To properly balance Invigorating Icon without nerfing it to the ground I believe the Banner itself should also be reworked at the same time.
My suggestion is to make base (without any perks) Chapter Banner regenerate up to 45% of max hp in contested health over time and stop contested health deterioration. The regeneration rate could be 5%/s, so you'd have to stay in the area of the banner for 9 seconds to get full 45% max hp in contested health. This synergizes perfectly with current armour over time regeneration and the overall theme of the Chapter Banner - Stay together and FIGHT, Marines, FOR THE EMPEROR!. This effect could also synergize with the 300% increased armor regen perk, boosting the cHP regen to 20%/s (still up to 45% per ability cast)
Then, the Invigorating Icon perk could instantly regenerate 35% max hp in contested health upon casting the ability (same amount as Stims). It will still be a very strong perk, offering a healing equivalent to one stim, and it wouldn't need any cooldown nerfs at all. If it feels underwhelming, the % could be boosted.
The total healing would be 80% of max hp if you take the perk (down from 100%, as it's just too strong compared to other healing sources in game, but the % could be easily adjusted to balance the strength of both ability and the perk)
The perk in the same column could be then changed to provide a more meaningful choice when picking between them and the Icon. The perks I would suggest adding are:
A) -20% cooldown for the Banner, B) The banner heals wounds on cast if you're full HP, but regenerates 15% less contested health (30% of max hp).
What are the benefits of this approach?
1. The healing mechanic would be a part of the Bulwark's kit from level 1, so new players will be able to learn how to play with it and utilize it properly, instead of being introduced to healing with banner at level 23 (if they take the perk)
2. The game will no longer force us to take Invigorating Icon to have healing on the Banner. This will allow for more varied builds, and not taking Invigorating Icon will no longer feel as if you just lost one of your main and most important tools on Bulwark, because even if YOU as the one playing the Bulwark feel that you don't need this perk, your allies will surely expect you to have it and pressure you in case you don't take it. The new perks would further increase the viability of alternate builds.
3. This will make the ability and the perk easily balanceable by adjusting cHP%
4. This change will be more forgiving for all players, as you won't need to be in the AOE when casting to regenerate the base 45% max hp in chp.
5. This change will let you sustain your contested hp for the duration of the banner, meaning you have a more forgiving window of opportunity to make use of it, even if someone takes the finisher kill from you that you wanted to regen your health with.
6. This will change how and when the banner is used. The players will no longer feel pressured to hold off on using the banner until someone is low hp in their team, they will be able to use it much more proactively in more varied situations.
Invigorating Icon & Base Banner rework
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Rychlas
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Feb 12, 2025, 5:43:47 PM
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