It's Friday, Friday, and even Jedi got to get down with Friday... which also means a new community Q&A sent across the holonet to players eager for a glimpse of Star Wars: The Old Republic's future. However, the devs have asked that questions focus more on current features in the game, as in many cases they cannot give firm details about what's coming up in SWTOR.
Today's topics begin with a discussion about why some advanced classes, such as Commandos and Mercenaries, lack an interrupt. This wasn't an oversight, the devs revealed, but "a purposefully designed weakness in their ability arsenal" to keep them balanced in the game -- especially in PvP.
"Balance" was an answer to another issue as well, specifically the nerfs to some of the healing specs. Lead Combat Designer Georg Zoeller realized that folks were going to rail against it, but the team thought it was necessary: "I know trying to 'sell' a downwards adjustment (AKA nerf) to anyone affected is like selling the need for a tax increase to people. When you are on the receiving end of it, you're not going to be happy about it."
Other questions revolved around rage timers, looping the game's music, cross-faction communication within the same guild, and legacy system specifics.
Reader Comments (54)
Posted: Mar 23rd 2012 10:11PM Daeths said
“Nerfing is the path to the dark side. Nerfs leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
-Yoda
-Yoda
Posted: Mar 23rd 2012 11:39PM Eamil said
@Mikx
Have midichlorians been mentioned in any Star Wars fiction since episode 1?
If so I've never heard of it, but I don't follow the books that closely. I like to think someone somewhere realized they were a terrible idea and banned all mention of them ever again.
Reply
Have midichlorians been mentioned in any Star Wars fiction since episode 1?
If so I've never heard of it, but I don't follow the books that closely. I like to think someone somewhere realized they were a terrible idea and banned all mention of them ever again.
Posted: Mar 24th 2012 11:10AM (Unverified) said
@Daeths
I think you mean "Hate leads to unsubscriptions."
Reply
I think you mean "Hate leads to unsubscriptions."
Posted: Mar 24th 2012 7:30PM ShivanSwordsman said
@Eamil
I was under the assumption The Force was just another name for "Psionic Power" or "An Invisible Force", thus it's name. I guess that means Tetsuo was a Sith Lord, and Ness is a Jedi Knight.
Reply
I was under the assumption The Force was just another name for "Psionic Power" or "An Invisible Force", thus it's name. I guess that means Tetsuo was a Sith Lord, and Ness is a Jedi Knight.
Posted: Mar 23rd 2012 10:22PM (Unverified) said
Anyone who plays/played knows that Sorcs/Sages are probably the most OP characters in any mmo ever. Anyone who would be shocked by their nerfing clearly has zero interest in game balance.
Posted: Mar 23rd 2012 10:47PM malaclypse said
@(Unverified)
i can't complain too much. I was OP, i mean, i could heal full out, essentially forever, and never run out of force. i just wish they hadn't broken what was a core mechanic, completely buggers my rotation now.
Reply
i can't complain too much. I was OP, i mean, i could heal full out, essentially forever, and never run out of force. i just wish they hadn't broken what was a core mechanic, completely buggers my rotation now.
Posted: Mar 24th 2012 1:28AM (Unverified) said
@Elikal
That's all it was - feeling. Same abilities, same stats, same talents, same numbers. There was no difference.
Reply
That's all it was - feeling. Same abilities, same stats, same talents, same numbers. There was no difference.
Posted: Mar 23rd 2012 10:40PM Dunraven said
Still not understanding the Trooper nerf.
also
joetacticSW: Can we have a ‘Loop music’ feature or some other way to make our experience less quiet?
Damion: Interesting idea. Let me give it some thought!
Interesting Idea? really? Everyone has been complaining about how quiet the game is hardly any music or Ambient sounds or anything really and it's Bloody Star Wars
And you think it's interesting and will give it some thought?
This has to be an ex Mythic employee.
also
joetacticSW: Can we have a ‘Loop music’ feature or some other way to make our experience less quiet?
Damion: Interesting idea. Let me give it some thought!
Interesting Idea? really? Everyone has been complaining about how quiet the game is hardly any music or Ambient sounds or anything really and it's Bloody Star Wars
And you think it's interesting and will give it some thought?
This has to be an ex Mythic employee.
Posted: Mar 24th 2012 12:23AM Threecubed said
@KDolo
There are many more people complaining about being nerfed than are actually experiencing the nerfs and crafting constructive criticism.
I will admit that it's a utter shame that PTS character copy tech isn't available for 1.2, but one thing constant about people on the internet is that hyperbole is often their preferred method of expression.
Reply
There are many more people complaining about being nerfed than are actually experiencing the nerfs and crafting constructive criticism.
I will admit that it's a utter shame that PTS character copy tech isn't available for 1.2, but one thing constant about people on the internet is that hyperbole is often their preferred method of expression.
Posted: Mar 23rd 2012 11:34PM (Unverified) said
lol this is WoW all over again. these fools will never achieve class balance. Blizzard has been trying for 10 years. might as well give up, stick to making PVE content
Posted: Mar 24th 2012 12:19AM Threecubed said
@(Unverified)
Actually, that's not true... yet.
When they give Operatives a Shadowstep-clone and then another class a counter to that ability, then they'll be in the same situation as WoW.
Blizzard created a horrendous PvP arms race between Rogues Warriors and Mages, all of which were consistently in the top PvP classes since launch.
While there are some balance issues (tank stances not decreasing damage done is one example), every AC in SWTOR is useful and competitive in PvP (some say Operative/Scoundrel are weak, I say that a stealth class fighting like a melee brawler *should* feel weak). WoW tended to have a couple classes floundering no matter what expansion it was.
Reply
Actually, that's not true... yet.
When they give Operatives a Shadowstep-clone and then another class a counter to that ability, then they'll be in the same situation as WoW.
Blizzard created a horrendous PvP arms race between Rogues Warriors and Mages, all of which were consistently in the top PvP classes since launch.
While there are some balance issues (tank stances not decreasing damage done is one example), every AC in SWTOR is useful and competitive in PvP (some say Operative/Scoundrel are weak, I say that a stealth class fighting like a melee brawler *should* feel weak). WoW tended to have a couple classes floundering no matter what expansion it was.
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