Exposing the RoBF (in General)

Hi all. I've done some testing into how the RoBF works. For the duration of my tests, my RoBF was 86,970.

My First test was on the returned Melee Splash damage. I used tow subjects, 'Rumiades' and 'The Death Dealer', both had only one tank per team, with no AC or other reduction to lower the splah damage.

I recorded 50 results. I can post them all if you really want.

Average returned damage was 11,730 or 13.5% of my tattoo level.

Next, I looked at the FB reduction. For this, I used the charcater 'PureChoas' and recorded 25 results without the tattoo, 25 with. Only melee damage was recorded.

Average damage taken without the tattoo was 20,371.

Average damage taken with the tattoo was 7,443.

The Difference between the two is 12,928 or 14.9% of tattoo level.

More testing would clarify the numbers, but I'd assume that 15% of the RoBF level is a nice place to guess both Melee Splash and FB reduction.

I think the FB reduction is a fixed amount, when facing lower FBs you can reduce damage to zero.

This would explain the lower percentage from the melee slpash, the damage inflicted is random over a range.

Later on, I'll fight Hubbell for a while, to see if the RoBF is overpowered at all, but I can't be bothered right now. ;)

So the wiki is wrong in that RoBF no longer absorbs fire damage, it merely reduces it?

no, it absorbs a set amount according to the tattoo level, or just a set amount.

the wiki explanation is pretty clear.


"Protects against fire. Approximately 10% of tattoo level is absorbed per battle.(Meaning if you can absorb 10K damage and take 10K in the first round you no longer absorb anymore.)"

so usually it all happens in the first round of combat which is pretty crappy. when you look at this the ToE is much, much better as it gives reduced damage throughout the whole fight.

this is right unless i'm forgetting something.

I was actually kind of surprised no one took the tank buff to heart.

RoBF, GA, AS, and EC would get the tank down a bit, give YOU time, and kick the cow out of a tank. Of course a mage or tank could be added to kill non-attacking member of their team.

Maybe not perfect, but I think doing up to 75% damage back to a tank is pretty insane.

according to the changelog

"RBF does about 30% more damage than it did, and absorbs about 10% more FB "


and the wiki says this:

# Damages melee attackers that hit, with fire. (similar to Guardian Angel) Damage returned seems to be about 10% tattoo level, pre-AC, etc. reduction. Damages attacker with every blow they deal.
# Protects against fire. Approximately 10% of tattoo level is absorbed per battle.(Meaning if you can absorb 10K damage and take 10K in the first round you no longer absorb anymore.)

i know it hasn't been updated because the last update was before the change. I was going to update it, but i don't think i understood it correctly.

how i see it, is it reflects 40% physical and absorbs 20% FB damage, but that physical damage is pretty insane.

now someone with more than half a brain, not myself. can make use of this and tell us if it's true :)

30% more of 10% is 13%, not 40.

as I read it, 30% more from previous damage. Not an added 30%.

So really it would be about 13.3% reflection instead of 10%.

see, i told you i can't read, lol.

well we can update that to 13%.

update update update!

I still wish Jon would make Jiggy better too. Give it ranged and woot!!

But maybe the RoBF could be upgraded a bit. I mean think about it, it IS a tattoo!!! It has to at least compete with the rest. All the other ones are better, including Jiggy. So I mean... pump it up! rofl

too much sugar for GW, :P.

he already did and it was a couple of months ago.

IF plainly sucks along with this. but so does everything in the store, lol.

we don't see anything happening to them.

My experience pertains to a RoBF lvl 190k. I'd agree that something slightly over 10 percent of the tattoo level is the extent of protection.

In melee, the physical attack on the minion wearing the tattoo causes retaliation to 10 percent of tattoo level, roughly. When the other minions are attacked, this is reduced to a quarter. Thus, while the tattoo wearer can retaliate with 16k damage, the other minions retaliate only with 4k damage.

Overall, my experience with the RoBF has been eminently positive. I have a named RoE in addition, which is useful for harvesting EXP, but some teams that I can beat with the RoBF easily defeat me in this config.

I use RoBF in combination with Decay on that minion and the AoI. Comes useful in targeting DM + FB teams.

It's not a bad strategy chuck, but as more and more teams are switching to tanks it may not pay off. Especially considering a single tank pretty easy itself.

ToA, pop a weapon, BL, and BAM more powerful then any mage and only slightly more expensive. The RoBF isn't bad, but why not RoS a base GA on the same minion? Or base AS? I mean, sorry, but thats the best technique. I think lol. And yes I had about 20 m & m's today lol. WAYYY too much for moi.

"So the wiki is wrong in that RoBF no longer absorbs fire damage, it merely reduces it?"

Absorb/reduce, it's the same thing, different terminology. ;) You don't gain anything from facing fire damage, only lower the damage done to you.

So it would seem (if only from the 30%/10% increase that the two values are different.

I'd then plump for 13% Returned damage and 15% FB reduction. :)

Much more testing would make sure. ;)