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What is the ability audit for?
casparian
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The messaging around the class updates in U22 is that U22 is intended to be an "ability audit" (focused on active abilities), and that the next update will include an ability audit for passives.
This sounds great, and is definitely something the game has needed. But I'm struggling to understand (a) what standard ZOS is using in auditing class abilities, and (b) what ZOS thinks the ability audit is for.
It might seem obvious that the purpose of an ability audit is to balance the classes. But it's not at all clear to me that that's the way ZOS thinks of it. Just look at some of the assessments their audit standard led them to make:
I think I'm safe in assuming most players will agree with me that at least some items on that list are (not merely incorrect but) wildly off the mark. At this point it seems clear that whatever standard they are employing in order to audit abilities has little to do with actual gameplay or with the goal of balancing the classes.
Can we get some clarity with this from ZOS or from the class reps? What is the ability audit supposed to accomplish, and what exactly is the standard ZOS is using to achieve that goal?
This sounds great, and is definitely something the game has needed. But I'm struggling to understand (a) what standard ZOS is using in auditing class abilities, and (b) what ZOS thinks the ability audit is for.
It might seem obvious that the purpose of an ability audit is to balance the classes. But it's not at all clear to me that that's the way ZOS thinks of it. Just look at some of the assessments their audit standard led them to make:
- Blazing Shield is fine, but Inhale needs to be buffed in order to be as good as Blazing Shield.
- Stam wardens really need to be able to use Nature's Grasp.
- Stam DKs don't have enough healing potential.
- Base game classes don't need any more stam morphs.
- Magwarden needs less damage, let's make Scorch blockable.
- Shuffle is just as good as an ability that grants Major Expedition, Minor Force, and nearly twice the snare immunity.
I think I'm safe in assuming most players will agree with me that at least some items on that list are (not merely incorrect but) wildly off the mark. At this point it seems clear that whatever standard they are employing in order to audit abilities has little to do with actual gameplay or with the goal of balancing the classes.
Can we get some clarity with this from ZOS or from the class reps? What is the ability audit supposed to accomplish, and what exactly is the standard ZOS is using to achieve that goal?
7-day PVP campaign regular 2016-2019, Flawless Conqueror. MagDK/stamplar/stamwarden/mageblade. Requiem, Legend, Knights of Daggerfall. Currently retired from the wars; waiting on performance improvements.
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