State of the Game: Izzy and Ensign chat

That state of the game article needs fisticuffs at the end.
With really cool music in the background.

And not once did they mention a single aspect of balancing PvE. Hell, they've practically discouraged class diversity in PvE! Nerfing of Sin skills like shadow form, most paragon skills, and more recently the ranger skill splinter arrow has left elite missions only allowing the so called "grail" classes. And you can't just say "ursan" and assume PvE is balanced... it doesn't work that way. Half the fun of PvE is playing a build that requires an amount of skill. I would like to see some PvE players on Izzy's feedback group.
And yes, I am on the bandwagon that shouts "PvP balances affecting PvE". But to be honest, they have. If you are an Assassin, or a Ranger, or similar, you will find a hard time getting teams for HM unless you are in a guild now, or decide to play ursan. Its a fact, not some stereotype. I don't want to see overpowered skills... I just want to see a bunch of my skills that I can't use in PvE because of their uselessness as a possibility in builds.

lol

The problem isn't the classes, it's the fact that a lot of players don't realize that a lot of things not in the Holy trinity or ursanway are also good. A mesmer can make a lot of areas a lot easier. But wammos have never heard of mesmers.

That is because different designers handle balancing PVE. Izzy balances PvP, and Ensign is a PvP volunteer moderator for a fan website.

If you went to a lecture on particle physics, would you be upset if they did not talk about organic chemistry?

Class diversity has more to do with mechanics of PvE, rather than the actual skills. Mesmers see a lot of play in PvP, but much less so in PvE because what they bring to the table (single-target shutdown) isn't terribly useful compared to someone who can just kill whatever's troubling you. Assassins, again, are very effective in PvP, but since they kill things only one at a time, you're better off bringing something that can blow up mobs with AoE. Rangers and Paragons are, and have always been effective in PvE. Whether or not they're wanted in pugs has nothing to do skill balance and all to do with pug leaders who are bad at the game.

But you say you don't want to see overpowered skills. Is having a minute of invincibility somewhat overpowered even in PvE (or infinite, if you bring Mimicry + someone else)? Or doing 1000 total damage per hit with pre-nerf Splinter Weapon? And you say you want to play skillful builds. Perhaps the former requires a little bit of timing, but I don't see how Barraging mobs is skillful.

Izzy and I 'yell at each other', as he puts it, quite a bit. This particular occasion just happened to be recorded, condensed, and sanitized. Even if the final version does smell of PR and 'what we already know', I'd like to point out that this is at least official confirmation of 'what we already know'. I'd like to remind you that there has historically been a wall of silence from A.Net's official face on these matters. Even with a heavy dose of sanitizer, it's still a move towards more transparency.

We do talk about PvE balance on occasion. It just simply not a high priority, as unlike the competitive community, the PvE community as a whole reviles balance. PvE balance is more a matter of politics; how much community unrest can you absorb for the sake of making the game better? That conflict has made PvE balance very slow at A.Net, where they are very sensitive to the PvE community.

because you have to press button 1 for [skill]Splinter Weapon[/skill] THEN button 2 for [skill]Barrage[/skill].... It's not just a mindless 1 button spam like SF was....

Thought everyone knew this

Problem is that there is still a mass majority of skills that need to be retooled, and not just the useful ones either. I mean there has been plenty of threads those skills who have been left behind to their front runners. Yes, some build combinations that can enhance the terrible skills for a more moderate to use. Nevertheless there is just good majority that will never see “the light of day,” because seeing them just makes you turn with disgust.

Yeap and when PvE get the .... of the Stick they say they had it with this game and go else where or go get a real life.This has driven the good players in the PvE community away and has brought out the bad.Passive what about going on the Offensive.3 War,3 Damage dealing Eles and 2 Monks.

splinter with barrage still works great. Cleared UW with my guild this weekend using exactly this and felt really effective.

Splinter Barrage is meant to be done is Solo try it that way.

Ensign, were there headlocks involved in the unsanitized version of the discussion.

That article's conversation must have been hugely edited.
It doesn't even sound like you two were talking to each other.

Ensign, please clarify todays skill balance on how its good (other than BlS ...buff to lead attacks...nerf to off hand)

im very confuzzled right now....

Disturbing.

Making the game better? Some people will agree completely on that, but others will disagree completely. The majority will have a moderate viewpoint. This statement is ,to say the least, disputable.

PvE players are the bread and butter for this game. They are the real player base that "pays the bills". PvP is a SMALL part in comparison (and should be treated as such). Fact is, some people at Anet are treating this game as their pet project.

Stop pissing on the majority, so you can have your "balance" in PvP. Either that, or get the skills seperate already.

Um.. such as?

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10219743

Just one example. This person posted about leaving. You can be sure there are more players leaving quietly without leaving such a post.

I am pretty sure Izzy talks with Ensign and then... he does the really necessary things, like buffing Barrage.

SCNR, as if the "bear" would not still be on an uncontrolled rampage.

Not really in the mood on commenting all the changes, it was a fine Wednesday morning till I read the update notes.