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Elder Scrolls Online - The Conundrum of Balance Part Deux - MMORPG.com
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
Elder Scrolls Online - The Conundrum of Balance Part Deux - MMORPG.com
I’m going to be taking a different direction with this post, I want to continue talking about class balance and at the end I will talk about weapon and armor balance. I mean, we could debate about balance all day whether or not one class is better than another. I think we can all agree on one thing though, Warden sucks. Just kidding. They have gotten some much needed love, but what about the other classes?
Comments
Sorry but we need a temp heal, most of the time. Without even trying -_- you can come dps magicka dk is good they say
The apologists will come out in force, but the reality is people get paid to balance the game and thus there is no excuse for useless/pointless skills/weapons. If it's an available option it should be viable otherwise it's not a real option.
You can break down the weapons/classes into roles very easily, at which point they may as well have just made X class use Y weapon/skills.
If they ever introduce a second set of weapons I might be interested again but right now there is no real diversity.
Today: DW= Stamina DPS, Destro= Magicka DPS, S/S= Tanks, Resto= Heals. The other two are backbar buff/DoT fodder DK= Tank, Sorc= Magicka DPS, Nightblade= Stamina DPS, Templar= Heals Might as well just assign roles and weapons with no alternatives available.
Resto has good sustain, but on a dps build, I don't think that's optimal. Unless, its just for heavy attacks to get more magicka? In fact, I only run with 30K magicka and 27K health to survive the big hits, and I never run out of magikca unless people try to make me heal them through their inattentiveness.
And exactly one weapon/setup for each. They could mix things up so much by having just 1 alternative for each.
Tbh as far as the Magicka/Stamina system thing goes I would kill it with fire and start over entirely.
Ehhh, kinda. If the game simplifies stats that is what causes this.
When you can stack one stat and it's always a net gain there's no reason to have any of the other.
If there's a point of diminishing returns or if there are multiple stats determining effectiveness such as DEX, STR, VIT for physical damage/accuracy then as a player you cannot simply go "all or nothing" without being wholly ineffective.
Simple damage formulas make the developer's work easier but makes for a less interesting/dynamic game.
For me I don't really care if each class is totally balanced as long as each class does what it is suppose to do well. You can pretty much make any class anything as long as you gear out for what you are trying to go for. Hell I have even played classes without using a single skill for the class itself at times because some of the weapon skills, guild skill, etc...are basically better.
The biggest problem I have seen in this game is people trying to make glass cannons then complain when they can't stand toe to toe with a tank. Don't expect to go all light armor and stand toe to toe with someone who is half heavy/light or any other combination in a melee fight.
I love Warden for general gameplay but will use a stealthy NB vampire build for role playing as such, not based on efficiency but fun and challenge. Use to do a lot with Sorcerer but Warden and NB have been my go to for awhile now.
But I don't craft so seldom use full sets of anything unless they drop from mobs or questing. So for a person that doesn't craft or use optimal gear and weapons sets I've not been disappointed by these classes so far, making PvE very playable for me.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
The other two assassination abilities useful to a Magblade are more situational but not totally useless: Blurr and its morphs are a defensive skill that increases your dodge chance and Grim Focus can be used just for its 25 second +8% damage done from all sources.
I, in fact use both Impale and a Grim Focus morph with my magicka NB build. Blurr is just something you might or might not use in extra tough solo content such as Maelstrom Arena.
With regards to the Warden, it's a bit of a conundrum. It's actually kind of OP in PVP due to its survivability and burst but it's lackluster as DPS in tough group content in PVE - especially the magicka Warden. IMO what it's most lacking is an execute ability similar to that Impale all NBs should use.
You're right that the Warden tank is a lesser tank than the DK and the Warden healer is a lesser healer than a Templar... but not by much, The difference between them and the best is small unlike the huge difference between the DPS variants and the best DPS.
What the Warden excels at is being an extremely noob-friendly soloer as well as an awesome group mate in lower difficulty group content due to their innate versatility: DPS wardens can spot heal or spot tank in a pinch if the group needs it. They are in fact IMO, the best class bar none for casual non competitive game play (i.e. that 90% part of the game that is solo questing and exploration) with a dash of built-in RP thrown in for good measure.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Just not as good as it should/can be.
But sooner or later in every MMO I've ever played I get the itch to improve myself, start looking at all the angles in detail and do my own version of min maxing.
It's a different type of enjoyment and why I stay there for a long time but yeah, nothing beats those first few weeks.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
As far as warden feeling weak compared to the others, do you enjoy play it? If so, then play it and have fun. That is all that really matters in the end. Use what class/build you want and enjoy yourself. That is what I do in all my games. I rarely do fotm builds unless I happen to enjoy playing it. If that means nobody wants me in their group, then so be it. I don't really give a crap.
Like I said, you will never find balance in a game that shares, skills, weapons, and armor between PVE and PVP.
I'm not an IT Specialist, Game Developer, or Clairvoyant in real life, but like others on here, I play one on the internet.