I have a couple of ideas regarding this skill being altered to potentially make it, and the item associated with it, more useful/attractive for myself or other pet build users. These range from relatively small changes to completely changing the entire skill’s concept. Of course, I have no background in game development, nor do I have any idea about modifying the game files to implement this idea myself. I just wanted to share what was on my mind while I was playing the game earlier today.
1.Increase the speed of the projectiles of the Rift Scourge
This could help it improve it’s DPS, while also allowing it to have a greater impact on the fight so it isn’t completely outshined by other ranged pets like Summon Skeleton(Archers) or the Summon Familiar. By having the projectiles close the distance faster, without altering the damage or the properties of the pet’s auto attack, it could also give them a greater opportunity to proc any potential Devotion skills tied to it as well.
2.Change the Rift Scourge pet from a ranged attacker to a melee attacker
Another pet that can close the distance and draw aggro for the summoner would be pretty awesome, similar to how the Crab Spirit summon works, with it’s own caveats so as to not make it a clone of the mighty crab. I foresee some changes would have to be made to its kit; perhaps a Blitz ability to help it close the distance faster towards distant enemies, replacing the Acid Spit auto attack with a claw swipe that deals acid/physical damage while keeping it’s Poison Nova for AOE. Or perhaps a retaliation passive that replaces the Poison Nova instead that emits a wave of acid similar to how the Stormscale Rift Scourge enemy emits a wave of lightning when attacked.
At the moment, while I adore the pet and its current abilities, I find that it is an underperformer when compared to some of the other itemized pet summon skills that already exist in the game. Having the Rift Scourge be changed to any of the above ideas would be fantastic, especially if the second idea was implemented so it could look more like the melee Rift Scourge enemies encountered throughout the game already. However, I would not want this post to be misconstrued as me having a serious dislike for this game or it’s mechanics, as this post of mine comes from a place of love for everything that is Grim Dawn.
Thank you for your time. 