2.5-ish days and 24 25 pages in..
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Flashback time
Suggestions in May (above 300+ replies and other places) I guess weren't early enough in the process to provide any valuable input or feedback.
Same for comments in that Weekly Discussion 68: Energy Melee (9/13/20-9/19/20) where many folks had similar suggestions.
Because, look what's is on Beta..
Gotta have more AoE. New power with targets galore.
A set defining combo mechanic involving both heavy hitters.
Is it re-envisioned? Absolutely.
The bar was set pretty low so let's be realistic, any reasonable improvement was going to seem pretty good. (There are good things in the Beta)
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Did you know that pre-nerf (July 9, 2008):
Energy Punch was a .57 or .83 second activation time, a 4 second recharge, and a 5.2 end cost.
Energy Transfer was a 1 second activation time, a 20 second recharge, and a 10.2 cost.
These were fantastic powers.
In less than 2 seconds Pop-Boom! It was stunning. <<
On a high recharge build, EP recharged in about 1.5 seconds and ET was in the 7.5 seconds.
Current Beta:
So why the combo mechanic now? Why such a drastic change? (It may not be drastic for all, but it is for others. Just accept that. Even if it seems ridiculous to you)
Surely just reverting the nerf, adding quicker Total Focus, a higher damage Whirling Hands and some other goodies sprinkled on top would perform well. Maybe too well.
The combo mechanic prevents a number of things from happen. That's what it does. It's a guard rail. That allows adding another AoE (middling as it may be).
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Right now a highly tuned build could be getting exaggerated performance while a middle of the road build is good but not great. Below that, the performance continues to drop.
Not a big deal for those focused on level 50 incarnates.
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My opinion:
I don't think it is right to force the combo mechanic on an existing power set. I find it sub-optimal in practice, even if some scream "it's so easy".
I don't like the combo mechanic.
Having one choice be big stun +debuff OR that fast Energy Transfer folks are drooling over.. seriously?
I promised to give it a fair shot (which I am still doing).
I really like my EM/Regen who has been screwed over too many times to count. I apologize for not settling for something I don't think is good enough.
Is beta awful? Heck no.
Could it be better? F--- Ya! <-- We want 'F--- Ya', don't we?
Based comments bouncing around many threads the ol' noggin started to point to a potential option that is not "revert the nerf" & keeps much of the beta version..
Below is a link to what would get me to shut up and choke down the combo mechanic.