How to give Wendy more Fun Mechanics and fix unused Elixirs

[Arthurian Titan]

One of the biggest problems with Wendy's kit is that half of her elixirs are useless: The only Elixirs actually viable for use are Spectral Cure-All, Nightshade Nostrum, and, with the skill tree, the affinity ones, making half of the unique crafts useless. This made me think of a way to incorporate the less-used elixirs into a new skill while also giving Wendy herself some more unique attributes instead of just being Abigail's mandatory sister. My idea was simple: The elixirs are useless on Abigail... But they would be useful if they affected Wendy. So here's my pitch for a way to give Wendy herself some needed love and revive a dead part of Wendy's kit: The Spectral Garland.

The item would make it so Abigail's elixir effects are shared with Wendy, giving Wendy some new and exciting changes. When the effects are shared, the duration of the elixir is halved, to balance and give the time-increasing skill on Wendy's tree more functionality. It could be inside the the Elixir Branch, so that you really have to commit to gain this advantage.

While using the Spectral Garland, Wendy gains the following effects based on what Elixir Abigail has:

-Revenant Restorative: Wendy gains a passive heal of 1 HP per second for half a day (which can be increased via Strong Brew), while Abigail recovers 2 HP per second at the same time.
-Spectral Cure-All: Wendy recovers 10 HP per second for 15 seconds, fully healing her, while Abigail heals 20 HP/s for 15 seconds for half her health in return. (Or Wendy could recover 5 HP while Abigail recovers for 15)
-Unyielding Draught: This one is the first one that's mostly useless for Abigail, so it should have a good effect on Wendy. My idea is that it makes Wendy share Abigail's shield, functioning like the Thulecite Crown shield, tanking a hit every so often, while also making Wendy unable to be stun-locked by Hordes, like Abigail's shield already does.
-Distilled Vengeance: It works like a Thorn damage, like Wormwood Bramble husk, dealing damage to mobs that attack the shield. 
-Nightshade Nostrum: This could go either way, or it's useless on Wendy, or it gives Wendy a flat damage increase. Either way, it should be balanced around the fact that if using it with Wendy the duration is halved.
-Vigor Mortis: This one would be fun, as it would give Wendy a 25% movement boost for half a day, while giving Abigail a 50%, literally making Wendy be able to have her own 'Walking Cane' but by using her sister as help.
-Gastly Experience: Should just give a Sanity boost or a flat HP heal when used.
-Cursed Vexation: Wendy gains the ability to also inflict the Vex on enemies, or it increases her damage on afflicted enemies. As this is a late-game item, the effect can go nuts.
-Luminous Wrath: Wendy gains a flat 10 Planar damage so that she can be more useful fighting Planar enemies.

This is just a basic idea that I had, so I'm free for feedback on how it could be balanced or if it would give Wendy the edge and differential she needs!

[Grove]

Problem with cursed vexation: while it's a balanced effect endgame, as planar damage isn't affected by the vex. The elixir is available early with Nightmare werepig (like pretty much all shadow alignment stuff since pretty much everything uses pure horror)

[1007954611]

It looks like a pretty good idea

[Lee lol]

Creative ideas, also give morning glories more use to play.

[MarcoReverie]

On 12/4/2024 at 8:34 AM, Arthurian Titan said:

One of the biggest problems with Wendy's kit is that half of her elixirs are useless: The only Elixirs actually viable for use are Spectral Cure-All, Nightshade Nostrum, and, with the skill tree, the affinity ones, making half of the unique crafts useless. This made me think of a way to incorporate the less-used elixirs into a new skill while also giving Wendy herself some more unique attributes instead of just being Abigail's mandatory sister. My idea was simple: The elixirs are useless on Abigail... But they would be useful if they affected Wendy. So here's my pitch for a way to give Wendy herself some needed love and revive a dead part of Wendy's kit: The Spectral Garland.

The item would make it so Abigail's elixir effects are shared with Wendy, giving Wendy some new and exciting changes. When the effects are shared, the duration of the elixir is halved, to balance and give the time-increasing skill on Wendy's tree more functionality. It could be inside the the Elixir Branch, so that you really have to commit to gain this advantage.

While using the Spectral Garland, Wendy gains the following effects based on what Elixir Abigail has:

-Revenant Restorative: Wendy gains a passive heal of 1 HP per second for half a day (which can be increased via Strong Brew), while Abigail recovers 2 HP per second at the same time.
-Spectral Cure-All: Wendy recovers 10 HP per second for 15 seconds, fully healing her, while Abigail heals 20 HP/s for 15 seconds for half her health in return. (Or Wendy could recover 5 HP while Abigail recovers for 15)
-Unyielding Draught: This one is the first one that's mostly useless for Abigail, so it should have a good effect on Wendy. My idea is that it makes Wendy share Abigail's shield, functioning like the Thulecite Crown shield, tanking a hit every so often, while also making Wendy unable to be stun-locked by Hordes, like Abigail's shield already does.
-Distilled Vengeance: It works like a Thorn damage, like Wormwood Bramble husk, dealing damage to mobs that attack the shield. 
-Nightshade Nostrum: This could go either way, or it's useless on Wendy, or it gives Wendy a flat damage increase. Either way, it should be balanced around the fact that if using it with Wendy the duration is halved.
-Vigor Mortis: This one would be fun, as it would give Wendy a 25% movement boost for half a day, while giving Abigail a 50%, literally making Wendy be able to have her own 'Walking Cane' but by using her sister as help.
-Gastly Experience: Should just give a Sanity boost or a flat HP heal when used.
-Cursed Vexation: Wendy gains the ability to also inflict the Vex on enemies, or it increases her damage on afflicted enemies. As this is a late-game item, the effect can go nuts.
-Luminous Wrath: Wendy gains a flat 10 Planar damage so that she can be more useful fighting Planar enemies.

This is just a basic idea that I had, so I'm free for feedback on how it could be balanced or if it would give Wendy the edge and differential she needs!

I love your idea.

I'm curious about how it is working the spectral garland. For me, it should be not as easy to craft, since Wendy and Abigail together increase the effect of elixirs (or something like that).

I was thinking for the spectral garland may be crafted with mourning glories, petals and a yellow gem (because this makes Wendy remembers her mother), and not to spoil but have a durability.

I'd love to have your feedback.