I thought I’d touch on how the buff system works in TCOS, seeing as it hasn’t been mentioned here and it is quite unique.

Under your HP bar you’ll notice 3 colored bars, Orange(run speed), Purple(damage) and Green(total attack speed). Now these 3 bars will most likely be partially filled. The more filled they get the more of a boost to that stat you get. I believe (please correct me here) that it can either be (+) or (-) 50% That stat. This means that a full purple bar will increase your damage by 50% and an empty green bar will mean you attack speed is slowed by 50%.

Ok simple right, The more bars the faster you fight and stronger you are.

Now to tie in PeP, or Personal experience. This is the bonus from killing mobs (capped currently at PeP level 5) You gain pep like normal experience (per kill you should get some fame(normal experience) and some PeP, until you hit the cap (think PeP level 9 if the final versions cap) When you die through npc’s you lose a chunk of PeP but not fame.

Starting at PeP level 2 (I believe) and occurring every 2 PeP levels, you will be awarded a boost to your 3 Buff bars. Meaning that in your normal state, having higher PeP levels, you will be running around with a boost to run speed, attack speed, and Damage output., until you die running off a cliff and loose a level or two.

Now for the tricky part with the buff system. Remember how the higher PeP level you are, the more bars you get across the 3 buff types? Well heres how combat and buffs works.

A good chunk of skills effect these buffs, A swing and a miss using this skill my deduct a little bar from you, while a successful hit will decrease 2 bars from your enemy while adding 1 bar to your stats. This adds a good amount of strategy when fighting npc’s and during pvp.

The best way I can describe it in pvp goes as follows:

A rogue type fights a mage type, both have equal PeP so both start with the same buff level. The rogue has skills that sucks away the mages attack speed, while boosting his (a few hits and the rogue has max attack speed and the mage has the minimum) At the same time the mage is dropping skills on the rogue that drain his damage output while maxing his own. So the end result is as follows…. The rogue is attacking extremely fast due to his skills, the mage is slow, the mage has drained the rogues damage output while maxing his. You end up with a high damage, slow attacking mage fighting a fast attack low dmg per hit rogue (sounds about right huh). Oh and these buff and debuff attacks are pretty much normal attacks, however there are a few enhancement skills that do no dmg, you’ll find that you high dmg skills will buff you and debuff your enemy upon a successful hit.

Ok kinda wordy but this system isn’t the norm as far as mmo buffs go. You wont find the buff class running around giving noobs +50 int for 30min buffs in this game. Buffs are earned though PeP or though combat.

Let me know your feelings on this buff system, if you like it or not. So far im liking it a lot.  Feel free to drop any questions regarding the buff system.

I'd say this is a pretty acurate assesment on buffs and debuffs .... theres also Heroic strikes and buffs to bump heroic damage outputs.. starter and finisher combo's all affect the stats some remove morale or physic some replace a majority.. it's all about the right balance. and the way it is used.

This game is purely down to how you build your skill deck.. specialy if you're a runemage..

LvL 18 runemage FUSIONX

 i like it a lot

i come originally from lineage2 where most people bough or botted 2nd account buffers to even play let alone pvp im absolutely happy how tcos handle the buffing issue.

im also having a blast twiddeling with my skilldeck, especially that of my deathhand (34/rogue) where i currently try to figure out if i rather do a lot of fast, low damage stabs to boost my attack speed or if mix it with dots and debuffs.

im also happy that the forums arent full of "this is the optimum xxx setup" because it really shows the complexity of the game and the chance to have your own playstyle. i cant wait for the arena system wich is prolly only a few weeks ahead where well see more of class balance and deck types in pvp.