10/07/09 01:17:21 PM
Patch 3.2.2a
Ghostcrawler
<Lead Systems Designer> |
We are trying to make haste a slightly
more attractive stat for classes that utilize a lot of damage or
healing over time spells, specifically Shadow priests, warlocks
(though especially Affliction) and Resto druids. We realize other
classes use hots and dots too, but I think we can all agree that
it's a bigger problem for the ones I mentioned.
I'm going to share with you an idea that the class and item
designers came up with for 3.3. This is a work in progress so it's
possible we'll end up going a different way after we see how it
plays. However I also wanted to explain our logic here in case it
wasn't obvious.
We have new tech that will allow specific hots and dots to tick
faster -- the time between ticks would decrease. This means more
damage or healing per time but also having to refresh those spells
more often. Since there is a trade-off, we're not sure the change
is a no-brainer, especially in the healing case.
Because of this, we are planning on introducing the concept through
glyphs. Glyphs represent a great test bed for new ideas because
they are easier to change (and easier on the players when we do
change them) compared to core spell functions or even talents. If
we like the way it feels and players like the way it feels and the
glyphs prove popular or fun, then this may be the kind of thing
that shifts from glyphs over time -- not unlike the way some
favorite set bonuses eventually become talents.
For 3.3 we are talking about introducing three new glyphs for
Shadow Word: Pain, Corruption and Rejuvenation that would allow
these spells to tick faster with the more haste you have. There are
glyphs of Corruption and Rejuv already, and we're not sure how
we're going to resolve those yet. For Shadow Word: Pain, we are
likely to rename the current glyph to Glyph of Mind Flay, remove
the old Glyph of Mind Flay, and increase Mind Flay by 10 yards in
the base spell.
Again, these are not promises (nor ponies). For a variety of
reasons, you may see these changes on the PTR or you may not. If
you do see any or all of the three glyphs implemented however, we
wanted you to have some idea of what we were trying to do. Feedback
is certainly appreciated, especially if you get to try them
out.
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10/07/09 05:56:10 PM
Patch 3.2.2a
Ghostcrawler
<Lead Systems Designer> |
We might eventually apply it to more
dots and hots if we (and you) think it's a good change. We feel
like we may need a patch or two to make this conclusion
though.
We might apply it to more dots and hots originally, especially DP
and VT.
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10/07/09 06:00:27 PM
Patch 3.2.2a
Ghostcrawler
<Lead Systems Designer> |
Don't think of this as a "Shadow
priest dps is too low" issue. Think of it as a "Shadow priests
don't scale with haste" issue. Obviously the two are related, and
I'm not saying you can't talk about Shadow priest dps. I would just
prefer you approach this new feature as a new feature, especially
in terms of this thread, and not as a way to "save Shadow."
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10/07/09 06:02:50 PM
Patch 3.2.2a
Ghostcrawler
<Lead Systems Designer> |
Q u o t e:
It looks like it won't involve fitting in "extra" ticks, but it'd
collapse the time between however many ticks you get from the spell
by default so that the duration of your spell is shortened.
Exactly. That is how direct spells work. You have to cast more of
them. That means more mana per second but also more damage. This is
why we think haste is an interesting stat (for casters anyway) when
compared to just straight damage. More haste makes you do different
things than more crit or spellpower would.
It might get to be tricky with dots (and hots) because eventually
you will lose another GCD. Fortunately Corruption and SW:P can be
pushed into the autorefresh category.
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10/07/09 06:08:47 PM
Patch 3.2.2a
Ghostcrawler
<Lead Systems Designer> |
Q u o t e:
The problem with haste is that it creates scaling issues. For many
classes, getting 1% less cast time is about a 1% DPS increase, for
others it's maybe a 0.2% increase. This obviously means other
classes scale much better than others with gear, and you have to
make balance changes every patch to fix this
.
You are assuming our goal is to make all stats equally attractive
to all characters. It isn't. We have no problem with say mages
valuing haste more than Shadow priests. The problem is just that
the difference is too large right now. When an item drops you
should have to consider whether it's a good item for you or not. We
like that different specs might approach the same item differently.
We like haste in part because it has a lot of depth - did you
reduce your cast time by so much that you can squeeze in an
additional spell? -- that sort of thing.
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