I agree! Shackes are super annoying, but they require the target to be stripped of PA, so it seems it's more useful to the AI... When the AI uses it against me, I use two counters 1) Cryostasis: it works for 1 round, so I focus the shackler. 2) More Shackles: casting shackes of pain on a shacked character, breaks the previous shackles, albeit giving your enemies the chance of damaging two of your guys at the same time; I use it if I just want to prevent a large amount of damage to the shacked and I don't have cryostasis... I never tried using the shackled character to shackle the shackler, but it should be interesting...
That's pretty ingenious use of Cryostasis, never thought of it, thanks! Lol.
I've tested some things with SoP and the mechanics/behavior of the AI. Note: Normal mode, tactician may have different results.
Scenario 1.
AI applies SoP on your character. AI will choose one of the following:
1. Continue attacking character with SoP effect with no deviation from typical AI behavior.
2. Attack the AI character that applied SoP provided that they have either Armor/MA for additional damage. The latter is usually done if the AI considers no other damage alternative, or see's a way to cause bonus damage with an AoE.
Scenario 2.
AI applies SoP on your character.
Character's turn; applies SoP on the AI that applied SoP on said character earlier. AI will then choose to attack another target, usually the next weakest in party.
AI will continue attacking the character that applied the SoP on the AI if one or more of the following conditions are met:
1. All other player party members are dead/play dead/ invulnerable, aside from the one applying SoP on AI.
2. All player characters have applied SoP on AI. Will proceed to attack the weakest member of party.
3. The character that had applied the SoP is near death, and the AI will risk attacking/killing the players character.
Another interesting mechanic for SoP is that you cannot attach more than 1 SoP on the same character until the duration is over. Maybe it was a bit obvious that you couldn't stack it, but I'd like to think it'd make fights a bit easier for bosses that relied on AoE such as the Corpse of Alice.
I really do wish, however, that SoP can be removed with abilities like Bless or Mass Cleanse Wounds. Something that gives the player/AI more options on how to deal with this ability. Or do as you do, because I have yet to see the AI apply Cryostasis on itself to prevent the damage.
Edit - Also, in scenario 1 where I mentioned the AI will attack itself for the bonus damage provided the AI character has Armor/MA, I think anything that deals direct vitality damage would trigger the SoP effect, rather than taking overall damage from anything would overall help balance SoP to be a bit more fair.
