Feedback:User/XxxTenebraexxX/Umbral Embrace (Stealth Mechanic?)

This is my attempt at a fair, and balanced, version of stealth for whatever Assassin-type class you all go with. I hope you like.

Umbral Embrace

Umbral Embrace causes the Assassin to phase into, what could best be described, as the shadow of Tyria. A dark reflection of the real world, this existence seems to be devoid of life...a cold barren existence in which the Assassin can use to traverse great distances unhindered. However, this process isn't without it's faults.

Everything within the physical world spiritually touches upon this existence, and though vegetation, insects, and other small creatures don't pose any problems...considerable sized animals and entities tend to cause an effect which pulls the Assassin back into the physical realm. Most have learned to effectively remain amongst the shadows despite this problem, paying close attention to when the ethereal blue aura of an individual presents itself...signifying that they're too close. If they venture further to the source, they'll be torn from this land of shadow back into Tyria...but if they back away, the process will cease...leaving the Assassin to continue on its way.

There are rumors that this existence possess otherworldly creatures...ravenous beasts that seek out any who dare enter this dark existence. For now, however, these tale tales remain no more than myth spread by those wishing to cease the practice of traversal into this domain...for reasons yet unknown.

The Etherial Aura:

Although unseen within the physical realm, every hostile creature, NPC, player, and significant lifeform, aside from non-sentient plant life, possesses an aura.

This aura tends to interact with any Tyrian amongst the dark reflection, pulling them back where they belong. Although this obviously poses a problem for Assassins wishing to traverse these lands, the effect isn't immediate...the distortion relies upon proximity to the source.

The following diagram will explain.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/XxxTenebraexxX/Stealth.jpg

4: This area represents the dark reflection of Tyria, in which the Assassin can enter through the use of Shadow magic.

3: This area represents the proximity in which the ethereal aura of a significant life form appears, a result of their presence interacting with that of the Assassin. This aura looks like a featureless ghost-like apparition of the being...bluish in appearance.

When an Assassin has entered into this area of influence, they'll be seen as a shadowy featureless mass within the real world of Tyria. This has thwarted many assassination attempts by the inexperienced utilizing this form of traversal.

2: This area represents the proximity in which the Assassin is pulled out of the dark existence, forcing them into the realm of Tyria once again.

1: This dot represents the source, any significant lifeform in which projects an aura.

Visuals of the Ability:

I imagine that, when utilizing this ability, shadowy essence seems to materialize out of nowhere, being sucked into the Assassin and enveloping them before they vanish without a trace. Almost as though they were imploding into shadow.

The aura of significant lifeforms within the dark reflection of Tyria would be a bluish ethereal manifestation of their physical form, ghostly in appearance and flickering as though made of mist or other wispy substance. They would be fairly featureless, but solid enough to make out which race the entity belongs to.

Within Tyria, the Assassin would appear as an ethereal shadowy black mass, also visually manifest enough to reveal the race.

Dark Reflection of Tyria:

The dark reflection of Tyria would look exactly like its physical tether...were it consumed by shadow and darkness. This land seems devoid of life, a dark barren existence in which chills you to the bone... With skies of churning darkness, and featureless landscapes...many have gone mad from prolonged exposure to this realm of sorrow.

Balance:

-Duration of the ability would be subject to balance. I can see this ability being permanent until canceled or interacting with another's aura...but this may not be balanced within the game. So, it's subject to balance...we can't know until it's tested out within the game environment.

-Assassins within this dark reflection would not see those within Tyria unless they were within close enough proximity (3 in the diagram).

-In turn, those within Tyria will not see the Assassin unless they have entered into close enough proximity. (3 in the diagram).

-Either player can exceed the stage 3 proximity to force the cancellation of the "stealth". This makes it all a cat and mouse game if one accidentally spies the other.

Reasons for the Ability:

In my eyes, it would be fun and potentially very effective for the Assassin. Granted, you can't really see where these players are until you're up close...but once you are, this then becomes a very deadly game of cat and mouse between you and the target. The two of you getting prepared and trying to place yourselves to best take out the other. In turn, if they don't see you coming...it grants a great surprise when you finally materialize behind them.

It also doesn't allow you to really escape engaging enemies due to the manner in which it's designed. They're still there, you can still run into them, but it's going to be accidental rather than due to a aggro or player seeing you. Also, this should have a decent cooldown so players can't simply vanish amiss combat.

Side Note:

I haven't really decided on if Assassins can see eachother when they're both within this dark reflection of Tyria. That, unto itself, might provide the greatest form of balance...Assassins being able to hunt other Assassins within this alternate dimension. That may even further warrant allowing this ability to be permanent rather than have a limited duration in which you can remain within the darker reality.

Subject to Balance:

Many on Guild Wars 2 Guru expressed that the inability to see your enemies until you were within proximity (3) made the entire concept a bit underpowered. I, personally, don't feel that this would be too bad a thing, seeing as how I have a decent amount of experience as a Rogue in WoW and engaging stealthed enemies while I was stealthed. This feature would, essentially, be exactly like these battles between two stealthed Rogues...which were actually quite fun.

However, I would prefer what they do as well...being able to see the aura of Tyrians within this Dark Reflection of Tyria even while outside of their aura's influence. So, subject to balance, I would suggest that Tyrians are an extremely faint and subtle variant of their aura until you enter into their area of influence (Proximity 3)...which causes their aura to flare up and become more vibrant. This permits Assassins to see their target if they look hard enough...and then deal with the Aura upon reaching them. In turn, the ability remains balanced due to the aura of influence around the Tyrian. An Assassin can not attack any Tyrian until they enter Proximity (2) and are thus made coporial within the physical realm once more...being torn from the dark dimension.

However, I personally feel that this would be subject to balance and definetly not nessisary to make the concept a fair, and fun, variant of stealth. I hope you devs agree...I miss being able to stalk my prey.