pgm152
02-10-2018, 07:23 AM
Epic Ward is the free monster buff that all enemies receive at Epic Hard quest level and higher. There are several different effects that are part of this ward (many worthy of discussion) but I'd like to focus on the reduction to charm durations. The reduction is so high it basically shuts down charming of monsters. Is this reduction that necessary?
1) Restricting charm durations is limiting play styles. Throughout heroic players find many types of spells at their disposal and are encouraged to use them, but reach epic and the enchantment line of spells is nearly shut down completely (except for non-charms like hold monster). This just encourages everyone to make DPS builds rather than CC builds and we already have loads of DPS builds already.
2) Restricting charm durations isn't friendly to new players. Someone who reaches level 20 for the first time and is pushing their characters into hard and higher difficulties won't have any idea that Epic Ward exists, and if their combat style is based on charming they are going to feel like they just wasted their time on that character.
3) Restricting charm durations doesn't make sense from a difficulty point of view. If reaper 10 is the highest difficulty we have and heroic reaper 10 is perfectly happy with charm durations as they normally are, why is Epic Hard suddenly a problem if the charms are still working? No one thinks the King's Forest quest arc on Epic Hard is where the real difficulty begins.
4) Restricting charm durations isn't consistent. The wiki says a monk spell still functions with full duration and I know that the Shadow Manipulation in Shadow Dancer destiny does as well. I hesitate to bring this up since Shadow Dancer is a weak destiny that could use all the help it can get, but fair is fair and that charm spell should only last 6 seconds on Epic Hard. I doubt anyone believes that Shadow Manipulation needs that kind of a nerf but that's the same nerf that is happening to the other charm spells in the game.
The warlock spell Create Thrall at level 15 is an excellent spell available only to warlocks aligned with the Great Old One. Mass Charm Monster arrives at level 17. Neither one are optional, these warlocks are forced to make this spell selection, and yet at level 20 epic hard those are going to be taken away by Epic Ward. Games should be giving players new tools at their disposal not taking away tools it gave them earlier.
A review for the arcane classes is coming up in the somewhat near future. Epic Ward needs to be considered part of the review, or earlier preferably. Imagine, if you will, if Epic Ward did this: your Improved Critical feat no longer works against these foes and Cleave effects are now reduced to 10% chance of hitting other monsters instead of 100%. Think of the uproar that would cause among the melee classes! That kind of nerf is happening to enchantment characters right now. This effect needs to go, but if for some reason it needs to stay I'd like to hear the reasoning why is has to stay.
1) Restricting charm durations is limiting play styles. Throughout heroic players find many types of spells at their disposal and are encouraged to use them, but reach epic and the enchantment line of spells is nearly shut down completely (except for non-charms like hold monster). This just encourages everyone to make DPS builds rather than CC builds and we already have loads of DPS builds already.
2) Restricting charm durations isn't friendly to new players. Someone who reaches level 20 for the first time and is pushing their characters into hard and higher difficulties won't have any idea that Epic Ward exists, and if their combat style is based on charming they are going to feel like they just wasted their time on that character.
3) Restricting charm durations doesn't make sense from a difficulty point of view. If reaper 10 is the highest difficulty we have and heroic reaper 10 is perfectly happy with charm durations as they normally are, why is Epic Hard suddenly a problem if the charms are still working? No one thinks the King's Forest quest arc on Epic Hard is where the real difficulty begins.
4) Restricting charm durations isn't consistent. The wiki says a monk spell still functions with full duration and I know that the Shadow Manipulation in Shadow Dancer destiny does as well. I hesitate to bring this up since Shadow Dancer is a weak destiny that could use all the help it can get, but fair is fair and that charm spell should only last 6 seconds on Epic Hard. I doubt anyone believes that Shadow Manipulation needs that kind of a nerf but that's the same nerf that is happening to the other charm spells in the game.
The warlock spell Create Thrall at level 15 is an excellent spell available only to warlocks aligned with the Great Old One. Mass Charm Monster arrives at level 17. Neither one are optional, these warlocks are forced to make this spell selection, and yet at level 20 epic hard those are going to be taken away by Epic Ward. Games should be giving players new tools at their disposal not taking away tools it gave them earlier.
A review for the arcane classes is coming up in the somewhat near future. Epic Ward needs to be considered part of the review, or earlier preferably. Imagine, if you will, if Epic Ward did this: your Improved Critical feat no longer works against these foes and Cleave effects are now reduced to 10% chance of hitting other monsters instead of 100%. Think of the uproar that would cause among the melee classes! That kind of nerf is happening to enchantment characters right now. This effect needs to go, but if for some reason it needs to stay I'd like to hear the reasoning why is has to stay.