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Beta IS the time to discuss class balance issues
izariel44
Member Posts: 14 Arc User
Beta IS the time to discuss class balance issues
First off, my basic premise is that a beta for a game is definitely THE time to discuss class balance issues. I have played in over 10 betas for mmo’s spanning a decade and in every one a primary element we were testing was class balance.
The developers are not infallible and their word (current class balance) is not to be taken as gospel. They have said as much themselves. There are glaring class balance issues that have to be discussed to make this game more viable and long lasting.
Let’s discuss some reasons as to why the above premise is correct.
1. Immersion- In a game like D&D immersion is very important. The community already realizes that certain classes are making this immersion difficult by outperforming/underperforming other classes. When a guardian fighter cannot tank and protect his friends, when a wizard cannot deal striker damage, when a great weapon fighter is all but impotent, when a rogue is a demi-god and a cleric is now the defacto tank there are immersion issues that break believability.
2. Achievement- In a game like this achievement is very important and often a driving factor in play time. This sense of achievement is cheapened if another class can obtain the same rewards/recognition for half the effort. Right now rogues are getting huge numbers, which at the moment is about all the player base is interested in. No matter how well I play my other classes I will never have that same sense of achievement absent a good friend that may notice me later. You have pigeon holed the classes to such an extent CW and GWF are relegated to the trash bin to kill adds and nothing else. This creates little room for achievement or a sense of accomplishment.
3. Group dynamics- When certain classes perform better than other classes your group dynamics suffer because the underperforming classes will be underrepresented. You will then lose what little utility those classes had to offer. I have seen this many times in groups that were heavy on certain classes. The sad thing is, encounters seem to require these extreme make-ups to overcome them. If you have fewer than two rogues in your group you are going to take much longer to kill a boss than otherwise. If you have no rogues in your group you may never be able to kill the boss regardless of skill level.
4. Grouping/Pvp- Some classes (Rogues) are over performing in pvp and groups. They are usually at the top of the chart with minimal effort and that is very disheartening to other classes. When you play your heart out, study your class, do your best, and end up at the bottom of the pile regardless- you are being held back by your class while others are being rewarded for choosing a specific class from the beginning. An oft held mantra of mmo’s is that all classes are deadly if the player knows what they are doing. If this is not true, then balance is the only issue left.
There are more reasons, but I won’t bore you. Class balance is an integral issue in mmo’s and it is vital that the bulk of the work of balancing be done while beta is running so that launch can be as smooth as possible.
So finally, would all the people saying that it is ONLY beta and we should not be worried about class balance go back and enjoy their overpowered rogues while they can and stop posting on the forums?
Thank you.
First off, my basic premise is that a beta for a game is definitely THE time to discuss class balance issues. I have played in over 10 betas for mmo’s spanning a decade and in every one a primary element we were testing was class balance.
The developers are not infallible and their word (current class balance) is not to be taken as gospel. They have said as much themselves. There are glaring class balance issues that have to be discussed to make this game more viable and long lasting.
Let’s discuss some reasons as to why the above premise is correct.
1. Immersion- In a game like D&D immersion is very important. The community already realizes that certain classes are making this immersion difficult by outperforming/underperforming other classes. When a guardian fighter cannot tank and protect his friends, when a wizard cannot deal striker damage, when a great weapon fighter is all but impotent, when a rogue is a demi-god and a cleric is now the defacto tank there are immersion issues that break believability.
2. Achievement- In a game like this achievement is very important and often a driving factor in play time. This sense of achievement is cheapened if another class can obtain the same rewards/recognition for half the effort. Right now rogues are getting huge numbers, which at the moment is about all the player base is interested in. No matter how well I play my other classes I will never have that same sense of achievement absent a good friend that may notice me later. You have pigeon holed the classes to such an extent CW and GWF are relegated to the trash bin to kill adds and nothing else. This creates little room for achievement or a sense of accomplishment.
3. Group dynamics- When certain classes perform better than other classes your group dynamics suffer because the underperforming classes will be underrepresented. You will then lose what little utility those classes had to offer. I have seen this many times in groups that were heavy on certain classes. The sad thing is, encounters seem to require these extreme make-ups to overcome them. If you have fewer than two rogues in your group you are going to take much longer to kill a boss than otherwise. If you have no rogues in your group you may never be able to kill the boss regardless of skill level.
4. Grouping/Pvp- Some classes (Rogues) are over performing in pvp and groups. They are usually at the top of the chart with minimal effort and that is very disheartening to other classes. When you play your heart out, study your class, do your best, and end up at the bottom of the pile regardless- you are being held back by your class while others are being rewarded for choosing a specific class from the beginning. An oft held mantra of mmo’s is that all classes are deadly if the player knows what they are doing. If this is not true, then balance is the only issue left.
There are more reasons, but I won’t bore you. Class balance is an integral issue in mmo’s and it is vital that the bulk of the work of balancing be done while beta is running so that launch can be as smooth as possible.
So finally, would all the people saying that it is ONLY beta and we should not be worried about class balance go back and enjoy their overpowered rogues while they can and stop posting on the forums?
Thank you.
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Comments
You did change the post on me, you sneaky devil. And I admit, you make some valid points. But some of this may come from the Meta. People dont normally like to play as tanks and clerics, but do so out of necessity. Rarely will people play a class like cleric or tank for enjoyment purposes. I'm one of them, but thats beside the point.
Again, many valid points, but just remember, a perfectly balanced game might be a boring game. Sometimes the imbalance, at least a small one, makes the game interesting.
When a Stinking Cloud is cast, the magic-user causes a billowing mass of nauseous vapours to come into being. Any creature caught within the cloud must save versus poison or be helpless due to nausea from 2 to 5 turns (d4 + 1).
izariel44 Roll a Saving Throw against poison. You need a 15 or better.
With this being based around 4th Edition and each playable class being a starter package from each class I dont know how you got control wizard mixed up for a striker. Because thats not how you played one in PnP? This isnt PnP.
As far as balance goes, you can get some during closed beta, more during open beta (population increase), and it should be a constant process for any game that releases new content (better gear, more classes, more races).
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