max MP each second
Level 2 - Costs 12.5% of your max MP per second and damages enemies by 12.5% of your max MP each second
Level 3 - Costs 15% of your max MP per second and damages enemies by 15% of your max MP each second

Type: Passive Aura
Duration is until switched to Regenerative Wisp or until main skill's duration finished
AoE is 300

Subskill 2



Regenerative Wisp

The regenerative Wisp uses her power on Kur'talos' Manapool and nearby enemy's HP Pool. Activating Destructive Wisp switches this skill off.

Level 1 - Restores 10% of Hero's max MP per second and heals enemies by 10% of your max MP each second
Level 2 - Restores 12.5% of Hero's max MP per second and heals enemies by 12.5% of your max MP each second
Level 3 - Restores 15% of Hero's max MP per second and heals enemies by 15% of your max MP each second

Type: Passive Aura
Duration is until switched to Destructive Wisp or until main skill's duration finished
AoE is 300

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SKILL SYNERGY

+
Restorative Attack + State of Equilibrium
This is your basic support combo. If your ally is not a STR hero, it allows you to temporarily increase his HP, so that you can heal him in the mean time and thus keep him alive longer. This is also a good combo if your tank is mana-dependent. State of Equilibrium grants him the MP he needs, while Restorative Attack keeps him alive through the gank.
However, this isnt only a defensive combo. With these two skills, you can even allow an ally to effectively tower dive and finish off an enemy.
If fighting against 1 enemy, you can cast this on enemy to make him weaker and use your restorative attacks as a damage boost for yourself.

+
Restorative Attack + Aspect of the Crow
Lifesaving combo. The slow really helps allies to get away and the heal keeps them alive longer.
Also useful when many allies are under attack and dont stand next to each other. Save the first one, use Aspect of the Crow to get to the next ally and heal him asap. With this combo, you can save allies better in time.
However, offensive uses are also there. The slow and the improved damage helps you to finish off fleeing enemies.

+
Restorative Attack + Ancient Wisps
Not the greatest synergy, but they still support each other.
Well, what should you do when you backed because you intend to restore MP? Getting closer to enemies is a risk, especially if they have some blink user. Restorative Attack allows you to make yourself useful by attacking some damaged allies.

+
State of Equilibrium + Aspect of the Crow
Supporting combo.
Slow and weaken enemies who try to flee.
Slow enemies and strengthen your ally who tries to flee.

+
State of Equilibrium + Ancient Wisps
Thats your main offensive skill combo. State of Equilibrium increases your STR and INT, at least if your level is higher than 7 (before that, INT is higher than AGI), meaning in mid- and lategame where your Ult is most powerful.
The STR increases your HP temporarily. THe Ult requires you to stand close to the enemies, so they can focus you. You need this survivability for your Ult.
The INT increases your max MP temporarily. The damage output of your Ult is fully dependent on your max MP, therefore it really helps you in getting enemies down faster.

+
Aspect of the Crow + Ancient Wisps
To use the Ult effectively, you have to stand right next to the enemies. With Aspect of the Crow, you have a great tool to position yourself and even slow your enemies, which prevents them from disabling you and running away quickly. Aspect of the Crow has no CD, so even if they succeed, you can still follow them, but need more MP to do so.
Also, if you get too focusfired or your MP needs restoring, you should get away fast. You need enough MC, but you can get away and slow them at the same time. Then you can restore your MP without having to fear that theyll be healed. If they should come close, youll have enough MP already to cast Aspect of the Crow again.
Furthermore, this can be used for finishing off multiple fleeing enemies. You can jump to each of them, slow them and deal damage.
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HERO SYNERGY


Kunkka, the Admiral
Hes a great initiator for you. His Ult helps youin being alive longer, his Torrent and X Marks the Spot makes you basically one of the best anti-escape team.


Rooftrellen, the Treant Protector
If you already have BKB and Treant casts Ult you can unleash your Ult for full 5 seconds without having to fear anything. If youre in forests, an invis Ult would be cool as well. Living armor always helps you a bit in surviving and even the Forest Sentinels are great for your skills.


Purist Thunderwrath
Purification's Healdamage improves your survivability and deals good damage to enemies close to you when you Ult into them. Degen Aura makes chasing enemies or keeping them close to you even easier. But, the main point is definitely Guardian's Angel + Repel. It can grant you full 7 seconds of invulnerability, which is awesome for your Ult.


Shendelzare Silkwood, the Vengeful Spirit
She supports you with bonus damage, you support her with an increased heal when she swaps. Simple, but effective combo.


Ezalor, the Keeper of the Light
If cast on enemies, your State of Equilibrium raises the chance that Mana Leak results in a paralyze. Furthermore, Chakra Magic can save your life when your MP is too low, so that you cant cast Aspect of the Crow anymore.


Dazzle, the Shadow Priest
The combo of Shallow Grave, Shadow Wave and Weave can keep you alive for quite a long time, even in focus fire, so it really improves your Ult. With Poison Touch, chasing is made even easier, so that you dont have to waste MP for Aspect of the Crow
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ITEM SYNERGY


Black King Bar
The 24 damage are useful for Restorative Attack and the Avatar active is a must for your Ult's proper usage. Take this if you really want to go into the enemies and use your ult to its full potential.


Linken's Sphere
+15 to all stats is pretty helpful, you can make use of the HP and MP-regen a bit as well. Mainly taken for Block if the enemy hero has an annoying hero targeting you with such a skill.


Blade Mail
The damage, armor and Int can all be useful, but the Return is just awesome. Now the enemies cant do anything against you anymore, except for disabling, but with a proper initiator and a slow with your Aspect even this cant help them avoid taking damage.


Force Staff
The stats prove handy and this is a good solution if you intend to use Aspect of the Crow very often in a fight. It grants you the cheap MC escape you can need in some situations. You can use this as well to help allies and some other things.


Aghanim's Scepter
Grants you an improved Ult, which even helps you farming now. If you want to rice, take this as a first item, it really helps you to farm the items you need for semi-carrying. The increased HP and MP are very good for Ult as well and increased stats are always good for you. This is your Ult improver.


Arcane Ring
Why not. With this you wont have MP problems anymore, you can squeeze the rest of MP out of you to make an escape Aspect of the Crow. You can support caster allies with this as well.


The Butterfly
You intend to carry? You have great farming? You want to maximize your Restorative Attack, get survivability against a physical stacked team? This is your choice then, for Restorative Attack clearly one of the best items.


Manta Style
Another great carry item for your Restorative Attack. Whats worse for the enemies than you healing your allies? You and two clones healing your allies with great attack speed and damage.

/
Phase Boots / Power Treads
Although the stats dont improve your State of Equilibrium, they are helpful, as well as the attack speed. For survivability take Treads, for insane mobility and increased damage for Restorative Attack take Phase Boots.
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GAMEPLAY

Laning Early Game
Try to find an offensive lane partner, who can harrass enemies, like e.g. Kunkka. He will get hit sometimes, you can heal him and support him in his offense. Thus its recommended to max Restorative Attack asap. State of Equilibrium can be powerful, it should be taken as well. However, dont forget to take one level of Aspect of the Crow. It can ensure your ally to escape or a kill by slowing the enemy and can even help you to escape.
Always stay back, you should be harrassed as little as possible, because you cant heal yourself. Try to last-hit creeps.
What you shouldnt do is to lane with another support hero or with another carry. Supporting support heroes makes no sense and you need the gold, so you cant let your carry have all the last-hits he needs.
Ganking Mid Game
Ganking midgame is a dangerous thing. Your Ult doesnt deal as much damage yet, you dont have items to survive long enough and your Restorative Attack isnt in its prime yet either.
Cast State of Equilibrium as much as possible, so that your allies can survive the gank, stay back and heal. If the enemies have cast their skills or are getting down, you can get into the battle, but dont risk too much. Try to finish off fleeing enemy heroes.

Aghanim Jungling
As soon as you have aghanim, you can use the combo of Ancient Wisps and Restorative Attack to farm neutral creeps. With Aspect of the Crow you can even easily farm two neutral camps within one Ult. And keep in mind you can use Ult more often now, so this should really help you in farming good items you need asap.

Ganking Late Game
Now comes your most effective time. Let the initiator initiate with stuns and disables, then get into the battle and unleash your Ult. If your MP is getting low, get out and restore it. Heal allies in the meantime. If your MP is back up, get back in the middle of the teamfight and finish off low HP heroes.

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CREDITS

Hiveworkshop, for icons, as always.
DarkKenshi, for his awesome Template, as always
Everyone else, who helped me or reviewed this.
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[ZenicX]

hero something interesting, I think he should be an int hero, not agi

[JJE92]

Originally Posted by ZenicX

hero something interesting, I think he should be an int hero, not agi

No. Mainly because of his first, second and third skill. I know the Ult is a lot like INT hero, but his concept is a late-game support hero, which can even semi-carry and for that being an AGI hero is necessary.

[Punj,Love Hater]

Originally Posted by JJE92

No. Mainly because of his first, second and third skill. I know the Ult is a lot like INT hero, but his concept is a late-game support hero, which can even semi-carry and for that being an AGI hero is necessary.

i agree with u. Really nice hero. Now i know why this hero won cth. Btw, what was bonus point model of cth 9. I didnt participate because i cant post a hero idea from my cell phone.

[JJE92]

^ It was Earth Panda

Thx for reply

[Lotus V Eater]

does the wisp is really a summoning? or just a sub-skills? what type of damage done by the destructive wisp? i assume it is magical damage...

[JJE92]

Originally Posted by Pink_Lotus

does the wisp is really a summoning? or just a sub-skills? what type of damage done by the destructive wisp? i assume it is magical damage...

Its not really a summoning, the summoning is just for the animation.
Well, probably Ill change the wisp to something else, wisp is in dota now after all ^^
Up to now the damage type is pure, but this isnt final.

Thx for reply

[1337_n00b]

Holyhell, that's just...

I can't make myself review it.

The only con is the model, i don't like DOTTs. They are also creeps.

Because everything else is like, perfect. May need a little MC on his ulti though. Hardly needs this much armor by the way.

[ReaC]

1st skill - i dont like the icon, but the skill is good. but in DotA you cantt attack your allied heroes.

2nd skill - wow! kinda imba though

3rd skill - nice unique fleeing or chasing skill

4th skill - nyc skill but max hp? not the brightest idea for an agi, but its fine

overall, it can do both support and kill.

[1337_n00b]

but in DotA you cantt attack your allied heroes.

You can. Saved my Cent from a Doom once.

[Punj,Love Hater]

Since Wisp model is implented so change wisps by one green and another blue looking Druid of Talon.

[JJE92]

Originally Posted by 1337_n00b

Holyhell, that's just...

I can't make myself review it.

The only con is the model, i don't like DOTTs. They are also creeps.

Because everything else is like, perfect. May need a little MC on his ulti though. Hardly needs this much armor by the way.

Thx

About model: I wasnt very happy with it either, since theyre also creeps. But then again, Na'ix is pretty much the same as well, right?

Well, I didnt find something better. I thought of Malfurion, but the model looks very similar to Furion, thats why I finally decided to take this and use crow idea after all ^^

Originally Posted by ReaC

1st skill - i dont like the icon, but the skill is good. but in DotA you cantt attack your allied heroes.

2nd skill - wow! kinda imba though

3rd skill - nice unique fleeing or chasing skill

4th skill - nyc skill but max hp? not the brightest idea for an agi, but its fine

overall, it can do both support and kill.

Skill 1: How comes that you can deny allied heroes then? Its perfectly possible, not even that hard to code.

Skill 2 / 3: Thx

Ult: Firstly, its max MP not HP. Seeing that this hero is a bit an INT/AGI hybrid, with high starting INT and even a possibility to raise your INT value to your AGI value late-game, thus temporarily increasing your MP, I dont htink that this would be a problem.




@ Punj: Thx for your support, gonna rethink this soon ^^

[Punj,Love Hater]

^ thanks JJ. Btw, model never matters. I really like this hero. And want this hero in Dota.

Ask someone for Testmap. Maybe Lord ofthe ding. He is always free to make testmaps.

[SciaSophylax]

2nd skill could be uber-imba with morphling or slark. No-one wants a slark which have 100+ str/agi/int nor a morph like that. Although at lvl 4 its 6 sec, imo, it will be enough to kill an entire team.

[kanzakill]

Huh? So you won the contest?
My very late congratulations.

What I like most is that you found a way to balance that skill.

[JJE92]

Originally Posted by vlixer

2nd skill could be uber-imba with morphling or slark. No-one wants a slark which have 100+ str/agi/int nor a morph like that. Although at lvl 4 its 6 sec, imo, it will be enough to kill an entire team.

You didnt read the note that only base stats count, did you

Originally Posted by kanzakill

Huh? So you won the contest?
My very late congratulations.

What I like most is that you found a way to balance that skill.

Thx a lot

[fremdlaender]

Bumping.
Winners have to stand togehter.

Maybe this will become a review some day, but I'm not in mood now.