Because that is basically what happened with Argonian Nightblades and their potion effectiveness. The only real synergy that race had
became obsolete in 1.6 due to changes in game mechanics (consolidating potions as buffs in Major/Minor system). So, what if ZOS redid how elemental damage works, and replaced the +fire/element damage passives from Dunmer and Altmer with passives that were not as effective and did not synergize with your chosen class?
Sorry for the bait and switch thread title
Just trying to draw a parallel and put the change into perspective for those that rolled Argonian Nightblades, and keep the visibility of the issue up so the devs are fully away of it. I know not all Argonians are NBs (and balance is a larger issue for many races), but this thread is specifically stoking discussion about getting the rug pulled out from under you in terms of a unique, situationally strong synergy and playstyle.
Below are many of the threads where this issue (and related ones) are discussed at length, but I'll give a TL;DR: NBs don't need what the new Catalyst offers (generating ultimate), but desperately need some form of burst healing, which the old Catalyst passive helped provide regardless of race (Argonians just made it that much better). New Argonian potion-related passive is undervalued, and should stack/synergize with whatever a redesigned Catalyst passive offers. This doesn't address the other undervalued passives of Argonians; like I said, this thread is just about the once-decent Argonian NB synergy.
Thanks for reading, and stay moist my friends.
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/162869/bug-nb-catalyst-passivehttp://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/65730/any-news-on-argonians-racial-skill-buffs/p1http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/162238/i-cant-take-it-argonian-is-soooo-bad-compared-to-other-raceshttp://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/151415/1-6-changes-to-potions-and-related-passives-abilities-issues-and-possible-solutionshttp://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/154490/change-to-argonians-best-passive-still-not-in-the-notes#latesthttp://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/154004/zenimax-please-reconsider-argonian-racial-passives/p1http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/154048/how-come-racials-werent-given-a-pass-in-1-6-zoshttp://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/153268/my-case-for-race-change-option-in-1-6/p1http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/152091/racial-disparity-with-full-list/p1http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/150659/lets-talk-about-argonians-race-change-please/p1
Edited by ThatNeonZebraAgain on April 16, 2015 2:13PM Gore-of-the-Forest Argonian Nightblade
Wode Earthrender Breton Dragonknight
Ceol the Last Baron Redguard Dragonknight
Wayra High Elf Sorceress
Erebain Salothran Dark Elf Templar
Rituals-of-the-Forest Argonian Warden