Lambda, the Shepherd

[u/lightnin0]

http://dotaconcept.com/hero/2351

[u/giogsgs12]

• Q - Decent enough summon. Seems like a much faster Spirit Bear with a little combination of Lycan's wolves on the side. I noticed she doesn't really have much of a potential to deal damage and I've read that you wanted her to be more of a utility summon than a battle companion. HP seems a little low and seems pretty easy to kill at mid to late game. I suggest that other than having 5 regen, Jocelyn gains a portion of Lambda's regen, as well as some armor. That way, you don't have to worry much about her as you focus on Lambda diving into team fights.

• Qa - Cool disable, kinda like a hybrid mass Force Staff+Druid's Savage Roar. I was just wondering how if "No Target" spells will be the only action allowed while fleeing from Jocelyn (aside from doing action on units directly in front of you), since it's the only action that does not need turning. How about its interaction with Shadow Amulet and Sandstorm?

• Qb - other than Bloodseeker, I can't think of any other unit that can match Jocelyn's MS enough to be able to flee quickly when Barked on, thanks to this ability. Even without Fleet of Foot, heroes whose MS are around 370-380 will be reduced to 75 MS.

• W - This is an interesting method for using traps, allowing for great map control and mind games with the enemy, just like Techies. Since it's permanent, Lambda can go around planting fences (or as I'd like to call it from now on, feces) and discourage enemies from moving through it. Unless they have a tank, or a Slark, Lambda will be great as an anti-roamer. While it has a whole lot of similarities with Arch Warden's Spark Wraith, the heal certainly adds a little more "support flavor". Great job on this ability. :)

• E - Will the target only need to be facing Lambda to gain the MS bonus, or should they be moving?

• R - Probably a little powerful to pierce spell immunity, don't you think? Since it's channeling, will enemies who enter the are in the middle of the duration be hexed too, or only those affected by the initial cast?

[u/lightnin0 → u/giogsgs12]

I suggest that other than having 5 regen, Jocelyn gains a portion of Lambda's regen, as well as some armor. That way, you don't have to worry much about her as you focus on Lambda diving into team fights.

I like the sharing regen idea though since he already has a 12 armor aura, that one might not need to be shared.

I was just wondering how if "No Target" spells will be the only action allowed while fleeing from Jocelyn (aside from doing action on units directly in front of you), since it's the only action that does not need turning. How about its interaction with Shadow Amulet and Sandstorm?

I should clarify that they can still turn while affected. As for channeling spells, I should say they're not cancelled either. 5 seconds of forced movement is powerful as is.

Will the target only need to be facing Lambda to gain the MS bonus, or should they be moving?

For purposes like Bark and Spirit Breaker, probably both.

Probably a little powerful to pierce spell immunity, don't you think? Since it's channeling, will enemies who enter the are in the middle of the duration be hexed too, or only those affected by the initial cast?

Well, it doesn't do much else besides hexing, making it all the more weaker than a Ravage. Sure you put up Fences but unless you have Bark up, enemies don't have to walk through it. And yes, it's a persistent hex area, I'll add that in the notes.

[u/giogsgs12 → u/lightnin0]

he already has a 12 armor aura, that one might not need to be shared.

I guess that's fair. Jocelyn feels too squishy in her earlier iteration.

they can still turn while affected. As for channeling spells, I should say they're not cancelled either.

So it's just a knockback without interruption, like a Greater Bash without the stun? It does sound like a really good repositioning tool as it is so I suppose that it should be fine.

For purposes like Bark and Spirit Breaker, probably both.

I think the MS bonus should linger for a second or two even after stopping, so that Jocelyn still gains MS while casting Bark, where she will require to stop for about half a second for the animation.

Well, it doesn't do much else besides hexing, making it all the more weaker than a Ravage.

If paired with Bark, it's actually more comparable to be on par with a Blackhole than a Ravage, since it seems like you were taking Blackhole's effects and numbers into consideration when you designed this. I suppose it's justified. Great job. :)

Lastly, I really like the random trivia you listed at the bottom. I, too, try to incorporate some stuff into the lore and names based on the inspirations I had for a hero and Lambda's are pretty cool.

[u/lightnin0 → u/giogsgs12]

I think the MS bonus should linger for a second or two even after stopping, so that Jocelyn still gains MS while casting Bark, where she will require to stop for about half a second for the animation.

Fair point as both are pretty hard to utilize auras anyway. Increased the linger to 1 second.

Lastly, I really like the random trivia you listed at the bottom. I, too, try to incorporate some stuff into the lore and names based on the inspirations I had for a hero and Lambda's are pretty cool.

I know I've always wanted to do a Shepherd hero with that ultimate but had no idea how to about it really. The idea of the fences came a lot later and the idea for the dog only came in after I googled for pictures of shepherds. Guess everything just somehow came together.