Retaining the playerbase

snoborder101

A little background on myself - I've been playing MMORPGs for 12+ years. I played all classes in World of Warcraft, and I tried other MMOs after WoWs release(all which never stood a chance). Neverwinter was the first MMO in a long time that gave me that Warcraft feel, and did so on console well. It was refreshing to say the least.

Here we are now in mod 7 with a playerbase that is all but growing. There are some serious issues that need to be addressed in order to retain the players we have, bring back old players, and keep the new players who are starting fresh.

-Classes

-Oathbound Paladin

- Bubble-

This has had a negative effect on not just pvp, but pve as well. Pvp matches are now extremely dull and result in simple node rotations. Pve now requires no strategy whatsoever. Just bring a paladin, preferably with a haste cleric, and stand in as much red as you can. This spell is broken plain and simple. From the reflect damage from a double paladin or paladin/ guardian fighter, to the group damage resistance.

-Suggested fixes-

I remember reading that some of the reflect issues with reflect damage going on in an infinite loop is addressed mod 8. I'll need to do more research on the pc side to make sure this has gotten resolved. As far as the damage reduction goes, increase the percentage of damage taken by the paladin from the group's damage received. That, or allow the bubble to only reduce the groups damage taken by x %.


-Trickster Rogue

-Piercing Damage-

Currently the only feat in the game that not only allows you to ignore all defenses, but tenacity too. It is laughable to see classes get one shot by a trickster rogue with a full stealth bar and shocking execution.

-Suggested fixes-

Allow piercing damage to ignore all defenses MINUS tenacity.



-Gameplay-


-Visual effects-

There are currently too many visual effects in game as of right now. The framerate drop from things such as Knights Valor is just absurd. Give us a way to reduce the visual effects like PC can. If we could turn off group wide healing and damage for instance I think that would also help quite a bit.

-Lag and Disconnects-

There is a specific server, I for the life of me cannot remember the IP address right now, but has been the woe of most players. That one hop increases my latency from 20ms, to 800ms. This issue has been known about for months. If you have to take the game down for 24 hours then do so. Just PLEASE, let's get this resolved.


-Content-

-Pvp-

Can we please get some new game modes? Strongholds is cool, but the queue times are currently too long. Some more 5 man content would be cool. Something similar to a warsong gulch capture the flag.

-Pve-

Please add some dungeons. Slightly changing a boss fight doesn't really do it for us. We want more dungeons to run. You took out one of the best ones! Castle Never was great. Can we also get some BOE items added to the boss fights as well? I truly appreciate the changes you are making today with the economy, it is a step in the right direction, but people want something more to look forward to other than some salvageable items.



There are more things, but these are the pressing issues on my mind. If anyone has any good feedback, please add it to this thread. Please try to remain civil and objective.

Thanks,

Ankou
DENIAL

snoborder101

One more quick note,

I believe about 98% of playerbase does not want the mod 8 rings. It was a nice try, but it does nothing to better balance pvp. All it does is remove basic class mechanics that people picked those classes for. Let's just scrap the idea all together.

beastpro

So, the only classes you see that have issues are the Paladin and the Rogue? What about the HR, or the SW? Or do you play those classes and so you don't want them to be fixed? I play a HR, and I know it needs a nerf.

snoborder101

I play a DC, CW, GWF, and TR. CW is my main however.

If by SW you mean the exploits, yes, but I believe those will be fixed next patch. As far as the HR, CC in general needs an overhaul. Chain CC needs diminishing returns. I'm sorry I missed some things because I typed this from my phone and I did so on my lunch break. I had a bigger list originally, but my phone died.

If chain CC doesn't get some sort of fix then I think the answer the HR is fix the encounter rotation so you can't get dazelocked and buff their damage slightly. Fixing Transcendant Elven would also be an easy fix. Once Transcendant Elven is fixed you'll see many more people using it especially with people unlocking armor penetration boons and mounts pretty much negating negation.

There's other issues such as the dragon glyph exploit on certain classes. I'm unsure how it works, and don't particularly care to know. I guess it would be nice to know what I should avoid as to not do it to other players in game. This is why I started this thread though. To list items that need to be addressed by the devs. If we never give them feedback, or make enough noise, why change it?

beastpro

It just seemed that you were 1 of the MILLIONS (not really, but it seems like that) of TR haters on this forum complaining that they are OP and need another nerf. I just get tired of seeing people all over the TR, when it is my 1st alt now. I think more people would rather see something done to the HR currently rather than the TR.

I did not mean to come off as a d-bag, but as I said all the posts about TR's just get annoying.

snoborder101

Overall I think TR's are completely fine. I just think piercing damage is broken as is currently. There's no reason classes who cannot dodge should be one shot by a full stealth bar SE when they're in full burning gear with 80-90k hitpoints. I completely agree that there are far to many nerf TR threads when as I said, overall, they're fine.

I pvp as well as pve, so I know not all things are so easily balanced. I try to remain as objective as humanly possible when looking at the classes. Many I'm sure will disagree with me. All I ask is that we remain civil talking about it. I saw no issue with your original post.

rylnari

Great post OP! Well reasoned and constructive by offering what seems, with the information I have, pretty insightful mitigation.

We need more like this.

rubilotus

The GWF unstoppable bug is really annoying. I'd like for them to fix that asap. It happens in my most crucial moments cause the game says "F you. Now go get one-shotted, scrub so we can do this again." And I'm like ._. {insert chain of cussing here}

snoborder101

rylnari said:

Great post OP! Well reasoned and constructive by offering what seems, with the information I have, pretty insightful mitigation.

We need more like this.

Thank you. I want this to be a good constructive thread that people can bring the current in game issues into one place. I'll do my best to update the original post with ideas added here.

snoborder101

rubilotus said:

The GWF unstoppable bug is really annoying. I'd like for them to fix that asap. It happens in my most crucial moments cause the game says "F you. Now go get one-shotted, scrub so we can do this again." And I'm like ._. {insert chain of cussing here}

Yes, the gwf unstoppable bug is extremely annoying. I've noticed that I have issues with sure strike at times as well and have to hit the trigger multiple times to get it going. So sometimes it appears and though I'm just standing there doing nothing whatsoever.

rubilotus

@snoborder101

Maybe there's a bug with the sure strike too? I also encounter that quite a bit. I'll get ready to attack and for some reason the at-will doesn't work, so I'll sit there for a couple seconds mashing my trigger. At this rate, the class is gonna make me break my controller. ._.

myfist2yourface

as stated before-
" If you nerf Paladins- you will stagnate 80% of your player base- because they are unable to complete a dungeon without it- in many cases, until you have the T2 gear...

armadeonx

I completely agree with all points on the OP and about CC chains.

I actually think Pallys positioning within the classes needs a bit of a reassessment as (excluding bubble) it is merely either a tanking DC or overbuffed GF. It doesn't have any real distinction (and I have an OP).

Before they deal with the bubble though, they need to make sure that T1 dungeons are doable by those who have basic L70 blues and that T2's are doable by those who have T1 gear.

This actually provides an opportunity for T3 dungeons (for those with T2 gear) that instead of dropping seals, drop primarily RP items (the better ones - superior marks, diamonds/rubies, R7 enchantments and the occasional coal ward!) Make them unbound so people have a financial reason for running them.

This will provide the (currently missing) upgrade path for pugs whilst providing a challenging end-game T3 environment with clear financial gains for participants.

snoborder101

Well said guys. I agree that some of the dungeons need some work including boss mechanics.

For instance, Lostmauth. I am now sitting at 3644iL. I still to this day hate this dungeon. Lostmauth just has far too much going on at one time. Can it be beaten? Of course. That doesn't make the mechanics any better. You're trying to dodge the melted gold, falling rocks, laser beams, and (at times invisible) flying fireballs. You end up being chained cc to death at times. Just a few minor changes to that fight would make it better without making it any less challenging.

I want the devs to understand that we want challenging fights. We don't want easy. Just some of the fights have too much going on to the point where you aren't really using any particular strategy. Maybe some more regular dungeons for the new 70s to get them geared enough to beat the fights in the epic dungeons.

sh00termcl0vin

Remove microstuns with hr roots and fix elven battle. Remove infini bubble (absorbs set hp) and piercing damage from shocking execution. Lenghten cool down on impossible to catch and make it unaffected by shady preparations (cooldown doesn't reset). Pvp balance achieved.

armadeonx

uh, not quite. I agree that stunning currently kills pvp - it is essentially about who has the best stuns and who stuns who first.

However in all the stun nerfing talk people tend to forget one thing. The Control Wizard.

The majority of the CWs skills are one form of Control of another. Nerf CC and you invalidate one whole class within the game.

I believe the game needs to move away from everyone having stuns to counter stuns, then introducing stun counters to deal with everyone having stuns!

The CW has already had its DPS reduced whilst GWF, GF and HR have had boosts - removing the only thing the class has left & you may as well remove it altogether.

Only a couple of classes can heal others, one a couple stealth. Why does everyone have stuns??
I believe HR should lose stuns but keep traps to immobilise, poison, bleed - but not stun.
GWF should have a knockdown but no stun; my DC has stuns!! wth! oh I use em but I'm not selfish - take mine too.

For anyone missing my point here I'll say it again: only Control Wizards should have Control Skills.

thefiresidecat

in order for pvp to not be ridiculous there should be no class particular specialties. everyone needs the same tools and equalization. that is the only way you're going to have a balanced experience. it doesn't matter if they nerf this or nerf that because something new will just rise to the top. PVP is pointless in this game imho. It's the most unbalanced and ridiculous thing I've ever seen of this type of thing.

armadeonx

The trouble with that is all classes are built around specialities. Removing them would leave TR's without stealth, DC's without heals, SW's without minions, OP's without auras, GWF without unstoppable etc.

In such a situation pvp would become dps v dps and only the top dps classes would win every match.

You would also need to equal out armor stats, meaning the fact that casters wear cloth whilst tanks wear plate becomes irrelevant too. But the player with the highest base dmg and fastest skills cooldowns would win - unless you levelled those too. Ofc this would leave pvp in such a bland state that nobody would play it as you'd have clone v clone. Essentially this would finish off pvp completely, not move it forward.

I believe my suggestion is more valid. Class specialisations should stay exclusively with the class they were intended for but have limits to make them fair. By that I mean no perma-anything and all attacks subject to tenacity (piercing damage, reflected damage etc).

raymond00713

Lostmauth is super easy. The way you described it makes it seem awesome lol.

Game is getting way to easy with how much we're upgrading stuff. Stop calling for nerfs. I PUG lostmauth all day yesterday and won all day yesterday with various group composition.

I don't know anything about pvp. You guys sound like you're getting beat and you want to win. Maybe figure it out. The one thing I will say is that a infini bubble pally in pvp is just dumb.

raymond00713

I agree with most of the original post. I want castle never back, as well as other dungeons.

snoborder101

raymond00713 said:

Lostmauth is super easy. The way you described it makes it seem awesome lol.



Game is getting way to easy with how much we're upgrading stuff. Stop calling for nerfs. I PUG lostmauth all day yesterday and won all day yesterday with various group composition.



I don't know anything about pvp. You guys sound like you're getting beat and you want to win. Maybe figure it out. The one thing I will say is that a infini bubble pally in pvp is just dumb.

If this is in reference to me, I come from one of the top pvp guilds on xbox. Our "A" team hasn't lost in quite some time. I have most classes leveled up (minus a paladin and gf). So no, this post is not because we're getting beat. It's because content is way too easy with current class mechanics, and pvp is lackluster at best.

respectpays

tbh u should go work for arc maby you'll fix the problems because they are terrible with it and yes a tr piercing is bad but if u have over 45% armor pen as a tr and ur shadow born /exposed weakness with bottom tree I think my max with shocking was 150k spec that way im sure that's a lot worse then piercing 100% at least I think it is I could be wrong

respectpays

perma should be fixed tho I don't think that should ever be part of the game (my main is a tr so yea im sayan nerf me) as far as a hr goes I never really have problems killing any of them. pallys are quite annoying sometimes when bubbled non stop

wdj40

Exactly what the above poster just said, PvP and PvE should be different.

I main a HR and I see no reason why it should be nerfed in any way. Just to note I do not PvP and have only tried it once months ago.

I`d be pretty peeved if my HR got nerfed due to what ever goes on in PvP.

snoborder101

wdj40 said:

Exactly what the above poster just said, PvP and PvE should be different.

I main a HR and I see no reason why it should be nerfed in any way. Just to note I do not PvP and have only tried it once months ago.

I`d be pretty peeved if my HR got nerfed due to what ever goes on in PvP.

They have done this with plenty of class mechanics already, so I don't see why the couldn't do the same for the hr. HR is somewhat different in how you have a never ending rotation of encounters, but again, they could still make changes where pve is unaffected.

manyvengeance

I think the paragon feats should be more balanced as well, I main a HR and the "correct" way to play that class is by being a Trapper, I was an archer up until I got to lvl 70, and I didn't have enough dps neither survivability, so, why even bother to have an Archery feat "option" if the Trapper is superior in dps, isn't skill-shot oriented and has more mobility. I've never tried the Combatant feats, but I imagine they lack something as well, since I only see Trappers everywhere.

I think that for the Archery feats to work they should include something similar to what the GWF has, like the increases in critical chance that could get you to 100%, or a superior base damage all-around, for it to have sense of existing it should deal more dps than the trapper IF you land your skill-shots, you're sacrificing mobility after all.

I don't know that much about the other classes, maybe you can provide some insight, but as far as the HR goes, there seems to be a "right" and a "wrong" way to play.

xrollxtidex

Dungeons have become boring haste DC-bubble pally grind fests.

PvP matches have become boring as well. Your A team (2 trs, 1 hr, 1 dc, op/cw) can't kill me but can out point me by mass cc and I lose a game going 0-0 for 10 mins.. Yawn. Those same guys try to run a rainbow, we beat em easy and I go 1-0 for 10 mins in a win... Yawn. This is what top end PvP has become. I would rather play a game where I go 10-10 win or lose and there is action, and I'm not the only one.

snoborder101

xrollxtidex said:

Dungeons have become boring haste DC-bubble pally grind fests.



PvP matches have become boring as well. Your A team (2 trs, 1 hr, 1 dc, op/cw) can't kill me but can out point me by mass cc and I lose a game going 0-0 for 10 mins.. Yawn. Those same guys try to run a rainbow, we beat em easy and I go 1-0 for 10 mins in a win... Yawn. This is what top end PvP has become. I would rather play a game where I go 10-10 win or lose and there is action, and I'm not the only one.

Exactly. This is why I've been playing my gwf and solo queuing. I hope either a moderator or a dev is taking a look at this feedback and making notes.

sh00termcl0vin

No one said nerrf cws. The problem is mainly chain stuns from trs and hrs. No diminishing returns on stuns means just spam your stun move when off cooldown with no regard for timing. Not only does this take zero skill but it ruins the game. Pally invincible bubble is just doo doo butter icing on the <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> cake. Rolltide hit the nail on the head with A teams being the same bs.