Raikao

Not if you read my entire post. I literally give an example of running through Praetoria on -1/1 since I wanted to have an easier time. I'm referring to my own experience with the diffculty setting. I'm pointing out my disbelief in the game being easy UNLESS one purposely lowers the difficulty. The intent was not to be smug towards someone going "oh you just play on easy then cause you suck". That should also be clear from other comments I made, where I specifically call out such behavior of dismissing someone's opinion cause "they suck at the game" or "don't know the game" or "are stupid". And if anything my point still stands. If the game is easy on 0/1, put it on +1/0 or any other higher difficulty until you personally with your skillset and build feel challenged. What I don't get is what the baseline difficulty is, that we're supposedly balancing the game around.

Do have to agree with this sentiment. However it only seems to be present on the forums so far. On Discord and ingame I've only had pleasent experiences.

I want a conversation. Why are you saying my "are you playing on -1" is insulting? I literally started my post saying we seem to be playing different games. My experience is not the same as yours. Obviously. Wtf is up with all this vitriol on these forums?

I know how bodyguard mode works. I'm not sure we play the same game. I play mostly solo too, doing Mayhem MIssions on low level isn't easy. As a Stalker you suddenly get ambushed by mobs who know where you are. As a MM they come straight at you as well. If you play on -1 then sure, the game's easy. But if you play at an appropiate difficulty, you sometimes get missions that are rather tricky. I just did a run through Praetoria on a Necro/Nature MM. I had it on -1/1 since I just wanted to get through missions faster, and was overlevelling anyway (I had to disable XP to do all the arcs). That was easy. But I also know the game, use the P2W Vendor. I don't think you can generally call the game easy for new players. And as veteran players you can scale the difficulty. So the game is as easy as you make it. Same for challenge modes and hardmode content. I just don't get it. Are you running missions on -1 and then complain about powercreep making the game too easy? What's the baseline here for this argument?

I literally explained why in another post. Maybe I should have linked that one. Fair enough.

Thanks for clarifying your position and reasons. First of all. You're still clearly passionate about it, but I appreciate the actuall arguments and reasoning. It seems like you think the game is easy on one hand, but then also do a lot of content in groups. Can we agree that the game isn't actually easy when going solo? Especially before lvl 50? I've never felt "op" on a low level Mastermind running around Mercy Island / Port Oakes. Or on a Stalker, or a Blaster. Granted I have not played every AT or every powerset. But the only times I felt the game was "easy" was in groups. Which is also a good argument against the changes I want, interestingly enough. Because even a change that I think is small (I mostly play solo) would be x8 worse when everyone in a group could take a one slot Assault/Fold Space/Tactics/whatever instead of Kick (assuming they all use Tough/Weave). So I will concede that point. Yes it will make the game easier overall. But you also seem to think it's too easy now anyway. If the hami raid takes 3 minutes less, why is that so bad? You don't seem to be doing any hardmode or challenge stuff either. It's just weird to me, that people shout powercreep so vehemently, and then don't do any content that's hard either. It feels like when people are super pissed about class changes (buffs or nerfs) in FFXIV and don't even savage raid. Like does it matter for PUGs doing FDB or ITF? Then we have the changes where you don't have to pick the T1 power in your secondary anymore. Which buffed certain powersets A LOT in my opinion. And it's the same idea. I don't need to pick a (to me) useless T1 and can pick the T2 instead. It's massive on MMs and Stalkers at least from what I made builds for. Skipping a T1 attack in your secondary, picking a movement skill at lvl 4, fitness being inherent. But having to pick Punch to get Tough/Weave just can't be done. Seems to me like it would only be a matter of time.

Let's see faithful conversation? Nope. Just ad honimen and spouting bullshit, yup must be a troll. It's hilarious that you think I would ever be "offended". You're barking up the wrong tree so hard it's just comical. I didn't "issue" rules either, I just tried to remind you of them. And I didn't demand answers from the devs, I told you I don't believe your shitty arguments when you "speak for the devs" unless you link a dev post saying exactly that. Are you cappable of having a conversation about this without being this riled up?

Usually I find this thinking a little overblown, but getting a "haha" when you didn't post anything funny, comes off a little condescending. Thumbs up or down are already annoying enough. Back in the day we had forums and you had to say something to chime in. Now we have up and downvotes, which don't promote discussion and lead to hivemind mentality. This might be a rather personal feeling of course. And I use them myself, don't get me wrong, but for "I agree" or "I disagree" without posting. I think that's what you mean. A lot of the other emojis don't fulfil such a purpose though and often used to be snide.

Yes, so disagree and tell me why. I don't have a problem with that. I have a problem with "lol never gonna happen, ratio'd, take the L, bye".

emojis without explanation are not civil. Neither is calling yourself "educated" and everyone else "uneducated" as @Luminara did. It fits the avatar for sure though. That's not civil and against the rules of this forum. I hope we can move forward without that.

Where to even start. I'm going to ignore the start for sure. I'm not interested in ad hominem. You also seem to be speaking for the devs. Again you're not a dev. I don't care unless there is a DEV POST explicitely stating "we wont change power pools like that" or "we wont add slots". If I don't speak for the majority, then you don't speak for the devs either. That's a non-starter. You also point to "how it was intended" 20 years ago for one thing in your favor and for another thing not in your favor. Like the IO changes where totally intended, extra slots where not. Was removing Fitness intended? Have we asked the design head from 20 years ago? Can you point me to HC devs confirming this somewhere? We have added TaskForces, powersets, an entire AT, made balance changes. Where is this line of "only intended changes from back in the day"? Is there dev manifesto from 2005 I haven't seen? I just don't find this argument convincing. Clearly the devs do make changes. Clearly they can't know the intent from 20 years ago. And more importantly: At some point you'd stop doing patches or adding things wouldn't you? It's just too vague.

FIrst: Thank you, that was an interesting respone with good points. I like that HC is striving to stay close to "vanilla" I really do. I looked at other servers and went "yikes" everytime, but a few changes looked good at first glance. Which doesn't mean I can't be convinced that the changes would be bad. But you don't convert someone by shouting at them. And guess what, the first thing that happened when I made this thread, is a "haha" emoji reaction. I'm glad it's getting more constructive now with people providing links to other discussions (which I do read) and posting responses. That is nice. I have not concidered for example how even just 1 slot might enable another set bonus on a 5 slotted power. I usually go for 5 slot set bonus + a proc, so 6 slots in total so I hadn't thought about that.

Hyperbole much? Then are you ok with Fitness being gone? The game's not hardcore enough man. Are you doing no inspiration +4/x8 ITF solo then? I've seen a guy on youtube to that. Looked impressive. See we can all go there or we can have a civil disussion? Why would this change make the game easier? Are you ok with other changes that made the game easier? Explain your position so we can actually talk.

I'd be against removing slots and enhancing them automatically funny enough. Because that actually removes choices. While the variation is probably not much, I have seen Stamina socketed in different flavors, 2 END modifiers, Shifter END + Shifter Proc, Shifter END, that other new one with heal proc and END. I do really want to increase options, not remove them or make things "dumbed down". I also just want to take Group Flight without Fly or Hover. I don't even CARE about tough and weave that much.

You're not trying to spin this on me are you? Have you read the threads about this? How much vitriol there is? What? Have you read the rules that state things like "Assume good intent?"

Then remove the Suggestions area from the forums. This take is mental beyond belief. You don't speak for the devs either. Unless there is a dev post explaining a "this is never happening" stance, this is not some "over and done with" discussion. Just because a few people are so much against the idea they get emotional about it. All in the pursuit of some nebulous concept of balance, which applies to some things, but not to others and is presented as this unchanging fact. Case in point: You claiming it'll never happen. I can only second what some others have said: This is one good change I'd like to see on HC. I don't want to play on other servers who have implemented this, because most of their other changes are shit and have warped the game too much. But this ain't it chief.

Well that is rather disheartening. Or encourageing. Depends realy. If it's brought up this often, seems to me like people want it, but a really vocal minority shoots it down everytime. Because the powercreep argument is just so bad when people run old content at +4/x8 at the speed of light and "powercreeped" builds can just do the new challenging stuff (which you don't run either, only once for the badge). So then shouting powercreep really looses all meaning.

This thread is a rollercoaster. What I don't get is: Why should taunt to damage? And why should it do temporary damage? I ask this mostly from a thematic standpoint. Doing damage that heals quickly over time is very much a thing only illusions does I think? So instead, if you want to add dmg to taunt. Make it so the mobs hurt themselves a little, when they hit you, after being taunted. Like it's a debuff on them. They're so angry you called them "St0pid" they break their hands trying to hit your chiseled chin.

I will support your effort then. Since I specifically tried finding those for one of my chars last week. Now I wouldn't mind comfy arm sleeves or arm/full body stocking either. But we can start with some gloves :P

Well yeah. Fighting is especially bad I'll agree. Everyone picks kick/punch just to get to tough and weave. Now not having to pick punch/kick will make those builds stronger. I wont argue against that. But how much power are you gaining from a one-slot pick elsewhere? Oh wow you now have combat jumping too, or Group Teleport because you like to run TFs. Another thing I'd like to add: I just looked at other servers. Obviously that's where the basic idea for this thread comes from. Going threw those and their patches. These two changes are the only ones I found interesting. The only ones where I feel HC could implement them as well and it would just be better overall. And as I said in my opening post. I can live without the extra slots. If it's that much of a balance concern, fine. But unlock the power pools. It adds so much more freedom in building a character in terms of min/max AND theme/roleplay.

That doesn't change the fact I'd like it to be in the game. Also both suggestions? And sure there are players who don't put slots into Health or Stamina. There are also players who play MM without pets. I don't really see how that changes my point. In almost all cases you'll put slots in there. Every build you'll find online and on these forums does so. Exceptions don't change that to be honest. Especially since the builds that don't put slots in there, would still benefit from the change. As I said, both types of players benefit from having 2-4 more slots.

I'd like to advocate for 2 changes. Both should be simple to implement (at least compared to a new powerset): #1: Add more enhancement slots. Either by giving 2-4 more slots during level up, or by adding those slots to Health and Stamina at set levels. Reason: It's easy to be starved for slots and EVERY build (to my knowledge) will put 2-4 slots into Health and Stamina. I think this is a great change regardless of "this other server did it too" sentiments. I've never seen a build that didn't put 2-4 slots into Health&Stamina. I think the power gain from this is still small and it would also allow to use those slots for "fun" stuff like 3 slotted travel powers, if you're running a build that doesn't need any extra power. So both "types of players" gain something in my opinion. #2: Remove the "take 2 other powers from this pool" restriction on all additonal Power Pools. This opens up thematic choices for roleplay and allows for more build variety. It makes it easier to choose powers from those pools to fulfil specific niche rolls or fill holes in your build. Personally I'd love to have Group Fly on my Masterminds, but having to take Hover AND Fly (or the attack no one uses) is just too restrictive. When we have other fun powers like Stealth, Combat Teleport, Mystic Flight etc. Being able to mix and match these powers more freely just seems like a good thing to me. You can leave the level restriction in place. Having to select only 1 prerequsitie power would be a possible compromise, if there are balance considerations I'm unaware of. But I honestly don't see a problem with having these powers without picking others beforehand, since you still would have to be lvl 14 before taking them. Out of these #2 is more important to me. I realize #1 would shake up builds quite a bit and require giving out a free respec probably. But aside from the hassle of having to respec I don't envision many would be against having a few more slots. Of course I'd love to hear what others think.

Well put. Can't we just meet in the middle and call each other assholes (but from a place of love)?

If there's a cool twist to the theme I'd love that for sure. Like give all of them robot arms/legs/eyes and make them a tech-cult. Or maybe take inspiration from the Kamigawa set in Magic the Gathering. Make it a "Neon Dynasty" aesthetic.

I'm extremely happy to hear this. I'm from Europe and I'm fucking tired of America's Culture War and politics getting into everything. I have my own opinions, political and otherwise. I sure am glad that my views wont get preferential treatment either. Maybe it's a generational thing I don't know, but I'm used to a) having a thicker skin and b) just putting people on ignore if I hate their dumb joke name for a character that much. I'm so tired of this lack of personal responsibility. Always asking the powers that be to step in and police even the most personal interactions or offenses. I don't envy the task and wish you...luck? Mhhh I think wisdom is more appropiate.