Talk:Power Icons Legend

Hierarchy

Symbols have a hierarchy. If a power does damage and has a mez effect, the mez icon would be used.

If one effect of a power is much stronger than the other, the primary effect's icon is used. Frozen Armor provides defense and resistance, but the primary effect of the power is to provide defense. The defense symbol is used.

Control trumps buff/debuff trumps resist/defense trumps damage.

There are a couple of specific things that trump one another in the same general category.

Compound symbols (see below) trump standard icons.

Hold trumps disorient trumps sleep trumps immobilize.

Increase recharge speed (Hasten) trumps increase run speed (Swift).

Running trumps jumping trumps flying.

Healing trumps endurance.

Defense trumps resistance.

Damage trumps accuracy if the power's effect is equal.

Knockback/up/down sometimes trumps other control powers even when it is not the strongest effect.

Instant and Persistent Buffs and Debuffs

Buff/debuffs have two main types of symbols. One is an arc, the other is a triangle. Buff/debuffs with the triangle have an instant effect. Buffs/debuffs with an arc have persistant effects. A triangle or arc at the top of the icon means a buff. A triangle at the bottom of the icon means a debuff. The exchange symbol is only used when the two things being affected are the same. Powers that buff/debuff multiple aspects should be using the icons found in Powers like Equip Thugs, Tactical Upgrade and Serum. Usage of which icon depends on the strength of the buff/debuff.

Compound Symbols

A few of the symbols used in power icons are combinations of two or more icon graphics. Some of the best examples of this are the power icons for Unchain Essence (defeated plus damage), Invincibility (defense plus accuracy/to hit plus buff) and Shiver (slow recharge plus slow movement). Many, many of the powers currently in the game could use compound icons to replace the current graphic. For example, Dark Extraction could use the defeated plus single pet summon icon. Stygian Circle could use the defeated plus heal buff icon.

Icon Table

Icon Type	Icon Example	Notes
Buff, Accuracy	File:.png	Persistent accuracy or tohit buff.
Buff, Damage	File:.png	Persistent damage buff.
Buff, Defense	File:.png	Persistent defense buff.
Buff, Defense, Area of Effect	File:.png	Persistent buff to area of effect defense.
Buff, Defense, Energy and Negative Energy	File:.png	Persistent buff to energy and negative energy defense.
Buff, Defense, Fire and Cold	File:.png	Persistent buff to fire and cold defense.
Buff, Defense, Melee	File:.png	Persistent buff to melee defense.
Buff, Defense, Psionic	File:.png	Persistent buff to psionic defense.
Buff, Defense, Ranged	File:.png	Persistent buff to ranged defense.
Buff, Defense, Smashing and Lethal	File:.png	Persistent buff to smashing and lethal defense.
Buff, Defense and To-Hit	File:.png	To-Hit and defense granting buff.
Buff, Hit Points	File:.png	Hit point granting buff.
Buff, Hit Points, Defeated	File:.png	Hit point granting buff that requires a defeated target.
Buff, Hit Points, Timed	File:.png	Hit point buff for a fixed period of time.
Buff, Endurance	File:.png	Endurance granting buff.
Buff, Instant	File:.png	A buff that provides an instant benefit.
Buff, Jump, Height	File:.png	Jump height buff.
Buff, Mega	File:.png	Potent buff to multiple attributes with trade-offs after power expires.
Buff, Multiple	File:.png	Persistent buff to multiple attributes.
Buff, Multiple, Defeated	File:.png	Persistent buff to multiple attributes that requires a defeated target.
Buff, Persistent	File:.png	A buff that remains after the power has activated.
Buff, Range	File:.png	Persistent range buff.
Buff, Recharge	File:.png	Buff that increases the recharge speed of a targets' powers.
Buff, Recovery	File:.png	Persistent recovery buff.
Buff, Regeneration	File:.png	Persistent regeneration buff.
Buff, Run Speed	File:.png	Increases the run speed of a power.
Buff, Secondary Effects	File:.png	Buffs heals, defense buffs, endurance drains, disorients, holds, immobilizes, knockbacks and more.
Buff, Summoned	File:.png	Buff that only works on a summoned henchman or pet.
Confusion	File:.png	Confuse control effect.
Damage	File:.png	Damage power.
Damage, Assassin's Strike	File:.png	An interuptable melee power that does extra damage when hidden.
Damage, Chaining	File:.png	A power that does damage to one target and has the chance "jump" to do damage to another target.
Damage, Defeated	File:.png	Power that requires a defeated target to work.
Damage, Extreme	File:.png	Power with extreme damage.
Damage, Melee, Heavy	File:.png	Power with heavy melee damage.
Damage, Melee, Minor	File:.png	Power with minor melee damage.
Damage, Melee, Moderate	File:.png	Power with moderate melee damage.
Damage, Melee, Over Time	File:.png	Melee power that does damage over time.
Damage, Melee, Superior	File:.png	Power with superior melee damage.
Damage, Over Time	File:.png	Power that does damage over time.
Damage, Ranged, Heavy	File:.png	Ranged damage power that does heavy damage.
Damage, Ranged, Minor, Fast	File:.png	Minor damage ranged power that has a recharge of fast.
Damage, Ranged, Minor, Very Fast	File:.png	Minor damage ranged power that has a recharge of very fast.
Damage, Ranged, Moderate	File:.png	Ranged damage power that does moderate damage.
Damage, Ranged, Short	File:.png	Ranged damage power with decreased range.
Damage, Ranged, Sniper	File:.png	An interuptable ranged damage power with increased range.
Damage, Weapon	File:.png	Power that creates a weapon from one of the four classic elements (air, earth, fire, ice).
Damage, Weapon, Greater	File:.png	Power that creates a superior weapon from one of the four classic elements (air, earth, fire, ice).
Debuff, Accuracy	File:.png	Accuracy or to-hit debuff.
Debuff, Damage	File:.png	Persistent damage debuff.
Debuff, Defense	File:.png	Persistent defense debuff.
Debuff, Endurance	File:.png	Endurance debuff.
Debuff, Hit Points	File:.png	Hit point debuff.
Debuff, Mez	File:.png	Debuff to control-type powers..
Debuff, Multiple	File:.png	Debuff to multiple attributes.
Debuff, Perception	File:.png	Persistent perception debuff.
Debuff, Recovery	File:.png	Persistent recovery debuff.
Debuff, Regeneration	File:.png	Persistent regeneration debuff.
Debuff, Resistance	File:.png	Persistent resistance debuff.
Disorient	File:.png	Disorient control effect.
Effect Over Time	File:.png	A power that has an effect over a period of time.
Endurance	File:.png	Endurance related power.
Exchange	File:.png	A power that exchanges the same attribute between caster and target..
Fear	File:.png	Fear control effect.
Fly	File:.png	Flight related power.
Force Bubble	File:.png	Power that prevents foes from entering and remaining in melee range.
Hold	File:.png	Hold control effect.
Immobilize	File:.png	Immobilization control effect.
Intangibility	File:.png	Intangibility related power.
Invisibility	File:.png	Power that causes invisibility.
Jump, Distance	File:.png	Jump distance power.
Jump, Height	File:.png	Jump height power.
Knockback	File:.png	Knockback related power.
Knockdown	File:.png	Knockdown related power.
Knockup	File:.png	Knockup related power.
Mez	File:.png	Control related power.
Placate	File:.png	Placate related power.
Resistance	File:.png	Damage resistance related power.
Resistance, Cold	File:.png	Power that provides cold resistance.
Resistance, Energy	File:.png	Power that provides energy resistance.
Resistance, Energy and Negative Energy	File:.png	Power that provides energy and negative energy resistance.
Resistance, Fire and Cold	File:.png	Power that provides fire and cold resistance.
Resistance, Negative Energy	File:.png	Power that provides negative energy resistance.
Resistance, Mez	File:.png	Power that provides protection from control-type effects.
Resistance, Psionic	File:.png	Power that provides psionic resistance.
Resistance, Smashing and Lethal	File:.png	Power that provides smashing and lethal resistance.
Ressurection	File:.png	Power that revives a fallen character.
Shapeshift	File:.png	Power that shifts form.
Sleep	File:.png	Sleep control effect.
Slow, Movement	File:.png	Movement-slowing power.
Slow, Recharge	File:.png	Power that increases target's recharge time.
Slow, Recharge and Movement	File:.png	Power that increases the recharge time and decreases the movement speed of the target(s).
Stealth	File:.png	Power that provides stealth to the target.
Summon	File:.png	Power that summons a pet or henchman.
Summon, Buff, Multiple	File:.png	Power that provides a buff to multiple attributes of a pet or henchman.
Summon, Equip	File:.png	Power that provides a moderate increase to the capabilities of a pet or henchman.
Summon, Extraction	File:.png	Summons one pet or henchman from a defeated target.
Summon, Fear	File:.png	Summons or upgrades a pet or henchman with fear abilities.
Summon, Multiple	File:.png	Summons a large number of pets.
Summon, One Ally	File:.png	Summons one pet or henchman.
Summon, Placate	File:.png	Summons a pet or henchman with placate abilities.
Summon, Taunt	File:.png	Summons a pet or henchman with taunt abilities.
Summon, Three Allies	File:.png	Summons three pets or henchmen.
Summon, Two Allies	File:.png	Summons two pets or henchmen.
Summon, Upgrade	File:.png	Power that provides further increase to the capabilities of a pet or henchman.
Taunt	File:.png	Taunt related power.
Teleportation, Self	File:.png	Power that teleports the character from one location to another without physically touching the space in-between.
Teleportation, Group	File:.png	Power that teleports a group or ally from one location to another.
Teleportation, Target	File:.png	Power that teleports a foe from one location to another.

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Notes

Icons Explained.

Control/Mez icons: Almost all of these you'll be familiar with as they are the same graphic used on a training enhancement. A few exceptions and some unique icons (Force Bubble, Telekinesis, Wormhole) are out there.

Buff and Debuff icons: Buff/debuffs have 2 types of symbols. One is an arc, the other is a triangle. Buff/debuffs with the triangle have an instant effect. For example, Healing Aura gives you hit points. Buffs/debuffs with an arc have persistant effects. For example, Recovery Aura increases your recovery rate for a period of time. A triangle or arc at the top of the icon means a buff. A triangle at the bottom of the icon means a debuff. The exchange symbol is somewhat ambiguous. The way I conceive it, the exchange symbol is only used when the two things being affected are the same. For example, in Absorb Pain caster loses hit points, target gains hit points. Usage is correct. Dark Consumption target loses hit points, caster gains endurance. Usage incorrect. Powers that buff/debuff multiple aspects should be using the icons found in Powers like Equip Thugs, Tactical Upgrade and Serum. Usage of which icon depends on the strength of the buff/debuff.

Resistance icons: The basic resist symbol is the icon used on the training enhancement. There are no resistance buffs used in the iconography. All resistance is assumed to have a buffing effect. Resistance debuff could certainly be a valid symbol, using the downward arc described above. Resistance icons have variations depending on what type of resistance they provide. Temp Invulnerability uses smashing/lethal, Resist Elements uses fire/cold, Resist Energy uses energy/negative energy and Minerals uses a psionic resistance symbol. The symbol for increased resistance to mez effects is used in powers like Unyeilding and Rooted.

Defense icons: The basic defense symbol is a shield. Flavors currently exsist for melee, ranged and AoE defense. Missing are icons for the different types of damage (smash/lethal/fire/cold/toxic/energy/negative energy/psionic). If we used the same symbology as resistance, we could have the flavor of defense on top of the shield symbol and it would be more clear how each defense power functions. A boost to your current mez defense is the symbol used by Clarity.

Melee icons: Any power that does damage could use the icon found on the training enhancement. I consider it the default damage icon. Melee icons have three tiers depending on how much damage they do. Look at Brawl, Punch and Haymaker for examples of tiers 1, 2 and 3. Barrage uses the icon for melee damage over time. The extreme damage symbol used on Nova can also be added into this category. A few more icons exsist such as assassin's strike, elemental weapon, greater elemental weapon and chain-type powers that are used only in certain specific powers.

Ranged icons: Once again, any power that does damage could use the icon found on the training enhancement. The extreme damage symbol used on Nova is part of this category. There are four tiers of standard ranged damage. Only powers with a recharge time of "Very Fast" should use the tier 0 ranged icon as in the power Nuetrino Bolt. Small, medium and large powers use the other ranged icons that appear as skinny, normal and thick beams and I call them Tier 1, 2 and 3. Sniper powers have a unique icon. Short range powers have a unique icon like the one found on the Power Burst icon.

Pet icons: Any power that is a pet or henchman, or effects only a pet or henchman should have a ring at the bottom. If a pet has a specific power effect (taunt or fear) that icon should replace the rising sphere on most of the pet icons. The number of pets summoned should be the number of rising spheres found on the power icon. The pet power icons should be used only when the power summons something that can be killed. Voltaic Sentinal is not a pet, Gun Drone is.

Form icons: Icons should be used when you actually shift forms. Kheldian Nova and Dwarf powers use this icon. IMO, Granite should use this as well.

New Icons Needed In thinking about this, I found the game really, really needs some additional icons not currently used but are consistent with existing iconography. Flavored defense and resistance debuffs are desperately needed, imo.