Game balancing provisional notes for game update 1.2.55 beta

[Qeltar]

Led, I value your opinion since you've been around a long time and played a lot. But you're playing a different game than I am (and probably Aurora too).

You suggest that I experiment.. I have, from the start, actually. And I rather quickly hit a wall. The advice I was given? Go for DPS as a mage or play warrior. Over and over.

The real question is: if most people are already playing DPS mages, then why are so many of the changes oriented around giving them even more DPS? Look at the ability changes for mage. They consist of a bunch of DPS buffs, and a nerf to one of the few CC abilities. I don't see how that is doing anything but pigeonholing the class. That doesn't mean people like you can't do something different anyway, but it's not relevant to newer players. Maybe after a year I will have enough knowledge and "stuff" to be able to do what you do, but I can't now and won't be able to for a long time.

I'm glad that the game is changing to be more about challenge and less about grinding. But you and others have already done most of the grinding you needed to get powerful enough to tackle the high-end content and you have the gear to "experiment". Newer players don't. There really aren't a lot of options of how to build an effective character. Especially given how important jewelry is and how much it costs to make. I can't make 20 different near-perfect rings, some with defensive stats and some with offensive stats. It would take hundreds of hours to get all the materials.

I'm not trying to be a complainer or say the game should change to suit my tastes. It shouldn't. I'm just saying how things look to me as someone who really likes the dev team and the concept behind this game but is having a hard time finding ways to have fun while actually playing it. You say "new people become tomorrow's old people" -- yes, if they stick with it. I'm trying to find reasons to stick with it. This game has a surprisingly small active community given how long it's been around, and how many downloads and reviews it has. What that says to me is that many people try it but most stop playing after a short time. Grinding appeals only to a relatively small percentage of gamers. If they want people to play for a longer time, there needs to be more variety. I do not see this update as a step in that direction.

All IMO of course, and respectfully offered.

[Led]

old people used to be new people, and new people become tomorrows old people. its a good game, stick with it

[AuroraNovember]

Until it goes live and not in beta, I'll wait and see before making any decisions. From what I read, I am not too happy about any of it. After leveling up to 70, you are faced with endless grinding and repeating of levels in the hopes that something useful drops for you. I did 13 consecutive runs of Misty Island and not one single piece of usable gear dropped. Now, I learn that some of the skills that keep me JUST able to do trials will be throttled. It is easy for people who have been here for years and years to say this is amazing as they have a variety of gear that is based on a variety of abilities. I fear that for the new people, this will be bad news. I hope I am wrong!

[Led]

Coming in from the outside and seeing how the game plays now and then this update, it really does seem that there's a specific way they want these classes to play and that's it.

I disagree completely...I have many ways to play each class. Open your mind and experiment. Unless you try it you don't know if it will work. If you can only play each class 1 way that's your failing and not the games.
Everyone thinks pure dps mage is the best, but its not. I'm better with my ability rate mage. I can think of at least 4 very completive different viable builds per class and I have no idea what will get furthest in trials.
The hardest thing in this game is to get the gear to build the different builds.

[Pinkfloyd]

Nice!!!

[Qeltar]

Oh for the sake of all that's good and holy, must all deviant play styles converge into a (excuse the pun) "shoot-em-up" game? What are we going to do with 3 secs - spit at the monster??

Coming in from the outside and seeing how the game plays now and then this update, it really does seem that there's a specific way they want these classes to play and that's it.

This is a valid design decision, though I am not sure one that is conducive to holding most people's interest over time. Hopefully there's a longer-term plan to improve build diversity.

[Red (Developer)]

Just to clarify, will the 45 sec cooldown timer apply to all companions?

It's quite clear. 45 sec cd is for Maggie. Only the no cooldown reduction bit applies to all companions.

[Red (Developer)]

Oh for the sake of all that's good and holy, must all deviant play styles converge into a (excuse the pun) "shoot-em-up" game? What are we going to do with 3 secs - spit at the monster??

At least the blind effect stays as it is, right? Right?

Yes, the blind stays.

[Jose Sarmento]

I am wondering if it will be possible to get to level 80 with XP gear

My exact thoughts!!!

[IPNEIP]

Smoke Screen stealth effect can now only last for 3 seconds. When the Bounty Hunter emerges from stealth, all damage is increased by 30% for 2 seconds and dodge rating is increased by 2000.

Oh for the sake of all that's good and holy, must all deviant play styles converge into a (excuse the pun) "shoot-em-up" game? What are we going to do with 3 secs - spit at the monster??

At least the blind effect stays as it is, right? Right?

It means it adds up in shield value, not in damage reduction.

Your other questions, allright: 1) don't consider these changes with the PvP feature in mind, we have a long way to go till we reach that, and when we will launch it, we will have another balancing patch similar to this one to make the game as fair and playable as possible in PvP. 2) Legendary mode xp should compare approximately to trial level 28 per monster XP. 3) Those stats were decreased because our balancing is focused around providing as equal as possible classes in the hardest game content; parry, dodge, block are not as reliable means of achieving high toughness as e.g. armor or vitality, nor are they as desirable stats as offensive stats given the fact trials are in the end a timed event, and the timer is totally dependent on killing stuff fast enough.

Thank you for all information. It looks that making trials will give huge amount of XP comapring to CoW or TBD and also some very good gear over trial 80. I am wondering if it will be possible to get to level 80 with XP gear

[Qeltar]

It means it adds up in shield value, not in damage reduction.

Can anyone explain what this means? Or maybe I just need to wait for the patch and see if the blue bubbles are still useful or not.

[Red (Developer)]

I think I still not understand, the shield stacks means armor of the shield is rising ?

Can you answer my other questions also please ?

It means it adds up in shield value, not in damage reduction.

Your other questions, allright: 1) don't consider these changes with the PvP feature in mind, we have a long way to go till we reach that, and when we will launch it, we will have another balancing patch similar to this one to make the game as fair and playable as possible in PvP. 2) Legendary mode xp should compare approximately to trial level 28 per monster XP. 3) Those stats were decreased because our balancing is focused around providing as equal as possible classes in the hardest game content; parry, dodge, block are not as reliable means of achieving high toughness as e.g. armor or vitality, nor are they as desirable stats as offensive stats given the fact trials are in the end a timed event, and the timer is totally dependent on killing stuff fast enough.

[SoulGaming2]

So...no still no sheeps across the ether. I understand it. I understand your hard work to achieve only one great peak - the sheep level. At the end, we'll all be greeted to see your hard work hitting it's peaks, with the long expected sheep level.

[FendyBt2]

Red (Developer) did you fix the no boss trial bug and the lag on mobile devices in this beta update?