6 Months of Skill Updates: A Review - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Karate Jesus

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2008

Texas

Reign of Judgment [RoJ]

Me/

17 Jun 2009 at 20:05 - 1

So, how has everyone enjoyed the last 6 months of skill updates? I know technically the 6th month's update hasn't arrived yet, but it's June 17th, so we're halfway through the year. I will add June's update when (or if) it comes.

Just so everyone knows, this thread is not intended to be a flame-fest. Please only make additions that are constructive.

Here they all are:

Quote:

Assassin

Mark of Insecurity: now disables your non-Assassin skills for 10 seconds.
Palm Strike: decreased Crippled duration to 1...4...5 seconds; decreased damage to 10...54...65.
Hidden Caltrops: now disables all your non-Assassin skills for 10 seconds.
Shadow Refuge: increased duration to 6 seconds.
Heart of Shadow: functionality changed to: "You are healed for 30...126...150, and you Shadow Step to a nearby location directly away from your target."
Shadow Fang: added an after-cast delay.
Viper's Defense: functionality changed to: "All adjacent foes are Poisoned for 5...17...20 seconds, and you Shadow Step to a nearby location, directly away from your target"

Quote:

Elementalist

Aura of Restoration: decreased Energy cost to 5; increased recharge to 12. Functionality changed to: "For 60 seconds, you gain 0...1...1 Energy and are healed for 200...440...500% of the Energy cost each time you cast a spell."
Mirror of Ice: functionality changed to: "For 5 seconds, plus 3 additional seconds for every rank of Energy Storage, you deal an additional 5...29...35 cold damage whenever you cast a Water Magic hex."
Steam: functionality changed to: "Target foe is struck for 5...41...50 cold damage. If target foe is on fire, Steam Blinds that foe for 5...9...10 seconds."

Quote:

Mesmer

Ether Feast: increased Health per Energy drained to 20...56...65.
Illusion of Haste: reduced the duration of the Crippled condition to 3 seconds.
Signet of Humility: now disables your non-Mesmer skills for 10 seconds.
Illusionary Weaponry: decreased Energy cost to 5.
Fragility(PvE): this skill now also affects adjacent foes.

Quote:

Monk

Castigation Signet: increased recharge to 20 seconds.
Peace and Harmony: decreased duration to 1...3...3 seconds; increased recharge to 12 seconds.
Word of Healing: decreased non-conditional healing to 5...81...100; increased conditional healing to 30...98...115.
Strength of Honor(PvE): increased damage to 5...21...25.
Strength of Honor (PvP): decrease damage to 1...4...5

Quote:

Necromancer

Gaze of Contempt: increased casting time to 2 seconds.
Rend Enchantments: increased casting time to 2 seconds.
Wail of Doom: increased recharge to 15 seconds.
Faintheartedness: reduced Health degeneration to 0...2...3.
Lingering Curse: reduced Health degeneration to 0...2...3.
Suffering: reduced Health degeneration to 0...2...3.
Foul Feast: increased recharge to 5 seconds.
Lingering Curse: decreased healing reduction to 20%.

Quote:

Ranger

Read the Wind (PvP): functionality changed to: "For 24 seconds, your arrows move twice as fast."
Hunter's Shot: functionality changed to: "If this attack hits, your target bleeds for 3...21...25 seconds."
Melandru's Shot: functionality change to: "If this attack hits, your target bleeds for 5...21...25 seconds. If it hits a foe that is moving or knocked down, that foe takes +10...22...25 damage and is crippled for +5...13...15 seconds."
Keen Arrow: decreased conditional damage to 5...21...25.

Quote:

Ritualist

Protective Was Kaolai: reduced armor bonus to 10.
Ancestors' Rage (PvP): increased duration to 3 seconds; decreased damage to 1...25...31.
Weapon of Warding (PvP): functionality changed to: "For 5...9...10 seconds, target ally has a Weapon of Warding, granting that ally +2...4...4 Health regeneration and a 50% chance to block. Weapon of Warding ends if that ally attacks."
Protective Was Kaolai: increased recharge to 25 seconds.

Quote:

Warrior

Primal Rage: reduced movement speed boost to 25%.
Defensive Stance: decreased duration to 1...4...5 seconds; decreased armor gain to +10.
Disciplined Stance: decreased duration to 1...3...4 seconds; decreased armor gain to +10.
Distracting Strike: functionality changed to: "If Distracting Strike hits, it deals no damage and interrupts target foe's action. If target foe has Cracked Armor, that skill is disabled for 20 seconds."
Flail: decreased duration to 1...12...15 seconds.
Healing Signet: increased healing to 82...154...172.
Primal Rage: increased recharge to 15 seconds.
Shield Stance: decreased duration to 1...5...6 seconds.
Soldier's Defense: decreased duration to 1...4...5 seconds.
Warrior's Endurance (PvP): this skill is now a stance.

Quote:

PvE Skills

Low Blow: functionality changed to: "Strike target foe for 45...65...70 damage. If target foe is knocked down, that foe takes an additional 30...46...50 damage and suffers from Cracked Armor for 14..20 seconds."
Elemental Lord: functionality changed to: "For 40...56...60 seconds, your elemental attributes are boosted by 1, you gain 1 Energy for every 10 ranks of Energy Storage, and you are healed for 100...260...300% of the Energy cost each time you cast a spell."
Summon Spirits: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
Tryptophan Signet: this skill no longer requires touch range.

My poor Ritualist

Megas XLR

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2009

D/W

17 Jun 2009 at 20:16 - 2

I guess this proves that Dervishes are the most balanced class ever.

I know that you can't buff everything all the time, but they really need to pick up on some of those creative buffs. I see mostly nerfs, which doesn't really allow any new game play.

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

17 Jun 2009 at 20:16 - 3

Mehhhhhhhhh.

Still waiting on SF nerf. And everything else bad.

Fuzzie

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2008

Mo/

17 Jun 2009 at 20:19 - 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

Mehhhhhhhhh.

Still waiting on SF nerf. And everything else bad.

Hopefully tomorrow with RoJ if they get the balance out in time.

The only ones that purely had a effect on me was the changes to Castigation Signet and Strength and Honor [PvP]. The changes to Aegis [PvP] was a joke imo.

slowerpoke

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2007

Cuba

17 Jun 2009 at 20:21 - 5

I don't agree with their balance methodology of only nerfing problem skills, while not providing alternatives. Or indeed making changes to the hundreds of other skills that never get used.

Just target the problem areas and that's it. And they probably only do those due to community pressure.

While there's usually only a few dominant builds in any meta, is the answer really just to go after the most used skills? Why cant they buff the underused skills and provide viable alternatives rather than forcing people to abandon what they dont want you to use any more.

Karate Jesus

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2008

Texas

Reign of Judgment [RoJ]

Me/

17 Jun 2009 at 20:22 - 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzie

Hopefully tomorrow with RoJ if they get the balance out in time.

I hope so too, but I'm really trying not to get my hopes up.

I keep praying for a Spawning Power buff...but I might as well pray for my Great Aunt Judy to get a sex change.....wait...that doesn't correlate does it?

reaper with no name

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2009

FaZ

D/

17 Jun 2009 at 20:28 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megas XLR

I guess this proves that Dervishes are the most balanced class ever.

I know that you can't buff everything all the time, but they really need to pick up on some of those creative buffs. I see mostly nerfs, which doesn't really allow any new game play.

Which makes me wonder: just how much more are they going to nerf everything else? I mean, you'd have to neuter most of them twice to bring them down to the derv's level!

The reason they nerf things instead of buffing is because it's a lot easier to nerf a couple of problem skills than to buff a lot of them. Furthermore, this doesn't carry the risk of accidentally introducing more imbalance via the buffs or combinations thereof.

Karate Jesus

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2008

Texas

Reign of Judgment [RoJ]

Me/

17 Jun 2009 at 20:32 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by reaper with no name

Which makes me wonder: just how much more are they going to nerf everything else? I mean, you'd have to neuter most of them twice to bring them down to the derv's level!

The reason they nerf things instead of buffing is because it's a lot easier to nerf a couple of problem skills than to buff a lot of them. Furthermore, this doesn't carry the risk of accidentally introducing more imbalance via the buffs or combinations thereof.

Lolwut? Dervs are incredibly powerful in both PvE and PvP. Not quite so much in PvE because Wars and Sins can use scythes better than Dervs can, but in PvP they do HUGE damage.

And btw, watch HB some time. Derv secondaries are used for everything. Oh, and I think the person you quoted was being sarcastic.

reaper with no name

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2009

FaZ

D/

17 Jun 2009 at 20:39 - 9

Yeah, I was joking too. It's not that extreme. The problem is mainly the warriors and sins using scythes better than them. Otherwise they're okay.

In PvP, I'm not sure how they can be considered good, because any enchantment removal destroys them. But, eh, I don't really do much PvP.

Karate Jesus

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2008

Texas

Reign of Judgment [RoJ]

Me/

17 Jun 2009 at 20:52 - 10

The biggest problem I've had with the last six months of updates is that it seems that a majority of them were reactionary updates. It's as if the policy suddenly became, "Let's just nerf all the OP stuff and not worry about anything else".

It's made gameplay in PvP incredibly boring and stale.

Bill Clinton

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2009

17 Jun 2009 at 20:59 - 11

What makes me laugh is how LITTLE has been changed. I mean, come on, go back and look through the update archives to two-three years ago. We'd get updates of this magnititude but in a single month.

More and more I just kind of think they do updates to make people think that the game is still being worked on.

But I must say, its been a good half-year for mesmers. Only one nerf, yaya for options!

Xsiriss

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2008

17 Jun 2009 at 21:01 - 12

Yeh it's pitiful for 6 months of work isn't it? And with them still ignoring the entire profession of rits/para's, unused skills and elites are unlikely to be touched until after the next 'content update'. Hell, I'd rather they actually worked on a ton of skills rather than give us old suggestions that have been around since the start...oh yeh which a lot of we have to pay real monies for? That's not progress...

Helix Dreadlock

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2009

Imperial Sanctum

Legendary Drunken Masters [DUI]

E/Me

17 Jun 2009 at 21:04 - 13

Who wants to play some Nerftag? Guess what Roj? You're it!

FlamingMetroid

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

standing on your last control point, while the rest of your team is to busy killing mine

The Luminaries [Lumi]

A/

17 Jun 2009 at 21:05 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karate Jesus

The biggest problem I've had with the last six months of updates is that it seems that a majority of them were reactionary updates. It's as if the policy suddenly became, "Let's just nerf all the OP stuff and not worry about anything else".

It's made gameplay in PvP incredibly boring and stale.

There's not really much you can do when half the classes were broken from the get-go and the majority of your company is working on another game. I imagine that Anet just wants to get PvP to a fairly balanced state and then leave it be until after GW2 release, if they even touch it again at all.

Lishy

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2008

17 Jun 2009 at 21:54 - 15

Anet forgot they made paras, rofl..

Anyways, yeah, its sad it's mainly nerfs and not very innovative =/
What was with all the pointless ranger nerfs anywyas? They're practically useless in general pve, outside of a few utility in elite areas and splinter barrage.

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

17 Jun 2009 at 22:31 - 16

This goes to show that the Paragon, Dervish, Assassin and Ritualist were mistakes.

Better not give a repeat performance in GW2 ANet...

I'm watching you.

ZenRgy

Zookeeper

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australian Discussion Posse HQ - Glorious leader

҉ ̵̡̢̢̛̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟&#

N/E

17 Jun 2009 at 22:32 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kain Fz

Anet forgot they made paras, rofl..

Anyways, yeah, its sad it's mainly nerfs and not very innovative =/
What was with all the pointless ranger nerfs anywyas? They're practically useless in general pve, outside of a few utility in elite areas and splinter barrage.

Because 99% of skill udpates don't revolve around PvE.

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

17 Jun 2009 at 22:33 - 18

This list of nerfs arose mostly from several overpowered dartboard buffs created last year. We wouldn't need the nerfs if we weren't getting those random buffs, so be careful what you wish for.

refer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2009

US

17 Jun 2009 at 22:46 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karate Jesus

I hope so too, but I'm really trying not to get my hopes up.

I keep praying for a Spawning Power buff...but I might as well pray for my Great Aunt Judy to get a sex change.....wait...that doesn't correlate does it?

I think you have discovered the key to this... quick, race her to surgury so GW can change too!

But back on topic, that is not a whole lot of changes for 6 monthts. Granted I don't play all professions but it looks small.

Nodakim

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

Hrvatska

N/Me

17 Jun 2009 at 22:49 - 20

I perfectly like the way they "balance" the skills.
TBH,they cant introduce new content,so by shifting power of skills they cause new builds,new farm areas,new FOTMS and change economy and thus keeping the game active.
They are not stupid.

toocooltang

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2008

USA

ToA

W/

17 Jun 2009 at 22:58 - 21

The PwK nerf(s) really hurt my guilds DOA runs. The keen arrow nerf really hurts my ranger builds. The casigation sig hurt my smite monk build. These nerf's were purely for PVP, but included in PVE. So if you don't run the latest meta in PVE, they will nerf your good skills.

On a side note a ranger can now outstance a warrior stance tank. w00t

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

17 Jun 2009 at 23:18 - 22

On a side note, warrior stance tanks have been useless for 3 years.

Kendel

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2009

17 Jun 2009 at 23:28 - 23

Thats surely not everything thats been done in the last 6 months?

Michael805

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

Going Out Of Business Sale [GWII]

A/W

17 Jun 2009 at 23:32 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by toocooltang

The PwK nerf(s) really hurt my guilds DOA runs. The keen arrow nerf really hurts my ranger builds. The casigation sig hurt my smite monk build. These nerf's were purely for PVP, but included in PVE. So if you don't run the latest meta in PVE, they will nerf your good skills.

On a side note a ranger can now outstance a warrior stance tank. w00t

Guild Wars is a game of flexibility and adaptation. I think you missed that.

I like the trend of nerf/buffs... that is, many nerfs and few buffs. If they would continue this trend, but only more rapidly and with more skills, we could get rid of some of the insane power creep and get rid of some of the more stupid staples. I'm looking at you, patient spirit.

4thVariety

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

European Union

ADL

E/

17 Jun 2009 at 23:36 - 25

What we need are more options to play the game, not fewer. All nerfing really does is to remove established methods of approaching situations, thereby removing a small slice of players each time.

What we really want are people to play the game with.

The vicious cycle has remained the same. An outpost is empty, a skill gets buffed, an outpost is now overrun, people complain about being forced to play the "overpowered" skill instead of their idiotic build, the skill gets nerfed, the outpost is empty again.

People want to play with other people and if they can't do so they start blaming certain builds. Anet obliges, but the result is not more people playing together. The current PvE meta consists of a single person trying to absorb everything the monsters can throw at him, while the other players either passively support that ability or try to kill the monsters as fast as possible using some form of AoE spike damage. At their worst, some solo-builds manage to do both. Maybe we do not need to nerf that, maybe we need established alternatives that are public knowledge. I'd even go so far as to place NPCs in each town suggesting a variety of whole team setups. After all, linking to the Wiki from inside the game is not really something different, only less practical.

Michael805

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

Going Out Of Business Sale [GWII]

A/W

17 Jun 2009 at 23:44 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thVariety

What we need are more options to play the game, not fewer. All nerfing really does is to remove established methods of approaching situations, thereby removing a small slice of players each time.

To get more options, toning down OP skills will open the door to more skills than buffing one or two. For each skill there is 1 or more skills that do similar things, only slightly different. But when these similar skills are so outshined that they don't see play, then you have a problem. This is why making the skill that see's 99% of play a bit weaker than it currently is actually opens up variety, and why buffing skills can actually make for less variety.

toocooltang

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2008

USA

ToA

W/

18 Jun 2009 at 00:04 - 27

I think you missed my point. The nerf's for PVE have not focused on the latest gimmic builds out there, perma, cry of pain, etc. As a matter of fact the buff to PVE skills have been helpful to such builds.

What I want to see...

Removal of all EOTN cons
Removal of all PVE skills

Michael805

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

Going Out Of Business Sale [GWII]

A/W

18 Jun 2009 at 00:08 - 28

Quote:

Originally Posted by toocooltang

I think you missed my point. The nerf's for PVE have not focused on the latest gimmic builds out there, perma, cry of pain, etc. As a matter of fact the buff to PVE skills have been helpful to such builds.

What I want to see...

Removal of all EOTN cons
Removal of all PVE skills

PvE'ers wanted skills that blew shit up, and they got it.

FlamingMetroid

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

standing on your last control point, while the rest of your team is to busy killing mine

The Luminaries [Lumi]

A/

18 Jun 2009 at 00:09 - 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thVariety

The vicious cycle has remained the same. An outpost is empty, a skill gets buffed, an outpost is now overrun, people complain about being forced to play the "overpowered" skill instead of their idiotic build, the skill gets nerfed, the outpost is empty again.

That's an incredibly poor assessment of the situation. That statement assumes that every new build produced by one of Anet's dartboard skill updates is somewhat balanced and/or takes a fair amount of skill to play, which is more often than not not the case. Pretty much every build produced by one of Anet's big skill updates has been a roll-face-on-keyboard build, that works as well, if not better, than an established build that took a fair amount of skill and expertise to play. Not everybody whose build is overshadowed by one of the update skill builds is idiotic. Take the Warrior's Endurance buff for example, it created a build that was about as effective as Shock Axe, but was considerably easier to play. Now I don't mind builds that are easy to play, but when it completely overshadows almost every other warrior build previously in the meta, so much so that even top200 guilds are using it over the older builds, then there is a problem. While the build made it easier for less skilled players to be competitive, it was so easy to play and had virtually no punishment for failing to use skills correctly with its spammable skills and endless supply of energy, that it eliminated the use of almost every other warrior build in the meta. And for me personally, it made the class significantly less fun to play. Outposts are usually full when these strong types of builds are around, because they're are alot of players in GW who want maximum reward for minimum effort; the type of players that I think GW is better off without.

Esprit

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Dvd Forums [DVDF]

E/

18 Jun 2009 at 00:41 - 30

Bring back Mirror of Ice as it was. Or split the PvE and PvP version since we all know that MoI got changed because of PvP.

They said they were 'looking at' RoJ, so it may be a few more updates until they actually change it if they do.

Still Number One

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2008

W/

18 Jun 2009 at 00:45 - 31

Pretty funny reading about people being disappointed about nerfs and saying buffs need to happen when the game is completely imbalanced due to the two large random elite buffs they did. They've spent the months after those buffs trying to undo the damage they did because of buffing.

Buffing skills does not add to gameplay. It creates over powered skills which take away from gameplay, and shift the game from skill based play, to who can abuse the most powerful gimmicks like we have now. The key isn't to buff the underused skills to the level of the overpowered skills. That will not promote build variety. People are going to run the most overpowered build, period. If you nerf overpowered skills, then the most overpowered build become harder to use to its fullest, and thereby rewards players for their knowledge of game mechanics and for making less key mistakes. Overpowered skills and builds hide these mistakes that players make and are very forgiving. The game needs to be unforgiving to those who do not play correctly.

And sorry to say this because it is most likely going to upset people, but the top end PvPers are the ones who have the influence in skill balances (or at least they did with Izzy and I'm assuming they still do). Therefore 90% (that is an estimation don't go crazy) of the skill balances are PvP focused and they throw in a few little PvE only changes to make it seem like they are being fair and balanced to both sides.

Back then

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2009

18 Jun 2009 at 03:17 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still Number One

Pretty funny reading about people being disappointed about nerfs and saying buffs need to happen when the game is completely imbalanced due to the two large random elite buffs they did. They've spent the months after those buffs trying to undo the damage they did because of buffing.

Buffing skills does not add to gameplay. It creates over powered skills which take away from gameplay, and shift the game from skill based play, to who can abuse the most powerful gimmicks like we have now. The key isn't to buff the underused skills to the level of the overpowered skills. That will not promote build variety. People are going to run the most overpowered build, period. If you nerf overpowered skills, then the most overpowered build become harder to use to its fullest, and thereby rewards players for their knowledge of game mechanics and for making less key mistakes. Overpowered skills and builds hide these mistakes that players make and are very forgiving. The game needs to be unforgiving to those who do not play correctly.

And sorry to say this because it is most likely going to upset people, but the top end PvPers are the ones who have the influence in skill balances (or at least they did with Izzy and I'm assuming they still do). Therefore 90% (that is an estimation don't go crazy) of the skill balances are PvP focused and they throw in a few little PvE only changes to make it seem like they are being fair and balanced to both sides.

The only reason RoJ is used to much is because of the bug which causes AI not to scatter from it. If AI scattered, no one would run it. Aside from a BUG the only other elite that was buffed and is being "abused" is Shadow Form.

R.Shayne

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

18 Jun 2009 at 04:03 - 33

The last 6 months kind of remind me of what a lot of people say when they see the big updates that we are really going to like, "That is it?"

Random buffs & random nerfs, I'll actually believe they know what they are doing and are just doing these updates to mess with us.

Taddayo Kun

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2008

in the land of no return, kinda like xth

[nerf]

A/

18 Jun 2009 at 04:41 - 34

Has anyone else noticed the warrior list only contained one buff and the rest nerfs, as if they haven't suffered enough already. I have known many people who had warriors as their main chars and have become disillusioned and quit the game.

Anet please take note; warriors do not need nerfing anymore. You are all powerful, we get it.

Michael805

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

Going Out Of Business Sale [GWII]

A/W

18 Jun 2009 at 05:03 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taddayo Kun

Has anyone else noticed the warrior list only contained one buff and the rest nerfs, as if they haven't suffered enough already. I have known many people who had warriors as their main chars and have become disillusioned and quit the game.

Anet please take note; warriors do not need nerfing anymore. You are all powerful, we get it.

Primal Rage: Nerfed due to click and forget easy-mode warrioring, then again for the same reason.
Defensive Stance/Disciplined Stance/Shield Stance/Soldier's Defense: Nerfed due to caster abuse.
Distracting Strike: Nerfed because it caused damage while similar skills didn't.
Flail: Nerfed due to assassin abuse.
Healing Signet: That was a buff.
Warrior's Endurance (PvP): That skill essentially made warriors into high-armor dervishes. Big damage skill spammers with little drawback. And on top of that could rush/frenzy while doing it.
(skills taken from OP)

tl;dr: shut up.

Still Number One

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2008

W/

18 Jun 2009 at 05:31 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back then

The only reason RoJ is used to much is because of the bug which causes AI not to scatter from it. If AI scattered, no one would run it. Aside from a BUG the only other elite that was buffed and is being "abused" is Shadow Form.

My post was 100% PvP oriented because Skill balances are done with GvG as the main focal point. Your argument was 100% PvE. Your confusing me on what point you were trying to make here...

And frankly I'll be honest, I could care less about what you believe is fine and not fine in the PvE realm, because I don't care about PvE. I'm making my argument for PvP because I don't want to see Anet start listening to every PvE kid in here and think buffing skills is the way to go. It isn't and I made my case why in my other post, and if you need me to go into detail because you don't understand why then I might think about doing that.

I'll say it again, whether you like it or not, the GW skill balances have been done with GvG as the main focus. PvE takes a backseat in skill balances because it is not 100% certain if a balanced PvE is a good thing. Some think it is, some think it isn't. It is pretty much 100% agreed upon by the PvP community that balance or a state close to balance needs to be obtained and that we are far from it. If you have a problem with that then argue it. But you can't deny the truth, and that is that PvP is the main focus point in Skill Balancing, whether it is right or wrong is personal opinion.

toocooltang

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2008

USA

ToA

W/

18 Jun 2009 at 06:52 - 37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still Number One

Buffing skills does not add to gameplay. It creates over powered skills which take away from gameplay, and shift the game from skill based play, to who can abuse the most powerful gimmicks like we have now. The key isn't to buff the underused skills to the level of the overpowered skills. That will not promote build variety. People are going to run the most overpowered build, period. If you nerf overpowered skills, then the most overpowered build become harder to use to its fullest, and thereby rewards players for their knowledge of game mechanics and for making less key mistakes. Overpowered skills and builds hide these mistakes that players make and are very forgiving. The game needs to be unforgiving to those who do not play correctly.

You maybe a PvP player, you may not care about PvE... but what you just said applies to PVE 100% thank you for putting it so eliquently

refer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2009

US

18 Jun 2009 at 06:58 - 38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esprit

They said they were 'looking at' RoJ, so it may be a few more updates until they actually change it if they do.

They looked at it, and they probably approved like SF.

4thVariety

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

European Union

ADL

E/

18 Jun 2009 at 07:08 - 39

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamingMetroid

That statement assumes that every new build produced by one of Anet's dartboard skill updates is somewhat balanced and/or takes a fair amount of skill to play, which is more often than not not the case. Pretty much every build produced by one of Anet's big skill updates has been a roll-face-on-keyboard build, that works as well, if not better, than an established build that took a fair amount of skill and expertise to play. Not everybody whose build is overshadowed by one of the update skill builds is idiotic. Take the Warrior's Endurance buff for example, it created a build that was about as effective as Shock Axe, but was considerably easier to play.

Who cares about the Top200? That is how much of the playerbase? 0.01%? The magic of social gaming does not happen around a few elite people randomly grouping for PvP, for the most part it happens when normal people band together against monsters.

"Build knowledge" and "build execution" have always been two deciding factors in a battle. Having either one has always made the other less important. If people use one build excessively, then that does not mean it should be wiped from the game. It can mean that other builds are deemed unnecessarily complicated, too boring, or not fun to play. There is no law requiring the most powerful builds to be the most complicated to play. Build knowledge has to yield rewards.

Shadowmere

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

The Grim Squeakers [REAP]

N/

18 Jun 2009 at 08:37 - 40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taddayo Kun

Has anyone else noticed the ritualist list only contained nerfs, as if they haven't suffered enough already. I have known many people who had ritualists as their main chars and have become disillusioned and quit the game.

fixed that for ya

seriously though warriors are still nearly staple in both pvp and pve, they're not perfect but they're still sitting pretty good compared to other classess *cough* *rit* *cough* *para* >.>