I would like to share my ideas on the structure that DieWalküre started here. This contribution expands the influence of Narya, the Ring of Fire, in Gandalf's arsenal, or at least aims to make it more explicit.
I will also try to summarise other significant arguments we should have in mind very carefully.
1. Gandalf's role is fixed and it is the one of a mass-slayer. His formidable abilities already serve well for that goal and are already very much unique.
2. Adding to the previous point, his concept has been kept the same since BFME1. It remained unaltered because it's extremely iconic.
3. Gondor's Gandalf is the Gandalf of the War of the Ring, thus leaving aside concepts or other aspects from the Hobbit trilogy (his Hobbit-like connotation is present via the Dwarven spellbook).
4. Given his greatly dynamic power, I think we could do without the idea of an aggressive stance or of a regular one. This would lead us directly and solely towards defence.
Said that, I eventually believe that the only possibility to add something new is centred around Narya only. Gandalf will gain back the Ring of Fire (thus making each of the Three available in three different factions). Beside the adherence to the lore (which I obviously cherish very much), Narya would help us a lot in regards of the fourth argument I listed above: since Narya is the Ring of endurance and resilience, it can be easily linked to defence. Contrary to Vilya and Nenya, which grant extraordinary powers over vast lands, Narya is more bound to a personal scale (the personal strength of its bearer). I view this as a solid ground to start from. Then, speaking about the very implementation of such feature, I would suggest the current sixth slot of Gandalf's Palantír of powers (now used for the normal stances) be replaced with Narya. I thought about two different options so far.
- Passive: Narya is implemented as a passive ability, allowing Gandalf to activate his magical barrier in times of needs, alongside enhancing his armour and resistance against Magic and monsters (and heroes too?).
- Active: Gandalf activates his magical shield for a given amount of time and infuses surrounding troops with hope and resistance.
This is really a first draft of mine. I still need to know how his magical shield functions exactly (in the current version of the game) and we will surely have to go a bit more into details, but I like how the debate has progressed. I know that some of you might expect more, but I sincerely find this a very just compromise that complies with the premises stated in the previous passages of this post. Moreover, I guess we should also come up with a different proposal that envisages Gandalf's turning into Gandalf the White: how should Narya change in that perspective? Feel free to forward your own opinions.
I think we all agree that his concept is already well conceived and ought to remain unaltered as it has always done since BFME1. But I strongly believe that Narya and that sixth slot at the top of his Palantír offer us the right ground to develop our suggestions, due to the fact that the two aspects entrench each other deeply; the hero would thus be granted a new and clever feature, without disrupting anything that was and has always been. I will nonetheless keep on trying to maintain the ideas as balanced and respectful of the game's boundaries as possible. Gandalf's five effective abilities are still absolutely paramount. Yet I find this occasion a just occasion to make an attempt, taking also into account the arguments provided by the lore and by the reasonings we have made so far. Just to give a proper transposition in German: der richtige Grund und der richtige Fall
Yes, I think the magical-barrier mechanism of Gandalf is already implemented in the game via an automatic process. Bearing in mind that we could always focus on other types of defensive displays or on the hope-infusing nature of Narya even more, tying that mechanism to a 'manual' choice might be interesting anyway. Regardless of our differing opinions, I hope you'll continue to participate in the suggesting phase too.
I believe that all Gandalf is lacking at this moment in gameplay is a sort of supporting role. I do not intend to attribute this role to such extent that the division of leaderships in Gondor/Arnor is compromised. Therefore I see Slawek56703's stance system too complicated and overwhelming and would require more balancing over the width of said factions. Wizards in the universe of Middle-Earth are supposed to have a guiding role as such that they try to influence its principal inhabitants and important actors to act one way or another, with the goal of fighting Sauron. Think of Thorin, Bilbo, Frodo, Theoden, Denethor, Aragorn, and I could continue forever. Other wizards slacked in this role, but there are sufficient arguments to how Gandalf played his part exactly so (the most important being his return as Gandalf the White when he lost his physical form of Gandalf the Grey).
My point is that Gandalf has influenced Middle-Earth more indirectly than directly as his current role as mass-slayer suggest. In addition I believe this is where we can implement Narya as well in his concept. I am not asking here for a large revamp of his abilities but rather something that streamlines his existing character interpretation to a slight supportive aspect. I am of the belief that Gandalf's use of Narya was very much in line with his inherent magical capacities and personality, meaning that he drew no great power from the Ring of Fire other than using it for preserving Middle-Earth. Arguably, this is what the Elven Rings were made for, in order for the Elves to recreate Valinor in Middle/Earth.
In this interpretation I would like to continue on DieWalküre's suggestion, in order to give Narya a minor role in supporting mostly units (perhaps heroes too). I think the stances slot at the top of the Palantír would be the most fitting place because Gandalf makes use of magic in either a defensive or offensive sense, although the slot would be used like an ability rather than a stance (if technically possible).
- Level 1: Passive: Narya is implemented as a passive ability, allowing Gandalf to activate his magical barrier in times of needs enhancing his armour when receiving high amounts of damage.
- Level 5: Active: Gandalf infuses surrounding troops with hope and fear resistance for a given amount of time.
- Level 10: Active: Gandalf infuses surrounding troops with hope, fear resistance and increased magic resistance for a given amount of time .
As such, the ability is scaled and becomes more powerful with levels: it retains the passive effect at all levels, while the active switch is only implemented at level 5 and further improved at level 10. When the ability is activated, the passive function does not work for its duration, or during the cooldown. This way the ability is not too powerful at level 1, and links its usefulness to either a defensive or offensive situation, simulating the power of the Ring of Fire at different tactical moments in battle.
In terms of balance of supportive powers this ability has, I see that fear resistance is not unique in the Gondor faction with Faramir and Aragorn, or in Arnor with Arvedui and Araphant. Thus, a temporary implementation would suit best Gandalf's efforts in defending Minas Tirith at one point, but not taking over the role of most outstanding leader in the faction. The increased resistance to magic damage is a valuable addition that can be attributed to Gandalf alone, being a wizard amongst a faction of Men. Then again, Gondor is at a disadvantage against evil factions that have tons of debuffs before dealing pure magic damage: now Gondor has an answer to those moments of overwhelming strength. Concerning the passive, I would suggest a description to be written so that people know under which conditions this 'bubble shield' is activated, for as of now it is not very clear.
With regards to other versions of Gandalf: when the Grey turns into the White, nothing changes apart from the current magic damage increase and reduced ability cooldown (which also affects the proposed ability change). There would be some changes to the Corrupted Gandalf, such as increased fire resistance for nearby friendlies when the proposed ability is activated so that his indiscriminate rage is contained in terms of 'friendly fire'. Gandalf te Challenge Master however, incorporates a leadership of healing aura to nearby friendlies and heroes in the passive function of the proposed ability, and upon activation the magic resistance is further increased. These are still small suggestions I could edit into making the whole ability a passive leadership skill that at all times incorporates the combined power of the Ring of Fire and the One Ring, with the particular 'hidden' abilities that Gandalf the Corrupted and Gandalf the Challenge Master have at their disposal.
I hope this concept was suggestive and clear enough, as many points are being addressed. I would gladly clear up any uncertainties or answer questions.
Thanks for reading,
Garlodur