48.4: Bonus Nerfs (and buffs) Incoming!

[droid327]

There's already a lot of buzz about the nerfs to RL belts and Sorc/Alch. I get it, though personally I think all those nerfs were justified under the logic stated.

But the patch notes seem to be slipping in a lot of other nerfs too (and a few buffs) that werent in the preview (AFAIK) that I think warrant discussion...


Paladin KOTC's Champion of Good no longer gives an unlisted change (from +3 to +5) to the amount of Melee and Ranged Power each stack of Blessed Purpose gives; it instead only increases the max stack size to 25, as listed.

So apparently pure Paladin was granting up to 125 MP, that'll be down to 75 post-patch.


Confront Any Foe, Draw Them Out, and Celestial Mandate no longer apply bonuses that specifically apply to Smite Evil. These spells have also had their attack hit boxes adjusted to match other special melee attacks, as opposed to using the hit box for Smite Evil.

RIP Sanctified Fervor


Confront Any Foe now uses different animations.

This sounds suspiciously vague...did they take away the unlisted triple hit? Something to be tested tomorrow. Huge nerf for FI CHA melee builds if so, since CaF is not worth a twist for just 1 hit, in a potentially smaller hitbox.


The feat Epic Eldritch Blast is now: +2d6 Blast Dice, +1 per 2 Epic levels, max +7d6 dice at level 30.
The feat Epic Arcane Eldritch Blast is now Epic Pact Dice, and grants +1 Pact dice, +1 per 2 Epic Levels, for a max +6d4 Pact Dice at level 30.

A welcome addendum for blaster locks worried about the belt nerf!


Also want to mention:


A new item has been added to the Store during the Anniversary Event called Party Punch, which provides a 5% chance to earn Party Favors every time an enemy is defeated for the next hour.

Really hope you can buy these with favors, like you can for similar items in other events. If its Store-only, thats a huge P2W for the event.

[voxson5]

Confront Any Foe changes

This has the potential for melee player uproar

[Krelar]

Confront Any Foe, Draw Them Out, and Celestial Mandate no longer apply bonuses that specifically apply to Smite Evil. These spells have also had their attack hit boxes adjusted to match other special melee attacks, as opposed to using the hit box for Smite Evil.

RIP Sanctified Fervor



I guess that means confront any foe it won't trigger sanctified fervor anymore? That was the only thing it was good for after they fixed the cooldown. Guess I go back to having nothing to use turn undead charges on again.

[redoubt]

To all the those with melee character mains, welcome to the bait and switch party. The water is warm with the blood of the dead fire casters. Hop on in!

[droid327]

I guess that means confront any foe it won't trigger sanctified fervor anymore? That was the only thing it was good for after they fixed the cooldown. Guess I go back to having nothing to use turn undead charges on again.

Well it wasnt a total "nuke from orbit" anymore with the CD, but its only 2 secs...its still a good burst DPS skill, just the burst is spread out a little longer. And its still a good Cleave attack to supplement your regular rotation and for when you have >2-3 mobs in your hitbox as a THF. Its actually a useful skill in a unique little niche between full-spam rotational attacks that just give 3[W] or something, and long-cd meganukes like Tempest. There arent many melee "mini nukes" like that, especially in a unlimited-target AOE.

And honestly I dont see where its imbalanced or problematic in its current (pre-patch) implementation...it seems like a fun, well-designed skill: useful, but still niche enough because of the opportunity cost to properly take advantage of it (ie high CHA and Turn Undead feat, plus being charge-limited) to not be a must-slot for every melee.

But if they carve the damage down 67% by taking out the triple-hit animation, then yeah its cold diarrhea in a Dixie cup. Hoping its literally just a cosmetic animation change and not a mechanical animation change.

[Yamani]

But the patch notes seem to be slipping in a lot of other nerfs too (and a few buffs) that werent in the preview (AFAIK) that I think warrant discussion...

Paladin KOTC's Champion of Good no longer gives an unlisted change (from +3 to +5) to the amount of Melee and Ranged Power each stack of Blessed Purpose gives; it instead only increases the max stack size to 25, as listed.


This sounds suspiciously vague...did they take away the unlisted triple hit? Something to be tested tomorrow. Huge nerf for FI CHA melee builds if so, since CaF is not worth a twist for just 1 hit, in a potentially smaller hitbox.

The feat Epic Eldritch Blast is now: +2d6 Blast Dice, +1 per 2 Epic levels, max +7d6 dice at level 30.
The feat Epic Arcane Eldritch Blast is now Epic Pact Dice, and grants +1 Pact dice, +1 per 2 Epic Levels, for a max +6d4 Pact Dice at level 30.


These where in the 2nd preview.

[Marshal_Lannes]

These where in the 2nd preview.

Indeed. And, something is not a nerf if it's been adjusted to working as it was originally intended.

[archest]

Thinking about it what it really mean ?
you have to use 2 spell casts and not just one to kill everything,
it slows down your zerg?

[redoubt]

Thinking about it what it really mean ?
you have to use 2 spell casts and not just one to kill everything,
it slows down your zerg?

Tell me specifically who is clearing rooms on LR8+ feywild in one cast? No prep, no mez, no tank to draw them together.

Then please point me to their build so I may study. Thank you.

Yes, I posted it here as well since you posted in both spots. I really want to know what I am missing. I tend to need to run a rotation to do LR8+...

For example;
Cindersmoke (some damage and a blind)
Flashbang (blind and stuns those already blind)
Flash freeze (get the ones who saved on the stun helpless as well)
Elemental combination (starts stacking burning ambition dice)
Energy burst
dragon breath
Multivial sla
Multivial
Fiery obliteration and another cindersmoke for cleanup

Can I obliterate rooms on heroic R1? Sure, but why does that even matter? On the difficulty settings I play I need every ounce of the power I can get out of my alchemist and that is in a group!

[Mofus]

Wish SSG would put away the nerf hammer and just let us play the game. People are mad enough with all the lag issues as it is, no need to stir the pot some more.

[kanordog]

To all the those with melee character mains, welcome to the bait and switch party. The water is warm with the blood of the dead fire casters. Hop on in!


I think the nerfs were justified, if you look around there are only paladins running around and they have a much better kill count then me and that is unacspecsatable! Nerf evryfin!


I hope You too enjoy this years birthday present.


Ps.: It is time to switch from Feydark Illusionist Paladin to Horizon walker! You got enough time to get those missing doubleshot or ranger PL's!

[Hawkwier]

This sounds suspiciously vague...did they take away the unlisted triple hit?

I certainly would hope not, and extremely disappointing if so! Any nerf should be set out clearly for review before implementation, as others have. Seems underhand to do otherwise, and begs the question, why act in that way?

Speculation for now - I guess we'll see later once the patch hits...

[Mindos]

Wish SSG would put away the nerf hammer and just let us play the game. People are mad enough with all the lag issues as it is, no need to stir the pot some more.

I'm curious to see how the lag is after the patch.