So I just started a run where for the first time my character with Aerotheurge is actually a full-int caster, instead of just using Aero as a utility school. Naturally I've tried to pull some combos with Elemental Affinity, only to have some very strange experiences with electrical surfaces. After doing a bit of testing I think I've worked out why this is, but honestly it's just left me with more questions.
I think at some point during the beta, people were exploiting electrified surfaces because an enemy without magic armor in electrified water would become stunned when they move- so the AI decides to sit there and do nothing. As of now, shocked surfaces only last until they "discharge," or so to speak. Essentially a shocked surface becomes non-shocked in one of two ways: either the 2-turn timer runs out (almost never), or it shocks a character. As soon as the surface shocks a single character, anywhere, it'll promptly become non-electrified. You'll only see large electrified surfaces when everybody still has magic armor and nobody has Glass Cannon- because as soon as a single person looses their magic armor, the pool will always just instantly discharge.
This change was likely implemented to deal with that kind of exploit. However... it presents some serious frustration for serious aerotheurges. Attempting to figure out whether your nuke will electrify a pool or not is very confusing, as often it'll instantly discharge by shocking an enemy or a friend on the other side of the fight. Most annoying, however, is how difficult it makes it to utilize Air-based elemental affinity. Generating and maintaining an electrified surface is near-impossible after the first turn or two of a fight, due to this mechanic... was this intentional? Is there a reason that air surfaces behave so strangely?
